A situation where an attacking Player (or Players) has (have) preceded the puck across the attacking Blue Line, but the defending Team is in a position to bring the puck back out of its Defending Zone without any delay or contact with an attacking Player or the attacking Players are in the process of clearing the Attacking Zone.
If an “off-side” call is delayed, the Linesperson shall drop their arm to nullify the “off-side” violation and allow play to continue if:
- All Players of the offending Team clear the zone at the same instant (skate contact with the Blue Line, “3D” judgement is not used in this situation) permitting the attacking Players to re-enter the Attacking Zone, or
- The defending Team passes or carries the puck into the Neutral Zone.
If, during the course of the “Delayed Off-side”, any member of the attacking Team touches the puck, attempts to “gain possession of a loose puck”, forces the defending puck carrier further back into their own zone, or who is about to make physical contact with the defending puck carrier, the Linesperson shall stop play for the “off-side” violation.
If, during a “Delayed Off-side”, an attacking Player in the Attacking Zone elects to proceed to their Players’ Bench (which extends into the Attacking Zone) to be replaced by a Teammate, they shall be considered to have cleared the zone when both skates are off the ice and the Linesperson judges them to have left the playing surface.
If their replacement comes onto the ice in the Attacking Zone, while the “Delayed Off-side” is still in effect, they too must clear the Attacking Zone. Once all attacking Players have cleared the Attacking Zone and the Linesperson have lowered their arm for the “Delayed Off-side”, all attacking Players may legally enter the Attacking Zone and pursue the puck.