Hat Trick Ball Hockey

Administrative Regulations

•All players must have completed a waiver/registration form before they are eligible to play.

•All players must be 18 years of age or older or have a minor’s waiver form completed by a parent or guardian. Violation of this rule could result in suspensions and possible legal charges for non-consented minors engaging in an adult sporting activity.

•Full team registration fees are due prior to the first game. One form of payment made by captain is required. If not paid in full and on time, teams could face fines and suspensions.

•Deposits and registration fees are non-refundable.

•Post-dated cheques are not accepted

•Any returned cheques will have a $20 service charge.

Miscellaneous Rules

•All fines must be paid before the following game.

•72 hours is required if your team must default for any reason. If the league does not receive the 72 hour notice, the team will be fined $50.00.

•If, due to unforeseen circumstances, a game is cancelled, an attempt to reschedule will be made. However, if this is not possible, no refunds will be issued.

•Games cancelled by the referees/conveners, due to a team losing control or accumulating too many penalties will result in a loss for the team in question, and be subject to review at the season’s end. Teams and players are here to play for the full 40 minutes and shouldn’t be punished for another team’s actions.

•Captains and team registrants are responsible for all their roster players and spectators. It is a privilege to play in the league, and with a waiting list, we have the right to expel teams that don’t abide to our standards of fair play and ethics.

•Illicit drug and alcohol use is prohibited on any of the school property. Anyone violating this policy will be asked to leave the premises and can result in league suspensions/fines/expulsion. This includes players and spectators.

•Any player who is suspected of being intoxicated, by the league conveners, officials or school staff will be asked to leave the premises immediately, and can result in league suspensions/fines/expulsion.

•All actions taken on or against school property before, during or after games can also result in league suspensions/fines/expulsion.

Equipment

•Blades must be tapped with white tape from head to toe at all times. Any player taking a shift without white tape will be assessed a minor penalty.

•Teams shirts must be of the same color, and all shirts require a number on them. (Tape is not accepted as a number)

•Failure to meet the requirements above can result in players leaving the game.

•Although not mandatory, the HTBHL strongly suggest the use of a helmet, hockey gloves, shin pads and a protective cup for your own safety.

Rosters

•A team’s season roster cannot exceed 20 players, including one goalie.

•A team’s game roster is limited to 13 players, including goalie.

•Once you dress a player, they automatically take up one of your 20 roster spots.

•A goalie can be borrowed from other teams within or outside the league. Goalies don’t count as a pick up or towards the season roster. (All playoff goalie spares must be approved in advance by league conveners)

•A player must have played 4 regular season games to qualify for the playoffs. One shift qualifies as a game played.

•If a player is injured, and is present at the game, it must be reported to the league on the game sheet for it to count towards his playoff eligibility. This player won’t count towards the 13 player game roster.

•Game sheets need to be completed before the start of each game. If a player arrives late, he must sign in with the scorekeeper. It is the responsibility of the captain to fill out the game sheet properly; incorrect information can result in league discipline ranging from a penalty to a suspension.

Missing/Injured Players

•The minimum number of players required to start a game is 4 total players whether it includes a goalie or not.

•When a full team or individual players are late, the team can start to play shorthanded or run up to 2 minutes off the clock. If they choose to run 2 minutes off the clock, the game will start at the 18:00 minute mark and the team will be assessed a delay of game penalty. Should the team still be short players, the penalty will be carried over to the start of the second half.

•If a goalie gets injured during a game, the team has 5 minutes to find or dress a goalie. Failure to do so will result in the game continuing and having that team play with 5 runners and no goalie.

Gameplay

•Each team plays with 4 players on the floor, as well as a goalie.

•If all games remain on time, teams will be given a 5 minute warm-up period (HTBHL does not provide balls for the warm-up)

•Games will consist of two (20) minute periods of running time with a 3 minute halftime.

•Each team has one 45 second timeout per game.

•We will stop time when the score is within 2 goals in the last 2 minutes of play.

•If the game is tied in the last 2 minutes the clock will continue to run.

•The clock will start at scheduled time, no exceptions.

•The referee and scorekeeper have the authority to stop the time clock if they deem it necessary.

•Teams remain on the same side all game unless they have specifically requested to change sides before the game with an official.

•Players must change from the corners and not the stands. Failure to do so can result in a penalty for too many men on the floor.

•If the referee is unsure of a goal or penalty, he can consult the scorekeeper at his own discretion. The scorekeeper can also request to speak with the referees if deemed necessary. After discussion, the call on the floor can be changed.

•If a default were to occur, the final score will be 3-0.

• If at any point in a game, a team gets a (10) goal lead, the game and stats are officially over. Players will still get the original floor time.

•If a regular season game finishes in a tie, we will go directly to a sudden death shootout.

•No one from a team can shoot twice, unless players are missing or if shooting in the “final shot”.

•If still tied after 5 shooters, we will flip a coin and have a captain call heads or tails. The winning captain will decide if his team shoots or defends in the "final shot".

