Explain Offsides in Hockey: A Simple Guide for New Fans

Here at Best Chirps Hockey, we love a clean chirp, but we also love helping new fans actually understand the sport. And if you’re just getting into hockey, one call you’re going to hear constantly is offsides.

It can sound confusing at first, but once you know the rule, it’s one of the simplest concepts in the game.

So let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.

What Does It Mean to Be Offsides?

If you’ve ever tried to explain offsides in hockey to someone, you know it can get wordy. But here’s the clearest, easiest version:

A team is called offsides when an attacking player enters the offensive zone before the puck does.

And here’s one more important detail that many new fans don’t realize:

The puck must completely cross the blue line—meaning the entire puck must be over the plane of the line—before any attacking player’s skates can enter the zone. If even a sliver of the puck is still touching the blue line, it hasn’t fully entered the offensive zone yet.

And yes, the rule is all about the skates, not the stick, and not the lean of the player’s body. Officials only watch the skates to determine whether a player crossed early.

So if a player’s skates enter the offensive zone before the whole puck does, the whistle blows and an offsides call is made.

Why Offsides Matters in Hockey

The offsides rule keeps the game fast, fair, and strategic. Without it, players could just camp out near the opposing goalie waiting for a long pass, and the game would lose a lot of its structure.

By requiring the puck to enter the zone first, the rule forces teams to time their entries, make coordinated plays, and earn their scoring chances. You’ll see players stretch to stay onside, slow down to avoid crossing too early, or completely reset a play because the timing wasn’t perfect.

It’s a tiny technicality with a huge impact on how hockey flows.

Still Confused? Ask Away.

If you ever have questions about hockey terms—offsides or anything else—you can drop a comment anytime or reach out through the form at BestChirpsHockey.org. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll find someone who does and break it down for you.

Because at Best Chirps Hockey, we’re all about the chirps and the education.