Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice. The sport has been played since the 16th century, but the first official indoor games didn't take place until 1875. Since around 1920, a few countries have dominated the world of ice hockey, including Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and the United States.

The first ice hockey rule relates to the composition of the team. Each hockey team consists of six players: a goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards. Forwards often play together as lines, as do defensemen. When a substitution is made, changes are typically made as a set.

The next most important ice hockey rule has to do with the basics of how the game is played. The point of the game is to shoot the puck into the opponent's net to score goals. This is done with a long stick with a curved blade at one end. The puck can also be redirected by using the body, as long as there is no kicking or pushing motion. In 1930, a new ice hockey rule was put into effect, allowing forward passes and making team play vital to the sport.

The key ice hockey rule during games has to do with "icing the puck," the act of shooting the puck across the center red line and over the opposing red goal line. When icing occurs, the play stops and a face-off is held in the defensive zone of the team that committed the infraction.

Another important ice hockey rule is offside. Offside play is called when a player on the attacking team preceeds the puck inside the attacking zone. When an offside violation occurs, a face-off follows. Another, separate ice hockey rule, called an offside pass or a two-line pass, is called when a pass made from inside one team's defending zone goes across the red line. Not all leagues observe the offside pass rule.

It's a standard ice hockey rule that body contact, including hitting and pushing, are allowed as long as they are part of a full-body move. Stick-on-body contact and hits from behind, however, are illegal. A player who is penalized is sent to the penalty box for up to five minutes, depending upon the seriousness of the offense.