How long are 10U penalties, and can my child be thrown out of a game?
Rule- USA
- USA Hockey
- 10U
- 10 and under
- Born 2016-2017
- Youth hockey
- 2025-29 USA Hockey rules
- 2026-27 season
- Parents
USA Hockey penalty times are actual playing time. Minor penalties are pro-rated by the length of the periods your league plays:
| Period length | Minor penalty |
|---|---|
| 12 minutes or less | 1:00 |
| More than 12, less than 17 | 1:30 |
| 17 to 20 minutes | 2:00 |
Affiliates or governing bodies may also shorten majors (3:00 / 4:00 / 5:00) and misconducts (6:00 / 8:00 / 10:00) on the same scale. A USA Hockey game is at most three 20-minute periods. The actual period length is set by your league or tournament.
Ejections and suspensions:
- A youth player who gets four penalties in one game receives a game misconduct.
- A game misconduct ends the player's game and suspends them for the team's next scheduled game.
- A player's second major penalty in the same game brings a game misconduct plus a two-game suspension.
During a suspension the player can't be with the team, in the locker room or near the bench, from 45 minutes before the game until 30 minutes after it.
Updated 21 Oct 2026