So you wanna learn how to play street hockey. You've come the right place. Whether you're a league operator or a coach, you'll quickly learn

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that street hockey is a vastly more accessible version of the game, giving boys and girls of all ages a chance to play and have fun.

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While traditional hockey has played five on five with the goalie. NHL Street is designed to be flexible so that operators can format their leagues

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how they best see fit. For example, the size of your rink or court helps determine your roster size while game length

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depends on your players' ages. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend a minimum of three players, plus a goalie

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and a maximum of five players, plus a goalie. In NHL Street, there are three main positions, goalie forward and defender.

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When playing three on three, we suggest setting up two forwards and a defender. For four on four, add a defender,

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and for five on five include three forwards. Now that you finalize your roster and establish your game structure, you're ready to start playing.

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Every street hockey game begins with an opening faceoff at center court, and operates with a running clock. Players are on foot trying to maintain possession

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of the ball and ultimately score on their opponent. But of course, there are a few rules along the way

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that stop gameplay. First are infractions, which result in a change of possession. The one you'll see most often is when the

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ball goes out of play. The team that last touches the ball loses possession. And in the non-offending team gains possession at the point

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where the ball went out of play without a face off. Please note that when resuming play, the new ball carrier can't take a direct shot

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on the opposing neck. This is called a restart, and the goal will not count. Other infractions you'll see are offsides

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and hand passes, which also result in a change of possession. Penalties on the other hand, are more serious and result in a live penalty shot.

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These include high sticking cross-checking, slashing, tripping, holding, and more. To see a complete list of infractions and penalties and to learn about their rules, be sure

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to check out our penalty and infraction video. During the game, players sub on the fly at the discretion of their team's Coach players can also sub

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during any play stoppage that results in a face off. But to keep everyone safe, they should use designated doors

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to enter and exit the playing area. Jumping over the boards is strictly prohibited in NHL Street. The objective of street hockey, like traditional hockey,

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is pretty straightforward to score on your opponent. A ball is considered in the net and counts as a goal once it fully

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crosses over the goal line. In NHL Street, there's no overtime, so games may end in a tie. To learn more about street hockey,

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please visit nhl street.com.

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What to Expect on Game Day

For coaches, game day is an action-packed, fast-paced day. Whether it’s your first-time coaching or you’re looking for a refresher, we’ve outlined exactly what you can expect on game day—with tips—so you’re set up for success. Check out what to expect on game day on nhlstreet.com. 

6 Best Youth Hockey Drills for New Coaches

As a new street hockey coach, you want to adopt a few go-to hockey drills that teach kids the basics, while also being ridiculously fun. Whether you’re focusing on stick handling or practicing shots on goal, here are 6 hockey drills to add to your next practice.  

Ready to Join the Action?

Become a volunteer coach and help us bring the excitement of NHL Street to life!
Register here! 

• Format: One session per week on Mondays/Wednesdays, combining a 20 minute practice and a 30 minute game. 
• Practice/Game Dates: Mondays/Wednesdays June 1 - July 31
• No Practice/Game: Week of 4th of July 

• Format: One session per week on  Tuesday/Thursdays, combining a 20 minute practice and a 30 minute game. 
• Practice/Game Dates: Tuesday/Thursdays June 1 - July 31
• No Practice/Game: Week of 4th of July 

• Format: One session per week on Mondays/Wednesdays, combining a 15 minute practice and a 40 minute game. 
• Practice/Game Dates: Mondays/Wednesdays June 1 - July 31
• No Practice/Game: Week of 4th of July 

• Format: One session per week on  Tuesday/Thursdays, combining a 15 minute practice and a 40 minute game. 
• Practice/Game Dates: Tuesday/Thursdays June 1 - July 31
• No Practice/Game: Week of 4th of July