Hockey rink

From ArticleWorld

For most hockey games played in North America, the hockey rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. Its surface is divided roughly into thirds by a series of red and blue lines. In nine places on the rink surface are painted spots where faceoffs are held to begin the game or after a stoppage of play. At each end is a pipe and net goal. A 40-inch –high wall – called the boards – surrounds the hockey rink and contains the puck and players. Atop this wall is protective glass to keep the puck from flying into the crowd.

Contents 1 The lines 2 The zones 3 The circles 4 The goals

The lines

The yard lines on a football field simply indicate distances. But, the lines on a hockey rink actually help control play and are part of the rules of the sport.

1. Center/Red Line. This 12-inch wide line divides the hockey rink in half lengthwise. In the middle of it is center ice, and a large circle where the faceoffs are held, especially those starting each of the three periods.
2. Blue Lines. Painted into the ice surface, these 12-inch wide lines are 50 feet away on each side of the red line. These divide the hockey rink into three zones and help control play. For example, a player on offense must move the puck across the blue line before other members of his/her team may advance.
3. Goal Lines. Painted the width of the ice and marking the mouth of the actual goal (the puck must cross this line inside the netted goal to be counted).

The zones

The center/red line and the two blue lines actually divide the rink into three specific zones. These zones are based upon what transpires in each for either of the teams.

1. Neutral Zone. This is the 100-foot wide space between the blue lines and divided by the center/red line.
2. Attack Zone. For the team with the puck, this is also the offensive zone and the location of the opponent’s goal. This end of the ice is from the blue line to the end of the rink behind the goal.
3. Defensive Zone. This is the space from the end of the rink out to the blue line at the end of the rink where a team’s own goal is located. This is the zone in which they defend their goal against scoring attempts by the other team.

The circles

For some, the red and blue lines on the ice are confusing enough, without the circles painted at each end and in the middle if the rink. These circles are where faceoffs are held to begin play at the beginning of each period, or to resume play after a stoppage for a penalty, another infraction or if the puck leaves the rink as it sometimes does. There are five circles painted into the ice surface: one at center ice and two each inside the two end zones on either side of and forward of goal. There also are four other spots where faceoffs may be held: two each on either side of the rink close to the blue lines.

The goals

Each goal in North American hockey rinks is four feet high and six feet wide. They are constructed of a metal pipe frame to which a fabric net is attached. Putting the puck inside this goal and across the red goal line is the object of the game. Doing this scores one point. In front of each goal is a light blue zone painted into the ice and outlined in red. This goal crease is meant to be a safe zone for the goalie.