- Article 16. The Team (Number of Players).
- A team comprises at least six players (one goalkeeper, four players and
a compulsory substitute goalkeeper) and if desired, four further
substitutes.
- All players must wear a clearly distinguishable number on their backs.
Players are numbered from 1-10, the numerals being of a distinctive
colour and at least 18 cm (7 1/2") in height. The main goalkeeper will
wear No. 1 and the substitute goalkeeper No. 10. If there are further
goalkeepers, their numbers will be in descending order, 9, 8, etc..
- Article 17. Players' Uniforms.
- In all matches, each player must wear a shirt or vest of their club or
country's colours. The captain of each team must wear a distinctive
armband bearing the word CAPTAIN. The goalkeepers must wear shirts or
vests of different colour from those of all the other players.
Where two teams have the same colour or colours liable to cause
confusion, the referees will have the host team change their colours.
In tournaments, the organising committee shall have reserve shirts or
vests available for this eventuality. Where no home team is involved
and both teams have not come to some prior agreement the referees will
toss a coin to decide which team will change their colour.
In all official matches, playing shirts must be tucked into the
playing shorts.
- Article 18. Forfeits.
- A team will forfeit the match if they present themselves with fewer
than 5 players or are in an unfit condition to play. In this case, a
team may comprise only five players including the goalkeeper and the
substitute goalkeeper. (See Article 16).
If, 15 minutes after the official starting time of the match, one of
the teams is not on the rink in a fit state to play the referee will
deem that the team has forfeited the match.
The referees will not commence the match unless both teams are present
and ready to play.
In the case of both teams being unfit to play, the referee will inform
the organiser and will report the incident on the "Referee's Report"
of the match, so that the appropriate action may be taken.
- Article 19. Depletion of Teams.
- If at any time during a match a team is reduced to only the goalkeeper
and one player on the rink due to injury or to players being sent off,
the referee will stop the game and end the match.
If the reduction in the number of players on the team is due to their
players having been sent off by the referees, the game will
automatically be awarded to the other team. If this occurs during a
tournament, the offending team will be awarded no points and no goals
and their opponents will be awarded full points and the highest number
of goals scored in a match in that tournament.
If, however, the team was depleted due to injuries or accidents, the
game can be replayed under the same conditions as laid down by the
authorities responsible.
- Article 20. Walk-Offs.
- If a team voluntarily abandons a match at any time during a friendly or
official tournament they will be excluded from taking any further part
and be fined an amount to be determined by the responsible authority.
- Article 21. The Team Captain.
- Each team will nominate one of their players as their captain, who will
be his team's representative on the rink to the referees. Any requests
to the referees will be made solely by the captain.
(See Article 25).
- Article 22. Substitutes.
- Each team will enter and leave the rink by the entrance allocated to
them by the organisers.
- Substitutes may replace any player of a team at any time during
the course of a match. A substitute must not come into the rink
before the outgoing player has left. Substitution of players will
only be made through their team's allocated entrance to the rink.
- The substitution of the goalkeeper can be made during any
stoppage in the play, but one referee must be advised. He will
allow a maximum delay of 30 seconds for the change to be
completed before recommencing the game.
- At no time must a team have more than five players on the rink.
Should this occur, the referee will stop the game and expel for
two minutes the incoming and outgoing players, whatever their
numbers. In cases where these cannot be identified, the incoming
players and the captain of the team shall be penalised. The
referee will restart the game with an indirect free hit.
- It is an offence for any player to jump or climb over the barrier
without first having the consent of one referee. A player
committing this offence will be warned if this is his first
disciplinary offence committed. If it is his second offence he
will be expelled for the remainder of the match.
- Article 23. Eligibility to Substitute.
- An outgoing player, whatever his reason for leaving the game, becomes a
substitute. Conversely, a player who has been sent off temporarily
(blue card/suspension) cannot become a substitute until the penalty
imposed on him has expired.
- Article 24 A. Playing Ages
- Playing ages are calculated as at 31 December of the year of
competition (e.g. the age for a player who was born on 23 June 1984 and
who wants to compete in 1996 would be calculated as 1996 - 1984 =
11 years, so the player would play in the Juvenile grade).
The association will foster competition in the following grades:
| Pee Wee | 9 years of age and under. |
| Juvenile | 10 years and not yet 14 years. |
| Youth | 13 years and not yet 17 years. |
| Junior | 14 years and not yet 20 years. |
| Senior Women | Females aged 14 years and over. |
| Senior Men | Males aged 14 years and over. |
| Masters | 35 years and over. |
Teams in all grades, other than Senior (Men and Women), may consist of
both female and male players.
The organisers of competitions may grant permission for players to play
up one (1) grade so long as the player has made a written application to
do so and has written parental permission. The decision to allow a
player to play up a grade must in all cases be made after full
consideration is given to their individual capacity to compete safely
in the grade.
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