Floor Hockey

Rule Interpretations:

• Kicking the ball. Referees will call any deliberate kicking of the ball to their own stick or to another player, a kicked ball. This is a running foul. A still foot, directing the ball to your own stick, is not considered a kick. No running foul is assessed. Ball hitting the foot is not a kick.
• Hand ball. Players may use an open hand to direct the ball downward (not forward) to their own stick, provided they do not jump to do so. If they direct the ball in another direction, or close their hand on the ball, a running foul will be assessed.
• In coincidental penalties, both players must serve their entire 2 minutes.
• If a goalie is assessed a 2 minute penalty, they must serve the 2 minutes themselves. We ask all coaches and participants to enjoy the excitement of this game but also, take note of the rules, regulations and sportsmanship values that are also a major component of this sport.

Equipment:

• Plastic hockey sticks will be provided for all games. Only the provided sticks will be used and if a breakage occurs, the referee will provide a replacement. NO GOALIE STICKS (wooden or plastic) will be used by the goal tender. The goal tender will use a regular player's stick.
• An air-filled (orange) ball will be used in all games.
  *REMINDER: The responsibility is on the COACHES to make sure players adhere to equipment rules and prevent "penalties" before the game begins.

Protection: (The following precautions must be taken)

• Masks (ice hockey or baseball) are mandatory for the goalies and will be provided by the intramural staff.
• The goalies (boys and girls) must wear chest protectors.
• Street gloves (one pair) only CAN be worn by any of the players. The goalie may use a baseball glove. No blockers or trappers will be allowed.
• One pair of volleyball knee pads and/or 1 pair of soccer shin guards CAN be worn by each player including goalie. Goalies are not allowed to use any other type of pads i.e. Street Hockey.
• One pair of elbow pads CAN be worn by each player.
• It is recommended that eye guards be worn by all players on the court.

Playing Area:

• Center line is the mid-court of a basketball floor.
• Center circle is the basketball mid-court jump circle. Play always starts in this circle and resumes from this point after the goals, or 2 minute penalty, or any major or misconduct penalty.

The Team:

Each team consists of six (6) players on the playing floor and one (1) substitute. Their positions are as follows:

• Goalkeeper: prevents a goal from being scored by blocking the ball with body, hands, feet, and/or stick.
• Center is the only player allowed to move full court and who leads offensive play. The center has his/her stick striped with colored tape. When the center is in the defensive zone s/he can slide to block a shot.
• Defense: Two (2) players who cannot go past center line into offensive area and whose responsibility it is to keep the ball out of their defensive half of the floor. Defense are allowed to slide to block the shot. During the play the defense's stick may go over the center line. The whole foot must be over the center line before play is stopped; if part of the foot is over the line, play continues.
• Forward: Two (2) players who work with the center on offensive play and cannot go past center line into their defensive area. The same rules apply to forwards as defense in reference to foot over center line.
  *Players: Players may only switch positions during clock stoppages of play.

The Game:

• The game consists of three periods of 8 minutes each (running time) with 2 minute rests between the periods. Sudden death overtime if tied.
• Play cannot start until the whistle is blown.
• Face off: The center player must have one foot inside their half of the center circle. The center line has three (3) seconds to pass the ball from the center. No direct shot on goal is allowed from the center pass.
• Sudden death overtime occurs if the teams are tied after three (3) regulation periods. The first team to score wins. The period will consist of one 5 min. period
  *In the case that the game is still tied, A shootout will occur.
  *All six players remaining on the floor at the end of Sudden Death will participate in the shootout. Since the play is CO-ED, girls will shoot against the designated girl opponent from the opposing team.

