Play ball hockey

All teams are expected to have enough players to meet the minimum numbers at the start of the game time. Any team not meeting the minimum number of players 10 minutes past the official start of game time will be subject to a forfeit. A team may lend players to their opponent however, they must determine if the game will be a forfeit or an official game prior to playing. The forfeit score will be recorded as 7-0.

If any team forfeits two games during a season their status in the league will be under review and may be ejected from the league without refund.

In this scenario a forfeit will be deemed as a team not showing up for a game and/or insufficient amount of communication; CARL administration will review all forfeits for the betterment of the league.

If more than 48-hours notice is given prior to your game, the possibility of a rescheduled game on a future date may occur.

Teams are required to have a minimum of four players to avoid a forfeit (a goalie is not required). Teams are encouraged to work with CARL administration if they are having issues fielding a full team on a regular basis.

A team can have 20 players listed on their roster. Exceptions may be made upon review from CARL administration.

A full team consists of five players (four players + one goalie) on the court.

All teams are required to have a captain present at every game. If a team's listed captain is unable to be present; an acting captain must be assigned for the game.

All players must be listed on the team's official roster to play in the league. Go to ActiveWaterloo to set up an account and add themselves to their team's roster.

A team may bring in extra players prior to the fourth week in the season as long as they have put themselves on the online roster.

Following the roster deadline, CARL staff will do regular random roster checks. If a player's full name is not listed (i.e. John instead of John Smith) they will be deemed as ineligible.

Protesting a player's eligibility may only be done after the eighth week (fourth week in summer) and must be done by the team's captain. A CARL associate must be notified before the completion of the game.

Following the roster deadline; a team captain may challenge any player on their opponent's roster during the game. Any challenge must be requested prior to the end of the game.

If the player is being challenged on a roster the following procedure will occur:

• upon notification of the challenge the CARL associate will record the score at the time of the challenge
• the CARL associate will blow their whistle and force the challenged player to take a substitution to present their full name and identification; this player may re-enter the game during the challenge

Upon completion of the challenge the following results will occur:

• if the challenge is successful, the player will be asked to leave the game immediately
• if the challenged team has scored any goals the score will be reverted back to the recorded score at the time of the challenge
• if the challenging team has score any goals the score will remain the same

if the challenge is unsuccessful, the player is deemed to be eligible:

• the challenging team's captain will receive a three minute short-handed penalty
• if the challenging team has scored any goals the score will be reverted back to the recorded score at the time of the challenge
• if the challenged team has scored any goals the score will remain the same

If a player's full name is not listed (i.e. John instead of John Smith) they will be deemed as ineligible.

Players are responsible for having valid ID at the game. If a player fails to have ID, they are considered to be ineligible and will be removed from the game.

Any ineligible player caught playing in a game will result with following:

• the player being removed from the game
• the team's captain being suspended for the next game
• a second offence will result in a three game suspension for the captain
• a third offence will result in a suspension to the captain for the remainder of the season

In the spirit of the league, captains are expected to replace players with individuals of equal skill. Bringing in “ringers” for games is strongly discouraged.

A team may use players from a previous game from that night and league however, they may only use players from within their division of play or lower and to bring their team to the minimum full line-up of players. You may not use players from another team to give your team subs for the game.

Once a legitimately rostered player arrives at the game a borrowed sub must discontinue play, unless the opponent agrees to have the player stay in the game. You may not use players from a previous game in playoffs.

CARL works to develop an equitable schedule for all participants, ensuring each team has an average equal number of games and a fair distribution of time slots.

All schedules will be sent to each captain and posted on the CARL website a minimum of one week prior to the start of the season. Schedules are subject to change. CARL administration will give notice of changes as soon as possible.

Teams are expected to report scores and spirit ranking to the CARL associate following their game. The CARL administration will have standings updated online no later than 48 hours following your game.

Regular season games may end in a tied score.

A score cap of a seven goal differential will be applied to all games.

Once a team has reached the score cap of seven goals additional goals will not be recorded. Once the trailing team scores another goal, the leading team must score another goal to have it counted. The score recorded will not reflect a point differential greater than seven goals.

How teams are ranked:

• First criteria: total points will be determined from a team's wins, losses and ties. Wins will be two points, ties will be one point and a loss will be worth zero points.
• Second criteria: point differential a team's difference between points for and against.

If there is still a tie in the standings:

1. record head to head between the teams involved
2. point differential between games involving the teams tied only
3. spirit points for each team involved
4. coin toss

Any team with an average spirit ranking of 3.5 or lower will not be eligible for playoffs.

To be eligible to participate in playoffs, a player must be on their team's official team roster.

All teams are guaranteed the same number of post-season games, however not all teams will receive the opportunity to play for the championship.

If a league has eight or more teams the top eight teams will play for the championship in a single elimination style playoff.

If a league has less than eight teams, the top four teams will play for the championship in a single elimination style playoff.

Losing teams will play consolation matches to finish the season.

Any team not part of the championship playoffs will receive consolation games that will equal the same number of games as all other teams.

CARL administration has the right to change the playoff format at any time to ensure the quality of the league.

Sportsmanship is an important part of playoffs. Any team displaying poor sportsmanship in playoffs will have their win reviewed and CARL administration has the right to overturn any win. Poor sportsmanship by both teams in a playoff game may result in a loss by both teams.

