Floor Hockey

The Floor

The game shall be played on a surface the size of a standard enclosed basketball court.

Goal Area

The goal crease should be (4) feet wide and (3) feet deep [directly in front of the goal], and should be marked by a two-inch line.  The goalie box should be (10) feet wide by (6) feet deep.  The goalie box is the area in which a goalie can legally “smother” or “hold” the ball.

Rules

The game shall be played between (2) teams of (6) players each, including a goalie.  Four players are required to avoid a forfeit.

A soft rubber ball will be used.

The goalie must wear goalie equipment that is provided by Recreation Services. Goalie sticks, shin guards, chest protectors, face masks/eyewear and baseball gloves will all be provided by Recreation Services.

Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions

• Timing of the Game
1. Playing time shall consist of three periods of 9 minutes each.  The clock will only be stopped for timeouts and injuries.  Otherwise, it will be a continuously running clock until the final (2) minutes of the game, at which time it will stop on every whistle, unless a team is winning by (4) or more goals.
2. Intermission will be (2) minutes between periods.
3. Each team will be granted one (1) minute time-out per game.  The team must be in possession of the ball at the moment they call the time-out or it must be during a stoppage of play.
• Tie Game
1. Overtime Procedures: Any game ending in a tie during post-season play will result in a (3) minute running clock sudden death period.  If the score still remains tied, the deadlock will be broken by (3) alternating penalty shots taken by three different players from each team.  Whichever team is ahead after these shots will win the game.  If it is tied after the penalty shots, the (2) teams will choose (3) different players, and will shoot by alternating teams until one misses and the other scores.  Each team will receive the same amount of shots on goal.

Starting Play

• Coin Toss: The referee will toss a coin at the beginning of the game to determine choice of side.  The teams will switch sides after each period, including overtime, for the remainder of the game.  The game and each period will start with a center floor face-off.
• Putting the Ball in Play: Every time the whistle is blown, the ball is put into play in one of two ways, a face-off or a free shot.
• Face-offs occur when:
1. A period is to start
2. A goal is scored
3. The ball is frozen between (2) players
4. The ball leaves the playing surface
5. A net is dislodged
6. The ball is frozen by the goalie
7. An injury occurs
• Play is started at the beginning of each period and after a goal has been scored by a face-off at the center floor dot.  All other occasions the face-offs should be at the nearest face-off dot on the floor.
• All players (except the two involved in the face-off) must be at least (10) feet away from the face-off spot, and must be on the defensive side of the face-off spot.
• Free shots occur when play is stopped due to a foul, penalty, time-out, stalling, out-of-bounds or after a missed penalty shot.
• The indirect free shots are taken from the closest free shot dot on the floor.  Any player from the opposing team may take the free shot.  Players may pass, shoot, or carry the ball.  All other players must be at least (10) feet away from the shooter who shall have (3) seconds to play the ball after the referee’s whistle.
• If a player plays the ball before the whistle, or delays longer than the (3) seconds allowed, it is a turnover and the other team will get a free shot from the same spot.

Playing the Ball

• Offside: There are no offside, except during a face-off.
• Lodged in Net: A ball lodged in the net from behind the goal will result in a face-off.
• Advancing the Ball: The ball may be advanced by the blade of the stick.  However, no goal may be scored by kicking the ball directly into the opponent’s net.  Players may not bat or throw the ball at any time.
• Playing the Body: Players must play the ball at all times.  Any player checking another player will be penalized.
• Goalie Rights and Responsibilities
  Section 1: Rights
• Designating a Goalie: One player may be designated as the goalie for each team.  This player must wear a mask, and is the only player to have goalie rights within the goal crease.
• Dislodged Net: On the case that the net becomes dislodged, but is not involved in the ensuing play, the referee shall allow play to continue and will replace the net.  If it is dislodged and is in the play, the referee shall blow the play dead and a face-off will restart play at the nearest face-off dot.  An intentionally dislodged net will result in a penalty, or a penalty shot.  A referee may award a goal if the shot was headed into the net when the net was dislodged.  NOTE: Referee’s judgment call, which can’t be protested by the players.
• Leaving the Crease: The goalie may leave the crease at any time. However, once out of the goal area, they must follow all rules that apply to court players.
• Possession of the Ball: Upon gaining control of the ball, the goalie has (3) seconds to play the ball to the side, front or behind the net.  If the goalie does not distribute the ball, a face-off will be called.  If the goalie throws the ball forward, it must be underhand and must be played or handled by a player or opponent before half court or an indirect free shot will be awarded.
• Stopping the Ball: The goalie may use any means possible to stop the ball with their body, glove, or stick.  This includes leaving their feet to play a ball.

Pulling the Goalie

Adding a Floor Player: If a team wishes to pull their goalie and add a floor player this team relinquishes all of their goalie rights.  Defensive players may enter the crease to stop a shot on goal.  They may not, however, freeze the ball.  If a defensive player freezes the ball, the result shall be a (2)-minute delay of game penalty against that player.