The Play:

• The clock starts when the whistle is blown indicating start of the play. The clock is continuous.
• An official will blow his/her whistle only to indicate a goal, to assess a running foul, a 2 minute penalty, and/or misconduct penalty. In the case of the running foul or penalty call, the official indicates to the scorer the number of the player(s) who fouled.
• Any player must be substituted immediately if she/he accumulates:
  five fouls (running and 2 minute penalty fouls) OR three 2 minute penalties. In the case of overtime, the fouls assessed to the players previously will be in effect.
• Substitutes can only be made when play is whistled stop. That is, when a goal is scored, 2 minute penalty, and/or misconduct penalty is assessed. No substitutions on running fouls except in case of 5th individual foul.
• Time may be called by the official(s) for injury or extenuating circumstances.

Scoring:

• A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line.
• The ball can deflect off a player or equipment but cannot be kicked into the goal.
• A goal cannot be scored from a free shot.

Goal Keeping:

The goalie may use hands to clear the ball away from the goal and can go down on both knees to stop the ball but s/he may not hold or throw the ball towards the other end of the playing area. The goalie has 3 seconds to clear the ball. Failure to do so, the goalie is assessed a running foul and the team loses possession. The goalie can advance out of the goal crease but is restricted to the center line and loses any special goalie privileges.

Ball in Goal Crease:

When the ball is in goal crease only the goalie is allowed to play it. No other player's stick may cross the goal crease line. Running foul will be called.

Fouls:

Running Fouls: The whistle is blown if the following occurs and the ball is awarded to the opposing team. The player is allowed a 3 foot space and 3 seconds to shoot the ball. She/he cannot shoot it to him/herself. A whistle does not indicate a restarting of play after a running foul has been called. The free shot is taken where the referee drops the ball. A goal cannot be scored from this free shot. Usually a free shot/pass for a running foul is taken from the nearest sideline to where the "foul" occurred.

Running Fouls are:

• Defense players stepping over the center line
• Forwards stepping over the center line
• Players moving before the whistle is blown at the center face off
• Offensive players and defensive players stepping into the goal crease
• Offensive players and defensive players sticks in the goal crease. Clarification: "Stepping into" refers to any part of the foot in crease and/or jumping through the crease.
• Raising the stick above the waist in an action which is not immediately endangering a player's safety whether the foul is committed by a player with or without the ball
• Anytime play is deliberately stopped by holding the ball, lying on it, or placing a foot on the ball except in the case of the goalies privileges
• The goalie does not clear a ball in 3 seconds after going down on his/her knees to stop the ball or a hand stop
• The goalie throwing the ball towards the other end of the playing area
• Chopping at a ball to raise in air (exception - shots on goal)
• No kicking the ball, ball hitting the foot is not a kick
• No use of hands to direct the ball (exception - goalie while in the goal crease). A player must use open hand to stop the ball and direct downward providing he does not jump up to do so.

2 Minute Penalties:

The whistle is blown if a player commits the following foul(s). S/he must sit out for 2 minutes and his/her team must play short handed for this time period. If a goal is scored by the opposition before the 2 minute penalty time has elapsed, a player or players may then return to the floor, providing it is not the 5th foul. In such cases, the substitutes must be made.

The infractions are:

• Slashing, hacking, or striking the stick whether contact with an opponent is made or not
• Dangerous contact with goalie while the goalie is in his/her crease
• Pushing
• Blocking with body tripping or any other action considered dangerous to other players
• Raising the stick above the waist in an action which is immediately endangering a player's safety whether the foul is committed by a player with or without the ball
• Unsportsmanlike conduct by anyone on the bench. A player on the floor must assume responsibility for the penalty and sit out for 2 minutes. The foul will not be considered a personal foul for that player sitting out. The team must play short handed during this period; the coach may choose which position is to be left vacant.

Major Mis-Conduct Penalty:

• Player using abusive language towards official(s), opposition, and fellow players
• An action to cause deliberate bodily harm to a player (referee's discretion)
• Any other unsportsmanlike conduct (referee's discretion).

Penalty Shot:

A penalty shot is awarded to a team if a defense player is in the goal crease and prevents a sure goal as judged by the official.