Autumn Floor Hockey Alexandria [Wed] Rules

1. OBJECT OF THE GAME The objective of floor hockey is to score more goals than your opponent.

2. GEAR AND EQUIPMENT Normal workout gear is fine.  As it is a court surface, runners are the shoe type permitted. 

  • Only Urban Rec supplied floor hockey sticks may be used.This includes goalies.
  • Players may wear soccer-style shin pads if desired.
  • Players may also wear gloves (hockey/lacrosse/winter mittens – all okay) – this equipment is optional and not mandatory.
  • Goalies may use a glove (trapper or baseball glove), blocker, mask, chest/arm protector, leg pads, athletic cup and hockey pants.These may be from floor or ice hockey.If a goalie does not have the proper upper body equipment (e.g. a heavy winter coat instead of arm/chest protection), no worries – that is the individual’s discretion!As noted above, goalies must use the floor hockey sticks provided by Urban Rec.Goalies must wear a facemask or helmet with a full cage.

3. THE TEAM The number of players shall be 5 players on the field

  • Only six (5) players allowed on the field at any one time.
  • There must be a minimum of one (1) female on the field always.
  • This league requires your team to have a minimum of four (4) players, including one male or female to start the game.
  • Please consider our Default, Forfeit, and Substitute Policy

4. SUBSTITUTIONS Unlimited substitution of players is permitted.  Substitutions can be made ‘on-the-fly’ mid-play.  The game remains continuous and the time does not stop to allow substitutions.  The exception is a goalie substitution, which must be made at a play stoppage, and the Event Host must be notified.

5. EVENT HOST (EH) The Event Host (EH) is NOT a referee!  All games are self-officiated.  The EH is responsible for timing the games, ensuring you have the necessary equipment to play and answering any questions or concerns.  The EH is also responsible for enabling a positive and safe atmosphere for the participants.  At his/her discretion, player(s) may be ejected for actions that are contrary to league policy, game rules or violate the Urban Rec Code of Conduct.

NOTE: In situations where the teams are unable to determine the appropriate call due to not seeing the play, complexity of the situation, etc, they can defer to the EH.  If he/she cannot determine a timely resolution, it will result in a replay of the down.

6. DURATION OF THE GAME Games consist of 2 by 20 minute halves with the half time break being 2 minutes.  Each team will be granted one timeout each half.  Timeouts will not be carried over into the 2nd half.  If a team chooses not to use their granted timeout in the first half, then they will lose that timeout.  All timeouts are 30 seconds each.  The game clock will be stopped for the duration of the timeout.

7. THE START OF PLAY Games start with a face-off, with either the Event Host or one of the participants dropping the ball at center.  The ball must touch the floor on the faceoff.  Players cannot bay the ball out of the air.  After each goal, play is re-stated with a face-off at the center.  The team that scores the goal drops the ball at center.  The ball must hit the floor before being touched by any players’ stick.

8. GAME PLAY

  • In the event that the ball goes over the boards and out of the rink, the team that did not hit it out will take possession of the ball.The opposing team must give that player 5 feet and 3 seconds to play the ball.Once the player moves the ball, the opposing team may defend him/her.If 3 seconds elapses without the player moving the ball, the opposing team may defend him/her.Any dispute over this will be decided by the EH at his/her discretion.
  • GOALIE PLAY:
    • If the goalie freezes the ball and stops play, then he/she may place or drop the ball either beside or behind the net for the defensive team to take possession.The opposing team must move at least 5 feet away and 3 seconds of time for the defensive player to move the ball (as above with the out-of-bounds rule).
    • If the ball goes into the net as a result of the goalie accidentally dropping/placing the ball in the manner described above, it is NO GOAL.However, if the goalie attempts to throw or play the ball up to a player that is not beside/behind his/her net, the ball shall be considered live as soon as the goalie releases the ball.
    • Basically, the goalie must place or drop the ball for it to be a ‘stop-play-start.’If there is a forward movement of the ball, the ball is live, and the opposing team can play the ball at any point (i.e. opposing players do not have to wait 3s and 5 feet before playing the ball).
    • The goalie is permitted to freeze the ball if he/she has any part of his/her body touching the crease area.If the goalie freezes the ball and part of his/her body is not touching the crease area, the offensive team will receive possession of the ball at center.
    • The goalie is not permitted to come across cetner.If the goalie does cross the center line, play will be stopped and the opposing team will get possession of the ball at center.If a team wishes to ‘pull’ the goalie during the play, the goalie must leave the court and a regular player may come on to play.
  • OFFENSIVE PLAY AND THE GOALIE CREASE:
    • Players may NOT enter the goalie’s crease.Some gyms do not have a crease marked, so we ask that an area extending approximately 4 feet from the goal line is used as the crease area.
    • Players may stand outside the crease area in an attempt to screen the goalie or deflect a shot, but may not enter the crease.

