Power play (sporting term)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.
- In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice (whenever both teams have the same number of penalties being served, there is no power play). Up to two players per side may serve in the penalty box, giving a team up to a possible 5-on-3 power play. If a goaltender commits a foul, another player who was on the ice at the time of the penalty serves. A power play resulting from a simple minor penalty ends if the attacking team scores. If the penalty is instead a double minor, a goal scored kills half of the penalty, thus taking 2 goals to end the power play. If a player is given a major penalty (five minute duration), a power play occurs, but if the team on the power play scores, the penalty is not ended. Major penalties only end when five minutes have elapsed or the game has ended. If a team is still on a power play at the end a regulation period, or at the end of a playoff overtime period, the power play will continue into the following period. Misconducts do not result in power plays. If a team scores that is taking the penalty, it is called a short-handed goal. If a power play ends without the shorthanded team having been scored against, the shorthanded team is said to have killed the penalty. If a team scores on the power play, the team is said to have converted the power play (that is, converted the opportunity into a goal). During a power play, the shorthanded team may launch the puck to the opposite end of the rink, and play will continue; icing is not called.
- In lacrosse, a similar type of penalty situation exists, though the duration of the penalty is only 30 seconds for minor infractions and one minute for major ones, as well as 3 minute penalties for certain equipment infractions. Depending on the infraction, the penalty may "release" early if a goal is scored by either team, or may be "non-releasable," meaning the full duration must be served. The term extra man is used more frequently than powerplay. In box lacrosse, a powerplay is very similar to ice hockey. This situation is also often called an "extra man offense" (EMO) or "man up", or "man down", depending on the team penalized.
- In water polo. a shorter version of the ice hockey or lacrosse penalty situation exists as well. It is referred to as "man up" or "man down".
- In indoor soccer, in the forms usually played in the United States, there exists a powerplay situation similar to ice hockey.
- In indoor football, the 1988 proposed World Indoor Football League had intended to establish a perpetual power play, in which the offense would always have one man more on the field than the defense.
- In fastnet (netball), when a team uses it in a quarter, all goals scored by that team are worth twice as normal. This means that if a shooter (Goal Shooter or Goal Attack) scores a goal outside the goal circle, the goal is worth 4 goals instead of 2. It is also possible for both teams to use their powerplay in the same quarter.
- For cricket see powerplay (cricket)
See also