What is icing? What’s an offside in hockey? [hockey 101]

One of the most common questions I get from new hockey fans is “what is icing?” Well in this video we’re going to cover two concepts that go hand in hand: offside and Icing. To understand both concepts you first have to understand that hockey is a Game of Zones...
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#hockey #hockey101 #icing

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching! For more on hockey, check out How Many Players Are On a Hockey Team? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHTNh4RndtmomrM

[@berrylee6787]

Being a sports fan, you must have liked game 6. Congrats Denver. Lightning was a long shot to me. I am a Tampa fan. Denver flew thru the playoffs. Good play, but they had tons of rest time between series. Plus home field advantage was bigger then ever. Denver is 6000 feet above sea level and bodies have to be ready at that thin air. I did a medical mission in Peru and rode horseback to 6-8500 feet and you're dizzy all the time and weak from lack of oxygen. That's why they stank first 2 games. Not taking anything from Denver , three peet is almost impossible. They played very good. Now football time, go BUCS and gronk will come back after the heat cools down. You think he would leave Brady hanging? Plus he wants to and him in HOF together. Neal

[@rftulie]

This brings me back to childhood when my family moved to Boston from Southern California. I was 11. This was so long ago that hockey was literally unknown in California. There were no Kings. I had to learn the game from the ground up and I had to learn to skate. I still remember my friend Bill drawing a rink in pencil on a cafeteria table so he could explain icing and offside to me.

[@BenchWormSports]

Haha that’s awesome! He’s a good friend.

[@tanmay6367]

@@BenchWormSports Thank you❤👍🏻 What is the penalty for offside?

[@andrew3524]

Keep in mind that those icing rules are for professional level hockey. At least in Canada, icing is called when the puck is dumped before crossing the centre red line immediately as long as the other team doesn’t touch it before it reaches the goal line. Also, minor hockey doesn’t use the no changing rule. The team who ices the puck will still be able to change.

[@joeshmoe7789]

Offside is the single most important thing to understand about hockey. Have a good understanding of this and you'll understand why players are where they're at at various times during the game. The rest is easy, including icing. This is a great video for a new fan to watch. I think if a couple of my friends watch this, I can explain things easier as the game goes on.

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much! I hope it helps and that you get more friends into watching hockey!

[@mhais21]

Thank you for clearly explaining icing and offside. I've been reading things about offside in the web but really can't understand. When understanding things, I can easily pick it up when I learn visually. And through your simple yet smart explanations, I now know what icing and offside means! Thank you! 💯

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for the note - glad I could help! If you ever have any questions about the game, feel free to leave a comment. Always looking for new ideas to make videos about :)

[@Nebraskyguy]

⁰

[@skydivejumprope]

@@BenchWormSports I still don't understand offside totally. I mean, icing is simple but offside is not. I've seen so many plays where I'm like, "OFFSIDE' cuz some player was deep in the o-zone and clearly offsides according to my, obviously still inccorrect understanding of it. doh!

[@skydivejumprope]

@@BenchWormSports I still don't get it. Was just watching that epic pass from Draisaitl to Ryan Hopkins from the other day.... Epic pass, but why wasn't that offsides? Both him and the puck were across the blue line when he received the puck. I still don't get it. I dunno. Maybe i'm just stupid. I get icing. That's so simple. But am still confused about this offsides shit. And I used to play soccer and hockey when I was a kid and I still don't frigging get it. Hmmmm. Maybe that's why I didn't go pro. :-)

[@skydivejumprope]

@@BenchWormSports I've also had people tell me that it's only offsides if theres no defenders in front of you and you receive a puck in the o zone, but if you're not offsides if there's a defender ahead of you...... I'm still confused after all these years.....

[@StaryV.1]

For some reason I've always struggled to comprehend icing (I'm new to watching hockey). This helped soooo much and I 100% get it now. Excellent video 👍

[@BenchWormSports]

That’s awesome! Really glad that you’re able to enjoy watching the game more.

