What is a legal body check in ice hockey?
I · Intermediate · Fouls · 7 of 13A legal body check uses the hip or shoulder on an opponent who has the puck, from the front or side, above the knees and not above the shoulders. Driving a defenceless player violently into the boards is boarding; building up speed or jumping into a hit is charging. A check from behind always brings a major and a game misconduct.
How it works
- Legal check: hips and shoulders only, on the puck carrier, to separate them from the puck.
- Vulnerable players: a check on a player who cannot see it coming or is not ready is reckless.
- Boarding: checking a defenceless player so they hit the boards violently.
- Charging: jumping into a check, taking many strides to build speed or travelling far to deliver a hit.
- From behind: contact on the back of an unaware player; always a major and automatic game misconduct.
- Clipping: a low hit at or below the knees.
- Elbowing and kneeing: leading with an extended elbow or a knee.
- Penalties: a minor, or a major (with a game misconduct for clipping and kneeing), or a major and game misconduct, by the danger involved.
- Turning your back: a player who turns into a check to create a hit from behind gets no checking-from-behind call in their favour.
- Goalkeepers: not fair game outside the crease; incidental contact is allowed if the attacker tried to avoid it.
The glossary has the boarding, the charging, the elbowing, the major penalty, the vulnerable position and the reckless endangerment.
Tricky cases
A defender hits a forward squarely in open ice, chest to chest. Legal?
Yes, if the forward had the puck and the hit was with the shoulder or hip at a legal height.
A player turns away a moment before a check and is hit in the back. Who is penalised?
The player who turned may not benefit; the checker is not given checking from behind, though other penalties may apply.
Can a player be given a minor for checking from behind?
No. The rules allow no minor: it is a major and an automatic game misconduct.
Is bodychecking allowed in women's hockey?
Not to eliminate an opponent. Women's hockey penalises an illegal hit.
Why the rule exists
Contact is part of men's hockey, but players move fast near hard boards. The rules put the duty on the player giving the hit to avoid an opponent who cannot protect themselves.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men's hockey | Body checking allowed | IIHF Appendix II |
| Women's hockey | Illegal hit rule | IIHF 101.1 |
| From behind | No minor option | IIHF 43.2 |
From the rule book
International Ice Hockey Federation, Official Rulebook 2026/27 (version 1.0, June 2026), Rules 41 to 45, 50 and 101 and Appendix II (Body checking, Vulnerable position). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IIHF Official Rulebook, revised each season.