MBHA Summer Ball Hockey FAQ

What are the basics of Summer Ball hockey ?
Summer Ball Hockey is played on the surface of a full size hockey rink with a hard orange ball. Six players, including the goalie, compete against the opposing team's six players. Extra players are kept on each bench, outside the playing surface, and interchanged with the six on the floor either during play or at a stoppage of play. Each game has two qualified referees and one game technician.

How old must you be to play in the league?
16 years or older. Players under the age of 18 are required to wear full face mask for protection.

If I am under age can i still play ?
Yes, with signed parental permission.

How often do we play ?
Generally 2 games per week with games played normally Monday to Thursday evening.

What levels of play do you offer & when are the games played ?
Competitive Men’s 1 will play most games on Tuesday and Thursday. 6:30PM-11:30PM.
Competitive Men’s 2 will play most games on Tuesday and Thursday.6:30PM-11:30PM.
Recreational Men’s 3 will play most games on Monday and Wednesday.6:30PM-11:30PM.
Recreational Men’s 4 will play Monday through Thursday evening. 6:30PM-11:30PM. (May be 1 or 2 Sunday Eve games)
Casual Men’s 5 will play Monday through Thursday evening.6:30PM-11:30PM. (May be 1 or 2 Sunday Eve games)
Masters Division ( born in 1979 or earlier) will play games on Sunday Evenings.
Women’s division will play most games on Tuesday and Thursday evening.6:30PM-11:30PM.
Co-ed division will play most games on Monday and Wednesday evenings.6:30PM-11:30PM.

How do I know what Men's Division I should register my team in ?
You can use the following criteria to help you decide which division your team would be best suited for:

1. Competitive: Advanced Players possessing great ice or ball hockey skills.
2. Competitive: Players with above average ice or ball hockey skills.
3. Recreational: Players with good ice or ball hockey skills.
4. Recreational: Players with average ball or ice hockey skills.
5. Casual: Players with limited skills or have never played before.

Where are the games played ?
Games are at the St.Norbert Arena located at 3450 Pembina Hwy, Glenwood Arena at St.Annes Rd and St.Marys Rd, and Varsity View Arena at 4230 Ridgewood Ave.
& Terry Sawchuck Arena at 901 Kimberly Ave.
Most Women's & Coed games are played out of Glenwood Arena.

When does the season start and end ?
The season starts on Tuesday April 17, 2012 and will end in late June or early July.

What is provided by the MBHA?
Set Venues: Full size Arena's (5 on 5 play)
Trained Officials
Game Technicians
Online Statistics & Player Profiles
Division Championship Prizes
MBHA TV
CBHA Rules & Regulations
Player Insurance

What is the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) ?
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association is a registered non-profit organization. It is officially recognized as the governing body of the sport in Canada by the International Street & Ball Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada.

What is the cost for the season ?
Men's - $2100.00
Coed/Women's -$1850.00
Masters Division - $1100.00
Individuals - $145.00 for Coed/Women's, $155.00 for Men's Division 1-5, Masters Division $80.00 (This includes a Team Jersey for yours to keep)

Is there a deposit required to register a team ?
Yes. A minimum deposit of $500.00 is required to enter a team. Individuals must pay in full.

How many games will each team receive ?
All teams will play 16 regular season games plus a minimum of 2 playoffs for those who qualify. ***Masters Division - 8 regular season games plus a minimum of 1 playoff game***

How long are the games ?
Games consist of two 20-minute Halves with the last 2 minutes of the game stop time, if there is a three or less goal spread.

How can I register for 2012 Season ?
Online registration forms and payment options are now available on our website. You may also mail in your team deposit.

I don't currently have a team, can I sign up as an individual ?
Yes. Once a roster spot becomes available, you will be placed on a team best suited for your skill level. Every season the league creates a team of individuals in Men's Divisions 4, 5, Women's and Coed so there are several roster spots available. All individuals must be registered and paid in full before we can place he or she on a team.

Do I receive a team uniform as part of my individual registration ?
Yes. This is included in the price and yours to keep.

Do you provide deposit refunds if my team decides not to play ?
We do not provide refunds unless we can find a replacement team for the division you singed up for.

Is there a captains meeting before the season starts ?
Yes. The meeting will take place the week prior to the start of the season.