[@dan3307]

Excellent video - the only thing I'd add is you mention if the team has fewer players on the ice, icing is negated. This isn't technically correct. Fewer players needs to be the result of a penalty. I.e. if you fail to make a change and have fewer players, icing would still be in effect. However if you are "short-handed," icing is waived for the duration of the penalty. This is a great video for people new to the sport or those trying to explain the sport to newbies. I LOVE this game and explaining simple rules like this help promote it to those who aren't as well versed. Excellent job!

[@andrewpopa7585]

Currently trying to get into hockey! This helped enormously!!

[@BenchWormSports]

Glad to help! Hope you enjoy the sport!

[@ThatBlackGuy1337]

you should make more vids, these are really good :)

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much! I'm working through a couple ideas. Hope to have something in the coming weeks.

[@vasyavasili4713]

@@BenchWormSports Great videos, do more on hockey, baseball, football, soccer and lets say F1 =) and you'll have a great success!

[@BenchWormSports]

@@vasyavasili4713 Thanks so much! I definitely want to start doing more videos on other sports. Great choices! I've also been thinking about doing some on boxing.

[@simone.simone]

That is THE best video on this topic. I just watched my first NHL game and I was so confused, but this has made that clear!

[@EricHinson]

I’ve watched several of these and this is the BEST description of hockey rules!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much Eric! That’s so great to hear!

[@timothythomason3281]

I really enjoy these videos as they are helpful and educational. I’ve watched hockey before but haven’t really understood the rules and everything. But I’m really wanting to get into it and learn about it and watch it more, so these videos really help!

[@gabrielpacana8596]

I love this video and the other one covering the basics of hockey! I just started watching hockey last year and the concepts of icing and offside have always confused me.

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching our videos! Hope they helped!

[@IainHC1]

Wowwwww.............. I need to come back here to watch this again!!

[@davidmorais480]

I played hockey all through childhood and college and invite friends to watch or attend games. I’m now in my 70s so that’s a lot of hockey and your video is the best ever that I’ve seen at explaining the key rules of the game which are perplexing to novice fans. Viewing your video dramatically changes the fan experience

[@BenchWormSports]

That made my day! Thank you and happy new year!

[@PeakApex]

thanks for explaining! the video was very clear and i totally understand it now!

[@Rohahahahahah]

I'm new to ice hockey but damm. You're quality is amazing and you deserve a lot more subs

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much! Welcome to the sport! I've got a few more hockey videos in the works.

[@JY-jd6rn]

Your videos are so cool. Very easy to understand and very watchable. 😁

[@robdavidson9724]

2 more points on offside: you aren't offside if you enter the offensive zone ahead of the puck as long as you are in control of the puck, like skating backwards over the blue line with puck control. Also, if you are in the offensive zone ahead of the puck and the defensive team puts the puck into the offensive zone, you're not offside.

[@berrylee6787]

THAT is the best explanation I ever heard. I'm a lightning fan and it's been an amazing few years. Neal

[@Mountainlife2625]

Thank you so much sir🙏🙏

[@dominikm4235]

You also forgot to say that icing isnt called if you hit goal or if the puck before crossing the line touches the net. Great and simple video tho. 👍

[@vintagebluenote8564]

Finally I can get what is happening when I play hokey on my sega mega drive!! Thanks! Amazing!

[@cassiealexandru3297]

I learned so much, thank youuuu

[@bob725]

This was very helpful

[@aliceshepard7623]

I finally understand it! Thank you!

[@reganh9673]

I just got into hockey and these things are very confusing! Thanks so much for explaining and the visuals!!

[@BenchWormSports]

Hope you’re enjoying the sport!

[@ajd_chew]

i started playing nhl 22 bc i love hockey and i had no clue why i was offside so much so thank you a lot

[@Rowan_096]

This is by far the best explanation of icing and offside both concepts i have never really understood unitl i watched this now i fully understand it thanks this will help my in my hockey game

[@BenchWormSports]

That’s awesome to hear! Hope you enjoy watching next season!

[@Rowan_096]

@@BenchWormSports Can't wait

[@jacobduperon472]

This was such a good explanation. Thank you!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching!

