How to Avoid Offsides in Ice Hockey

An odd man rush can quickly lead to a goal in a hockey game. However, the play could also be put to a halt by an offsides call. It's up to everybody on the offense to keep on the right side of the blue line. If one player crosses the blue line before the player with the puck (or the puck itself), the play will be whistled dead for offsides. One false move could cost the team a goal. Here is how to avoid a call of offsides in ice hockey.

Instructions

1. Dump the puck into the zone once you have crossed the red line. This is the easiest way to avoid going offsides, since the puck will already be in the zone before any offensive players cross the blue line. This should only be done if the offense is outnumbered by defensive players, the player controlling the puck isn't a great skater, or the offense needs a line change.

2. Force the puck into the zone by hitting if off an opposing player while dumping it in. Normally, if a player simply sends the puck into the offensive zone from his team's side of the ice, icing will be called. However, if an opposing player touches the puck, play continues. As when the puck is dumped in from past the red line, this is another simple way to avoid being called offsides, since all offensive players will be far away from the puck to begin with.

3. Allow the player controlling the puck to lead the offense into the zone. Simply stated, if the man with the puck is the leading skater, then nobody can enter the zone before him. Thus, nobody will be offsides.

4. If you are one of the other advancing skaters, keep your eyes on the man with the puck. It's important to know what he's going to do with the puck before you make any moves toward the blue line. Make sure he isn't going to try to advance the puck to another player before crossing the line. If that player makes a quick stop with the puck, you could get caught offsides quickly.

5. Talk to your teammates while advancing the puck. If your teammates are unsure what is going to happen next, they may cross the blue line without even noticing that the puck is still on the other side of the line. Call out names while passing the puck, or simply yell out if you're going to advance the puck yourself or dump it in.

6. Avoid any sudden changes of direction near the blue line. Many times, a player will go offsides while skating right next to a teammate with the puck. This happens because the player controlling the puck will try to fake out a defender right before entering the zone. That one move could cause the teammate not controlling the puck to continue into the zone without hesitation. Half a second could be the difference between a scoring opportunity and a faceoff outside the offensive zone.