What is offside in hockey?
Attacking players may not enter the attacking zone ahead of the puck. A player is offside when both skates are fully past the leading edge of the blue line before the puck fully crosses it.1 On a delayed offside, the linesperson raises an arm and lets play go on while the defending team can clear the puck. The call is dropped once all attackers clear the zone together (touching the blue line) or the defenders move the puck into the neutral zone.1 (NHL Rule 83)
The details
Only skate position counts, not the stick. A player is onside if either skate is touching the blue line or has not broken the plane of its leading edge when the puck crosses. (Rule 83)1
A player carrying the puck who crosses the line ahead of it is not offside, as long as he had control of the puck before both skates crossed. (Rule 83)1
During a delayed offside, play is stopped if an attacker touches the puck, chases a loose puck, or pressures the defending puck carrier before the zone is cleared. (Rule 83)1
A shot that causes a delayed offside cannot become a goal, even if attackers clear the zone before it goes in, unless the defending team puts the puck in its own net. (Rule 83)1
If the puck was carried in offside, the faceoff is at the neutral-zone spot just outside that blue line. (Rule 83)1
If the puck was shot or passed in, the faceoff goes to the spot nearest where the shot or pass started that gives the offending team the least territorial advantage. (Rule 83)1
An intentional offside, one made to get a stoppage, moves the faceoff to an end-zone spot in the offending team's own defending zone. (Rule 83)1
A coach can challenge a goal for offside. The goal is taken off only if video clearly shows an attacker entered the zone ahead of the puck and the puck never left the zone before the goal. (Rule 38)1
A failed coach's challenge costs a two-minute minor for delay of game; a later failed challenge in the same game costs a double minor. (Rule 38)1
In the last minute of the third period and in overtime, the NHL Situation Room starts these reviews itself instead of a coach. (Rule 38)1
In USA Hockey, delayed offside and tag-up are used only above 14U; at 14U and younger, offside is called right away.2
USA Hockey and NFHS require the trailing skate to be touching the blue line to stay onside; NCAA, like the NHL, also counts a skate that is above the line.2
More hockey rules
What is icing in hockey? · Hockey rink dimensions · Hockey penalties list · All hockey rules
Sources
- NHL Official Rules 2025-26 (league) · accessed 2026-10-23
- USA Hockey / NFHS Playing Rules Committees: USAH-NFHS-NCAA Rules Comparison 2026-27 (updated 9/30/2026) · accessed 2026-10-23
Rules are paraphrased, not quoted; the rulebook wins wherever wording matters. NHL rules unless a league is named.