ACTION HOCKEY RULES OF PLAY

1) TEAM

a) A team consists of five (5) players, including the goalkeeper, with a maximum of one (1) substitute.
b) No team can start with less than 4 players.
c) All teams must be registered before being eligible to take part in any competition. A team may register up to 10 players per side. However, only 6 players may participate per game.
d) A player who is asked to fill in for a competition team of a lower grade than that which he generally competes on a regular basis, may incur penalties for the team that he is asked to play for, at the discretion of Arena Management.

(1) Opposing Team Captains must be advised that a fill-in player is being utilized and their agreement sought prior to the match being played and penalties being applied.

(2) A fill-in player of a higher grade will not achieve play-off qualification not constitute part of that team unless determined and agreed upon by Arena Management and opposing Team Captains.

2) THE GAME

a) The game is played in 2 halves, 15 minutes each with a 2 minute break between each half. Sides will change after each third (i.e. change the direction of scoring) at the end of each third.
b) The choice of starts is decided by a toss.
c) At centre pass the ball must be played backwards. If not the centre pass will be reversed. Once played from the center circle, opposition players may gain possession of the ball.
d) The ball is considered to be “live” at all times off all nets, although a goal cannot be scored directly from any net.
e) A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed over the goal line.
f) The team compiling the highest number of goals is the winner.
g) A game shall be deemed to be over when the prescribed number of minutes have passed or after the referee’s call or at their discretion.

3) OFFICIALS

The Arena shall provide the referee who shall control the game, operate the scoreboard and act as a timekeeper. The referee’s interpretation of the rules shall be final.

4) UNIFORMS

i) SHIRTS

a) All team members must have matching shirts by the start of the third competition game.
b) Goalkeepers should be wearing a different color shirt to the rest of the team or be given a bib at the start of the game.
c) Shirt points will be awarded to teams with matching shirts after the third game.
d) In the event that a fill in player is organized by the Arena, T-shirt points will still not be awarded if he is not wearing a matching shirt. It is up to the team captain to obtain a matching shirt if the player is unable to get one.
e) If bibs are supplied by the Arena for a team to wear on a night, teams will still not get T-shirt points if shirts are not matching underneath the bibs.

ii) DRESS

a) No players are permitted onto the court wearing jeans or nonathletic type shoes.
b) Non-marking, soft indoor hockey boots may be worn.

5) EQUIPEMENT

Standard hockey equipment must be used at all times

6) TEAMS LATE ON COURT

a) The clock is to start at game time. If a team is not ready within 2 minutes then they will be penalized one goal per minute elapsed. A team being ready, means that a team must have a minimum of four (4) players on court. If eight minutes have elapsed the game is then forfeited. It is for this reason that we recommend teams to arrive at least ten minutes prior to the game time. No game shall commence nor any practice balls be issued until both teams have paid their full game fee.

b) ARRIVING AFTER HALF-TIME

A player is allowed to play in the second half if they haven’t played in the first half as long as their name appears on the team sheet and they have been given the all clear.

7) SCORESHEETS AND SCORE KEEPING

If after a game has been completed, a discrepancy is found on the scoresheet, the result would stand as is. The running totals on scoresheet shall be taken as being correct and may be requested or queried at any stage of the game, within reason, by the team captain.

8) COMPETITION POINTS

a) The position of each team in the competition shall be determined by the accumulated points awarded, based on the results of the games. The competition points shall be awarded as follows:

(1) 4 competition points for a win

(2) 2 competition points for a draw

(3) One Bonus Point will be awarded for every skin won.

b) In the event of a forfeit, the non-forfeiting team shall receive 4 competition points (for the win) plus all administration points awarded (For T-shirts, registration cards etc.)as well as 2 skins.
c) The forfeiting team will receive –4 competition points, and will be responsible for the full game fee for both sides.
d) In the event of a team entering late into the competition they shall be awarded average points for those games missed and those games will then be denoted as draws on the appropriate division ladder.

9) FINALS

a) At the end of the competition there will be a finals series for the all teams. To qualify for the finals each player must have played at least one quarter (¼) of the minor round games.
b) Tied Finals In the case of Finals, if the game is tied at full time, extra time will be played of 5 minutes in each half. 5 minutes for both halves is played irrespective of whether one team scores in the first half of extra time Thereafter, if the scores still remain tied at the end of extra time, a penalty shoot out will take place, to determine the winner.

10) BLOOD RULE

a) It is the responsibility of the referee to send off any player that is bleeding, including goalkeepers. Players will not be allowed to treat themselves on the court. This rule will be strictly adhered to for health and safety reasons.
b) The wound must be securely covered and any blood stained clothing replaced to the satisfaction of the referee.

11) PENALTIES

a) The penalty must be taken in one fluent motion. No run up is allowed. If the referee is not satisfied that this is the case, the penalty will be disallowed and it will become the goalkeepers ball.
b) The penalty will be taken from 1meter outside the “D” right in the middle.
c) When a player is taking a penalty shot, the goalkeeper must be stationary on the goal line until the ball has been hit. A retake of the penalty shall apply.
d) The penalty taker can directly shoot at goal again if he/she has missed and the ball rebounded back out from the “D”.
e) A penalty shall be awarded at the discretion of the referee.

12) FREE HITS

a) All players must be three feet either side of the ball when a free hit is taken.
b) Free hit must be taken within five seconds of the referee’s whistle, or the free hit is reversed.
c) A free hit taken before the referee’s whistle is blown may cause a reversal of the free hit.
d) In summary, free hits are awarded for:

1) Illegal tackles

2) Obstruction. Players must not obstruct an opponent who is attempting to play the ball. Players obstruct if they :

a) – back into an opponent
b)– physically interfere with the stick or body of an opponent
c)– shield the ball from a legitimate tackle with their stick or any part of their body.
d) - runs in front of or blocks an opponent to stop them legitimately playing or attempting to play the ball

3) Pushing

4) Time Wasting

5) The goalkeeper leaving the area.

