Checking (ice hockey)

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Checking in ice hockey is the act of physically keeping an opposing player in check. It is usually not a penalty.

[edit] Types of checking

There are multiple types of checking:

Body checking: Using the hip (also known as hip checking) or shoulder to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice. This is often referred to as simply checking or hitting and is only permitted on an opponent with possession of the puck. Body checking taken too far is penalized as charging, as is hitting from behind. Any body checking is a penalty in women's hockey. It is also usually not allowed in amateur leagues and leagues with young children. Some intramural university leagues do not permit body checking in order to reduce injury and avoid incidents of fighting. "Leaning" against opponents is an alternative to body checking but, if abused, may be penalized as holding.
Poke checking: Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.
Sweep checking: Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from an opponent or deter him from passing.
Stick checking: Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.
Forechecking: Rushing up the ice against the opposing team, towards the offensive zone.
Backchecking: Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.
Cross-checking: The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.
Lift checking: A player lifts or knocks an opponent's stick upwards with his/her stick followed immediately by an attempt to steal the puck.
Press checking: A type of stick check used to stop or control the movement of an opponent's stick by placing stick pressure over top of the opponent's stick.

[edit] New Standard of Rule Enforcement 2005-2006

For the 2005-2006 season, the NHL instituted stricter enforcement of many checking violations that in previous seasons would not have been penalized. The intent of the new standard of enforcement was to fundamentally alter the way hockey is played, rewarding speed and agility over brute strength, as well as increasing opportunities for scoring and minimizing stoppage of play. The result is a faster-paced game with generally higher end-of-game scores than in previous years.