•The final shot determines the winner on one play. If the player scores, his team wins the game, however, if the player does not score, the goalie's team gets the win.

•In a playoff game, sudden death O/T will be played 4 on 4 for 4 minutes and then 3 on 3 for 3 minutes. If still tied, we move on to a 3 player shootout and if still tied after that a sudden death shootout will take place.

•If point standings are tied after the regular season, we will rank in this order:

-Wins

-Head to Head

-Goal differential

-Goal Against

-Goal For

-Least amount of team penalty minutes

If three or more teams are tied, once a team has been eliminated due to a tie-breaker, the remaining teams restart the tie breaker from the top.

•There will be a maximum of two points awarded per goal, one goal and one assist.

•All calls are at the referee’s discretion and are final.

•All communication with the referee is to be done by captains only.

•Hand passes are permitted inside your defensive zone.

•A goal off any body part is a good goal unless the motion was intended.

•If you are bleeding, you must get off the floor.

•If you get hurt and the play stops, you must get off the floor for one play.

•Everything is live. This includes walls, ceilings and basketball nets etc..

Penalties

We will follow NHL penalty guidelines with the exception of those modified below:

•Sticks must be kept below the shoulders on shots which includes wind ups and/or follow through attempts. This along with any attempt to knock down a ball above one's shoulders will be assessed a high sticking penalty.

NOTE: Goalies are an exception from this rule, unless they make contact with a player.

•All penalty calls are delayed, until the penalized team gains control of the ball.

•The penalty will start at the drop of the ball.

•Any player which receives 3 penalties in one game is ejected from the game.

NOTE: Unless a high stick makes contact with a player, it will not count towards the 3 penalties in 1 game rule.

•Penalties will be served as followed:

-Minors = 2:00 minutes

-Double Minors = 4:00 minutes

-Majors (Game Misconduct) = 5:00 minutes

-Misconduct = 5:00 minutes

• A team can go down to no less than two players on the floor when killing penalties.

• If coincidental penalties are given, the teams will play 4 on 4.

•Closing your hand on the ball in your own crease will result in a penalty shot.

•Unsportsmanlike conduct will be handed out to any player who takes the fun out by:

-Hitting their stick on the net or the wall

-Talking back to the ref

-Arguing with teammates or opposition

•Delay of game initiated by goalies/players will be called at the ref's discretion.

•Our referee’s will monitor these closely:

-Anyone freezing the ball when no danger is around

-Any goalie freezing the ball, outside his own crease

-Any goalie/player purposely knocking the net off

-Anyone purposely throwing equipment around i.e. Trapper, Blocker, Stick

•If the ref deems that teams are wasting time in between whistles (ie: substitutions) the ref is able to drop the ball on a faceoff even though the team is not ready or asses a delay of game penalty if excessive.

•Any dive/slide that causes interference with a player, whether the ball was touched first or not is a penalty. Any dive/slide that may not interfere with a player but is deemed dangerous by the referee is also a penalty.

•When making a substitution, neither the player entering or leaving the floor, can play the ball or make/attempt to make physical contact with an opposing player, if the other substituting player is still partially on the floor. We will give players a 1 meter grace area, however, if this occurs outside of the 1 meter the team will be penalized for “too many men on the floor”.

•If in the course of a substitution if either the player entering or leaving the floor is struck by the ball accidentally, the play will continue and no penalty will be called.

•Offensive players are not permitted in the crease area. Refs shall blow the play dead if they believe no effort has been made to leave the crease, and the faceoff will return into the player’s defensive zone.

•Battles are not permitted in front of the net. You must gain your position without physical contact. If players use contact, they can both be penalized. Please note the ref can also penalize the one player which he believes is the instigator.

Description of Penalties:

Double Minor: Any high stick making contact, hands to the face (face wash) or any minor penalty deemed to be excessive but not warranting a major penalty, it will only count as one penalty towards the player. They are at the ref’s discretion.

Major penalties: Any penalty in which the ref deems excessive, and/or believes there was the intent to injure. They are at the ref’s discretion.

-Punch/Kick/Hit/Slap or intent to do so

-High stick causing damage

NOTE: The 5 minute penalty will be served for the full length no matter how many goals are scored.

• All major penalties come with a $20 fine and an automatic review by league conveners to determine if further discipline is required.

•Every major, ejection and misconduct is reviewed by the league. All suspensions are handled “case by case” and are at the discretion of league conveners.

•A player who gets ejected from a game must leave the floor and bench area.

•Any player acting as the 3^rd man, can be assessed a major penalty.

•Players who come off the bench for any reason whatsoever related to an altercation can be assessed a major penalty.

•If a referee determines that a player has thrown a punch, the player will receive a major penalty and the case will be reviewed by the league.

•A player who instigates a fight will automatically will be assessed a major penalty, and potentially face long term suspension and/or expulsion.

•Suspensions cover all HTBHL leagues so if suspended in one league the player cannot play in any other HTBHL league until the full suspension is served.