Basic - Rink Diagram

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(Click on parts of the Rink below to learn more about that area)

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Skill:          Basic Rink knowledge

Purpose:    Describe the basic layout and use of the rink.

 

Rink Directions - All directions are from the perspective of facing your opponent's goal.

North and South refer to the length of the rink (also up and back)

East and West refer to the width of the rink (also weak side w/o puck and strong side w/ puck)

North - Heading toward your opponent's goal

South - Heading toward your team's goal

East   - Heading toward your RW's board

West -  Heading toward your LW's board

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The 3 ZONES of Play

Defensive Zone - The area between your team's goal and the closest Blue Line to your team's goal

Neutral Zone - The area between the 2 Blue Lines

Offensive Zone - The area between your opponent's goal and the closest Blue Line to your opponent's goal

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The 3 LANES of Play

Left Lane (1)  - This is the lane from the Left board to the Left side of the SLOT. This lane is controlled and patrolled by the LW or player cycling into that position

Center Lane (2) - This is the lane that runs through the SLOT. This lane is controlled and patrolled by the C or player cycling into that position

Right Lane (3) - This is the lane from the Right board to the Right side of the SLOT. This lane is controlled and patrolled by the RW or player cycling into that position

   * The defensemen will divide the width of the rink in half for their control and patrol.

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The 3 Lines on the Rink

Center Line - This line divides the length of the rink in half. At the beginning of each period and after any goals are scored the face off will take place in the Face-Off circle on the Center Line

Blue Lines - These lines designate the entrance into a team's Offensive or Defensive Zone. When entering your team's Offensive Zone, attacking your opponent's net, the puck must cross the Offensive Blue Line before any players of the attacking team including the puck handler. When protecting your team's Defensive Zone aggressive attack by the LD and RD should begin between the Defensive Blue Line and the top of the Defensive Face-Off Circles.

Red (Goal) Lines - These lines mark the goal line for the width of the rink. For a goal to be counted the puck must completely cross over the goal line into the goal with no portion of the puck resting on the line. In the Offensive Zone crossing the Red Line signifies that you have skated past the goal.

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The SLOT - This is the area in the Offensive or Defensive Zone between the Face-Off Circles

High SLOT - This is the area between the Face-Off Circles that is closest to the Blue Line

Low SLOT - This is the area between the Face-Off Circles that is closest to the Goal

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The Goalie Crease

This is the half-circle painted area in front of each goal. A goalie can only cover the puck when any part of his body is in the crease. A goal can be called off if an Offensive player is in the crease at the time the shot was scored.

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Face-Off Circle/Dot - These are common points on the rink where Face-Offs will occur

Center Face-Off Circle - This is the Center Ice circle where all Face-Offs occur to begin a period or begin play after a goal is scored. Face-offs can also occur here after stop of play.

Offensive/Defensive Circles - These are the circles where all Face-offs occur after stop of play in these zones. Face-offs will also occur in the Defensive zone for a team that has 'Iced' the puck.

Neutral Zone Dots - These are the Face-Off points in the Neutral zone when stop of play regulates that the puck is dropped outside of the Offensive or Defensive zone. The Face-Offs will also occur at these points for any stop of play in the Neutral zone.

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