9. All games are self-refereed.  The Event Host is NOT a referee.  Instead, as the emphasis in this league is on fun and participation, it is hoped that common sense prevails and players will call their own infractions.  If an infraction occurs, the opposing team will receive possession of the ball under the following circumstances:

  • If the infraction occurs against a defending team, the offensive team will receive the ball at center court.
  • If the infraction occurs against an offensive team, the defending team will receive the ball by their own goal.
  • The game restart procedure will be followed as outlined above with the 5 feet and 3 seconds given to the player restarting the play.However, the player may NOT shoot the ball at the goal (the restart must be indirect).If a goal is scored off a shot or a rebound from the restart, the goal will not count.
  • High-sticking, slashing, body contact and slap shots are strictly forbidden.Please have consideration and respect for your opponents – you might think you are trying to get the ball, but instead may be attacking their shins!Each player is responsible for their own stick, and must be able to contact it.This rule applies for both players and goaltenders – there is to be absolutely NO slashing at a goalie, glove or blocker in an effort to free a ball or try to force the ball into the goal.  Remember, only the goalie is allowed inside the crease, so your stick shouldn’t be there anyway! This also includes trying to pry a ball loose under a goaltender, or jamming your stick at a goalie’s equipment to try and poke the ball into the net.PLAY THE BALL, NOT THE BODY.
  • A player’s wind up may NOT go higher than his/her knee as a backswing in order to shoot the ball (i.e. NO SLAPSHOTS).
  • A player may NOT engages with an opposition player, or their stick, unless they have the ball.This includes ‘trying a player up/lifting his/her stick when they do not have the ball.You must play the ball, not the body or the stick.
  • Any ball contacted by a stick above the height of the waist (of the player who is doing the high-sticking) is considered to be high-sticking, and the opposing team will receive possession.Needless to say, any goal scores in this manner will not count.
  • If the player keeps his/her stick below the height of his/her waist while playing the ball, but makes contact with an opposing player with his/her stick, this is an infraction, and the opposing team will receive possession of the ball.This also includes attempting to check another player or their stick.If you attempt to lift their stick, and your stick contacts an opponent above the waist, this will also be considered a foul.Please be responsible for your sticks!
  • No leaving the feet – A player may NOT dive or lay down on the floor, either to check another player or to block a shot.  Players may NOT go down on one knee to block a short, and leaving his/her feet to sprawl across the floor in an attempt to check a player or to block a shot will result in:
  • The opposing team being awarded possession at center;
  • A warning being issued to the offending player.If the player commits the same foul after being issued a warning, he/she will be ejected from the game.

NOTE: Goalies are exempted from this rule for the purpose of blocking the shot WHILE STILL IN PROXIMITY OF THE CREASE (i.e. they have a foot within 1 meter of the goalmouth).A goalie MAY NOT leave their feet outside of the goal crease in an effort to poke-check or block an opponent’s lane to the net.If a goaltender commits an infraction outside of their crease, then the opposing team will be issued a ‘penalty’ shot that any member on the floor may take except the goalie.

