Penalty shots instead of PP

[RecLeagueHero 0]

Last couple of weeks I've been coaching a friend's team, the best skaters are firmly novice and most of the team has less than 2 years skating under their belts. I've kind of noticed that at their level the PP is about as useful as tits on a boar. If anything it tends to create odd man rushes for the shorthanded side. Just curious what people thought of the idea of just awarding penalty shots instead of sending guys to the sin bin in lower level play?

[Chadd 916]

Not much of a penalty if you have a good goalie and the guy you trip, slash, etc... is a novice player. You may also make refs less likely to call penalties and the offender is still on the ice. There could be a continued escalation or retaliation for his actions. The two minutes helps cool people off a bit.

I've lost track of the number of lower level adult games that I've reffed with more shorties than PP goals.

[Jarick 5]

I thought we had way more shorties than PP goals, but looking at my stats from the last few years, there's definitely a lot more PP points. Still, the PP is very ineffective at my low level because our passing is so bad that we can't set up in the zone.

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

One of the 4-on-4 leagues in town uses modified penalty shots instead of penalties. They're on a smaller surface, so it's a faster game.

The puck starts at center ice and the shooter takes his normal penalty shot. The difference is that the rest of the players for both teams start on one knee at the far blue line. Once the shooter touches the puck everyone else is allowed to chase and the puck is live off the rebound. Essentially it turns the penalty shot into a breakaway.

I think it increases the fun for the players and fans. It wouldn't do much for the escalation Chadd mentioned, though. Maybe you could go with modified penalty shots + a 3-strikes-and-you're-out rule. Getting sent to the locker room early for a 3rd infraction might keep things from getting out of hand.

[eric42434224 1]

We have a 3 penalty and your out rule. It is effective.

[Chadd 916]

We have a 3 penalty and your out rule. It is effective.

I lobbied for that but our league struck down the rule where 15 penalties earned a suspension for the captain. We did institute a suspension for anyone hitting 50PIMs in a season though.

[Hooah4 12]

We have a 3 penalty and your out rule. It is effective.

same here

[Jarick 5]

Yep, 3 minors = a game misconduct and match penalty in our league, plus there's suspensions for PIM (something like 60 over 20 games). It does a pretty good job.

[Wolverine 0]

Our league:

- 3 minutes in the box for minor penalites

- 4 minors = game misconduct & match penalty

The (3) minute penalties help the 'lower level' players set up more chances in the offensive zone. It also really allows everyone to cool off before the 'goon' takes to the ice again. lol

[shotty 7]

our league has historically had the 3 minors = ejection. any stick infraction above the waist is a double minor, which for some reason, doesnt count against the 3 minors rule... it's counted as a double minor, not two minors... so its essentially a free stay in the box for the losers who rack up the PIMS... allowing a player to essentially get ten minutes in the box before he's tossed (assuming he lands a double minor as his first offense).

this season, there's 4 minutes for body checking and 2 minutes for high sticking, where it was the other way around previously.

i would somewhat agree with the notion of issuing a penalty shot instead of a PP, on the basis that if it results in a goal, its instant karma. although the 2 minute cooling off period is good if the game is getting heated. when i land in the penalty box, i have huge anxiety of having a ppg scored on us, and i feel super guilty if it happens. imagine penalty shot? wow.

[Law Goalie 147]

The only way I've heard of this working involves 3 conditions:

1) the player who takes the penalty serves the time in the box, but his team is not short-handed, functioning rather like a misconduct penalty - this addresses Chadd's second concern about keeping hot-headed parties off the ice;

2) the team with the power-play can elect to take the power-play or a penalty shot - this works especially well in leagues that are prone to last-minute tackle-fests around the goal;

3) if the team opts for a penalty shot, they can nominate any shooter they choose.

The third one sounds over the top, but consider that in a power-play situation, the team would likely send out their best players anyway.

Oddly, the only three-strike rule I've seen enforced in Canada is a three high-sticking penalty ejection

[shotty 7]

Oddly, the only three-strike rule I've seen enforced in Canada is a three high-sticking penalty ejection

i dont think i've got three of those in my life

[Machinehead2k5 32]

In the league I play in: 20gm season and 25min run time periods

4 penalties (2:30min = 1 penalty) or 10mins of penalties you get kicked out.

1st game misconduct = 1 game suspension

2nd game misconduct = 3 game suspension and 30 day board hearing

3rd game misconduct = Season suspension and board hearing

ANY Match penalty 30 day suspension pending board hearing

[Sghockey21 1]

Just played a tournament in Malaysia last month that had something like that.

3 vs 3 (usually 4 on 4) on a small rink. Penalties would be added up and penalty shots would be taken at the end of the game. Penalty shots counted for 1 goal each. Person committing the penalty had to leave the ice for the bench and somebody else subbing.

It seemed to keep the game moving along, and if the scores were close, you had to becareful about taking further penalties. I think it would be better for novices and alittle more fun with the penalty shots at the end of the game.

[RecLeagueHero 0]

The shots at the end of the game sounds interesting. I wouldn't at all be opposed to having the player still sit in the box, gives everyone time to cool off and the missed game time provides a reason not to commit the penalty.

[cptjeff 0]

Oddly, the only three-strike rule I've seen enforced in Canada is a three high-sticking penalty ejection

i dont think i've got three of those in my life

Same. I can only remember taking two ever.

Three in a game is ridiculous. If you're putting your stick up that much, you're either clueless or dirty.

[Law Goalie 147]

There were a LOT of dirty players in the old Ontario ETA... big pitch-forking farmboys from Northern Ontario and a bunch of lunatics from around Smiths Falls. Made Kip Brennan the man he is today.

[kovyperron5727 0]

Yep, 3 minors = a game misconduct and match penalty in our league, plus there's suspensions for PIM (something like 60 over 20 games). It does a pretty good job.

My league its 5 minors and your suspended one game. Also, 20+ minors a game and your coach is ejected and suspended one game. Fighting also is an automatic ejection and at the least 1 game suspension or more depending on the incident. To the OP tohugh, I think awarding penalty shots as opposed to minors is a good idea for beginner leagues