Floor Hockey Rules (2024)

General Rules

• No ID No Play, No Questions: No form of identification other than an official Youngstown State University ID will be accepted. You MUST have your ID to play. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE FOR ANYONE FOR ANY REASON. If you do not have your ID for any reason, you need to go toKilcawley Center and purchase a new one.
• Game Time is Forfeit Time: Player check-in will begin 15 minutes before the scheduled game time. If a team does not have the needed amount of players to begin the game at the scheduled game time a forfeit will be issued. No Exception or excuses will be accepted for anyone or any reasons.
• Players Can Only Play for 1 Team: In any Youngstown State Intramural League participants are only permitted to play for one team per season. If a player attempts to play for another team they will be suspended and the team that the player attempted to play for will immediately forfeit the scheduled game. Players are only permitted to play for the first team that they played for.
• Playoff Eligibility: Players must play in at least one regular season game in order to play in the playoffs. Players can be added to a roster at any point in the regular season, but must play in at least one game prior to playoffs.
• The Officials Have Full Authority: While participating in a Youngstown State University Intramural Sports Program, YSU IM Officials will have full authority to call and make judgments according to their training. Any questioning of any official’s calls may result in an unsportsmanlike penalty. If a team deems it necessary to question a call of an official, the TEAM CAPTAIN ONLY, may address it to the Intramural Intern, or Intramural Supervisor present at the event. If questioning causes a disruption of game play, the Intramural Intern or Intramural Supervisor has all authority to end the game, and give the team causing the disruption a forfeit. Any Intramural official or supervisor has the right to throw out any player from any game if it is deemed necessary from their training.
• All Games, All Weather: All games will be played during all weather conditions, unless otherwise informed of prior to game time, or until the Intramural Coordinator believes the playing conditions to be too severe to continue. Questions prior to game time can be answered at 330.941.3731
• Uniforms: Participants must be wearing athletic attire in order to participate in any intramural sport. No open toed shoes, jeans, or cargo shorts will be permitted. Any apparel or game equipment needed by players will be issued on a 1 ID basis. The ID will not be returned until the issued apparel or equipment has been turned back in.
• No Metal Spikes: No footwear with metal or metal-tipped spikes will be permitted for use during any Intramural event.
• Inappropriate Team Names: We will not accept team names that are deemed inappropriate by the Intramurals Staff. If you submit a team name that is not approved, you will be asked to come up with a new name. If you do not submit a new name, it will be changed for you.
• Two forfeits = removal from the league: If your team forfeits two times during the regular season, you will be removed from the league. The remainder of your games will be removed from the schedule and you will not be able to participate in post-season play.
• Forfeit Prevention: Each team in league play is permitted to use one forfeit prevention per season. This involves using one official to play on their team in order to meet the minimum player requirements. This is only permitted during the regular season and is only permitted if there are enough officials to officiate all games being played during that hour.
• Liability Waiver: All Participants must accept the terms of the liability waiver found on the participant’s IMLeagues profile. Failure to do so will make the participant ineligible for Intramural play. Participants must sign a separate wavier for each Intramural Sport that they play.
• Fighting: There is a zero tolerance policy for fighting at any YSU Intramural event. Anyone involved in a fight will be immediately ejected and will be reported to YSU’s Student Conduct Board.

The Game

• Games will be played with two teams of six players. Teams must have a minimum of four players required to avoid a forfeit.
• Games will consist of three ten minute periods.
• The Floor-Games shall be played on a surface the size of a standard enclosed basketball court.
• Equipment-All floor hockey equipment will be provided by YSU Intramurals and no other equipment will be allowed to be used.

Game Play Rules

• The Clock-games will be run with a continuous clock that will only be stopped if an injury occurs.
• Each team will be granted two, one minute timeouts per game
• Substitutions
  • Floor players can substitute at any time during game play. Players entering the game must wait until the player leaving the floor is completely off the playing surface before entering.
  • Goalies may only be substituted for during a timeout, during intermission, due to an injury, or if an equipment change is necessary.

Overtime

• During Regular season games will end in a tie
• In playoffs a five minute running clock sudden death period will be played.
• If the score is still tied, the deadlock will be broken with a shootout consisting of three alternating penalty shots taken by three (3) different players from each team. Whichever team is ahead after these shots will win the game. If it is tied after the penalty shots, the two teams will choose different players, and will shoot by alternating teams until one misses and the other scores. Each team will receive the same amount of shots on goal.
• Once every member of a team has taken a penalty shot, that team can choose anyone to take the next shot.

