This is NOT competitive hockey, there is NO body contact. Overly aggressive players will be asked to leave the league
TEAM REQUIREMENTS:
- Games are played with 5 players on each side [4 forwards and a goalie]; one player on the court must be fe-male.
- Teams need a minimum of 4 players to avoid a default, one of which must be of the opposite gender.
- If a team's goalie is female all other players on the court are allowed to be male.
- USC prefers not to have teams defaulting their games (people pay to play not to win by default), so we ask that both captains come to an agreement to have a game played. If an agreement cannot be made, then the game convener will step in and arbitrate an agreement. In most cases, teams short on players will play short-handed.
PLAYING GUIDELINES:
- Pulling the Goalie: Pulling the goalie for an extra player is NOT permitted at any point in the game.
- Time Outs: Team time-outs are NOT permitted (unless a goalie needs a drink, a player(s) is injured or the con-vener halts play – however, the clock continues to run)
- Playing Area: Please keep your body and stick out of the playing area. This means keeping yourself and your stick in the player box. Please store your bags, coats, etc. safely out of the way.
- Disputed Goals: If there is a disagreement as to whether a 'goal' has been scored, a decision must be made quickly. A player from the team who was 'scored' against should confirm whether any of his/her teammates saw the ball go in. Both captains should resolve the issue and come to an agreement prior to proceeding.
- Call Fouls/Penalties when Needed: USC convener will step in and eject players who are a threat to the fun or safety of their opponents. If there is any major issues during the game, please report to USC as soon as pos-sible. USC will investigate and determine a recommendation.
- No rushing after goal scored: A team who is scored on must allow the scoring team to return to their half of the court before they can proceed to cross half and play the ball.
- Broken Stick(s): If a player’s stick breaks during the game, play should be stopped. The game may resume once the broken stick is off the surface of play.
- Leaving the Bench: No player may leave the players’ bench at any time during an altercation or for the pur-pose of starting an altercation. If they do, they will be immediately removed from the game.
- Disallowed Goals:
- When the ball has been directed, batted or thrown into the net by an attacking player other than with a stick. (However, unintentional deflections count)
- When the ball has been kicked using a distinct kicking motion.
- When a goal has been scored and an ineligible player is on the floor.
- When an attacking player has intentionally interfered with a goalkeeper in his goal crease.
- When the ball has entered the net after making contact with an attacking player’s stick that is above the height of the player’s waist.
- When a goalkeeper has been pushed into the net together with the ball after making a save.
- When the net becomes displaced accidentally. The goal frame is considered to be displaced when the net is pushed further than 1-foot from where it was, prior to or as the ball enters the goal. (If a team inten-tionally displaces the net then the goal should count – conveners have discretion in this case.)
- If the ball enters through a hole in the netting from the side or back of the goal
- If a foul is called just prior to or as the ball enters the goal
- When the convener deems the play has been stopped
- Digging the ball out from under the goalkeeper after it’d been deemed the goalie has possession
EQUIPMENT:
- Players should purchase their own DOM Pro (or DOM Vision) sticks to use during the season. Sticks can be bought at Sports Equipment of Toronto. Goalies should also supply their own equipment. USC will provide the necessary equipment to have games played like the balls and nets. USC will also provide a few DOM hockey sticks as well as one set of goalie equipment [i.e. mask, goalie pads, goalie stick, blocker, glove]. All equipment will be issued by a first come first served basis.
- Only DOM Hockey sticks and DOM goalie sticks fitted with plastic blades will be allowed. Ordering information for the DOM sticks can be found here. http://www.domsports.com/gym_hockey_pro_p7.htm (Any type of wood or composite sticks are NOT allowed). Nothing should be loaded inside of the shafts of sticks either to make them heavier or stiffer. Player’s caught using illegal sticks may result in removal of player from the game.
- Team jerseys: All players from both teams should bring both light and dark colour shirts to each game. The captains can decide prior to the game which team will wear which colour. Teams may also pick their own unique colour to wear in the games - in this case, they do not need to bring an alternate shirt to the game.
- Players can opt to wear protective gear such as helmets, shin pads, hockey gloves, mouth guards and/or eye-wear.
- Street hockey and ice hockey goalie equipment are legal. There are no restrictions on the size of goalie equip-ment (unless it’s deemed by the convener that the equipment is outside the spirit of fair play). Goalies are al-lowed to wear a mask, blocker, catcher, goalie pads, hockey pants and chest protector.
