prevent any other player from doing so, until the puck has been played. A player should always be on his own side of the puck."
This rule, though clear enough to a person who thoroughly understands the game, might be a little bothersome to one who does not. It means that whenever a man is nearer to his opponents' goals than one of his own team who has the puck, he is off-side, and that he may not touch the rubber until he is nearer to his own goals, i.e., farther from his opponents', in the direction of his own, than his assistant who has the puck, unless it has touched or been struck by an adversary, in which case he may secure it. When a man is off-side he is practically out of the game and until he gets or is got into play, he may not touch the puck and must not purposely prevent an opponent from getting it, or obstruct his way.
The last clause in the rule is meant to prevent players from "lagging" off-side. When the puck has been lifted down the ice it is the duty of every forward towards whose goals the rubber has been sent, to follow immediately and quickly, in order to place himself in play, and not lag in the middle of the rink until his defence men shall have returned it. The practice of "lagging" off-side is indulged in in order to gain a rest, but it renders the game slow and uninteresting and fosters off-side play.
Sec. 8. The puck may be stopped but, not carried or knocked on, by any part of the body, nor shall any player close his hand on, or carry the puck to the ice in his hand. No player shall raise his stick above the shoulder, except in lifting the puck. Charging from behind, tripping, collaring, kicking or shinning shall not be allowed, and for any infringement of these rules, the Referee may rule the offending player off the ice for that match, or for such portion of actual playing time as he may see fit.
Sec. 9. When the puck goes off the ice or a foul occurs behind the goals it shall be taken by the Referee