[@osa799]

Great stuff 👍🏼

[@archaicbro]

You're a GODSEND to new hockey fans

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much! If you ever have any hockey questions, let me know. Would love to do a video answering common questions from new hockey fans.

[@kotaowens6978]

Thank you for the info!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching!

[@jb-iu6dr]

Very informative, thank you!

[@BenchWormSports]

Glad to help out - thanks for watching!

[@tb7-rf1fb]

Amazing video!

[@godiegogo5328]

Great video! Just watched it to teach my girlfriend about icing while watching game 5 of the Florida panthers series. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much - and glad it helped! Good luck with the Panthers this round!

[@genekellystappingboots]

Hey thanks man just started watching the nhl and I'm a soccer guy. Its really quick and end to end so really needed to understand icing. Thanks this did the deed.👍😊

[@BenchWormSports]

Welcome to the sport! Glad to help!

[@genekellystappingboots]

@@BenchWormSports Thanks mate. I ain't into American sports. But gotta say hockey is damn straight entertaining. Will be watching it alot more.!!

[@Not_Sure-2020]

3 notes about offsides. 1: if you have and are in control of the puck, you (not teammates) can go in before the puck. 2: If the defender in the zone gets the puck out but THEY bring it back in, you don't have to tag up. 3: you have to be fully over the line (both skates) before the puck before you are considered offsides.

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks - awesome notes!

[@timfronimos459]

Best explanation. Great video.

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much!

[@timfronimos459]

@BenchWormSports I play in an over 60 rec league w men up to 85 and we talk about the channels worth watching. Yours is now in the mix. Greetings from .Michigan.

[@BenchWormSports]

@@timfronimos459 I’m honoured! Tell the league that Benchworm thanks them for the support!

[@jamiesong7772]

This helped me a lot thank you

[@BenchWormSports]

No problem! Hope it helps you get ready for the upcoming season.

[@GoldenCondor1]

I just started playing, (first game was last sunday) and really needed this, thanks

[@BenchWormSports]

Awesome to hear and congrats on starting!

[@marka6719]

Love this video. But as a new fan!!!! What is the difference in a delayed penalty and a stoppage penalty

[@JS-vf5gn]

Great video.

[@dominicfrizzi2563]

For those who look even more into the game, both offsides and icing are handled by the linesman, not the referee. Stoppages of play resulting from offsides or icing or an icing being waved off are all controlled by the two linesman

[@arhus12]

Great video, thank you!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching, and let me know if you have any hockey questions!

[@daniloshimada7885]

Thanks to your awesome videos and also cartoons all explaining gets really easy. Btw are you a teacher? if not you'd be a heck of a teacher/professor. Thanks again for your videos!

[@gabrielalmeida1360]

Great explanation, very easy to understand. One more sub :)

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks so much! Let me know if you ever have more hockey questions.

[@loganbeaver4344]

Thanks for the info mate

[@BenchWormSports]

No problem! Thanks for watching

[@astroboyvr]

this is a great video and best of all its kid friendly im gonna use this for my kids hockey team to explain to them great stuff keep it up how about doing one for penalties

[@eugenedenbrook322]

Really appreciate the video! I was struggling to explain this to my 6yo son and 7yo daughter, who have become hockey crazy 🙂

[@BenchWormSports]

Glad the video could help them! Feel free to reach out if they have more hockey questions.

[@eugenedenbrook322]

@@BenchWormSports Very cool, thank you

[@simonkhacherian5486]

What app or program do you use for these videos?

[@SNIPER67580]

Do one for hockey for what side you should be on for left or right wig

[@ronfehr7899]

You neglected to mention that icing is nullified if the opposing team's goaltender touches the puck. If icing wasn't called immediately and this happens, the goaltender has just made the call unnecessary.

[@BenchWormSports]

Good point Ron - I missed that one!

[@kingkong4ever]

I once asked someone what icing and offside was in hockey and they said “offside is when you’re not onside and icing is what goes on top of a cake”. Obviously they had no idea

[@DarkMatter727]

What do you mean by the puck has to cross the line first like it can’t be touching the stick or? I mean I thought I had an understanding until I played NHL 22 lol where I intercepted a pass and was called offsides

[@BenchWormSports]

I think what might have happened was, your player was offside and had to tag up, but didn’t. The opposing team was probably trying to exit their zone, and you touched the puck before they were able to exit.

