How to Get a Boarding Penalty in Ice Hockey

Among the many hockey penalties that require explanation boarding takes a bit of time to understand. Goalie interference appears a bit arbitrary, since at a professional level, it would appear that someone is always whacking, cracking or pushing the man in the mask. Boarding, however, is one of those penalties that is intuitively obvious--and also very dangerous.

Instructions

    • 1

      Realize that boarding is defined as checking or shoving an opponent such that he is violently thrown against the boards.

    • 2

      Understand that when you commit this penalty, the referee will designate it by pounding the closed fist of his non-whistle hand into the palm of his other hand.

    • 3

      Pick a moment when your opponent is slightly distracted, e.g. hustling to get a free puck.

    • 4

      Take at least two strides to gain enough speed to be effective. As you approach your opponent, drop a shoulder and aim it at his exposed torso.

    • 5

      Hit your opponent when he is at least three or four feet from the boards so that he is off balance when he strikes them. If you hit him when he is too close to the boards, you will squash him a bit, but the full effect of a flying body crashing into hard boards will not be achieved.

    • 6

      Pick an opponent who does not have a personality that demands retribution and payback. In hockey, these sorts of players are often hard to find.