Rules of Play - To Start a Game – Quick Facts: (Updated September 15, 2014)
1. Players must wear the jersey provided to them by the league and wear the mandatory ball hockey equipment, consisting of hockey gloves, CSA approved helmet (see diagram to the right). Recommended, but optional are soccer-style shin guards. No plastic sticks.
2. Arena Format: 5 v 5, plus a goalie (Teams must have a minimum of 6 players to start a game). Maximum number of players for a team is 18 players, and all players must be registered with the league to play a game. If a non-registered player plays a game, the team that player is playing for will automatically have their game defaulted and given a loss. The team will also be fined a fee of $100 to be paid prior to their next scheduled game, otherwise the team will not be allowed to continue play in the league until their fine is paid up.
3. Player substitutions can be done either during play or at a stoppage of play.
4. Game times: All games will be comprised of 2 periods, each period being 15 minutes in length stopped time. All games will begin on the hour. There is a 5 minute grace period to field the required minimum number of players to start a game. After the first 5 minutes of the scheduled game time, the time will start to run, no exceptions so please ensure that your team is ready (i.e. if your game is scheduled for 7 pm, the time will begin to run at 7:05 pm). Mercy rule in effect, that there will be no stopped time if a team is ahead by 5 goals.
5. Team defaults will be given if a team does not have enough players to field a team after 5 minutes from their scheduled game time, resulting in a 1-0 win for the opposing team. If a team defaults a game, they will be fined $100, to be paid to the league prior to their next scheduled game. No team will be allowed to play after their default until their fine is paid. If a team defaults more than 3 games, they will be disqualified from the league.
6. No fighting will be tolerated by the league. A potential fine and/or suspension may result. All players must respect league rules, other players and league authorities (referee, conveynor and timekeeper).
7. All team captains at the beginning of each game must ensure that all their players sign the Referee/Player Sheet located at the timekeeper's box. All players must sign the Referee/Player Sheet before each game (this is important as a player (full-time and/or part-time) must play a minimum of 7 regular season games to be eligible to play in the playoffs and the Referee/Player Sheet is how team wins and player statistics are recorded). THE PLAYER IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN SIGN THE REFEREE/PLAYER SHEET AND NO ONE ELSE.
NOTE: FAILURE IF A PLAYER PLAYS AND HAS NOT SIGNED THE REFEREE/PLAYER GAME SHEET, THE PLAYER WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED FROM THE GAME AND THE TEAM AWARDED A 2 MINUTE PENALTY.
8. If a player arrives late, they must report to the timekeeper and sign the game sheet before playing. A player will not be allowed to play in a game, if they do not sign the game sheet prior to the second period beginning.
9. Goalies are the only players who will be allowed to play for a team other than the team they are registered for. During the playoffs, a goalie can not play for any team other than the team she is registered to play on.
10. All team rosters must be given to the league organizers before the 5th league game has been played. No additional players can be added to teams after the 5th game has been played, with the only exception being goalies as we acknowledge goalies may be difficult to find for some teams. However, if you have a registered goalie on your team already, another goalie can not be added unless an injury has occurred to the goalie.
There is a stoppage of play after a goal, penalty, offside, ball out of play, icing or goaltender holding the ball for more than a few seconds. Hockey floor markings are used, including goal lines, goal creases, blue lines, center line, face-off circles and neutral zone face-off dots.
Face-offs: players are lined up facing each other in a designated area on the floor,face-offs are used at the start of each period of player and after goals, penalties, offside, icing or when the ball leaves the playing area.
Icing: occurs when a player shoots the ball across from their defensive blue line to the opposing team's goal line, and the ball remains untouched. It is, however, not icing if the ball is shot from behind the halfway line into the goal, or when the shot must be played by the opposing team's goaltender to keep it out of the net.
Penalties: are called when a player commits a foul. The offending player is then removed from the playing area and sent to the penalty box for a period of time. All penalty lengths are governed by the Ontario Ball Hockey Association Rules. The team whose player received the penalty will play with a player short. The team continues to play with one player short until the penalty time has elapsed, or unless the opposing team scores. Penalties which may occur during the game are tripping, cross-checking, slashing, hooking, interference, boarding, roughing, and delay of game.
Offside: will result in a stoppage of play. Before entering the opposing team's zone, the ball must first cross the blue line.
Floating Blue Line: once a team crosses the opponent's blue line with the ball, the attacking team will have half of the entire playing surface within which to control the ball, from behind the opponent's goal to the centre line of the area. If the defending team sends the ball past centre (red line), the opposing team must regain the attacking zone as explained above. (See diagram to the right)
To Score a legal goal: the ball can not be kicked in, nor struck with a high stick, nor pushed in using the hand, nor while offside.
Mercy Rule: we do not have in place a mercy rule with respect to scoring, however if a team is leading a team by a 5 or more goal lead, the stopped time will no longer be in effect, and the time will then be run time. We STRONGLY encourage each team to consider the score and conduct themselves with sportsmanship and respect for the other team. This mercy rule applies to playoffs as well.
Playoffs: Depends on the number of teams registered, and could change without notice. In the event of a tie to determine team standings for playoffs, the following will apply:
- Head to head record between teams in regular season
- Goals for
- Goals against
In the event the teams are tied after the above 3 scenarios, the teams will then face each other in a 5 player shootout prior to the playoffs beginning to determine who makes the playoffs.
During a semi-final or final game, if the score is tied after regulation time, there will be a 5 minute sudden death overtime (stopped time) 4 v 4 hockey. If after the 5 minutes of overtime there is still no score, then the teams will face each other in a shootout (starting with 3 players). If after the 3 players, there is still a tie, one player at a time will be chosen to take the shootout until a winner is decided. A player cannot be chosen twice until all the other players on the team have had an opportunity to shoot.
PROTESTS: All Referee decisions are final. Protests can only be done by email by the team captain to the league conveynor at vwbh@rogers.com. There is a team fee of $100 for any team wishing to protest a call or suspension. There is a 24 hour rule in effect that no emails can be sent until 24 hours after the game time has elapsed. If a player challenges the referee's call during the game or at the arena, a penalty may be issued and/or the player given a one game suspension.
All other standard ball hockey rules apply.
NOTE: NO PLAYER REFUNDS AFTER THE FIRST GAME HAS BEEN PLAYED - NO EXCEPTIONS!!
