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Official NHSSC Floor Hockey Rules

Teams

  1. Team rosters must be composed of a minimum of 12 total players, with at least 4 of each gender.
  2. Teams consist of five (5) players on the floor at one time, four (4) offensive players and a goalie.
  3. A minimum of four (4) players (including goalie) is required to start and continue a game.
  4. Teams must play a minimum of two (2) players of each gender at all time. except when serving two simultaneous penalties, in which case the team must play at least one (1) player of each gender.
  5. The goalie counts toward a team's on-floor gender requirement.
  6. Unrostered game substitutes (players who are not registered with the team) are strictly prohibited. Teams found to be playing with a non-roster player will forfeit the game.
Equipment
  1. The NHSSC will provide all necissary equipment for all players and goalies, including pucks, sticks, masks and gloves for the goalies, and protective eyewear, however, players may provide their own equipment provided it meets the following requirements:
    1. Sticks must have plastic blades and be approved for floor hockey use.  Wood and composite sticks are not permitted.
    2. Players may wear protective goggles and/or a full hockey-type helmet.
  2. The "puck" shall be a 3-inch hollow plastic ball approved for floor hockey use.
  3. Sticks shall be have plastic blades
  4. Players may wear gloves/mittens for hand protection.
  5. Players must wear protective eyewear.
  6. Players may not wear baseball hats or jewelry.
  7. Goalies must wear a regulation catcher's mask, goalies mask, or athletic protective eye wear.
  8. Goalies may wear a street-style goalie glove, or baseball or softball glove on their non-stick hand and leg pads.
  9. Players must wear non-marking sneakers.
  10. Players must wear their NHSSC-provided t-shirt uniform.

Game Time

  1. Each game will consist of 3 periods (12 minute running clock).
  2. A two-minute interval will separate each period.
  3. In the last two (2) minutes of the third period, the time will be stopped for penalties and face-offs. Unless there is no more than a three (3) goal difference.
  4. Each team will be allowed one (1) time-out per game, one (1) minute in duration. No time-outs in the last four (4) minutes of the game or in overtime. A team may call a time-out while in possession of the puck, or at a stoppage of play.
  5. An official time out may be called for in injured player or for other circumstances deemed appropriate by the officials.
  6. All ties will remains as such except during playoffs.
  7. During the playoffs, if the game is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute sudden death period will be played. Additional 5-minute periods will be played until a winner is determined.
Playing the Game
  1. A face-off is used: to begin each period, after each goal, an inadvertent whistle, an official cannot determine which team caused the puck to go out of play, when both teams commit a penalty/violation, or if the puck is tied up in the corner or along the walls; after a team time-out; after a missed penalty shot; when a player is making no attempt to advance the puck or stalling; or after a penalty/violation. Sticks must be on the floor for a face-off.
  2. Offside will only apply to face-offs. All players must be on their defensive side during the face-off.
  3. Absolutely no unnecessary body checking or contact will be tolerated.
  4. There will be no icing.
  5. 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.
  6. It is illegal to hold the stick horizontal to the floor at any time.
  7. A goalie may catch the puck in their glove, but must put it in play within three (3) seconds.
  8. Goalies when clearing the puck may not throw it above waist height, or throw it past the center line. However, goalies may shoot it with their stick.
  9. Substitutions are free and can be made at any time. When the puck is alive a player can only enter the court when the other player is completely off the court.

Scoring

  1. A goal is scored when the puck passes completely across the plane of the goal-line.
  2. Goals may be scored from anywhere.
  3. Goals will not count if a stick blade is above the waist level, kicked in, the puck is batted by the hand, or an offensive player is in the crease.
  4. 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.
  5. Shots which bounce off a player's body and into the net will be counted, if the contact with the person is accidental (official's judgment).
  6. No goal can be scored while an offensive player's feet are in the crease.

