THE OLD SKOOL HOCKEY OFFICAL RULE BOOK (updated Aug 2017)
PLAY
1. Each team must have a minimum of 4 players in order to play the game.
2. Teams are only allowed to use players that they selected in the draft. (no subs allowed)
3. All games will be played 4-on-4 including the goaltender (i.e. 3 out players plus one goalie on the floor at all times). A team may play without a goaltender, if it chooses to do so, at any time during the game.
4. Games and halves will begin with a face-off.
5. The ball will change possession after every goal scored.
6. During play, alternates can substitute as teams deem necessary and/or "on the fly". No stoppage in play is necessary to make substitutions. However, a team needs to be especially careful not to get penalized for too many men on the floor when making on the fly changes. Changes must always be made from the team's defensive end of the floor.
7. Hand passes are not permitted, (unless it’s to yourself)
8. There can be no goalie changes made during games, except in the case of injury. If a goalie leaves a game due to injury, he cannot return to the game in an "out" position. However anyone on your roster can play goal as long he starts the game. Goalie change must be approved by the goalie who was drafted.
9. When the ball is covered by the goaltender, the defending team gets possession of the ball behind the net. The other team must give the team with the ball 2 metres of space to make a play. The team with possession of the ball must move the ball in a reasonable amount of time, as “stalling” will be called at the referee’s discretion. The goalie may only cover the ball within the crease area (at referee’s discretion). If the ball is not put in play within 5 seconds the opposing team will be awarded possession in the same corner.
10. When a ball leaves play:
If the ball goes OFF THE OFFENSIVE TEAM: The defending team receives possession of the ball behind their own net. The opposing team must give the team with the ball 2 metres of space to make a play. The team with possession is allowed a maximum of 5 seconds to put the ball back into play (after retrieving it). If the ball goes OFF THE DEFENSIVE TEAM: The team on offense receives possession of the ball at the place closest corner to where the ball left play. The defending team must allow the offensive team 2 metres of space to make a play. The team on offense is allowed a maximum of 5 seconds to put the ball back into play (after retrieving it).
*The nets above the glass are considered in play.
11. After a goal is scored:
There is no face-off. The team that was scored on gets possession and may execute play once the other team has returned to its half. They also must execute play (i.e. cross the center line) within 10 seconds. If they fail to do so, the other team will be awarded a penalty shot
The team that just scored must always clear and cannot cross the centerline until the ball, or an offensive player, The team that scored has 7 seconds to return to their side of half, if the ref feels that they are stalling they can award a penalty shot to the other team for delay of game. The team that was scored on must tough the ball across half before they can score a goal.
TIME
12. Teams will be given a 3-minute warm-up before each game.
13. A 10-minute forfeit allowance will be strictly enforced.
14. Games will be 30 minutes in length (Two - 15 minute halves, running time,
Separated by a one minute half-time break). The last minute of the game will be stop time.
15. There is no mercy rule
16. Each team will be allowed one (1), 30-second time out per game.
Referee discretion is an important part of any sporting event and their decisions are FINAL. There should be no arguing of calls by participants or spectators. Arguing calls by either of these parties will result in a penalty shot being awarded to the other team on the first offense. Calls may be questioned, but only by a team captain, who is the sole representative of the team. These policies shall be strictly enforced with a zero-tolerance approach. Penalties awarded as a result of excessive arguing are made at the sole discretion of the Referee.
PENALITES
17. There shall be no slashing, excessive body contact, hooking, tripping, crosschecking, high sticking, or inappropriate stick work of any kind. Doing so shall result in a penalty shot for the other team. More serious offenses, including, but not limited to, spearing and/or butt-ending, shall result in an individual being immediately removed from a game and possibly more based on the refs and commissioners decision.
18. Fighting is unacceptable and will always result in the individual being removed from the tournament. Fighting will be judged by the referee.
19. There shall be no pushing, shoving, checking, roughhousing, or unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind. Doing so shall result in at least a penalty shot for the other team, but may be punished more severely according to the discretion of the referee.
20. There shall be no stalling. Stalling is called at the discretion of the official. Doing so shall result in a change of possession or a penalty shot for the other team. A single player sitting behind the net with ball will only be permitted for 5 seconds, after 5 seconds the referee will award possession to the other team, every violation of this rule after the first offence will be a penalty shot.
21. If any player touches the ball while his/her team has too many players on the floor, it shall be ruled a "too many players on the floor" penalty and the opposing team shall be awarded a penalty shot. There is 4 meter grace given for player changes! Shot will be awarded to anyone who is on the floor.
22. Any contact made with the ball when the stick is above the crossbar will be penalized with a penalty shot. Shot is awarded to the player who last touched the ball.
23. The result of all penalties is a penalty shot awarded to the other team. Penalty shots are taken immediately after an infraction, and are taken with the ball being placed at center court according to breakaway type format. The penalty shot is awarded to the player who was infracted on unless it is in the final min of the game or on a high-sticking the ball. In the last min, anyone on the roster can take the shot.
24. For penalty shots, the ball is dead after the shot or at the conclusion of forward progress. Possession is always given to the defending team regardless of the outcome of the shot. After the shot, the ball is dead, and the play resets as if there was a goal.
OVERTIME
25. If the game reaches the 30-Minute time limit in a tie in the round robin there will be a 6 player shootout. If still tied, the shoot-out will continue as single-round sudden death. Every player must shoot once during the initial 6-player shootout. If the shoot-out goes to sudden death, there is no restriction on who can shoot (a single shooter may take all the shots). Winning team receives 2 points and losing teams receives 1 point For playoffs round teams will play sudden death overtime
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
26. Goaltenders should bring their own goaltender equipment. The Referee reserves the right to reject the use of this equipment if it is deemed unsafe or unfair to the opposing team.
27. Shake is a loser
28. Gloves and helmets are mandatory
29. Visor, jocks, mouth guards and shin guards are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, but are not mandatory.
FORMAT
Teams are awarded 3 points for a regulation win and 2 points for a shootout win, 1 for a shootout loss and 0 for a regulation loss.
2 pools of 4 teams, top three in each division qualify for the postseason with 1st place getting the by to the Semi-FInals.
Quarter Finals
AB#2 vs AB#3
Semi Finals
A1 vs winner of B-Quarter Finals
B1 vs winner of A-Quarter Finals
Championship
Both Semi Finals winners.
ROUND ROBIN TIE-BREAKERS
A. Head to Head (if all parties involved have played each other)
B. Most wins in regulation
C. Goal differential
D. Most goals for
E. Least amount of goals against
F. The team with the highest-seeded victory
G. Flip a coin
* if more than two teams are tied, the tie-breaker resets to A. once a team is eliminated through the tie-breaker scenarios.
OTHER RULES
30. Each team is advised to check the Master Scoreboard for all schedules, times, rinks, revisions, and other important information. Be aware that if you choose to leave the event site, you might miss out on important event related / scheduling information.
31. A player must leave the game when an abrasion has flowing blood. Once the flow has stopped and there is no chance of blood contacting other players, the player with the abrasion may re-enter the game.
32. Drug and alcohol use is prohibited on the playing surface or in the locker room.
33. Keep fit and have fun.