Scoring

• Goal Awarded: A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line before time expires.
• A goal is scored when the ball passes completely across the plane of the goal-line. No goal shall be scored while an offensive player’s feet or stick are in the crease.
• Goals will not count if a stick blade is above the horizontal, kicked in or the ball is batted by the hand.
• Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by (10) goals at any point in the game, the game will be called, and the team leading will be declared the winner.

Fouls & Penalties

• Running Fouls: Indirect Free Shot
1. Indirect Free Shot
2. Goalie Possession of the Ball: The goalie may not gain possession (i.e., smother or freeze) of the ball outside of the crease unless part of his/her body is touching a portion of the crease.  However, the goalie may play the ball with their stick outside the crease.
3. Hand Pass: A hand pass shall be defined as passing the ball directly to a teammate with your hand.  Catching an airborne ball is considered legal provided the player drops the ball in a straight line down to the floor to his or her stick.
4. Kicking the Ball: The ball may not be intentionally kicked into the offensive goal.  However, the ball may be played with the foot to stop the ball, just not to intentionally redirect the ball.  NOTE: Discretion of the official.
5. Player or Stick in the Goal Crease: No offensive player or their stick may enter the goal or break the plane of the crease at any time during the course of play.  If a player scores a goal, but their momentum carries them or their stick in to the crease, the goal will be disallowed and a running foul will be called.
• Minor Penalties: Two Minutes
1. Body Checking/Roughing: Body checking/roughing shall be defined as excessive body contact with another player.
2. Delay of Game: Delay of game shall be defined as any action that hinders the completion of the game under its normal time.  This shall include, but not be limited to: Floor player deliberately freezing the ball; Discarding goalie equipment or a stick onto the playing surface to stop a ball or player; Intentionally dislodging the net; Intentionally taking a running foul to stop a play; Deliberately lying on, stepping on or pulling the ball onto your body.
3. Elbowing: Elbowing shall be defined as hitting or attempting to hit an opponent with your elbow.
4. High Sticking: High sticking shall be defined as raising the stick above the perpendicular at any point during a play when the stick is within a foot of another player.  Lifting the stick of another player in the air above their waist is also a penalty.
5. Holding: Holding shall be defined as grabbing an opponent or an opponent’s stick with your hand, arm, or leg to gain an advantage.
6. Kneeing: Kneeing shall be defined as hitting or attempting to hit an opponent with your knee.
7. Pushing: Pushing shall be defined as pushing your opponent to gain an advantage.
8. Too Many Players on the Floor: Too many players on the floor shall be defined as having more than the legal number of players on the floor.  This penalty may be served by any member of the offending team.
9. Tripping: Tripping shall be defined as using or attempting to use any part of your body or stick to cause an opponent to fall.
• Major Penalties: Five Minutes
1. Boarding/Checking from Behind: Boarding shall be defined as ramming an opponent into the boards or walls, whether they have the ball or not.
2. Butt-Ending: Butt-ending shall be defined as stabbing an opponent with the butt-end of the stick.
3. Charging: Charging shall be defined as a player who runs, jumps into, or charges an opponent.
4. Cross Checking: Cross checking shall be defined as thrusting your stick shaft across an opponent with no part of the stick on the floor.
5. Fighting: Any acts of aggressive physical violence toward another player or official. **NOTE: May result in player ejection.
6. Personal Misconduct: Defined as the following: disrespect to an official, excessive profanity, abuse of facility or equipment, or actions that incite a fight. **NOTE: Players can be held responsible to pay for damage to equipment not associated with the normal wear and tear from playing.
7. Slashing: Slashing shall be defined as hitting or attempting to hit your opponent with your stick in a chopping or swinging motion.

Penalty Shots

• A penalty shot will be awarded to a player who, in the official’s judgment had a clear opportunity to shoot on goal and was prevented from doing so by an opponent tripping, holding, etc.
• All players except the goalie and the player attempting the shot will move to the opposite half of the floor.
• The shooting player will place the ball anywhere on the penalty line (ie, the free throw line).  The shot must be taken within five (5) seconds, following the official’s whistle.  If the ball is moved prior to the shot, a face-off will be called by the official.
• The goalie must be stationary inside their crease, with both feet on the goal line until the ball is played.
• If the shot is missed, play will immediately be dead and a face off will occur at the nearest designated spot on the floor.  If the shot is made, a goal will be awarded and a face-off will occur at center court.

Overtime

Coin toss will determine choice of side. Three (3) minute overtime period.

Penalty Enforcement

The term short-handed will mean: the offending team will be at least (1) player below the number of players of their opponent.  At no time may a team have more than (2) floor players fewer than their opponent. In the event this happens, the penalties will be administered in succession.