Checking in ice hockey encompasses various defensive techniques aimed at disrupting an opponent possessing the puck or separating them from it entirely. This is often referred to as simply checking or hitting and is only permitted against an opponent with possession of the puck.
Legal Body Checking Techniques
Young players are taught proper body checking techniques. Some common legal techniques include:
- A player drives the shoulder, upper arm, hip and elbow, equally into the opponent to separate them from the puck, using the body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
- A player puts a shoulder into an opponent to muscle the other player out of position.
- Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent. For example, a defensive player may hit the puck out of the puck carrier's possession before making physical contact.
- Using the stick in a hooking manner on the ice surface to retrieve the puck from opponent players.
- Using the stick to lift or knock an opponent's stick upwards followed immediately by an attempt to steal the puck.
Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack is also a fundamental defensive maneuver.
Illegal Hits and Penalties
Certain types of hits are deemed illegal and result in penalties. These include:
- Charging
- Hitting from behind
- Boarding
Charging is defined as "the actions of a player who, as a result of distance traveled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner. A “charge” may be the result of a check into the boards, into the goal frame, or in open ice".
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In women's IIHF ice hockey, body checking is considered an "illegal hit" as well as in non-checking leagues, and is punishable by a minor penalty, major penalty and automatic game misconduct, or match penalty. Body checking was allowed at the first women's world ice hockey championship in 1990 but has been considered illegal since in almost all leagues.
The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands is also illegal.
Beginning with the 2010-11 NHL season, any form of "lateral or blind side hit to an opponent, where the player's head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact" (which is known as an illegal check to the head) became prohibited. One season later, the criteria were changed so that the opponent's head was both the principal point of contact and targeted. That hit is punishable with either a two-minute minor or a match penalty.
Age Restrictions and League Rules
Any form of body checking is not allowed in leagues with young children. Men's amateur leagues typically allow checking unless stipulated otherwise in league rules. Some intramural university leagues do not permit body checking, in order to avoid injury and incidents of fighting.
Currently, the USA Hockey Association’s rules state that players under the age of 12 are not allowed to body check when playing in recognized leagues. USA Hockey has definitive rules for body checking. Body checking is prohibited in the 12 & under youth age classification and below, and all Girls’ / Women’s age classifications. These levels would be considered the Body Contact Category of play. Body checking is also prohibited in all non-check adult classifications. The rule goes on to say, players who body check in any of the prohibited classifications will receive significant penalties.
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Beginning in the 2011-12 season, USA Hockey moved the age of legal body checking from 12U to 14U. The discussion of this rule change began with a look into Peewee (12U) and Squirt (10U) levels of hockey. Research shows that the 11-year-old brain has not developed skills to anticipate. As a result, Peewees acquire injuries four times more in checking vs. Bantam (13/14-year-olds).
"Leaning" against opponents is an alternative to body checking but can be penalized for holding if abused.
PRO HOCKEY TRAINING: Body Checking Basics
Impact on Player Safety
For the 2005-06 season, the NHL instituted stricter enforcement of many checking violations that in previous seasons would not have been penalized. The intent of the new standard of enforcement was to fundamentally alter the way ice hockey is played, rewarding speed and agility over brute strength, as well as increasing opportunities for scoring and minimizing stoppage of play. However, it is unclear how expanding the definition of a penalty would minimize the stoppage of play, as penalty calls entail play stoppage. One explanation may be that more clearly defined rules give players more distinct boundaries on penalties, resulting in fewer penalties.
All physical sports put athletes at risk for some type injury. Body checking is the most common injury mechanism in ice hockey.
An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) makes the case for the body-checking ban. Leeman also points out proper body-checking technique is just one side of the equation. He sees the need for players at all levels to develop the fundamental skills to play well. Leeman suggests breaking down the individual movements of techniques, like body checking, and practicing them on a smaller scale. With the fundamental skills and muscle memory in place, learning a new skill is easier and safer.
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The debate will continue. Coaches and parents will continue to discuss the best way to keep hockey players safe as they play an intensely physical game.
Some parents embrace the body-check ban; others don’t. Hockey is physical. But there is a difference between body contact and body checking.