DCBH Rules

General League Rules

• Three 15 minute periods running clock

• Last minute stopped, penalty time stopped

• Penalty time 1:30

• 1 minute intermissions

• Immediate 3 person shootout if necessary (playoffs included)

• Games can end in a tie due to tight time frame (although this is unlikely)

• 2pts/Win, 1pt/Shootout Loss

• Specific ball hockey rules: USA Ball Hockey Official Rule Book

• Icing: must cross all three lines, Blue, Red, Blue, then hit the red goal line to be an icing

• High sticking: above the shoulders, immediate dead ball, ball brought back one zone from offending team

• Hand Passes: a player shall be permitted to stop or bat a ball in the air with their open hand, or to push it along the floor with an open hand and play shall not be stopped, unless the player has directed the ball to a teammate in the neutral or attacking zone. When this occurs, play shall be stopped, and a face-off shall ensue at the face-off spot nearest to the location that the hand pass occurred.

• Disciplinary action for overly aggressive or unsportsmanlike conduct - See Disciplinary section below.

Rules Specifics:

Clock: Periods are 15 minutes long running clock except the last minute of all 3 periods is stopped time. 30 second line changes. 1 minute intermissions. Penalty time ALWAYS stops the clock when teams are on the power play. If there is 4 on 4 for coincidental penalties, the clock will run as normal. The clock will run in the last minute of games that a team has a lead of 4 goals or more.

Playoffs: Playoffs will be determined after the number of teams is confirmed each season. Playoff schedule will be shared at the beginning of each season when the full season schedule is shared.

Equipment: Any player not wearing their team’s color will NOT be able to play in the game. No exceptions so captains may want to carry an extra shirt or two just in case you need it for someone. No protective gear is mandatory though it’s HIGHLY recommended that players wear gloves, shin guards, eye protection and a mouth piece. Helmets with or without a shield/cage are a good idea as well. All sticks need to have tape on the butt end so please make sure you do this when you get a new stick and on older ones as well. Players can NOT carry 2 sticks while on the rink EXCEPT to hand the goalie his stick if he lost/dropped it and you can’t be a part of or in the play to do so. A 2 minute penalty will be called for breaking these rules. Also, if a player breaks a stick during play you must drop it immediately or a 2 minute minor will be called for playing with an illegal stick. This is for safety reasons as a broken stick can be a weapon that could injure other players or yourself. The refs will give you a warning to drop it first. Only goalies can play with one and only until the next stoppage/whistle when they will be allowed to retrieve another one.

Subs/Rosters: With the size of the Parker rink, if you have at least 9 runner players, NO substitutes will be allowed. All substitutions have to go through the Captains chat (set up at the beginning of the season). During the regular season sometimes teams end up upgrading through circumstances but this is not the norm and obviously not ideal so this only acceptable under extreme shortage weeks. Teams can have up to 20 players. Please make sure to have enough players on your roster for each week. Coordinate with the Captains chat to see if players can stay and play, if other Captains agree.

Clearing/Icing: Ball must cross all three lines (blue, red, blue) then pass the red goal line extended line. Ref will blow the whistle once the ball has crossed the red goal line extended line. Icing is many times a judgment call, so players need to realize this. The low ref first decides if the ball was released (not your stick/body) from behind the icing line and puts his hand up. At this point either ref can waive it off if he feels any player has a legitimate (50% or more) chance to play the ball. The further ref then points his hand toward the ball and icing line and blows the whistle when the ball crosses the goal line. Icing is STILL called if the ball goes through the crease. Icing can be waived off if a player isn't running/hustling for the ball, could've made a play on it, etc. Again, this is a judgment call by the referees.

Catching the ball/Hand passes: ALLOWED if done in one quick catch and drop motion as to not gain a territorial advantage, etc. If you gain advantage the whistle will be blown and a face off deep in the offending team’s zone. Hand passes are allowed in your center of the rink if both parts of the hand pass are completed before. A player shall be permitted to stop or bat a ball in the air with their open hand, or to push it along the floor with an open hand and play shall not be stopped, unless the player has directed the ball to a teammate in the neutral or attacking zone. When this occurs, play shall be stopped, and a face-off shall ensue at the face-off spot nearest to the location that the hand pass occurred. Hand passes are waived off it the ball touches any part of another D player’s body OR stick. You also can NOT knock a pass with your hand on net, defined as would’ve gone into the net if the goalie wasn’t there, as the faceoff will come outside the zone in this event. If a defensive team chooses not to play a potential hand pass, unless being closely/tightly defended, the face off will go to the closest face off circle. If you are being defended tightly the face off will be dropped where the hand pass originated.

