- Article 25. Coin Toss.
- The captains will represent their teams. Prior to the commencement of
the match, one referee will toss a coin outside the rink, to decide
which team has the right to choose ends or commence play. The winner
of the toss decides.
Should the winning captain "choose ends", then the losing team will
commence play, and vice versa.
- Article 26. Duration of Matches.
- The duration of tournament matches is two periods of 15 minutes each
way for Schoolboys, two periods of 20 minutes each way for Juniors and
Seniors. These are effective playing times exclusive of a ten minutes
interval at half-time, when the teams and reserves with officials
change ends.
For all other matches, the duration is 20 minutes each way for Juniors
and 25 minutes each way for Seniors.
- Article 26 A. Time-Out.
- Each team can request a 60-second time-out in each period of the match.
This request must be submitted to the timekeeper's table by a delegate
of the team.
A Timekeeper will then advise the referee by a whistle or some other
sound signal, only during a stoppage of play. A time-out is allowed
even when both teams are about to take a face-off.
During the time-out the players can gather together near the team
enclosure but inside the rink. The coaches and the substitute players
are not allowed onto the rink.
A substitution of players may take place during a time-out but the
correct procedures for substituting players must be followed. (See
Article 22).
The referee must retain the ball during the time-out.
After the one minute time-out, the ball is given to the team which is
taking the fault, and when the players are in their right positions for
the restart of the match.
The Timekeeper's table must control the time (60 seconds) for the
time-out. A team that has asked for a time-out during the first period,
can not ask for a two-minute time-out during the second period of the
match.
- Article 27. Extra Time.
- In the case of matches ending in a tie, it may be necessary for extra
time to be played which will be as follows:
- If on the completion of normal time the scores are equal (a draw)
then after an interval of three minutes, the teams play two
periods of five minutes with no interval, except to change ends
immediately after the first period.
- Should the score still be equal, 10 penalties will then be taken,
the teams taking alternate penalties until five different players
of each team have taken shots against the opposing side.
If, before both teams have completed their five shots, one of them
has scored more goals than it would be possible for the other to
obtain with the number of shots left, the sequence will be
terminated.
The referee will toss a coin to decide which team shall start
first, and will choose the goal cage which offers the best
conditions of visibility or will allow the players the safest and
best conditions in which to carry out the penalty shots. The team
scoring the most goals will be the winner. A player serving a
period of suspension at the end of extra period will in no case be
allowed to take part.
- Should the score still be tied, a final score will be obtained by
the alternate taking of one penalty for each team on a "sudden
death" basis, until one team scores and the other team fails to
score. One player can take all penalties for his team.
- The shots have to be taken directly towards the goal mouth without
having the possibility to bring the ball or dribble the goalkeeper.
He may not replay the ball after the goalkeeper's first defensive
save. (See Article 61 last paragraph).
- Article 28. Commencing the Game.
- To begin the first half of the game, the second half, and after each
goal is scored, the ball is placed on the centre spot in the centre
circle of 3 metres (9 feet 9 inches)
The team playing the ball to begin the first half will be the team
decided in the coin toss (Article 25). The second
half will be begun by the other team.
After each goal, play is restarted from the centre spot by the team
against whom the goal has been scored.
In all the above cases, the players of both teams must be in their own
half of the rink, outside the centre circle. Only the player about to
play the ball to begin play and another player of the same team are
allowed inside the circle.
The player about to play the ball to begin play must remain stationary
on his own side of the centre line. At the sound of the referee's
whistle, play commences and the player commencing play may strike the
ball in any direction, but a player of the opposing team can play it
first if he hesitates. A goal scored directly from a team playing the
ball to begin or restart the game without the ball having touched or
been played by another player will be disallowed.
- Article 29. Face offs.
- For all face-offs ordered by the referees during a match, the two
opposing players taking the face-off will stand facing each other at a
point indicated by the referees with their backs to their own goals and
sticks in front of them with the curve of the blade resting on the rink
surface 20 cms (9") from the ball.
When the referee sounds his whistle they are at liberty to play the
ball.
Should a player commit a breach of the rules while taking a face-off,
an indirect free hit will be awarded to the opposing side.
All face-offs ordered by the referee will be signified by the lifting
of his arm above his head with two fingers extended in the form of the
'Victory' sign. This indicates that both teams are required to take
part.
- Article 30. Restarting Play
- Whenever play is temporarily stopped, it will be restarted with a
face-off. For any stoppage occurring inside the penalty area or behind
the goal cage, the face-off will be taken from the corner spot nearest
to the point where the ball was when the play was stopped.
- Article 31. The Goal.
- A goal is scored each time the ball has completely crossed over the
line marked between the two vertical posts of the goal mouth.
- Article 32. A Goal at the End of a Period
- If a goal is scored in the dying seconds of either period of a match
and the referee notes from the official clock or receives the time
signal indicating the time for that period has ended, he will always
order play to begin from the centre spot and then signal the end of
the period. In every case it will be this whistle of the referee that
will indicate the end of the period.
- Article 33. Own Goal
- A goal scored by a player against his own team, either off his stick
or any part of his body or equipment, will constitute a fair goal
irrespective of his position on the rink.
- Article 34. Where a Goal can be Scored From
- A goal can be scored with a shot from any part of the rink, with the
exception of an indirect free hit. (See
Article 42).
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