Rule 640. Unnecessary Roughness (Roughing)

1. At the discretion of the Referee, a minor or double minor penalty may be imposed on any player deemed guilty of unnecessary roughness. Any action worthy of a major penalty under this subsection must be assessed under Rule 613 (Fisticuffs).

   For a body checking infraction in a nonchecking classification, a minor or major penalty shall be assessed under this rule.

   (Note 1) In the Youth 10-and-Under/Squirt and below, and in all Girls/Women classifications, body-checking is prohibited and shall be penalized under this rule.

   When a team that normally plays in a non-checking age classification plays against a team that normally plays in a checking age classification, body-checking shall be prohibited under this rule.

   (Note 2) In all non-checking age classifications, a penalty shall be assessed under this rule whenever a player impedes the movement of a puck-carrying opponent by pushing him with the hands or arms or deliberately contacting him with the shoulder, hip or any other part of the torso.

   There are instances when considerable body contact between the puck carrier and an opponent may occur that should not be penalized, provided that there has been no overt hip, shoulder or arm contact to physically force the opponent off the puck. Likewise, there shall be no penalty assessed if the puck carrier unsuccessfully attempts to skate through too small an opening between the boards and a stationary opponent and a collision occurs, unless there has been an overt action to body check the puck carrier.

   Deliberate body contact on the part of the puck carrier may also be penalized under this rule. In order for a body checking penalty to be assessed, enough contact must have occurred to impede the movements of the puck carrier. A penalty may never be assessed for an attempt to body check.

2. (For Youth and all Girls/Women games)

   A minor or major penalty shall be assessed under this rule for any avoidable body check to an opponent who does not have possession and control of the puck (See Glossary). If the opponent is injured from this check, a major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed.

3. A minor or a major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on a player who makes physical contact with an opponent after the whistle has been blown if, in the opinion of the Referee, the player has had sufficient time after the whistle to avoid such contact. If the opponent is injured from this check, a major plus a game misconduct shall be assessed.

   For Juniors only - A major plus game ejection penalty option also applies under subsection (c) of this rule.