Off-side: We play a floating blue line, so you enter the zone like the NHL at the blue lines and once you are in the zone the zone opens up to the center line so the D must still clear the ball past the red center line for the other team to then be offside but they would only have to clear/reset to the blue line/offsides line. The ball is IN the zone once it COMPLETELY crosses the blue line in the offensive zone and is OUT when it is ALL the way across the CENTER line. If a team is deemed off-side and any offensive player is continuing to pursue the ball or play defense on players (not trying to immediately leave the zone), the whistle will be blown for off-sides. If it was deemed intentional the faceoff will go low in the guilty team’s zone. This is a discretionary call. Also, if a team is in the zone and a line change is made, once the play is beyond the bench the player can just jump in the play without having to touch up, as long as the player doesn't jump ahead of the play off of the bench. If a team is changing just wait until the play is by if you want to stay on-sides. With trying to keep our refs out of the way there are times the ref can’t be right on the lines so they may miss a ball in or out by an inch or less so please try to understand this as we are trying to stay out of the way of the play which is a little bit more important.

Delay of Game: Delay of Game is called when a player is behind the icing line in his defensive zone and shoots the ball out of play into the benches. If there is a tip by the defensive team or both sticks hit the ball at the same time the DOG isn’t called Once you get past the icing line, there isn't a delay of game call unless a player is deemed to intentionally (no doubts) shoot the ball out of play. DOG is called whether the ball is bouncing or grounded, intentional or not. DOG can also be called for players intentionally batting or kicking a ball out of play anywhere on the rink, only if it was deemed intentional by the referees. Grabbing the ball and throwing it, or just to catch it and hold it, is an automatic DOG penalty. A player that steps on the ball excessively or shields it excessively anywhere on the rink will be warned, and then if the ball is not released will be called for DOG. A player stopping the ball with his foot isn’t considered a penalty as long as the player removes his foot from the ball immediately and isn’t shielding it from the defense. Displacing the goal post (if deemed intentional) from its original position during play will result in a DOG penalty and if this occurs in the last minute a penalty shot will be called and taken by any opposing team player that is on the rink at the time.

Line changes/Too many men: Legal line changes are made when the player you are coming on for is within 5-8 feet of your team’s bench. Changing any earlier can result in an illegal line change minor penalty. Incidental contact for either player within this distance isn’t deemed a penalty. Either player making a play on the ball or another before the changing player is off of the rink will result in a 2 minute penalty. If during a change, the players are within the 5-8 feet range of the bench and neither player changing for the other makes an attempt to play the ball, defend a player or purposely touch the ball, this is a legal change. Accidentally being hit by the ball within the right distance and making an attempt to get off the playing surface is NOT a penalty. If, during a change, a play is made on the ball by either player involved in the change while both are still on the rink, Too Many Men will be called. If a player has both feet in the door the entering player is clear to make plays.

Exiting the penalty box: A player can NOT make a play on the ball with his body or stick until COMPLETELY in/on the rink. A penalty can be called for this infraction as well so make sure you are on the rink safely first before joining the play.

Face-offs: The players MUST be squared up (one leg at least on each half of the circle, doesn't have to be centered exactly), all blades must have at least a part of the blade on the ground and behind your half of red circle. The ball must touch the ground first before a player makes contact or the player is kicked out of the circle. If ANY player on a team jumps the line before the ball is dropped, the center on that team is kicked out. ADVANTAGE: If a team hits the ball before it hits the ground but the non cheating player wins the faceoff cleanly the refs can assume advantage and not redo the draw which would help the guilty team.

Errant Shots: If the ball is hit off of the goal, crossbar, post or side of net and lands out of play, the face-off stays low. If the ball goes through the netting and out of play somehow, the face-off goes to the closest faceoff circle on the same side of the icing line where the shot was taken. Shots out of play will result in a face-off outside of the zone, unless the shot was tipped or hit both sticks at the same time, in which case the resulting face-off will be to the closest circle on that side of the icing line. If the offensive team has the zone already ALL tipped balls or ones knocked out by the defensive team on that half of the rink will result in a faceoff down low and offensive zone remains gained. Any shots or dump ins that don’t result in icing, that drop out of play or in the benches will result in a faceoff draw nearest where the ball went out.

3 Penalty Rule: 3 penalties in a game from the same player and that player is ejected from the game. The only exceptions to this rule are on penalties that are served such as too many men, serving a penalty for a goalie/teammate, etc. Also, a double minor for high sticking (drawing blood) only counts as one tally toward this rule. For example, even if you have a Delay of Game, a Holding the Stick, and an Interference call you are still ejected from the game. 5 minute misconducts (language, screaming, etc.) count toward the 3 penalty rule, as well. If a team scores on a delayed penalty, that penalty still counts towards the player’s 3 penalty rule. Goalies are included in this rule if for some reason it ever happens.

