SECTION ONE – THE RINK

  Rule 1.                                   Rink

            Pond hockey should be played on an area of ice called a rink.

  Rule 2.                                   Rink Dimensions

a)    As nearly as possible the dimensions of the rink shall be 150 feet long and 65 feet wide.  The corners of the rink are to be either square or curved to match the turning radius of the snow removal equipment.

b)    The rink shall be enclosed by the boards, which may be constructed of snow and ice.     

c)    It is recommended that areas for spectators to stand and view the games be made available on the two long sides of the rink.  It is NOT recommended that spectators be allowed to watch from the ends of the rink.

  Rule 3.                                   Division of Ice Surface 

a)    There shall be NO line marking divisions in the ice surface. Cones shall be placed on either side of the rink to delineate the center ice line.  The center ice markers are used to determine the “attacking” zone for each team.

  Rule 4.                                   Goal Posts and Nets 

a)    The goal frames are to consist of standard ice hockey frames, 72 inches wide, 48 inches high and deep enough to keep the goal from falling over. 

b)    Nets are to be applied to the goal frames. 

c)    Goals are to be located at each end of the rink and centred on the width of the rink.  The goals should be placed approximately one stick length (6 feet) from the end of the rink allowing skaters to play the puck behind the net. 

d)    Goals should NOT be held firm to the ice.

  Rule 5.                                   Advertising Panels 

      a)    It is recommended to place 48” high and 96” wide advertising panels directly behind each net to help prevent balls from entering the   
     spectator area.  These panels are NOT mandatory.

  Rule 6.                                   Player Boxes and Officials Area 

a)    Each rink shall have an area set aside on one side of the rink large enough to hold up to six (6) team members (players and coaches) for each team while play is in progress. 

b)    An area large enough to hold two (2) “officials” shall be made available between the two player areas. 

  Rule 7.                                   Cleaning the Ice 

b)    Each ice pad may be cleared every three games with ice maintenance scheduled once during the day.  (Teams can clear the ice before games if they chose.)

SECTION TWO – TEAMS

  Rule 8.                                   Composition of Teams

a)    A team shall consist of no more than three (3) players on the ice at any one time, plus one goalie, while play is in progress. 

b)    Each team shall consist of a maximum of ten (10) players including the goalie.  Exception:  Open Men’s Division shall consist of a maximum of (7) players including the goalie. 

c)    Each team can (it is not mandatory) designate one coach.  Coaches must dress to look the part and be easily distinguishable from the players and spectators.  An award will be given at the end of the Festival to the coach that best exemplifies good looks, good humour and good fun. 

d)    The Masters Divisions can be made up of either men or women or any combination thereof. 

e)    The Corporate Division must have at least three women listed on the team roster. At least ONE female player must be on the ice at all times. 

f)     All players and coaches are expected to behave in the spirit of sportsmanship and good will throughout the tournament.

  Rule 9.                                   Team Uniforms 

a)    Each team is expected to provide both a light and dark coloured, matching, long sleeved sweater (it is NOT called a jersey) for all players.

  Rule 10.                                 Player Eligibility 

a)    All adult players must meet the minimum age requirement for their division as of the first day of tournament play.  All minor players must meet the age requirements as listed below.  The age categories for minor divisions are taken from the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) rules for 2009 – 10 season:  

a)    Recreational divisions are provided for teams and players who wish to play pond hockey recreationally and are not too concerned with winning.

b)    Any underage players in the adult divisions will be ejected from the tournament.  The offending team will NOT be allowed to replace the ejected player for the remainder of the tournament.

c)    More than one underage player on an adult team will result in a team ejection. 

d)    All players must be recreational athletes meaning active professional, junior or university/college hockey players are NOT allowed to participate. 

e)    Any player visibly intoxicated will NOT be permitted to play at the discretion of the Officiating Committee or Game Official. 

f)     The Organizing Committee and Officiating Committee reserves the right to prohibit any player from participating if he/she presents a threat to the safety and well being of other event participants or behaves in a manner that does not exemplify sportsmanship and fair play.

SECTION THREE – EQUIPMENT

  Rule 11.                                 Mandatory Equipment 

a)    All skaters must where “hockey” skates.  Goalies are allowed to wear winter boots but it is strongly recommended that goalies wear skates. 

b)    All minor divisions must wear hockey skates, hockey gloves, and a CSA approved helmet and facemask. All other equipment is optional, but suggested. 

c)    All adult divisions must wear a CSA approved helmet.  All other equipment is optional, but suggested. 

d)    Hockey sticks must be in good condition. 

e)    Each goalie must wear a CSA approved helmet and facemask.  All other goalie equipment is optional.   

f)     All players should remember that outdoor ice conditions are NEVER ideal and falls are very common.  Shin pads and elbow pads are strongly recommended. 

g)    All players must realize when playing pond hockey, stick contact to the hands is possible.  It is strongly recommended that all players wear hockey gloves.

