The sport is defined as non-contact in the same way basketball is considered non-contact. The person in control of the puck can not be physically pushed but also may not charge into set opponents.
A simple summary of the rules:
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No body contact unless your stick is on the puck
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no fore-checking
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no moving screens
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Your stick, and only your stick, can touch the puck
- knocking down passes with any part of your body or equipment is prohibited
- moving the puck with any part of your body or equipment is prohibited
- use of your stick on an opponent is prohibited
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No holding or moving another player (even if you do have the puck)
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no holding onto any part of their body
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no holding onto any part of their equipment
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Shooting the puck at or near an opponent’s head is prohibited
In General:
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IF
- you do not have possession of the puck
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AND
- you are not trying to establish possession of the puck
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THEN
- you cannot prevent another player from gaining possession of the puck
- you cannot hide the puck with your body so an opponent cannot find it