Penalties

  1. Teams cannot play with fewer than four (4) players. If two players are penalized during the same time, penalties shall be served in succession.
  2. Minor penalties will expire if a goal is scored by the team playing with the advantage. Penalty minutes will carry over into the next period. If two (2) or more players are penalized only one (1) player may return per goal scored against their team. The player who has the least amount of time left on their penalty will return.
  3. When a violation occurs, a delayed penalty (held whistle) will be called if the offended player/team retains possession of the puck and has a clear opportunity to score.

Player Misconduct

  1. Misconduct penalties will result in a player ejection.
  2. Misconduct penalties include:
    • Excessive use of profanity.
    • 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.

Major Penalty

  1. All major penalties will result in the player serving a FIVE- minute penalty. Play will start with a face-off.
  2. Major penalty fouls include:
    • Tripping - intentional tripping with the stick or any body part.
    • Elbowing - use of the elbow to impede an opponent.
    • Throwing the stick - intentional throwing of the stick to gain an advantage.
    • Hooking - wrapping the stick around a player.
    • Checking/Roughness - any unnecessary body contact.
    • Intentional holding of a player from scoring on a breakaway.
    • Intentional delay of game not applicable to the goalie 3- second rule.
  3. Two major penalties results in an ejection.

Minor Penalty

  1. All roughing penalties will result in the player serving a two (2) minute penalty. Play will start with face-off.
  2. Minor penalties include:
    • Equipment abuse - any beating or bending of equipment..
    • High sticking - above the waist (on the shot, and/or in traffic).
    • Holding.
    • Habitual minor fouls.
    • Interference - inhibiting the progress of an opponent with is 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.
    • Illegal substitutions.
    • Kicking or throwing the puck.
    • Goal crease violations.
    • Moving the net by defensive team with no shot at net (if intentional act with shot on goal, it will result in a penalty shot).
    • Contact with the goalie inside the crease whether accidental or not.
    • Too many players on floor.
    • Too few of a gender on floor.
  3. All minor penalties may be considered major if flagrant.

Minor Foul

  1. Results in the loss of the puck and face-off at the point of infraction.
  2. Minor fouls are:
    • 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. When the offensive team violates this rule, the official shall stop play immediately initiate a face-off. When the defensive team violates this rule, the official will blow the whistle initiate a face-off only when the puck has come into the possession of an opposing player.
    • Dangerous Play - Diving, sliding or playing in a reckless manner
    • High sticking - blade comes above the waist (on an open shot or just carrying the stick down the floor).
    • Body contact - incidental or accidental body contact.
    • Goalie violation - Playing puck forward, holding puck for more than three (3) seconds.
  3. A player who continuously fouls, will receive a minor penalty.

Penalty Shot

  1. A penalty shot will be awarded to a player who, in the official's judgment had a clear opportunity to shoot on goal and was prevented from doing so by an opponent tripping, holding, etc. A goal will be awarded if a player stops a clear opportunity to score a goal by throwing their stick, entering the crease, etc.
  2. All players except the goalie and player attempting the shot will move to the opposite half of the floor.
  3. The shooting player will place the puck anywhere on the penalty line. The shot must be taken within five (5) seconds, following the official's whistle. If the puck is moved from the prior to the shot, a face-off will be called by the official.
  4. The goalie must be stationary inside their crease, with both feet on the goal line until the puck is played.
  5. If the shot is missed, play will immediately be dead and a face off will occur at the nearest designated spot on the floor. If the shot is made a face-off will occur at center court.
Officials
  1. The NHSSC shall provide an official for the game.
  2. The NHSSC official shall be responsible for:
    1. Keeping time
    2. Recording each win and loss
    3. Calling all penalties and fouls
Forfeits
  1. Teams that arrive at forfeit time with fewer than six players shall forfeit the game, and the opposing team shall take the win.
  2. If both teams arrive at forfeit time with fewer than four players (including goalie), both shall forfeit the game, and both shall receive zero points in the league standings for that game.
  3. Any team forfeiting who does not provide at least 72 hours notice shall pay a $50 fine, which shall be used by the opposing team for food and beverages at the sponsor bar at the next game.




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