What is offsides in hockey?

In ice hockey, the offside rule is designed to prevent players from cherry-picking, or hanging out near the opponent's net waiting for a long pass. Here's a breakdown:

• What is Offside? A player is considered <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Offside%20in%20hockey">offside</a> when both of their skates are completely over the attacking zone blue line before the puck enters the zone. The position of the player's stick is irrelevant in determining offside.

• The Blue Line: The attacking zone blue line separates the neutral zone from the attacking zone. It is crucial for determining offside.

• Entering the Zone: The puck must fully cross the blue line before or simultaneously with the player's skates for the player to be considered onside. If any part of the puck is still on the blue line when the player's skates completely cross it, the player is onside.

• Delayed Offside: If a player enters the attacking zone ahead of the puck, a linesman will raise their arm, signaling a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Delayed%20Offside">delayed offside</a>. Play continues, but the offside is nullified if the offending team clears the zone completely (all players and the puck exit the attacking zone). If the offending team shoots the puck on net, attempts to make a play on a defender or the goalie, or the attacking team forces a turnover before clearing, the offside is called.

• Offside Pass: An <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Offside%20Pass">offside pass</a> occurs when a player passes the puck from their own defending zone to a teammate who is across the center red line. This results in a stoppage of play and a face-off in the defending zone of the team that made the pass. This rule is less frequently enforced than the general offside rule.

• Face-off Location: When an offside occurs, the face-off takes place at the nearest face-off spot in the neutral zone to where the infraction occurred, or at the end zone face-off dot in the offending team's zone, if the offside occurred because of an offside pass.

• Purpose: The rule's purpose is to encourage more fluid play and discourage long bomb passes from one end of the ice to the other. It requires teams to build up their attack with more control and puck possession.