[@AK-yz3wc]

Great video!

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for watching!

[@DrewTubeDrew]

This is a great and simple explanation, but I’m still totally confused. 😂

[@filthysock]

Explained. Understood. But still confused, lol. I mean... there are just so many peripheral variables to keep in mind before a referee can make the call. I'll settle for somewhat getting the gist of it.

[@hulk3503]

If you have control of the puck you CAN go ahead of the puck and be onside. Only the other players have to wait until the puck crosses the blue line. Players will skate in backwards sometimes with the puck coming in after them.

[@BenchWormSports]

You’re right! The first time I saw that on TV it blew my mind.

[@hulk3503]

I should've added.. Good video btw very clear and illustrative for those new to the game

[@BenchWormSports]

@@hulk3503 thanks so much!

[@dolphi_ns]

When the opposing team have the puck and didnt go out of the zone can the other team go into they zone try to chase or try to steal it?

[@BenchWormSports]

Yup if a team has the puck in their own zone, the opposing team can pressure them in the zone as long as they are onside.

[@ecargs]

Holy shit I understand icing

[@poisonpotato1]

Wouldn't the hybrid icing rule create the same scenario as crashing into the boards... if the offense gets to hash mark first it's not like they slow down and play stops

[@BenchWormSports]

Good point! It’s definitely not perfect. That said, it has prevented a lot of injuries if you consider all the plays where icing was called.

[@charleynewman4783]

I get it already

[@sa230e]

I never really understood line changes. How do the players know when to go off? Does the coach call them back?

[@somedude0]

The players get off when they're tired, but in minor hockey if a player has been on for, say, more than a minute and a half (yes, the sport is that demanding) the coach will often tell them to get off and might brench them for a little

[@Liggie55821]

In the pros, the coaches will tell the players when to change, usually in 30-second shifts, and the players on the ice need to check for signals from the bench to know to end their shift. Which offensive line and or defensive pairing goes out next depends on the game situation or who the opponent has on the ice (e.g. if the other team has their top scorers out, the coach will put out defensive/shut-down combinations to stop them).

[@fitzgerald1337x]

One small comment: You say that the referee makes the determination as to whether or not the offensive player beats the defensive player to the dots; however, it's actually the linesman. Small distinction, but still something to be aware of :)

[@BenchWormSports]

Great catch!

[@Jayjon_official]

Ok so its icing when you slap the ball to the opponents wall across the rink. But its not if one of my players goes chasing for it?? And wouldnt it be a offsides if the puck is over there with one of my teammates and the rest of us are still in our defensive zone ?

[@BenchWormSports]

That's right! Icing will be waived off if your teammate can get to the puck first (or if the ref thinks your teammate will get to the puck first). If your teammate is in the offensive zone before the puck gets there, your teammate is offside.

[@browndd]

I only watched this to see if it was a good tutorial for a friend of mine. He likes hockey but he doesn't really understand what's happening. The only thing you forgot was intentional offsides.

[@browndd]

Also, you forgot to mention that if a goalie leaves his crease or makes a gesture like he going to leave his crease that will also nullify an icing call.

[@BenchWormSports]

Thanks for the notes! Hope the video helped your friend!

[@browndd]

@@BenchWormSports yeah it did. I mean 90% of what happens in a game is defined by those 2 rules so.

[@CodeNameV13]

Same rules apply for Rugby league and union, football or soccer.

[@visualizecreate2530]

Yay!!!!

[@steelfan187]

Do you know anything about rugby? If so you should explain cause I would like to know how it's played

[@BenchWormSports]

Maybe I’ll do rugby next. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@steelfan187]

@@BenchWormSports your welcome and please do if you can. I'm going to sub to you

[@alexspata]

wow, this got more complicated, these rules are subtle

[@finalfrontier001]

That is complex and I cannot understand how you can notice or acknowledge any of these movements at such break speeds.