  Rule 12.                                 Puck (Ball) 

a)    The puck shall be a standard tennis ball of any bright colour.  The tennis balls are to have a 1/8” hole drilled into them to help reduce the amount of bounce in the ball.
 

SECTION FOUR – GENERAL RULES OF PLAY

  Rule 13.                                 Game Lengths 

a)    All games are 30 minutes in length with three (3) 10-minute periods with a 3-minute intermission between periods. 

b)    The winner of a “captain’s rock, paper, scissors” will determine either who has first possession or which goal to defend.  Teams will switch ends after each period. 

c)    The beginning of each period shall be controlled by the official’s central broadcast system.  All games will begin simultaneously. The game clock will run continuously.  Teams late for games will be penalized one (1) goal per minute.  After 5 minutes, the late team will forfeit the game with a 10 – 0 score awarded to the opponent.  Games will NOT be rescheduled. 

d)    Each period will end with a central broadcast announcement or horn.

  Rule 14.                                 Officials 

a)    One (1) off ice official and one (1) off ice score-keeper will monitor each game from the “officials area” between the player areas. 

b)    The “official” scorekeeper will record all goals and penalties for each team. 

c)    The referee is responsible for calling penalties and controlling the play on the rink. 

  Rule 15.                                 Game Play 

a)    Teams will be required to vacate opponent’s half of the ice after a goal is scored.  Once ALL members of the scoring team have vacated the opposition end they can then re-enter the zone to begin play. 

b)    When a goalie covers the puck in front of their net, the referee will call a stoppage in play.  The opposing team must give two stick lengths space (12 feet) away from the goalie so that play can resume with the goalie passing the puck to a teammate.  The puck must be moved within 10 seconds.

  Rule 16.                                 Penalty Shots 

a)    At the end of regulation time, one penalty shot will be awarded to the opposing team for every penalty a team takes throughout regular time.  The off-ice official will keep track of the penalties during play and announce the totals at the end of regulation time. 

b)    Penalty shots will only be taken if the final outcome of the game can be affected. 

c)    Penalty shots start at center ice and play begins at the start of the referees whistle. 

d)    All penalty shots are taken at the same end of the ice.  Each team is to alternate until all of the penalty shots have been completed or the outcome of the game has been determined.  The team that has been awarded the MOST penalty shots takes the first shot.  Extra shots will be taken only when they may affect the final outcome of the game. 

e)    Goals scored during penalty shorts will be ADDED to each teams score total at the end of regulation time to determine who is awarded the extra point. 

f)     Goals scored during the penalty shot portion of the game DO NOT count in a teams goals for/ goals against comparison. 

  Rule 17.                                 Overtime 

a)    There will be no overtime periods played in round-robin play.  Games will remain tied at the end of regulation time and penalty shots. 

b)    During playoff games, if a game remains tied at the end of regulation time and penalty shots, then additional penalty shots are taken in a sudden victory format with each team alternating shots.  The visiting team will shoot first. 

c)    No player shall shoot twice until everyone who is eligible has shot. 

d)    Once the shootout begins, the goalkeeper cannot be replaced unless he is injured. 

  Rule 18.                                 Team Points 

a)    There are three points available for every game. 

b)    If one team is leading the game at the end of regulation time and the outcome of the game CANNOT be changed with penalty shots, the leading team is given the win and awarded three points. Penalty shots will NOT be taken. 

c)    If one team is leading the game at the end of regulation time and the outcome of the game CAN be changed with penalty shots, the leading team is awarded two points.  Penalty shots are then to be taken by both teams as described in Rule 16.  The team leading at the end of the penalty shots will be awarded one point.  If the game is tied at the end of the penalty shots, both teams will be awarded ½ a point. 

d)    If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, both teams will be awarded one point.  Penalty shots are then to be taken by both teams as described in Rule 16. The team leading at the end of the penalty shots will be awarded one point.  If the game is tied at the end of the penalty shots, both teams will be awarded ½ a point. 

  Rule 19.                                 Substitutions 

a)    Players may be changed at any time from the players area, providing the player(s) leaving the ice has one skate off the ice and is out of play before the change is made. (This is sometimes called “changing on the fly”). 