What equipment is required ?
Mandatory equipment includes running shoes, CSA approved hockey gloves and helmet with the chin strap properly fastened.
Recommended: shin pads (soccer or hockey), protective cup.

Are visors or cages required ?
If you are under 18, you will be required to wear a cage. For 18 and over, no face protection is required.

Can goaltenders wear street hockey equipment ?
No. All goalies must wear CSA approved ice hockey equipment including helmets and masks, pads, blocker and trapper. The ball can reach excessive speeds at many levels, and street hockey equipment is not sufficient protection.

Does the league supply any equipment ?
Equipment is the players responsibility. The league will supply each registered team with 10 CBHA pro hockey balls prior to the season. Additional balls may be purchased at our online store.

Are teams required to have matching jersey's ?
All teams must have a matching sweater color, (IE: All blue or all black Etc, the stripes do not have to match) with a one or two permanent digit number on the Back between 0-99. Taped numbers are not permitted. May 1st is the deadline for matching jersey's regardless of how many games you have played.

How do the rules of ball hockey differ from those of ice hockey ?
The rules of ball hockey are very similar to ice hockey, with the exception of the following: Floating blue line offside, all stick infractions are double minor or major penalties, high sticking the ball is a two minute penalty.

What is the floating blue line off-side rule ?
Expansion of the offensive zones occurs once a team crosses the opponent's blue line with the ball. The attacking team will then have half of the entire playing surface within which to control the ball, from behind the opponent's goal to the center line of the area. If the defending team sends the ball past center, the zone is reset to the blue line and their opponent must regain it as explained above.

How many players can I have on my roster ?
Each team is allowed a 22 player roster.

How many players can I dress for a game ?
Teams may only dress up to 20 (18 attackers plus 2 goaltenders) players for each game.  If a player is suspended, his game roster spot cannot be filled.

How many players are required to start a game ?
A Team must have at least 5 players on the floor to start a game. If a Team does not have a goalie by halftime, they will lose by default. A team may finish the game with 3 players and a goalie.  Any less than 3 players will result in a forfeit.

What are the regulations for player eligibility in each division ?

Division 1 - None
Division 2 - May dress up to 6 players from division 1 per game. Goaltenders are excluded.
Division 3 - May dress up to 5 players from a higher division. Only 2 players are permitted from division 1. Goaltenders are excluded.
Division 4 - May dress up to 5 players from a higher division. Only 2 players are permitted from division 1/2. Goaltenders are excluded.
Division 5 - May dress up to 3 players from division 3 and 4. No players are permitted from division 1 and 2 including goalies.
Co-ed Division - May sign up to a maximum of 2 players from Men’s Division 1, but May only dress Division 1 player per game. Goaltenders are excluded.
Women’s Division – None.
Masters - Age 35 & up (Must be born in 1977 or earlier for the 2012 season).
August League - May dress a maximum of 2 players from a 2012 men’s Division 1 team.
Goaltenders are excluded.

Where can I find a copy of the Rule book ?
All team captains will receive an official CBHA rule book and MBHA Basic Rules & Regulations booklet at the captains meeting. The basic rule book is available online under the rule book link.

What is MBHA TV ?
MBHA TV is a weekly show on youtube which features video highlight's of some of the games throughout the week, news and more. Each show is posted in the summer section of our website weekly.  

Can You move up or down divisions in future seasons ?
Yes, Each season players and teams will have the option of choosing division best suited for them. Championship teams in Men's Divisions 2 through 5 will have to move up a division the following year.

Will there be league championships in every division ?
Yes, there will be a league championship for each respective division.

Will my team qualify for provincial championships ?
Men's Division 1,2 and 3 winners and Women's Division 1 earn the right to represent Manitoba at the Western Regional Canadian Ball Hockey Championships. All players registered in the MBHA can try out for Team Manitoba Men's and Women's to compete at the Canadian National Ball Hockey Championships.

Are there World championships in the sport of ball hockey ?
Yes, every two years at different global locations there are women's, men's and junior world championships. All participants of the MBHA are eligible to represent their country or country of heritage at the world championships. The last world Championships saw 3 Manitoba Women, 2 Manitoba Men and 4 Manitoba Youth players attend the World Ball Hockey Championships representing Canada.