Game Rules

• Play is started at the beginning of each period and after a goal has been scored by a face-off at the center floor dot. All other occasions the face-off should be at the nearest face-off dot on the floor.
• If a penalty occurs, the face-off shall occur at either one of the face-off dots nearest the offending team’s goal (penalty against one team) or the center floor dot (coincidental penalties against each team).
• If crease violation by the attacking team occurs, the face-off shall occur at the center floor dot.
• All players (except the two (2) involved in the face-off) must be at least ten (10) feet away from the faceoff spot, and must be on their defensive side of the face-off spot.
• The individuals taking the face-off shall stand with both feet and body squared to their opponent, with the tips of their sticks no less than two (2) feet apart and on the floor.
• Offside-All players must be in position and onside for face-offs. The game is otherwise free of any traditional offside restrictions of player position or ball movement. The game is kept simple by not having rules for offsides and icing.
• The ball may be advanced by the blade of the stick or by kicking the ball. However, no goal may be scored by kicking the ball directly into the opponent’s net.
• Players may not bat or throw the ball at any time.
• Players must play the ball at all times. Any player checking another player will be penalized.
• Goalie Rules
  • One player may be designated as the goalie for each team. This player is required to wear a mask, and is the only player to have goalie rights within the goal crease.
  • The goalie may use any means possible to stop the ball with their body, glove, or stick. This includes leaving their feet to play a ball.
  • Goalies may not throw equipment to stop the ball. If a goalie throws any piece of equipment to try to stop the ball, play will be stopped and a penalty shot will be awarded to the opposing team.
  • Upon gaining control of the ball, the goalie has three seconds to play the ball to the side or behind the net. If the goalie does not distribute the ball, a face-off will be called. The goalie may not throw the ball forward, or a violation will occur.
  • The goalie may leave the crease at any time, however, once out of the goal area, they must follow all rules that apply to court players.
• Dislodged Net-In the case that the net becomes dislodged, but is not involved in the ensuing play, the referee shall allow play to continue and will replace the net. If it is dislodged and is in the play, the referee shall blow the play dead and a face-off will restart play at the nearest face-off dot. An intentionally dislodged net will result in a penalty, or a penalty shot. A referee may award a goal if the shot was headed into the net when the net was dislodged.
• Pulling the Goalie-If a team wishes to pull their goalie and add a floor player, this team relinquishes all of their goalie rights. Defensive players may enter the crease to stop a shot on goal; they may not however freeze the ball. If a defensive player freezes the ball, the result shall be a two minute delay of game penalty. If the defensive player freezes the ball in the crease, the result shall be a penalty shot.

Scoring

• All goals shall be worth one point. A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line before time expires.
• No offensive player may score a goal by kicking or throwing the ball into the net. A goal will be disallowed if an offensive player is in the crease and the ball is shot in from outside the crease. Only an offensive player’s stick may enter the crease if there is a loose ball in the crease.

