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Holding in hockey is a relatively simple concept. Holding involves any action by a player that impedes forward progress. This could include holding onto a player physically or grabbing the opponent's hockey stick (separately called holding the stick). Both actions prevent the opponent player from continuing play. Officials can access holding penalties against players who use their arms, hands, legs, or stick to prevent forward motion of opponents.

Holding penalties fall into the minor penalty category. This means that the penalized player must serve a 2-minute penalty time in the penalty box. The makes the penalized team shorthanded for the length of the penalty time. The player returns to the ice when time is served or when the opposing team scores a goal.

Determining what is a hold is as subjective as every other move in a hockey game. Holding refers to grabbing and not letting go of a player or his equipment. In contrast, hockey players are permitted to block opponents with an arm. Players are even allowed to put a hand up to protect from the swipe of a hockey stick. However, players aren't allowed to grab the stick and should block it instead.

Referees can penalize both players and goalies with holding calls. Holding can be called on players who are not in possession of the hockey puck. In addition, holding penalties are very subjective. The rough pushing and shoving as players jockey for puck possession often allow many holding calls to be missed. Intent to harm is always weighed in with determining whether any penalty deserves a major or minor label.

Many holding penalties are called simply because a player is being very obvious in his intention to prevent progress for an opponent. In fact, major penalties can be called in instances of intentional holding. If a play grabs a opposing player's facemask, this results in a major penalty in which the player resides in the penalty box for a full 5 minutes. Unlike minor penalties, all time for a major penalty must be served, even if the opposing team scores.

Referees signal with their hands and arms to designate to other officials on the ice and in the arena. The holding call involves the referee sticking one arm out parallel to the ice. He grasps his arm with the other free hand in a grabbing motion near the wrist. Any one of the four referees on the ice can make a holding call against a player.

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