Delayed Penalties: If a penalized team already has a player in the box and the other team scores while the goalie is pulled or on the delay, the first penalty expires and the new penalty starts from scratch for the full 2 minutes.

Situational Power Play: If a player from Team A has 2 penalties (2 different players) called during a shift and a player from Team B has 1, the power play starts immediately at the next drop of the ball. Another player from Team A will go to the box, as well, and he will be released as the PP ends. The remaining 2 players come out after 2 minutes and a whistle. If one player receives 4 minutes in penalties and another 2 the power play starts after 2 minutes UNLESS there is less than 2 minutes left in the game when these

penalties occur.

Misconducts: A collective effort will be made to ensure players’ actions toward officials and other players are respectful. If players use abusive language toward a referee or other players, a 5 minute misconduct may be assessed immediately, without warning. Players excessively screaming at an official or other players will be called, as well. This is a judgment call by the official so I’d recommend not testing them. Questioning calls is acceptable if done appropriately and if a player is instructed by the ref that the discussion is over, it will be over or a player will be assessed a misconduct. If there are excessive complaints coming from the bench and refs can’t determine which player made them a 2 minute bench penalty can be called. Slamming sticks extremely hard into the boards, over the crossbar, throwing sticks on OR out of the rink during a whistle, or breaking sticks, even during play, is an automatic 5 minute misconduct and possibly a fine if the rink is damaged. We do not need anyone getting hurt or struck by a portion of the stick. Players getting these penalties will not affect a team’s manpower but rather will only be assessed to the offending player, who may leave the box on the next whistle, once 5 minutes of play have expired. Also, any player that throws, breaks his stick, etc. in a reckless/dangerous way on the rink right when the game ends can/will be accessed a 5 minute misconduct to start their next game. Any player not leaving an altercation alone after being sent to the box OR players approaching players on the opposing team’s bench can also be given a 5 or 10 minute or game misconduct depending on how the refs view the severity of the situation. Last but not least players that yell, talk down to, curse, berate, etc. at any ref AFTER a game are subject to further discipline and will be dealt with sternly most likely resulting in a suspension. Please talk to the commissioner and captains if you have any issues with the refs or politely question the refs after the game as they are more than willing to explain what they thought, saw, etc. Thanks in advance for your understanding. These refs are here for you and to help us play these games.

Disciplinary action: A formal 1st warning and reminder that unsportsmanlike aggressive behavior and fighting will not be tolerated and is in violation of Parker Fieldhouse Code of Conduct will be given. An additional warning will result in a 1 game suspension from the league. All majors are subject to disciplinary action. Any players that attempt to berate, insult, offend a ref or player will be subject to a suspension and depending on the severity could be out for a while.

High Sticking: A collective effort will also be made to keep player’s sticks down. Calling for the ball is NOT a penalty. Any time you strike a player above your shoulder line or wave your stick at another player above the shoulder line, which includes reckless stick-lifts, will be a penalty. If someone gets hit with a stick that's even close to the shoulder line, a high-stick will likely be called, regardless. Players who leave their feet to jump for a ball will still have their shoulder used as the reference point for a high stick; however if a player is struck up high during that jump, high-sticking will be called, regardless. Players’ safety is a league priority. A missed stick check that misses and ends up over your shoulders is a penalty and this is due to the # of players struck in the face over the past few years. Control your stick on stick checks and be prepared to stop/slow your stick if you miss that stick check. Players taking a hand off their stick to bat a ball down must be conscious of their blade positioning during the play, as some players allow their blade to come above their shoulder while holding the stick with one hand, and as such will be called for a high stick. Up and overs are allowed if done in a controlled manner and no one is hit. Follow-throughs on shots and clears are NOT high sticks unless it's deemed a reckless golf shot, etc., nor is a slap shot windup considered a high stick. Players scoring a goal from a stick that is above the crossbar but still below their shoulder will have that goal waived off. While not a penalty in this league, goals cannot be scored directly off a stick above the crossbar. When in doubt, keep your stick down and under control at all times. Each player is responsible for controlling his own stick. We would also like to remind players to be cognizant when running not to have your sticks too high as a penalty COULD be called here as well if deemed careless and players are near. Practice running with your stick at or below your shoulders so you won’t be guilty.

Tripping: Tripping is caused by a player putting his stick in an opposing player’s legs

and/or feet which causes the player to go down, lose balance, etc. In case of incidental

trips we usually call it like this: If 2 players are side by side we tend to waive it off as

incidental but if the offensive player has an advantage and you are reaching from behind, etc. the player which causes the player to fall a tripping call will be made. Basically try not to place you stick between other player’s feet or legs.