Playoff games cannot end in a tie, the following format will only be used in playoffs to break a tie game:

• teams will shoot in a breakaway style from the centre of the gym
• in the event of a tie still remaining additional team members who have not shot yet will compete in a sudden death format to determine the winner
• team members cannot repeat as a shooter until everyone present for the game has been used, excluding goalies

All players are required to use hockey sticks with a complete plastic blade; no composite will be allowed.

The following blade material(s) are not allowed in RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex gymnasiums:

• Wood
• PVC, ABS and other high density plastics
• Fiberglass
• composite blade structures; a ‘composite blade' is defined as any blade that is manufactured by combining more than one solid product throughout the majority of the blade of a stick. Composite also refers to any handmade modifications including but not limited to hockey tape.

Players will be allowed to use any stick using the material referred to as ‘polypropylene' blade.

Any player who does not comply with the RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex stick standards may be ejected from the game. Continued infractions may lead to suspensions.

Any stick found that does not comply with the RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex stick standards will be taken by the CARL associate for the night. Continued offence by a player may lead to a suspension.

All goalies may wear full equipment. Masks must be CSA approved.

All players may wear hockey gloves, eye protection and/or soccer shin pads; these are recommended but not mandatory.

Players should arrive 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of their game. They will receive this time to warm-up for their game.

All players will receive a total floor time of 60 minutes. The clock will begin at the scheduled start time of the game. Players are expected to begin their game on time, beginning late will not result in extra time added to the end of the game unless otherwise noted by the CARL associate.

The match will consist of two 24 minute halves and a two minute intermission; teams will switch ends at half. In regular season games may end in a tie, there will be no overtime.

The clock will continue to run during the game, there will be no extra time unless noted by the CARL associate. All games will end with a whistle blast from the CARL associate; any goal scored after the whistle will not be counted.

Prior to the start of the game captains are encouraged to meet to discuss any issues. During this meeting captains are encouraged to clarify any misunderstanding of rules.

The home team on the schedule may determine which side they wish to begin on.

It is expected that only captains are communicating issues during the game.

If there is an issue that cannot be resolved by the team captains they are expected to request the assistance of the CARL associate to mediate the conflict. The CARL associates decision will be final and all players are expected to accept it.

Players are expected to discuss any issues with the opposing captain and/or the CARL associate during the game.

Players are expected to have control of their emotions and body during game play; higher levels of aggression will not be tolerated.

Players should take into consideration the skill level of their opponent; CARL is meant to be a recreational league and a team's spirit ranking may be affected by over competitive play.

Warm-up in the hallway is not allowed. Players are expected to use the 10 minute transition time between games for warm-ups.

All players must wear some type of court shoe (basketball, tennis, jogging, etc.). A player is not allowed to play in street shoes, socks, or bare feet.

All players wearing knee braces that contain plastic, metal, or bolts/screws - must have a cover.

Jewelry is not to be worn by any participant during a game. The only exception is wedding bands, studs and medical bracelets.

Foul language, trash talk, or any other offensive actions or words will not be tolerated and will be followed up in accordance with sportsmanship guidelines.

The game will begin with a face-off; the ball will be dropped by a player on the sidelines. Following a goal the team who was scored on will receive the ball behind the goal line. The opposing team will back up to the centre line after scoring a goal.

The second half will begin with a face-off; a player on the sidelines from the team who did not drop the ball at the beginning of the game will drop the ball.

Any ball going out of bounds will be taken by the team opposite the last player who touched the ball. The opposing team must give that player one stick length to play the ball.

There will be no face-offs for a dead ball.

Playing area :

• all areas (walls, ceiling, and basketball nets) will be considered as live
• any ball that goes into the bleachers or into the player's bench will be considered as a dead ball; possession will go to the team opposite the last player who touched the ball
• there will be no offside or icing

Substitutions:

• a player may substitute at any point during the game
• the player being replaced must be at the bench before the substitute may go on the floor

Time outs:

• each team will be allowed one time out per half during the game
• time outs will be a maximum of one minute in length
• the clock will continue to run during all time outs
• a player may only request a time out when they or their team is in possession of the ball or during a dead ball
• a team may not take a time out during the last five minutes of the game

All players are expected to know the CARL ball hockey rules and call their own fouls and violations during the game. Players should not wait for their opponent or expect others will call their infractions during a game.

The player who commits the foul will call the foul. If teams cannot come to an agreement on an infraction; they are expected to have a face off at centre. This is a recreation league and players are expected to show respect towards their opponent and make calls within the spirit of league as outlined.

Violations:

• A violation is a play in ball hockey will result in a turnover of possession to the opposing team
• the ball will be taken from the point of the infraction
• the opposing team must give one stick length to the player to allow the ball to be played

List of violation examples:

Hand pass - passing the ball to your teammate by using your hand, whether player is on the court or in the bench.

Penalties:

• fighting will not be tolerated in CARL leagues
• any player found to be fighting will be ejected from the current game and will receive a minimum of a one year suspension

All CARL leagues will define fighting as:

• a player throwing a punch at an opposing player regardless of whether or not contact was made
• a player dropping their gloves with the intent to fight regardless of whether or not any punch was thrown
• reckless or unsportsmanlike play - all players are expected to be playing in control of their emotions and body during the game. During the game if the CARL associate deems any player to be playing in a reckless or unsportsmanlike manner they will have the right to ask that player to sit out for two minutes not shorthanded
• if the CARL associate deems the action to be severe in nature or in violation of zero tolerance guidelines they may ask the player(s) to leave

• any player who receives a penalty during a game may receive further discipline following review from the CARL administration