Ball Hockey Rules

Team Composition

Rosters may not be larger than 8 total players
A maximum of 4 of players including goalie are permitted on the court at one time
A game may not proceed with less than 3 players. An exception can be made if an injury occurs during a game. Exceptions will not be made if a player gets ejected

Game Procedures

Each game will consist of two 20-minute periods with a 3-minute intermission in-between
Teams will be provided 5 minutes to warm up, but if games are running behind this may be adjusted
Goals are scored when the entire ball passes over the goal line
Games can end in a draw if no goals are scored, or an equal number of goals are scored
During playoffs, if the score is tied at the end of the second half, a 2-minute overtime period will be played.
- If the game remains a tie after this period, a 3 round shootout will be conducted. The higher seeded team will choose which team shoots first.
- If the score remains tied after the 3 rounds, the shootout will proceed to a "sudden death" format.
- The same 3 players must shoot in the same order until a winner is determined.
Substitutions can be made at any time (i.e., on the fly)
Defaults will result in a score of 1-0
If both teams default, it will result in a score of 0-0

Hockey-Specific Equipment

All Players must wear C.S.A. approved helmets with full face masks
Sticks cannot have tape on the bottom
Gloves are recommended
Goalies must wear full equipment

Rules of Play

At the beginning of each half and after every goal, play shall be started with a faceoff at center.
- Only one player from each team may be in the circle
Sticks may not be lifted above the waist. This includes the wind up and follow through of shots and passes
Balls can be played off the wall below certain pre-set lines
Changes of possession occur when
- The ball is played from a player’s hand to another teammate (i.e., hand pass)
- The ball is carried
- The ball is shot or deflected out of bounds
A team that is rewarded a change of possession must place the ball on the ground and play the ball within 3 seconds. Opposing players must provide this player with approximately 6 feet to allow them to play the ball. After three seconds, the opposing team may act on the ball
Goalies may only smoother a ball in their own crease area and the area immediately surrounding it
When a goalie attains possession of the ball the play is dead. The opposing team must provide 6 feet of space for the goalie to play the ball to their player. The goalie has 3 seconds to play the ball
All penalties will be whistled dead immediately (no delayed penalties). Referees will record the infraction on the game sheet
Any player receiving 3 penalties in a game will be ejected from the remainder of the game.
All minor penalties will result in a 2 minute 4-on-3 power play. Once this penalty is over, a referee will let both teams know and the team with 4 players will have 5 seconds to return one player to the bench.
- If a team does not have 4 players, they will instead be rewarded a penalty shot
- Coincidental minors are offsetting. Both players must return to their bench and remain there for 2 minutes. The play will resume 4 on 4 and a faceoff at centre will be conducted
The following are minor penalties that result in a 2-minute power play: slashing, tripping, hooking, spearing, charging, roughing, holding, elbowing, roughing
- High sticking – any attempt to raise a stick above the shoulders. Contact with the ball or a player is not necessary, and it is still a penalty
- Depending on severity, the referee may administer a major for any minor penalty
The following are major penalties and result in a 5-minute power play and an immediate game misconduct/ejection: fighting, any attempt to punch, elbow, kick or strike another player/referee, any attempt to injure another player
- Any attempt to land a strike will constitute a major
- Additional disciplinary action may also be taken by the league