Slashing: Will be called for hard reckless stick swings, unless complete contact is made with the ball or flush on the blade. Slashes on shafts, top of blades or any parts of the body will be called if they are done with any force. Keep control of your stick while trying to steal the ball or defend and if you wind up and come down assume you will be going to the box. Light(er) taps to the stick won’t regularly be called.

Hooking: Hooking is the act of using the stick in a manner that enables a player to restrain, slow or impede an opponent.. A minor penalty should be imposed on a player who impedes the progress of an opponent by “hooking” with their stick as well as to any player who uses the shaft of the stick above the upper hand to hold or hook an opponent. 9 times out of 10 if you turn your stick over you will be escorted to the box.

Butt Ending: Pretty Self Explanatory so don’t do it. Any done with intent will be 5 minute major, game misconduct and disciplinary action.

Shoving/Bodying: Protecting the ball is allowed, but playing the body by checks and pushing is not tolerated. Any player using an extension of the arm to knock a player off balance will be called for roughing. Light/incidental body contact is still acceptable, but players should be aware of their hands/bodies and how to legally use them.

Interference: Impeding an opponent who does not have the ball or impeding any player from the bench. Note that no contact is required to be called here. If a player tries to go around you can’t move side to side even slightly, cut in front of, stop in front of, etc. or it’s an interference penalty. No blocking or getting wide on the opposing teams on face-offs. Outside the faceoff dot players can only stand still/stationary - so shuffling feet, sliding over, etc. is also 2 minutes. The same is true for D’ing up on a player as you can’t impede a player from getting open, to open space or to the net. No shielding/fronting especially while not even looking at the ball/play.

Boarding: If a player is hit into the boards head first it's an automatic 5 minute major, which results in a player’s ejection from the game. If a player is lightly or mistakenly pushed into the boards, a 2 (or 4) minute minor penalty may be assessed instead, at the referee’s discretion. All majors are subject to review for a possible suspension.

Sliding: If a player slides and interferes with a player from the opposing team in any way, whether making a play on the ball or not, the sliding player will be assessed a penalty for tripping or interference even if you get the ball FIRST. Safety is our first concern here. Even if your slide lands and touches ANY part of the player’s body or if that player has to jump over you or it causes the player to trip at all you will receive a penalty for sliding.

Diving: Penalties can be called for players that dive and/or try to embellish anything on the rink to try and draw a call. A 2 minute minor will be called.

Fighting/Punching: Fighting is strictly prohibited in any games and is a season long

suspension which is at least 10-12 weeks. Any punch thrown will be reviewed to decide how long the suspension will be and players that end up defending themselves MAY be subject to less of a suspension. Of course any other players that jump in to escalate a situation, aka 3rd men, will also be reviewed/suspended. The best thing to do is for each team to grab, tackle, hold back YOUR player in these rare instances.

Around the Goal: Needless whacks at the goalie (careless slashes before/after the whistle) will be carefully observed and will result in a minor penalty. Also, goalies in the crease and outside of the crease are not to be interfered with, otherwise a penalty for goaltender interference will be called. Outside of the crease, all players have a right to the space on a first come first serve basis. No goal and no penalty (faceoff outside of the zone) will be called if a goal was scored and contact with the goalie was deemed incidental. If a player is pushed into the goalie, a roughing/goaltender interference call will be made on the player who initiated the shove. Offensive players in the crease must be moving and making an effort to exit the crease before being given a warning by the ref(s) first. Goals scored while an offensive player is in the crease without being pushed in by a defensive player are waived off UNLESS the ball is in the crease BEFORE the player is. Players are allowed in the crease as long as the ball is in there first and you aren’t interfering with the goalie so those goals will be allowed. If a goalie drops or loses his stick a teammate (or opponent if applicable somehow) can hand the goalie back his stick (while holding his own) as long as they aren’t involved DIRECTLY (making a play with either stick or any part of the body) with the play.

Goalies: Goalies can only cover the ball in front of the crease after making a save. A ball may be covered behind the net only if a goalie has part of his body in the crease. If not, a delay of game penalty will be called against the goaltender, unless no offensive players are around, in which case the goalie will be instructed to move the ball in a reasonable amount of time or until an opposing players get close enough for a whistle in a faceoff. Goalies can move the ball forward but not THROW it up the rink, just a quick toss forward is legal. Any player that waives his arms or stick in attempt to distract the goalie will be given a 2 minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Normal goalie screens are legal outside of the crease.

Forfeits: Are not allowed for DCBH games. If any team has to forfeit the team will be fined $100 payable to the team the forfeiting team is scheduled against. We can work

together to make sure that this doesn’t happen. If it does happen the team must pay the $100 before their next game to continue with league games.

These are the emphasized rules and unique rules to DCBH. All other common street hockey rules can be found in the Official USA Ball Hockey Rulebook or Standard NHL Rules as we use a hybrid of all of the above.