Violations and Penalties

• If any of the following acts are malicious and with the intent to injury another player, the official holds the right to immediately disqualify the player for the remainder of the contest.
• Violations
  • High Sticking-raising the stick above the waist at any point during play, including the shot.
  • Hand Pass-A hand pass shall be defined as passing the ball directly to a teammate with your hand. Catching an airborne ball is considered legal provided the player drops the ball in a straight line down to the floor to his or her stick.
  • Kicking the Ball-The ball may not be intentionally kicked into the offensive goal. However, the ball may be played with the foot to another player.
  • Player in the Goal Crease-No offensive player may enter the goal or break the plane of the crease at any time during the course of play except their stick may enter the goal crease if there is a loose ball in the crease. If a player scores a goal, but their momentum carries them into the crease, the goal will be disallowed and a violation will occur.
  • Dangerous Play/Sliding-Players are not permitted to slide into a play. This will be defined as either playing or attempting to play the ball while not being on your feet. This shall include a floor player leaving their feet in an attempt to stop a play or the ball.
  • The goalie may not gain possession of the ball outside of the crease unless part of his body is touching a portion of the crease.
  • The goalie may not gain possession of the ball within the crease, drop the ball outside of the crease to put it in play, and intentionally bring it back into the crease without another player first touching the ball.
• Minor Penalties
  • Too Many Players on the Floor. This penalty may be served by any member of the offending team.
  • Interference-checking or making intentional contact with an opponent who is not in possession of the ball in an effort to impede them from getting to the ball or play.
  • Playing with a broken stick
  • Tripping-attempting to use any part of your body or stick to cause an opponent to fall.
  • Holding-grabbing an opponent or an opponent’s stick/jersey with your hand, arm, or leg to gain an advantage.
  • Elbowing or attempting to elbow an opponent
  • Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent
  • Kneeing or attempting to hit an opponent with your knee
  • Pushing your opponent to gain an advantage.
  • Illegal use of the hands-Using hands to gain an advantage over an opponent.
  • Body Checking/Roughing-excessive body contact with another player.
  • Delay of game-Any action that hinders the completion of the game under its normal time.
  • Hooking-Using your stick to slow an opponent, usually from behind. When only the sticks come in contact, NO penalty shall be called.
  • High sticking-Raising the stick above your waist at any point during a play when the stick is within a foot of another player. Lifting the stick of another player in the air above their waist is also a penalty.
  • Unsportsmanlike Conduct
• Major Penalties
  • Spearing-Stabbing at an opponent with the tip of the blade end of the stick.
  • Butt-Ending-stabbing at an opponent with the butt-end of the stick.
  • Cross Checking-Thrusting your stick shaft across an opponent with no part of the stick on the floor.
  • Slashing-Hitting or attempting to hit your opponent with your stick in a chopping or swinging motion.
  • Fighting
  • 2 Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalties
• Penalty Enforcement
  • At no time may a team have more than two floor players fewer than their opponent.
  • When a team has eligible substitutes, those players are required to be used to serve any penalty which would result in that team being more than two players shorthanded.
  • If a team has no substitutes, the third penalty will be served by the offending player. In this instance, the player who receives the third penalty will also serve the remaining time on the first penalty in addition to the time of his/her own penalty. The player who he/she replaces in the penalty box will return as an eligible floor player.
  • Violations-Play will be stopped immediately and the game will restart with a face-off at the nearest spot. No additional penalty will be assessed.
  • Minor Penalties
    • 3 minor penalties will result in ejection from the game and a suspension for the next league game.
    • The offending player to sit out two minutes of play. The team of the offending player must also play shorthanded for the duration of the penalty. A minor penalty is over when the two (2) minutes has expired or the opposing team scores a goal.
    • If the goalie commits a minor penalty, another team member on the floor at the time of the penalty shall serve time for the goalie, and the goalie may continue to play unless this penalty disqualifies him/her from the game.
    • If both teams commit minor penalties at the same time, both players committing the penalties will sit out for the full length of their penalties, and both teams will play shorthanded. Players may only return to the bench at the first stoppage of play after their penalty time has expired.
    • If team A commits a minor penalty and shortly after team B commits a minor penalty, both teams must play shorthanded for the duration of team A’s penalty. If team A’s penalty expires and then they score a goal, team B’s player will then be allowed back on the floor.
    • If Team A has two players in the penalty box, and Team B has only one (1), a goal by Team B will result in the first penalty against Team A ending.
    • If two players receive coincidental penalties and then a third player is penalized, a goal by the team with the advantage would result in the penalty on the third player ending.
    • Penalty time does not start until the next face-off.
    • Following a penalty against one team, there will be a face-off at a spot nearest to the offending team’s goal.
    • Following coincidental penalties, there will be a face-off at the center court face-off dot.
  • Major Penalties
    • Major penalties shall be enforced by automatically ejecting the offending player and they will be suspended for the next game as well. Depending on the severity of the offense the player may be required to go before the YSU Student Conduct Board.
    • The team of the offending player must also play shorthanded for the duration of the penalty, regardless of the number of goals their opponents score. Penalties which also involve an ejection shall be served by any individual on the offending team.
    • Following a penalty against one team, there will be a face-off at a spot nearest to the offending team’s goal.
  • Penalty Shot
    • Results From
      • A player throwing the stick for any reason
      • If a player has a clean break with the ball and is moving towards the opponent’s goal and is illegally defended or roughed during their attempt to score.
      • An intentional violation or penalty that stops a sure goal.
      • If the goalie throws any piece of equipment to try to stop the ball
      • If a defensive player freezes the ball in the crease.
      • If a defensive player intentionally moves the goal.
    • Penalty Shot Process
      • The clock shall stop on all penalty shots.
      • During a penalty shot, the ball is placed on the center dot and the player who was obstructed (or any player as a result of throwing the stick) shall be given the opportunity to score on the goalie one-on-one. The rush on the goalie will start with the referee’s whistle and end with a goal, a save, or a shot wide of the goal.
      • Only the player designated as goalie may defend against the penalty shot. The goal tender must remain in the crease until the player taking the penalty shot first moves the ball. The goalie may then defend the shot as they would under normal circ*mstances. A goalie violation shall result in another penalty shot. A deliberate penalty by the goalie during a penalty shot will result in a goal being awarded on the penalty shot.
      • No additional penalty will be assessed except when a major penalty has been called.
      • After the penalty shot, the game shall resume with a center floor face-off.