1. One or both centers are not positioned for the face-off,
2. One or both centers refrain from placing their stick on the ice,
3. Any player has encroached into the face-off circle,
4. Any player makes physical contact with an opponent, or...
5. Any player is in an off-side position,

If a center is not at the designated face-off area once the five (5) second time limit has elapsed, the Linesman will drop the puck immediately. If the center is back from the face-off dot, is "quarterbacking" or refuses to come into the face-off area when instructed to do so by the linesman, or the center is simply slow getting to the face-off dot when the five (5) seconds has elapsed, the puck shall be dropped. If, the center attempts to arrive at the face-off dot just as the five seconds elapses in an attempt to gain an advantage to win the face-off, he is to be removed from the face-off and replaced, resulting in a face-off violation.

In the last two (2) minutes of regulation time or anytime in overtime, the linesman will still blow his whistle to initiate the face-off, but the five (5) second time limit will not be enforced, however, players must abide by the verbal directions given by the Linesman in his attempt to conduct a fast and fair face-off.

When the face-off takes place in any of the end face-off circles, the players taking part shall take their position so that they will stand squarely facing their opponent's end of the rink, and clear of the ice markings. The sticks of both players facing-off shall have the blade on the ice, within the designated white area. The visiting player shall place his stick within the designated white area first followed IMMEDIATELY by the home player.

No other player shall be allowed to enter the face-off circle or come within fifteen feet (15') of the players facing-off. All players must stand on side on all face-offs. Players on the attacking team (exclusive of the center) must establish their position first and then the defending team may counter and hold their position until the puck is dropped. A violation of this procedure shall be treated as face-off encroachment and the Linesman shall order the center of the offending team replaced.

If a violation of this sub-section occurs, the Referee or Linesman shall conduct the face-off again.

For violation of this Rule, the Referee may, at his discretion, impose a minor penalty or penalties on the player(s) whose action(s) caused the physical contact. Nonetheless, this physical contact prior to the dropping of the puck shall be deemed as a face-off violation and the Linesman shall order the center of the offending team replaced.

Face-off encroachment may be applied during face-offs anywhere on the playing surface. However, since no such lines are painted on the ice, Linesmen shall use their judgment as to whether or not a violation has occurred. All players other than the centers shall be uniformly back from the face-off location similar to being outside the face-off circle for face-offs in the end zones.

If the replacement center is back from the face-off dot, is "quarterbacking" or refuses to come into the face-off area when instructed to do so by the linesman, or the center is simply slow getting to the face-off dot when the five (5) seconds has elapsed, the puck shall be dropped. If, the center attempts to arrive at the face-off dot just as the five seconds elapses in an attempt to gain an advantage to win the face-off, he is to be removed from the face-off and replaced, resulting in a face-off violation.

No substitution of players shall be permitted until the face-off has been completed and play has resumed except when a penalty is imposed which affects the on-ice strength of either Team.

During end zone face-offs, all other players on the ice must position their bodies and sticks on their own side of the restraining lines marked on the outer edge of the face-off circles.

If a player other than the player taking the face-off moves into the face-off circle prior to the dropping of the puck, then the offending Team's player taking the face-off shall be ejected from the face-off circle.

Face-off violations shall be summarized as follows (any of the four on-ice Officials may identify a face-off violation):

1. Encroachment by any player other than the center into the face-off area prior to the puck being dropped.

   (NOTE) Players on the perimeter of the face-off circle must keep both skates outside the face-off circle (skate contact with the line is permitted). If a player's skate crosses the line into the face-off circle prior to the drop of the puck, this shall be deemed as a face-off violation. A player's stick may be inside the face-off circle provided there is no physical contact with his opponent or his opponent's stick.

2. Encroachment by any player into the area between the hash marks on the outer edges of the face-off circle prior to the puck being dropped.

   (NOTE) Players must also ensure that both of their skates do not cross their respective hash marks. Contact with the line with their skate is permitted. If a player's skate crosses the line into the area between the hash marks prior to the drop of the puck, this shall be deemed as a face-off violation. A player's stick may be inside the area between the hash marks provided there is no physical contact with his opponent or his opponent's stick.

3. Any physical contact with an opponent prior to the puck being dropped
4. Failure by either center taking the face-off to properly position himself behind the restraining lines or place his stick on the ice (as outlined in Rule 54(b))

   (NOTE) "Properly position himself behind the restraining lines" shall mean that the center must place his feet on either side of the restraining lines that are parallel to the side boards (contact with the lines is permitted), and the toe of the blade of his skates must not cross over the restraining lines that are perpendicular to the side boards as he approaches the face-off spot.

   The blade of the stick must then be placed on the ice (at least the toe of the blade of the stick) in the designated white area of the face-off spot and must remain there until the puck is dropped.

   Failure to comply with this positioning and face-off procedure will result in a face-off violation.

   Whenever a team has committed two face-off violations during the same face-off, the Referee shall immediately assess the offending team a bench minor penalty for delay of game. This penalty shall be announced as a "Bench Minor Penalty for Delay of Game -- Face-Off Violation".

   Players who are in an off-side position for the ensuing face-off will be warned once in the game by the Referee. This warning will also be given to the offending team's Coach. Any subsequent violation shall result in a bench minor penalty for delay of game being assessed to the offending Team. This penalty shall be announced as a "Bench Minor Penalty for Delay of Game -- Slow Proceeding to Face-Off Location".

If an attacking player is to be penalized, and the play is stopped due to the actions of a defending player (ie. puck frozen by the goalkeeper) the ensuing face-off will remain in the defending zone of the non-offending Team.

(NOTE) This is also true for situations whereby the attacking team is penalized after the play has been stopped in the attacking zone by an act by the defending Team. The face-off would remain in the non-offending Team's end zone.