Floor Hockey

The object of the game is for the team in possession of the "puck" to shoot it into the goal cage. The defensive team tries to break up the attack, capture control of the puck, and move it back up the floor in an assault on the other team’s goal. Stamina, speed, agility, and skillful stick handling are the ingredients in developing a successful floor hockey team.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME: Floor hockey is ice hockey without the ice and skates. Players work together in teams to put the ball into the opponents' cage. It is played indoors with the ball in play everywhere.

PLAYING THE GAME: • A face-off is used: • To begin each period • After each goal • If an cannot determine which team caused the puck to go out of play • When both teams commit a penalty/. • If the puck is tied up in the corner or along the walls. • All players must be on their defensive side during the face-off. • Absolutely no body checking or unnecessary contact will be tolerated. • A hand may be used to catch or touch an airborne puck. The puck must be dropped immediately within the radius of the catching player's stick. • A foot may be used to stop the ball but not to advance it. • It is illegal to hold the stick horizontal to the floor at any time.

SCORING: • A goal is scored when the puck passes completely across the plane of the goal line. • Goals may be scored from anywhere by anyone. Goals will not count if:

• If the puck is kicked in • A stick blade is above the waist level • The hand bats the puck • An offensive player or her stick is in the crease (even after a shot). • An automatic goal will be awarded if a defensive player throws a stick and/or enters the crease to prevent the puck from entering the net regardless of whether or not the puck ends up in the net. • Shots that accidentally bounce off a player’s body and into the net will be counted. • No goal can be scored while an offensive player's feet are in the crease.

GOALKEEPING: • The goalkeeper may use either hands or stick to clear the puck away from the goal. However, the goalie may not throw the puck across the center line. • The goalie is not exempt from penalties when they go

outside the goal box to play the puck. • The goalie has only three seconds to play the puck from the crease, once they have full and controlled possession. If they go over the three-second limit, there will be a face-off in their zone. • The goalie is not allowed to have the majority of their body in the goal. • Goalies, when clearing the puck, may not throw it above waist height or past the center line untouched by another player. • Goalies may hit or shoot the puck with their stick.

GOAL CREASE: No offensive player or his or her stick may enter the goal or break the plane of the crease at any time during the course of play. If a player scores a goal, but their momentum carries them and/or their stick into the crease, the goal will be disallowed and a will be called.

PENALTIES: • Penalties will expire if the team playing with the advantage scores a goal. • When a violation occurs, a delayed penalty (held whistle) will be called if the offended player/team retains possession of the puck. • Player fouls shall be extremely limited. PLAYER MISCONDUCT: • Misconduct penalties will result in a player ejection. Misconduct penalties include: • Repeated/excessive use of profanity. • Repeated/extensive abuse of the facility and/or equipment. • Slashing. • Unnecessary rough play. • Fighting. • Deliberate roughing/checking. • Verbal or physical abuse towards an official, opponent, or supervisor. • Any unsportsmanlike conduct that in the opinion of the official warrants ejection.

PENALTIES (Major infractions): All penalties will result in the player serving time out of the game. Penalties include: • Tripping - intentional tripping using the stick or a body part. • Checking/Roughness - any unnecessary body contact. • Intentional delay of game (not applicable to the goalie 3- second rule). • Intentional holding of a player from scoring on a breakaway. • Hooking - wrapping the stick around a player. • Elbowing - use of the elbow to impede an opponent. • Throwing the stick - intentional throwing of the stick to gain an advantage. • Two penalties result in an ejection. • Equipment abuse - any beating or mistreating of equipment. • High sticking - above the waist (on the shot, and/or in traffic). • Holding . • Habitual fouls . • Kicking or throwing the puck . • Goal crease violations . • Interference - inhibiting the progress of an opponent while not in possession of the puck, or knocks the stick out of the opponent's hand, or who prevents a player from regaining possession of a dropped stick. • Moving the net by defensive team with no shot at net (if it’s an intentional act with shot on goal, it will result in a penalty shot). • Contact with the goalie inside the crease whether accidental or not .

FOULS (Minor infractions): • Results in the loss of the puck and an indirect shot at the of infraction. • An Indirect Shot is an uncontested shot taken by a player with all players at least ten (10) feet away in all directions. • The shooter may not touch the puck twice in a row. • A goal cannot be scored off an indirect shot until touched by another player other than the goalie . • Fouls include: • Offside or interference on a face-off . • Hand pass . • Goalie throwing puck past center line (may be shot with the stick) and/or throwing puck above waist height . • Player in the crease or breaking the plane of crease with the stick or body. • Unintentional/incidental body contact. • A player who continuously fouls will receive a penalty (major foul) or ejection .

References: http://www.uaf.edu/src/FloorHockey.html ; http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/us/pe/910/hockey.htm http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~ims/rules/hockey_rules.html