Body checking in hockey, explained

Updated October 17, 2026

A body check is using your body, shoulder or hip, to separate an opponent from the puck. It's legal in men's pro hockey and most competitive men's leagues, within rules that protect the head, the back and players near the boards. It's not allowed in most youth, women's and recreational hockey. Here's what's legal, what's a penalty, how to give and take a hit, and why arcade games like Brudvig Hockey turn it up.

What checking is for

A check isn't about hurting someone. It's about the puck. A good check takes the puck carrier out of the play, stops his momentum, or pins him against the boards so a teammate can pick up the puck. "Checking" in a wider sense also covers stick checks (the poke check and sweep check) and simply staying with your man, which coaches call checking too. This page is about the body check.

A legal body check

The details vary by rulebook, but in most leagues that allow checking a legal hit looks like this:

• It's on a player who has the puck, or who has just played it. Hitting someone who doesn't have it is interference.
• It's from the front or the side, never from behind.
• It's made with the shoulder, chest or hip, not the elbow, knee, stick or head.
• The main point of contact isn't the head.
• Your skates stay on the ice through the hit. Jumping into a check is a penalty.
• You don't take a long run at him. A few strides to close the gap are fine, extra strides to add force are charging.

The penalties

Most of these are minor penalties, two minutes. A hit that injures someone or is judged reckless can be a major penalty, a game misconduct or a suspension. The hockey rules guide covers penalties and power plays in general, and the glossary has the rest of the words.

When checking starts

It varies by country, by league and sometimes by division within a league. In USA Hockey and Hockey Canada, body checking isn't allowed in the younger age groups and usually begins around 13 or 14, and only in competitive divisions. Many house, recreational and adult leagues don't allow it at any age. Most women's hockey, including international play, treats full body checking as a penalty. Rules change, so if you or your kid are moving up a level, check with your local association or governing body.

Before checking is allowed, players are still taught body contact: angling a player toward the boards, holding position, and battling for the puck. That's the foundation of a good check later.

How to give a check

• Angle first: skate to cut off his space and steer him toward the boards. A check that comes from good angling doesn't need much force.
• Knees bent, stick on the ice: low and balanced, so you aren't knocked over yourself.
• Go through the chest, not the head: aim your shoulder or hip at his chest and torso.
• Keep elbows and stick down.
• Finish the check: follow through with your body to keep him off the puck, then play the puck. "Finishing" means completing the contact, not adding a late shot after he's already passed it.
• Never hit a player who's facing the boards. If you see numbers, don't hit.

The shoulder check and the hip check

The shoulder check is the standard hit: you meet the puck carrier with your shoulder and chest, often along the boards or in open ice. The hip check is lower and harder to time. You turn sideways and drop your hip into a player cutting past you, usually near the boards, and he goes over you. It takes timing more than size, and a mistimed one leaves you on the ice watching him skate away.

How to take a hit

• Keep your head up, every time you have the puck. Most bad hits land on players who didn't see them coming.
• Know who's around you: shoulder-check before you pick up a puck along the boards.
• Stay low and wide, knees bent, so you can absorb contact.
• Get your shoulder or side to the boards, never your face or back.
• Move the puck early. The best way to take a hit is to have passed already.
• Wear gear that fits: a certified helmet and face protection where required, shoulder pads and elbow pads. A mouthguard is a good idea everywhere.

Why arcade hockey exaggerates it

Hockey video games have played up hitting since the arcade days, and the 3-on-3 games most of all. With penalties gone, a hit becomes a defensive tool you can use any time, and a big one is fun to watch. Players fly farther, the glass breaks, and nobody gets hurt. It's the opposite of what a coach teaches, and that's the point. More in the history of arcade hockey.

Hitting in Brudvig Hockey

Big hits are the identity of Brudvig Hockey. There are no penalties, and you can hit anybody at any time, with or without the puck, from any direction. Tap check for a quick hit, or hold it to wind up a bigger one, which goes when you let go: ○ on a phone, B / Circle on a gamepad, or Space, F or a double left click on a computer. All the keys are on the controls cheat sheet.

• A full wind-up sends people flying, and a big enough hit goes to slow motion.
• The glass cracks and shatters, and a hard enough hit puts a player through it. Launch one high at the boards and he can go clean over the glass into the crowd, who throw him back.
• Hits knock the puck loose, so hit with a teammate nearby.
• A player loading a slap shot is easier to knock over and flies farther.
• Bigger, heavier teams win more collisions, and a player on fire hits harder.

The Hit size setting in ⚙️ changes how far a hit sends people, from barely a bump to much bigger than the default. Against the computer it changes right away, mid-game. Online, the host's settings count. For more on using hits well, see tips and tactics and how to play.