6) Intentional handball in the attacking area of the court.

7) Goalkeeper holding onto the ball for more than five seconds

8) Goalkeeper making contact with the ball while outside the goal area.

9) An attacking player being intentionally fouled in a clear goal scoring situation.

10) Kicking the ball intentionally

11) Stopping, propelling, picking up, throwing or carrying the ball with any part of the body..

12) Touching, handling or interfering with other players their sticks or clothing.

13) Intimidating or impeding another player.

14) No HITTING allowed. Players must not hit the ball. Slap’ hitting the ball, which involves a long pushing or sweeping movement with the stick before making contact with the ball, is regarded as hit and is therefore not permitted.

15) Playing the ball with the back of the stick.

16) THE BALL BEING HIGHER THAT THE KNEE AT ANYTIME

17) Playing the ball dangerously or in a way which leads to dangerous play.

Players must not lift their stick higher than the knee.

18) Entering the goal area of their opponents.

19) Holding onto the net or support himself while playing the ball.

20) If a player is lying, sitting, kneeling or deemed to be on the ground, he cannot play the ball regardless of whether it was unintentional. This also includes where a player has the ball hit into him while on the ground.

21) A player in possession of or going for the ball may not be put off by an opposing player through the means of yelling or any verbal abuse.

13) CALL ON TIME

Only in an event of a penalty goal being awarded on the buzzer blowing to end a half or game will the play be continued.

14) GOALKEEPERS

a) The keeper is allowed to reach out of the “D” circle to gain possession of the ball with his stick (either standing, kneeling or lying down) provided no part of his/her body makes contact with the ground outside of the circle while he is in possession of the ball. Such infringement will result in a penalty.
b) Goalkeepers can either hit or kick the ball into play. The ball must touch a net or player before passing the centre line. If this does not happen a free hit will be awarded to the opposition on the half line.
c) When a penalty is taken, the keeper must stand on the goal line and may not move before it is taken, or the penalty will be retaken.
d) The keeper has 5 seconds to get rid of the ball.
e) Goalkeepers cannot hold onto the net when trying to reach out of the goal area (the “D”) for the ball.
f ) A goalkeeper can only be allowed to change between halves.
g) Protective Gear for Goalkeepers is not compulsory but is advised.
i) At least shin pads and protectors at least
ii) Full gear and helmets may be worn.
iii) Skin protectors, kickers and Helmet .
h) A player cannot in any way obstruct the goalkeeper in the “D” either physically or visually. Benefit of the doubt belongs to the keeper.
i) A player cannot come into contact with the ball when it is inside the “D”, even if the players feet are outside the “D”.
j) The ball is deemed to be inside the “D” when half of it or more is in the semicircle.

15) SUBSTITUTIONS

a) Only 1 player maybe used as a substitute but no restrictions in placed on the amount of substitutions.
b) A goalkeeper may only be substituted at half time or when seriously injured has occured.

16) MISCONDUCT / SUSPENSIONS

a) Any swearing, arguing with the Referee, undue rough play, mistreatment of equipment, unduly wasting time may incur a penalty, the severity of which is solely at the discretion of the referee. No warning need precede the penalty.
b) Any game may be stopped and awarded to either team if infringements of the above nature escalate to a point where the game has ceased to be under control.
c) A yellow card is a caution and does not necessarily have to precede a red card. If the referee feels that the incident is severe, he can give an immediate red card. Two yellow card offences to the same individual in one game will result in a red card being issued to that individual.
d) A yellow card means the player is required to leave the court for five minutes.
e) A red card is a suspension from the rest of the game, he/she automatically incurs a one week suspension.
f) NOTE: If two players get red-carded, and there are only THREE players left, the game will end and the points will be awarded to the non-offending team.

g) Player bookings

i) The referee will let all players know when a red card has been issued. Players name must be fill in on scoresheet to be upheld. When being sent off, the offending player will be notified as to when he can return to the field.
ii) In the event of a player swearing whereby the whole center can clearly hear it, a yellow card may apply.
iii) Referees will not hesitate to show a yellow card for minor swearing offences.
v) Referees will stop play to book a player regardless of where the ball is unless in a very clear goal scoring situation.

h) Player Abuse

Any personal abuse is a most serious offence under our rules and will subsequently be dealt with extreme severity. Any player heard personally abusing an opponent will be red carded and possibly suspended.

i) Behavior

For the enjoyment of all, games are expected to be played in a sportsmanlike manner. The Arena reserves the right to dismiss any team or member thereof for threatening, offensive or abusive behaviour. The team shall be held responsible for the action of its members and spectators both on and off the court.

17) ADVANTAGE RULE

In the event that the referee believes the team receiving a free hit will receive a distinct advantage by calling play on, the advantage rule will apply.

18) SPIRIT OF THE GAME

i) All players should assist the referee who performs an often difficult task to the best of their ability. A rule clarification may be asked for by Team Captain after calling time out, when assistance of management may be requested if necessary. All decisions may be applied and must be taken within the “SPIRIT OF THE GAME”.

ii) This standard shall override all rules detailed and total discretionary power shall be left with the Referee for their final decision after taking “THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME” into account.

19) RIGHT OF ADMISSION

“Action Sports Arenas reserve the right of admission to all players and spectators at all times. Any player or spectator found guilty of misconduct either on or off the court may be suspended or banned from attendance or participation at any Action Sports Arena”.