In addition to violations in plays, quite a number of player actions are potentially dangerous to the players and thus are outlawed. Click on each foul to see an explanation.
| Charging | Any player who skates, jumps, or charges into an opponent will receive a penalty. A minor penalty is typically imposed. However, a major penalty will be imposed if the charging causes injury or if the charge is against an opponent from behind or against a goalkeeper within her crease. |
| High Sticks | Carrying the stick above shoulder height is called high sticks. A minor penalty may be called at the referee’s discretion. A player is permitted accidental contact with an opponent if the act is committed as a normal windup or follow through of a shooting motion. Hitting the puck with a high stick is penalized by a face-off in the defensive zone of the offending team. A goal scored from a high stick is disallowed, but a body deflection into the goal while the stick is high is allowed. |
| Kneeing and Elbowing | Kneeing and elbowing will result in a minor penalty. If injury is caused, a major penalty may be called. |
| Spearing, Butt Ending, or Cross Checking | Poking an opponent with the point or butt end of the stick is called spearing or butt ending.A major and a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on a player who spears an opponent. A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a spear. In a cross check, both hands are on the stick and no part of the stick is on the ground. A minor penalty is imposed for this violation. |
| Tripping | Accidental trips which occur simultaneously with a completed play will not be penalized. Tripping caused by the stick or part of the body will result in a minor penalty. When a player, in control of the puck (or who could have obtained possession and control of the puck) on the opponent’s side of the center red line and having no other opponent to pass to than the goalkeeper, is tripped or otherwise fouled from behind, thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending side. Nevertheless, the referee shall not stop play until the attacking side has lost possession of the puck to the defending side—except when a puck carrier is tripped from behind when in the attacking zone with only the opposing goalkeeper to beat. |
| Excessive Roughness and Board Checking | A player who uses excessive roughness or checks or slashes another player may receive a major penalty even when no injury occurs. Board checking is causing an opponent to be thrown violently into the boards. Slashing is swinging the stick to impede or scare an opponent. |
| Hooking | A player who impeded or seeks to stop the progress of an opponent by hooking that player with his stick will receive a minor penalty. A major penalty is called if injury is caused. |
| Clipping | Clipping is the act of throwing the body, from any direction, across or below the knees of an opponent so that the opponent loses possession of the puck. A minor penalty is imposed on any player who clips an opponent. A major penalty is called if injury is caused. No penalty is called if the puck is hit from the opponent’s possession before the player falls. |
| Kicking a Player or Deliberate Injury | Kicking or deliberately injuring or attempting to injure any person are offenses penalized with a match penalty. |
| Throwing the Stick | A player may receive a throwing the stick penalty if a defender throws his stick or any article at the puck in the defending zone. A penalty shot is awarded to the attackers if they have not scored when that play is complete. |
| Handling the Puck | If a player other than the goalkeeper closes his hands on the puck or picks it up while play is in progress, a minor penalty will be called. A penalty shot is awarded if a defending player other than the goalkeeper picks up the puck within the goal crease area. All players are permitted to stop or bat the puck in the air with the open hand, or to push it along the ice using the hand, but if another player of the same team plays the puck next, a face-off is held. If a puck is knocked into the goal by the hand of an attacking player, directly off a defender, the goal is disallowed; but, a puck sent into the goal by the hand of a defender is allowed as a goal. |
| Falling on the Puck | If any player other than a goalkeeper falls on or gathers the puck towards the body in any way while standing or lying, the player will earn a minor penalty. A minor penalty is also imposed if the goalkeeper commits these offenses when the puck is behind the goal line and the goalkeeper’s body is entirely outside the goal crease. A penalty shot is awarded if a defender commits these offenses when inside the defensive goal. |
| Misconduct Towards Officials |
Misconduct toward officials will result in a penalty for a player who:
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