USSHA Rules Amendments
U.S. SLED HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
RULE AMENDMENTS
The following rules will be used in USSHA competitions as a complement to the current USA
Hockey "Official Rules of Ice Hockey."
Rule 109 players' bench P. 9
If a rink’s players’ benches for sleds hockey are not retro fitted to be accessible to sled
hockey players, the players’ benches shall be the area on the ice just in front of the
player's bench between blue line and center line. When possible, the area adjacent to the
blue lines (8-10 feet) should be left open.
If the puck enters the designated bench area and is not immediately put back in play by a
player, the referee or linesman shall stop play to avoid players piling into the bench area.
Rule 110 Penalty Bench P.10
If a rink’s penalty box areas are not retro fitted to be accessible to sled hockey players,
the penalty bench for sled hockey shall be the area on the ice just in front of the time
keepers area on either side of the center line.
If the puck enters the designated penalty area and is not immediately put back in play by
a player, the referee or linesman shall stop play to avoid players piling into the penalty
area.
Rule 301 Sticks P. 28
In sled hockey the stick dimensions are:
Stick: maximum length 100 cm measured in a straight line from the toe to the pick end
Shaft: maximum width 3 cm
Maximum thickness 2.5 cm
The shaft must be straight
Blade: maximum length 32 cm from the heel to the toe.
The blade may be curved, and the curvature shall be restricted in such a way that a
distance of a perpendicular line, measured from a straight line drawn from any point at the
heel to the end of the blade, shall not exceed 1.5 cm.
The depth of the teeth on the pick-ends shall not extend 4 mm. The pick-ends must be
fixed to the lower or butt end of the stick and not end in a single sharp point, but have at
least 6 teeth per stick (3 each side) to avoid player injury or to damaged the ice surface.
Each tooth on a pick shall not be conical or come to a sharp needle-like or piercing point
to avoid puncturing type wounds or possible slashes, intentional or accidental. The pick
ends may be made of any strong material including steel but not exceed the width of the
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stick not be longer than 10.2 cm (4 inches). The pick-ends shall not extend beyond 1cm of
the end of the solid portion of the stick.
A player may utilize two sticks, each with a single blade.
The goalkeeper's sticks may be equipped with a larger blade. The blade must not exceed
35 cm in length and in height, nor anywhere along the blade be less than 7.62 cm (3
inches). The goalie stick shall have a maximum length f 100 cm (including the blade) to
be measured along the centerline of the stick. The goalkeeper's stick blade may be curved
similar to a players stick (ref.5.2.5), but may have an additional pick at the base of the
blade not exceeding the regular pick projection of 1cm with a corresponding pick at right
angles at the butt end of the same stick to facilitate movement back and forth in the goal
(i.e. push or pull).
If the goalkeeper uses two sticks, the second stick must not be curved or grooved, but may
have a blade, the dimensions of which shall not exceed those of a player’s regular stick.
The handle, shaft and blade of a stick (including goalkeeper's stick) may be made of wood,
plastic or aluminium/titanium but must not have any pockets, projections, netting or other
contrivance designed to catch or hold the puck, thereby giving the player or goalkeeper an
undue advantage in playing the game.
Rule 302 Skates (sleds) P. 28
The player’s sled must meet the following specifications:
• The height of the main frame measured from the ice to the bottom of the frame shall
be between 8.5 - 9.5 cm.
• The material used to construct the frame must be tubular and not have a diameter
greater than 3.0 cm. The front end shall have a continuous curve with a maximum
radius of 1/2 the inside width of the sled frame. No part of the outer frame should
have exposed pointed edges.
• The maximum blade length should not be more than 1/3 of the total length of the sled.
• Devices under the sled (except for runners) are prohibited.
• The puck must be able to roll on edge beneath the sled. No more than 1/3 of the sled
may block the puck from going under the sled.
• Seat cushions, if used, must not exceed 10 cm in height when unoccupied, and may
not overlap the main frame of the sled.
• The sled may be equipped with a backrest (chair back), but it must not protrude
laterally beyond the armpits of the player when properly seated on the sled. The
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backrest may be padded and shall have rounded edges/corners with no hard or sharp
obtrusions to the sides.
• No external projection or protuberance beyond the seat or back support towards the
rear of the sled will be allowed in excess of 10mm.
• Straps shall be used to secure a player’s feet, ankles, knees and hips to the sled.
Repeated loss of straps or adjustment on ice causing DELAY OF GAME shall be
penalized accordingly.
Rule 303 Goalkeeper's Equipment P. 29
The goalkeeper shall be allowed to use specialized goaltending equipment such as a
blocker and trapper glove. These shall be allowed to have fixed protuberances or picks
protruding but must be permanently attached to the equipment. The teeth of these picks
shall not exceed 4mm in length. This trapper glove arrangement may be made as an
alternative for a second stick.
The goalkeeper's equipment shall be secured so as not to impede the passage of the puck,
if rolling on edge. In order for the puck to pass beneath the goalkeeper's sled (i.e.
goalie's pads and equipment must be 8.5 to 9.5 cm off the ice including any leg padding
straps which must be secure above the goalkeeper's sled frame).
Rule 304 Protective Equipment P. 31
It is compulsory for all players in all sled hockey divisions to wear a hockey helmet and
full mask certified by HECC, plus a neck guard at all times while playing and while on
the player's bench, if the player's bench is on the ice.
Rule 606 Charging P. 80
In sled hockey, a minor or major penalty shall be imposed on any player who charges an
opponent from behind or from the side making contact with the front end of their sled to
any part of the opponents sled. When contact is to the front of an opponent’s sled, it will
be the discretion of the Referee, if the player was charging or playing the puck.
Rule 609 Delaying the Game P. 82
The puck shall be considered “frozen” or unplayable by the referee if the puck is out of
sight or is caught between a player’s skate blades. The referee shall stop play and call for
a face-off at the point of initiation (if in the neutral zone) or at he nearest face-off circle.
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Rule 617 High Sticks P. 96
The carrying of the blade end of the stick above the shoulders or the pick end of the stick
above the waist in sled hockey is prohibited.
Rule 626 Off-Sides P. 107
In sled hockey the position of the player's sled blades and not that of his sticks shall be
the determining factor in deciding on "off-side" violation. A player is off-side when both
sled blades are completely over the outer edge of the blue line into the attacking zone.
Rule 639 Tripping P. 124
In sled hockey a minor penalty shall be imposed on any player who shall place his sled,
stick, foot, arm or hand under the blades or front end of an opposing player’s sled in such
a manner that it shall cause the sled to tip or flip
Rule 640 Unnecessary Roughness (Roughing) P. 126
In sled hockey, at the discretion of the referee a minor or major penalty and a game
misconduct may be imposed on any player who purposely tips their sled over exposing
the blades of the sled or raises the sled's front end to impose injury.