How are icing, offside and face-off locations handled under NFHS rules?

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Icing: Icing is called immediately when the puck crosses the goal line. NFHS doesn't use hybrid icing. A short-handed team may ice the puck. Teams may change players after icing the puck. Correct application of the icing rule is a 2026-27 point of emphasis for officials. Offside: A player is onside if a skate is in contact with the blue line. Delayed offside and tag-up are used. Face-off locations: After a non-coincident penalty: in the offending team's defending zone. When the attacking team causes a stoppage in its attacking zone: in the attacking zone (USA Hockey moves it to the neutral zone). After an icing, or a penalty that creates a short-handed situation: officials pick the end-zone spot. New for 2026-27 (state option, Rule 9-1-12): a state association may instead let the non-offending team choose the face-off location. Face-off procedure: the attacking center places their stick first (visiting center at center ice), players must be stationary, and the center is ejected on the first violation.