Every five years, USA Hockey updates their rules, and their 2025-2029 rulebook changes are out now. Although some rules are mostly administrative (small definition changes, etc.), there are a few that will affect your adult hockey leagues starting in August 2025. Here are some of the most important 2025-2029 USA Hockey rule changes:
308(a): Electronic Devices
“Adds cameras and microphones to list of devices prohibited to be worn by a player during games. Any violation results in a misconduct penalty.”
The current rule only includes “one or two-way radios, lights or other electronic devices as a means for Team Officials or spectators to communicate with players or goalkeepers, during play” on the list of prohibited devices.
The current penalty for this rule is a bench minor for an equipment violation, but will be moved to a misconduct penalty in 2025-2029.
402(e): Minor Penalties
“Clarifies when a match penalty shall be served when assessed with a minor penalty to same player during same stoppage.”
This rule change does not yet clarify the “when” of the match penalty here, so we will have to wait until the rulebook is released to understand what the change is here.
407(a)&(b): Goalkeeper Penalties
“Clarifies how penalties assessed to goalkeeper shall be served.”
This one also does not clarify the “how” the penalty will be served, so this is the other rule change where we will have to wait until the 2025-2029 rulebook before understanding this rule fully.
601(c)&(d): Abuse of Officials and Other Misconduct
“Mandates game misconduct penalty to player or coach who uses obscene, profane, or abusive language to any person after the game.”
The current rule requires a misconduct for this penalty — the change will move it to a game misconduct.
610(c)&(d): Delaying the Game
“Removes mandatory minor penalty to a goalkeeper who accidentally shoots the puck out of the playing area.”
Currently, the rules say that a minor penalty shall be assessed to a goalkeeper or player who deliberately shoots or bats the puck outside of the playing area. The new rule clarifies that no penalty will be assessed if it’s an accident.
612(c): Face-off Locations & 631(d): Puck Out of Bounds or Unplayable
612(c): “Removes an attacking zone face-off location for attacking team shooting the puck out of play directly off the goal frame.”
631(d): “Requires a face-off located in the same zone the puck was located in if the puck leaves the playing surface or becomes unplayable.”
If a puck becomes unplayable, including if it is shot out of play by the attacking team and goes off the goal frame, the face-off location will now be in the same zone the puck was located in. Currently, the face off is always in the attacking zone.
624(c): Icing the Puck
“Requires center-ice face-off location if game officials err in calling icing.”
Refs do make mistakes, and icing is one of them. This new rule will move the face-off location to center ice if there is a mistake made. Currently, the rule has the face-off at “the end zone face-off spot nearest to the location of the puck when play was stopped.”
627(c): Kicking Opponent or Puck
“Clarifies play must be immediately stopped and resulting face-off locations for attempted kick-shot.”
This is another rule that is not entirely clear until we see the final rule, but it looks like the new word is “attempted,” so it’s possible there is now a whistle if someone attempts to kick the puck into goal, even if they do not succeed.
628(a): Kneeing
“Adds mandatory misconduct to any minor penalty assessed for kneeing an opponent.”
The current rule only has a minor penalty if you knee an opponent. The change will add a mandatory misconduct as well. Don’t be that guy who knees your opponent.
630(d): Offside
“Removes automatic whistle for shooting the puck into the attacking end zone “on net” with attacking players still in the end zone.”
Currently, play must be stopped if a player shoots on net when their team is offside. The new rule will remove this stoppage of play.
633(a): Refusal to Start Play
“Adds second warning to team before suspending the game for refusal to start play.”
Currently, a team is only allowed one warning if they refuse to start play. They are then given 15 seconds to resume play before receiving a bench minor penalty for delay of game. If the team still continues to continue play, the game will be suspended and someone from the team will receive a match penalty. The new change will allow two warnings before issuing the bench minor.
Appendix VII: Adds Disabled Hockey Playing Rules to general rulebook
USA Hockey will add official sled hockey rules and any other disabled hockey playing rulebook. Sled hockey has been such a growing segment of the hockey population, and it’s great that officials are learning the rules so they can ref these games.
Read all the USA Hockey 2025-2029 Rulebook Changes here.
The new rules will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2025.
