Ice hockey / Rule 79
Hand passes and high sticks
IIHF · 2026/27In short
Two different restrictions on playing the puck.
Hand passes
A hand pass is stopped when it directs the puck to a teammate or gains an advantage and the offending team subsequently gains possession and control. An accidental hand deflection without advantage differs; defensive-zone hand passes are permitted.
High sticks
Playing the puck above shoulder height causes a stoppage when the offending team next gains possession and control. For an attacking goal, the stricter crossbar-height limit applies at stick contact. An opponent gaining control allows play to continue.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent topic summaries of the supplied IIHF Rule Book 2026/27, version 1.0, June 2026. This is not the NHL rulebook or a complete reproduction. Women’s, junior and pilot provisions are identified separately; competition regulations govern applicable formats. References use PDF pages.
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