Team:  Each team can play with a minimum of a goalie and 3 players and a maximum of a goalie and 4 players.  Teams must maintain these numbers for the entire game.  The maximum number of players on the team roster is 10 participants.

Club Member Eligibility: Club sport members are eligible for competition, but are limited to the amount of players per team, per sport.  Teams are limited to two club players; ice and roller hockey are considered one club team (1 ice hockey player + 1 roller hockey player = 2 club players).

Equipment:  The Intramural Department can provide sticks, balls, and reversible jerseys.  Players are encouraged to wear protective equipment.  Rollerblades will not be permitted.  Players may not wear baseball hats or jewelry.  Goalie equipment must meet officials’ approval.  A floor hockey ball will be used, not a floor hockey puck.  The ARC will not be held responsible for any participant equipment damaged during event.

Rules:  NIRSA (National Intramural Recreational Sports Association) floor hockey rules apply to all games, except any of the following adaptations.  NIRSA rules provided on the Intramural website.

Referee’s Authority:  The referee has authority to rule promptly, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules.  The referee’s decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game.

Protest Procedure:  Verbal On Site - Protests may be made on eligibility and rule interpretation; never on a judgment call by officials.  Only the Team Captain or designated game captain may file a protest.  Rule and procedure protests must be filed at the time of the incident and before play resumes.  The on-site supervisor will first attempt to handle the protest. If this ruling is not satisfactory to the Team Captain a written protest can be filed immediately after the activity with the Intramural on-site supervisor.  If the protesting team wins the contest, the protest is automatically withdrawn.  Written Protest - Must be presented to the Intramural Coordinator within 24 hours after the event.  All protests will be given to the Intramural Coordinator for a ruling.  Protest forms will be available at every

Playing Time:  Each game will consist of 3 periods (12 minute running clock).  Sudden Death 3-minute overtime.  A two-minute interval will separate each period.  In the last two (2) minutes of the third period, the time will be stopped for all whistles, unless there is a difference of 3 or more goals.   

Time Outs:  Each team will be allowed one (1) time-out per game, one (1) minute in duration. A team may call a time-out while in possession of the ball, or at a stoppage of play (other than an indirect free hit).  An official time out may be called for in injured player or for other circumstances deemed appropriate by the officials.

7 Goal Mercy Rule:  The game will be called if a team is up by seven (7) or more goals with only five (5) minutes to play.

Supervisory Mercy Rule (applies to all divisions):  If there is a great disparity in the score earlier than when the 7 goal rule can take place, the supervisor has discretionary right to call a game.

Tie Game: During regular season play, if a game is tied after regulation there will be a 3-minute sudden death period.  If it is stilled tied after the 3-minute period a 3 man shootout will occur.  If it is still tied after the shoot out the game will be called and the teams will have a tie on their records.  During the playoffs, if the game is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute sudden death period will be played. After the 5-minute overtime a three man shootout will occur.  If tied after the 3 man shootout then a 1 man shootout will occur. 

Shoot Outs:  During shootouts players must be alternated with entire roster.  Penalty shot structure will be used for shooting.  After completed round of shootout team scoring the most goals wins.

Substitutions: Subs can only be made during stoppage of play.

Face-offs: Face-offs are used: to begin each period, after each goal, an inadvertent whistle, an official cannot determine which team caused the ball to go out of play, when both teams commit a penalty/violation, or if the ball is tied up in the corner or along the walls. Sticks must be on the floor for a face-off.  Play is started with an indirect free hit: after a team time-out; after a missed penalty shot; when a player is making no attempt to advance the ball or stalling; or after a penalty/violation.  Offside will only apply to face-offs. All players must be on their defensive side during the face-off.

Contact: THIS IS A NON-CONTACT SPORT.  Absolutely no unnecessary body checking or contact will be tolerated.

Icing: There will be no icing.

Usage of Hands: A hand may be used to catch or touch an airborne ball. The ball must be dropped immediately within the radius of the catching player's stick.

Goalies: A goalie may catch the ball in their glove, but must put it in play within 3 seconds.  If held for more than 3 seconds play will be whistled dead.  Goalies when clearing the ball may not throw it above waist height, or throw it past the center line. However, goalies may shoot it with their stick.

Out of Bounds: A ball hit above the red line is a dead ball.  If the ball is deliberately played above the red line, a delay of game penalty will be assessed.

Offside: Tag up rules will be used for offside calls.  Half court line is the offside line.  Straddling is allowed.

Scoring: A goal is scored when the ball passes completely across the plane of the goal-line.  Goals may be scored from anywhere.  Goals will not count if a stick blade is above the waist level, kicked in, the ball is batted by the hand, or an offensive player is in the crease.  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).  No goal can be scored while an offensive player's feet are in the crease, before puck enters the crease.

Penalties: Teams cannot play with fewer than 4 players. If more than 2 players are penalized during the same time, penalties shall be served in succession.  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 2 or more players are penalized only 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.  When a violation occurs, a delayed penalty (held whistle) will be called if the player/team being penalized retains possession of the ball.  Any player who receives two 2 major fouls shall be disqualified (refer to ejections below).

Minor Penalties: All minor penalties results in a 2 minute suspension of play.  A list of possible minor penalties is provided:

• 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.
• Sliding – any player who tries to use their body to block a ball by sliding across the floor.
• Intentional holding of a player from scoring on a breakaway.
• Intentional delay of game not applicable to the goalie 3-second rule.
• High sticking - above the HEAD (on the shot, and/or in traffic).
• Holding.
• Interference - inhibiting the progress of an opponent with is not in possession of the ball, or knocks the stick out of the opponent's hand, or who prevents a player from regaining possession of a dropped stick.
• Illegal substitutions.
• Throwing the ball
• 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.  THIS IS A NON-CONTACT SPORT.

Major Penalties:  All minor penalties may be considered major if flagrant.  Any mis-conduct by players will be assessed as a major penalty.

Penalty Shot: 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.  All players except the goalie and player attempting the shot will move to the opposite half of the floor.  The goalie must be stationary inside their crease, with both feet on the goal line until the ball is played.  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. 

Safety Concerns:  THIS IS A NON-CONTACT SPORT!  Helmets and other safety equipment such as mouth guards, shin guards, and knee pads are encouraged.  No baseball caps or jewelry will be allowed.  Sliding is not allowed at all and will be enforced as a minor penalty.