  Rule 20.                                 Out of Bounds

a)    Pucks that are accidentally shot our of bounds result in the opposing team gaining possession at the spot closes to where the puck left play.  Defenders must give the in-bounding team tow (2) stick lengths to initiate play again.  Players should NOT pursue pucks out of play.  Officials will have pucks to immediately start play again. 

b)    Pucks that enter the snow bank around the rink are considered “out of bounds”.  Only one player is allowed to dig the puck out of the snow.  The referee will determine which team is given possession of the puck.  The opposing team must give the in-bounding team two (2) stick lengths (12 feet) to initiate play.

SECTION FIVE – PENALTIES
 

  Rule 21.                                 Penalties 

a)    Penalties will be called for rule infractions as defined in the Hockey Canada regulations. 

b)    The off-ice official will call penalties by either blowing a whistle or with some other form of notification, stopping play and awarding possession of the ball to the opposing team.  The offending team must give the opposing team two stick lengths (12 feet) distance from the puck.  Play is to resume once possession has been transferred.

c)   All penalties are to be tracked by the off-ice official.  At the end of regulation time, a penalty shot will be awarded to the opposition team for every minor penalty each team has been given.

d)    A major penalty, which includes any action that could injure an opposing player, will result in immediate ejection from the event and a goal awarded to the opposing team. The penalized team also loses possession of the puck.  No addition to the offending player’s roster will be allowed.  A second major infraction by the same team may result in the team’s ejection from the tournament. 

e)    Body checking is NOT allowed.  A body check is considered a major penalty and the offending player will be ejected from the tournament. 

f)     Any abuse of the officials will be considered a major penalty including, yelling, swearing or arguing calls. 

g)    Slap shots are NOT allowed and are considered to be a minor penalty.  Sticks must remain below the knees while shooting.

h)   Contacting the puck above the waist is considered to be a minor penalty.
 

TOURNAMENT OUTLINE

  Rule 22.                                 Tournament Outline - 4 Team Division 

a)    Each four (4) team division will play a round robin format. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games the first place team will play the fourth place team in one semi-final game.  The second place team will play the third place team in the second semi-final game. Each team will play a minimum of four games. 

c)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 23.                                 Tournament Outline - 5 Team Division 

a)    Each five (5) team division will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of four games. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games the first place team will play the fourth place team in one semi-final game.  The second place team will play the third place team in the second semi-final game. 

c)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 24.                                 Tournament Outline - 8 Team Division 

c)    Each eight (8) team division will be randomly divided into two (2) pools of four teams.  Each pool will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of three games. 

d)    At the end of the round robin games the first place team from pool A will play the second place team from Pool B in one semi-final game.  The first place team from pool B will play the second place team from Pool A in the second semi-final game. 

e)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 25.                                 Tournament Outline - 10 Team Division 

a)    Each ten (10) team division will be randomly divided into two (2) pools of five teams.  Each pool will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of four games. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games the first place team from pool A will play the second place team from Pool B in one semi-final game.  The first place team from pool B will play the second place team from Pool A in the second semi-final game. 

c)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 26.                                 Tournament Outline - 12 Team Division 

a)    Each twelve (12) team division will be randomly divided into three (3) pools of four teams.  Each pool will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of three games. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games, the first place team from each of the three pools advances to the semi-final games. 

c)    The team with the next best record becomes the fourth team to enter the semi-finals. (See Rule 29 – Tie Breakers) 

d)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 27.                                 Tournament Outline - 15 Team Division 

a)    Each fifteen (15) team division will be randomly divided into three (3) pools of five teams.  Each pool will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of four games. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games, the first place team from each of the three pools advances to the semi-final games. 

c)    The team with the next best record becomes the fourth team to enter the semi-finals. (See Rule 29 – Tie Breakers) 

d)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 28.                                 Tournament Outline - 16 Team Division 

a)    Each sixteen (16) team division will be randomly divided into four (4) pools of four teams.  Each pool will play a round robin format.  Each team will play a minimum of three games. 

b)    At the end of the round robin games, the first place team from each of the four pools advances to the semi-final games. 

c)    The winners of the two semi-final games will play a final game to determine the division champion. 

  Rule 29.                                 Tie Breakers

   1.    If two or more teams have an equal number of points at the end of round robin play, their position in the standings will be determined by:

   i)         The winner of head to head games in round robin play.

ii)        If still tied, the goal spread (goals for less goals against) will be used.

iii)       If still tied, the team with the least minutes in penalties

iv)       If still tied, the team with the most goals for shall finish higher.

v)        If still tied, coin toss.