Sport Specific Rules: Click Here

Game Format and Scheduling:

• All posted games are scheduled on the hour and will play as follows:
  • 3–5-minute warmup starting on the hour with the game to start no later than 5 minutes after the hour
  • 3x 18-minute periods (54 minutes of playtime) to begin immediately following the end of the previous period OR
  • 3x 17-minute periods (51 minutes of playtime) with a 1-minute break between periods
  • Players should vacate the playing surface quickly following their game to allow the next teams on
• Teams will play 5 on 5 plus goalies: all shifts must have at least 1 woman and 1 man (non-goalie) on the court at all times.
• Centre ice faceoffs will begin all periods and follow all goals.
• Goalie-freeze stoppages will result in defending team possession from either side of their net behind the goal line and be initiated with a pass following the referee’s whistle to begin play.

Equipment Rules:

• No helmets are required.
• Regular sticks and DOM sticks are permitted.
• It is highly recommended that all players have protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, knee and shin protection. No elbow or shoulder pads or excessively oversized protection is permitted. Goalies may equip themselves with ball hockey suitable protective gear.

Player Conduct:

• Please be respectful and courteous to your fellow players and play with care, concern and integrity.
• All players are reminded that this is Recreational Coed Non-Contact Ball Hockey and the safety of all participants must be the first concern of all players. All players are to refrain from any deliberate body contact that could compromise the safety of any player in the game, and this includes a negligent play by blindly backing into players while running.
• In the event of an altercation or dispute, all players on benches must remain on benches; players leaving the bench to join any altercation will be ejected from the game and subject to league review for possible suspension.
• Games will be officiated by one referee and a league convenor overseeing the match. Their decisions are final.
• Play shall only be halted or started by the referee’s whistle. Games will not be stopped due to players disagreeing or delayed because of any dispute. Teams may be assessed a delay of game penalty or misconduct at the referee’s discretion for disruptive behaviour.

Game Play Violations Resulting in Change of Possession:

• Stick lifts will not be permitted and will result in a change of possession.
  • Any excessive or dangerous stick lift attempt or attempt resulting in injury will be assessed as a penalty at the ref’s discretion.
• Shots: the windup and follow-through of a player’s shot must not be higher than the waist level of the shooter.
• Ball out of play will result in a change in possession based on the team that last made contact with the ball.
  • A ball cleared directly over the glass from the defensive zone may be assessed as a delay of game penalty.
• Icing and offsides will be enforced loosely; close plays that are missed should not result in arguments by teams - the objective is to prevent cherry-picking (offsides) and killing time (icings) - these violations will result in possession changes:
  • anywhere inside defending the blue line for offsides
  • any corner of the rink behind the offensive zone goal line for icing
• Deflections: any ball may be redirected by a player's stick no higher than waist level for the redirecting player; any redirect higher than the waist will result in a stoppage in play and a change of possession.
  • IMPORTANT: a stick redirect over the shoulder will be assessed as a minor penalty
• Shot blocking: no slide shot-blocking is permitted; ball possession with be awarded to the non-violating team.
  • Repeat violations may result in a delay of game penalty at the referee’s discretion.

Penalties:

• Regular ice hockey rule penalties will be enforced, and penalty durations will be:
  • 2 minutes for minor penalties
  • 4 minutes for double minors (penalties causing accidental injury)
  • Major penalties will result in immediate player ejections from play and be subject to league review for further action or suspension.
• Powerplays (PP) start with the PP team in possession in the corner behind the opposition goal line.
• Please see outlined violations above that may result in penalties.
• Any player accumulating 3 minor penalties in a game will be ejected from the match.
• Slashing: reckless slashing of a player’s stick will be assessed a penalty
• All reckless, dangerous, or aggressive play will NOT be tolerated and will be strongly enforced. Players in violation may be ejected from the match.
• Body Contact: All players should be mindful of their fellow players and refrain from initiating body contact or escalating incidental contact. Reckless, dangerous, or aggressive behaviour will result in a penalty or possible ejection if deemed deliberate or excessive