  • If a player throws his/her stick anywhere on the floor, a penalty shot will be awarded to the opposing team.Any member of the non-offending team on the floor may take the penalty shot.
  • There is no intentional body contact allowed (this includes ‘pick’ plays).This also includes a defensive player pushing into the back of an offensive player, or an offensive player backing into a defensive player (even if they have possession of the ball).At all times, players on offense and defence may not initiate physical contact with an opposing player.All players should do everything in their power to avoid contact at all times!  Initiating physical contact will result in the opposing team receiving possession of the ball in the nearest corner (defensive team) or at the center (offensive team).
  • No hand passes.  A player may not use his/her hand to intentionally move the ball to a teammate.  If the player intentionally touches the ball with his/her hand and the net player to gain possession of the ball is his/her teammate -> this is considered a hand pass, and the opposing team shall receive possession. 
  • Goalies are exempted from this rule (i.e. a goalie may play the ball to a teammate using their trapper or glove.
  • If the ball unintentionally deflects off of a player’s hand, then play shall proceed regardless of which team gains possession of the ball next.
  • If a player commits any infraction (whether it is accidental or not), it is expected that the player will call themselves and give possession to the opposing team.If the player does not call themselves, it is their captain’s responsibility to call the infraction on their own team.If both the player and the captain fail to call the foul, the EH may step in and call it.
  • If a player continuously fails to call his/her own infractions, the EH may, at his/her discretion, ask the captain to tell his/her player to take a 5-minute ‘break’ on the bench.The EH will time the 5 minutes and notify the player when he/she may participate again.
  • The EH’s decision is final, and may not be questioned or disputed.The team captains are the only players who may bring an issue to the EH’s attention.Communication between the EH and the team captains is encouraged to keep the league enjoyable for everyone.
  • Any player that is on a ‘5-minute’ break will NOT cause his/her team to be short-handed, unless they do not have any subs for that player.In this case, the team will be short-handed.
  • The 1st incident of any rough or physically unsafe play will result in a verbal warning by the EH.The 2nd incident will result in a 5-minute benching for the offending player.The 3rd incident will result in the players’ IMMEDIATE EXPULSION from the game.In this case, the team captain will be responsible for ensuring that his/her player leaves the premises.The EH’s decision is final, and there will no questioning of the EH’s decision.If the player refuses to sit out or leave the premises if asked to do so, the game will not re-start until the player complies. If, in the EH’s opinion, the player takes too much time to comply, the offending player’s team will default the game (no matter what the current score is), and the opposing team will receive a 1-0 victory in the standings.
  • Any instances of verbal abuse by a player towards another player or the EH will result in that player’s immediate expulsion from the game and gym, at the discretion of the EH.This includes foul language directed at another player or comments made to another player with, in the judgement of the EH, the intent of instigating a confrontation.If a players has been asked to leave by the EH, it will be the team captain’s responsibility to ensure that the player leaves without further incident.

We want you to enjoy playing recreational co-ed floor hockey while exhibiting good sportsmanship!Please enjoy yourselves!

10. WINNING TEAM The winner is the team with the greater number of goals at the end of the game. A draw will be awarded if both teams have an equal amount of points.  Your Fun Points will affect your position on the standings. If two teams are matched on competition points, the team with the higher fun points rating will be favoured up the ladder.

11. FAIRPLAY SYSTEM Each league night you will have an Event Host onsite, but these guys are not official referees. Urban Rec is a recreational league which practices a fair-play and fun-first policy, meaning you should be making your own calls on the game. The Event Host will be there to make the calls not made by individuals, keep time, and help guide the games within the game play rules. The Urban Rec Event Host has the final say on any issue that cannot be self-resolved.

12. SPORTSMANSHIP All Urban Rec participants have read and agreed to the Urban Rec Code of Conduct. We also exercise a strict Disciplinary Policy. If you are seen to be rude in any way or not playing within the respect of the rules and Code of Conduct, you will be asked by the Urban Rec Staff to sub out of the game. If after returning to the game your attitude does not improve you will be asked to leave the venue, and an assessment will be made if you can play again. We do not tolerate idiots. Play fair.

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