[@BenchWormSports]

It really is - and linesmen will miss an offside call every now and then. The NHL has a system for that. If a team scores a goal, and the opposing team believes it resulted from a missed offside, the coach can request a review - this is called a coach's challenge. The play will then be reviewed. If it turns out that the play was offside, the goal is called back. If the play was indeed onside, the team who called the challenge is assessed a minor penalty.

[@finalfrontier001]

@@BenchWormSports why is their no system in Hokcey like VAR in football in English premier league, why do they leav to human intuition?

[@Liggie55821]

@@finalfrontier001 The NHL does have a VAR-like system, where league employees in Toronto have access to cameras from every game and can alert the on-ice officials if goals should stand. All goals are automatically reviewed before the ensuing face-off. Coaches also can challenge a goal they think shouldn't count (offside entry, high stick, didn't cross the plane, etc.); if they lose the challenge, their team loses their sole time out of the game.

[@theghostofsw6276]

@@Liggie55821 Video replay ruined hockey.

[@melle2329]

But why can a fast skater still get to the puck? 4:26

[@GalacticOcean77]

I like how he threw in the one Black player. That's a pretty accurate representation in my opinion lol

[@elephantgrass631]

Explain what icing is “waved off” means.

[@BenchWormSports]

When icing is waved off, it’s as if nothing happened. There is no whistle, and the play just continues on.

[@elephantgrass631]

@@BenchWormSports Who waves it off? Who is allowed to wave it off?

[@Raphael-hy4mh]

hmm now i got it, kub sent me here!

[@kub8741]

i did!

[@288theabe]

4:45 *linesman. The ref has almost no say in icing.

[@rutharevalo3148]

Hi

[@chubydukskruber7969]

Who else is here after Utah got a hockey team?

[@Kristiansolis15]

What about basketball

[@BenchWormSports]

For sure! I'd like to cover more sports at some point.

[@jingmao0501]

I thought I understand offside and icing until I saw this video 😢

[@BenchWormSports]

Ahh hope this video helped but let us know if you have any questions!

[@stephrite]

thank you for this!! ive always enjoyed hockey (mainly for the fights) but now im dating someone who plays it themselves and i wanna be a good girlfriend who genuinely understands the calls. haha

[@charlotteantiquepowerengin6277]

Half of these rules exist because the rink is too small for modern equipment and athletes

[@kevinkraftable]

But WHY is icing a thing? Like what’s so bad about it.

[@BenchWormSports]

Great question! If icing was allowed, players would likely ice the puck way more often. This would break the flow of the game and could make it boring to watch.

[@kevinkraftable]

@@BenchWormSports thank you :)

[@nathanviebranz9111]

Forces a team with a lead to keep playing the game properly and not keep resorting to delay tactics. Teams would do this a lot back in the early years of the NHL. You’d really only have to score a couple goals and then do this the rest of the game. I think it came to a head when a team was protesting something that they didn’t agree with, so they scored early in the game and literally kept icing the puck down the rink for the rest of the night, so the rule was implemented in 1937 so it wasn’t so boring and frustrating. Think of it this way; would you want to see or play in a game where all that happens is just one team continuously shooting it the length of the ice for nearly all 60 minutes?

[@kevinkraftable]

@@nathanviebranz9111 not at all. and thank you so much for this information which is why i asked! I greatly appreciate this. :) im just getting into hockey and have a lot to learn.

[@CommodoreFloopjack78]

I love the sport of hockey, I truly do and have for a long, long time. That being said, icing really is one of the most pointless rules in all of professional sports. What a horrible waste of time.

[@theghostofsw6276]

"Wasting time" is why the icing rule was implemented in the first place.

[@rob6345]

Wow, So all these rules seem really stupid. Why not just let the skaters skate wherever they want all the time? Best strategy wins.

[@theghostofsw6276]

Because there would actually be "no strategy"......just a bunch of guys slapping the puck around willy nilly.

[@GoDjTrex]

Those rules suck

[@rcortez5739]

Hockey is so fucked up