GAME TIMES:
- Matches will be as many minutes as the league has scheduled for your time slot. The clock starts at the sched-uled game time and teams should warm-up for no more than 5 minutes. Your game must end exactly when the next one is scheduled to begin, regardless of what time your game actually started.
- Score and time keeping must be managed by representatives (usually the players on the bench) from both teams. The clock does not stop for any reason as each game must end on time.
- Games consist of one 55-minute period, with no intermission (unless team’s decide they want one prior to the game). In regular season games, ties are allowed - no overtime or shoot-out.
During playoffs, tied games will be broken as followed:
- a 3-minute sudden death overtime period
- a shoot-out: 4 players from each team get to take a penalty shot.
One of 4 shooters from each team needs to be female. After four shots each, the team with the most goals wins. If the score remains tied, each team alternates shooters until the tie is broken per pair of shooters. (Every player must shoot once before a player can shoot a second time.)
DEFINITIONS:
Face-Offs: Center ice face-off occurs to start the game. If a ball is shot out of bounds or there is a foul/penalty or other stoppage in play, possession of the ball is given to the team that was not the last one to touch it before going out of bounds.
Ball in Play: All areas (wall, ceiling) are 'live'. The only exceptions are if a ball is dumped into an area that is not considered part of the playing floor (the stage, behind the player bench/mats, etc.)
Icing/Off-sides: Icing and off sides are not in effect.
Crease Area: Both captains should confirm the size of crease area (usually one stick away from the net) prior to the start of the game (if there isn’t already a crease line). A player may enter the crease to score a goal but offensive players should NOT stand in the crease area in an attempt to obstruct the goalie's movement. Goalies are allowed to come outside the crease to cut down the angle on stopping shots and to play the ball with their stick. However, goalies are to keep at least one foot in the crease area at all other times.
Goalie Possession: If a goalie gains possession of the ball they have two options: They can use their stick and pass the ball immediately or they can pick up the ball and drop it behind their net to their own player. If the goalie chooses to drop the ball behind the net, his/her team now has 3-seconds (“3-Mississippi”) to put the ball in play. The opposing team must not cross behind the plane of the net until three seconds have passed. If a goalie plays the ball forward then it is in play immediately.
Changing On The Fly: If changing on the fly, players should be fully off the playing area (or within a reasonable distance of the bench with the intent to come off) before their replacement goes on.
INFRACTIONS:
If a player commits an infraction or is the casualty of an infraction, that player or his teammates on the surface of play are EXPECTED to call it. If an infraction is called the ball should be turned over to the team not committing the infraction. (When an infraction takes place an apology by the offender goes a long way.) Infractions can only be called by players on the floor. (Players on the bench calling infractions will not be heard as it causes confusion for players on the floor as well as the convener.)
- Standard Hockey Infractions: All typical hockey infractions such as cross-checking, butt-ending, spearing, tripping, holding, pushing, interference, boarding, hooking, hacking and/or slashing are NOT permitted.
- High Sticking: Sticks need to be kept below the waist in the event of a shot or pass (this includes both wind-up and follow through). If the stick comes above a height that is deemed too high then the play should be stopped and the opposing team receive the ball. This encompasses shooting, waving for a pass, running down the floor, going around an opponent and/or after a goal is scored. Players must be in control and responsible for their stick.
- Reaching Between Players Legs: A player should not place their stick between other player’s legs to try to get the ball. This can result in tripping and/or a greater injury.
- Using the Body to Advance: A player cannot advance towards their opponent by using their backside as a shield. Any goals made from a backside advance will not count.
- Gloved Pass: You cannot pass the ball to your teammate by directing the ball to them with your hands. You may catch the ball, but you must drop the ball to the floor immediately. (It does not matter which zone a player is in at the time.)
- No Stick-Lifts: No player is permitted to 'lift' their opponents stick while they are receiving a pass or in pos-session of the ball. A player can pin down another players stick with their own but should not chop down on a players stick.
- Throwing Equipment: A player shall not throw a stick or any other object in any zone.
- Too Many Players on the Floor: If a player comes onto the floor and plays the ball before their replacement is off the floor, an infraction should be called.
- Delay of Game: Any player who purposely shoots the ball out of bounds or deliberately falls on a ball to stop play has committed an infraction. This also includes stepping on the ball or pinning it with your foot along the wall/boards.
- Goalie Interference: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or de-liberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.
