Rules/Format Overview:

>We will play a hybrid of Dek and Ball hockey rules. If rules are not listed specifically on this list then we will follow the dek hockey rule in the ASHI rule book.

> Teams play into their pools based on their preliminary results with the men’s teams playing into an A, B and C&D / Novice Pools. The Women playing into an A & B pool.

CHECK-IN:> Team representatives must report to the Tourney Director check-in area (Above Cafe) 1 hour prior to their first scheduled game with exception to teams scheduled to play their first scheduled game of the day Before 9am. Teams in this case will check in after their first game. Teams playing at the NE Racketball Club facility will check in at that facility before their first game. At this time balances will be paid (Cash or Money Order), rosters finalized, rules and misc. items discussed.> Only Team Representatives, COOL Hockey and Sportsplex staff are allowed in the Tourney Director area during the event. All other individuals should channel questions, concerns and suggestions through their team representatives.

EQUIPMENT:> Warm-up Balls are each team’s responsibility, they are not provided. We will be using the Mylec ball for this event.> Gloves are mandatory with shinpads, elbow pads and helmets recommended. All intact ice, roller and street hockey sticks are allowed, butt ends must be covered. Players under 18 years of age must wear a helmet with Cage/Shield.> Uniforms - Jerseys must match, matching is not similar color. All jerseys must have a clearly shown number. Teams should wear similar color shorts or pants. Goalies do not have to match and are free to where any color. jersey/shorts. Refs should not penalize, delay or stop games for non compliance but team reps will need to be told to report to the Tourney Director after the game and the tourney director should be notified by the rink head referee of violations. Captains of teams with similar jersey colors can come to their own agreement, if agreement is not made a coin toss by an event official will decide in prelim games and the higher seed during play in and play offs. When back up jerseys are worn team reps need to notify the referees and uniform violations will not be reported. > Teams must get changed and ready for games in locker rooms, players cannot get dressed for games in any other location.

ROSTER:> A/ B Mens Open Division: Teams can roster 22 players with no restrictions. C,D / Novice Division: Teams can roster 18 players and are allowed 5 players from outside their declared region. All region declarations and decisions are made final by the tourney director. Women’s Open Division: Teams can roster 18 players with no restrictions.> Individuals not on the roster as a player or coach cannot be on or near the bench. > Rosters will need to be submitted 2 weeks prior to the event with 3 additions allowed before the first scheduled game for the team making the changes. > Players can only play on one team with Exception to Coed and C/D skill level players playing up in the A/B mens division. A/B skilled players cannot play down in the CDN division. Skill level is determined by the Tourney Directors. > Women players cannot play in the men’s division with exception to a goalie.

GAME RULES;

OFFSIDES:  A “floating blue line” expansion of the offensive zones occurs once a team crosses the opponent's blue line with the ball. The attacking team will then have half of the entire playing surface within which to control the ball, from behind the opponent's goal to the center line of the area. If the defending team sends the ball past center, the zone is reset to the blue line and their opponent must regain it as explained above.

> We will play incidental contact not full contact. Incidental contact is contact made while players are going for the ball. In the coed division a female player has the right away when going for the ball against a male player.
> CLEARING - Illegal clearing is called when a defensive player shoots the ball from his side of the clearing line over the opposing team’s goal line without any other player touching it. When the ball crosses the goal line, clearing is immediately called and the ball is returned to the defensive zone of the team committing the infraction. The face off is held at the circle off either side of the goal. - Note – the determining factor in judging this infraction is the ball and not the players’ feet. - Note – Clearing is “washed out” by either Referee if any of the following occurred; the ball touches the goal crease, the goalkeeper touches the ball before is crosses the goal line, the defensive player could have played the ball before it crossed the goal line, the team is playing shorthanded.

> DELAYING THE GAME
– Minor penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who delays the game by deliberately shooting or batting the ball out of play (Roof).
– A minor penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who delays the game by deliberately displacing the goal post from its normal position. If the displacement occurs during a break away a penalty shot will be awarded to the attacking team player who had possession of the ball. - Infraction in the last minute of play results in a penalty shot.
> FIGHTING – A major misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player(s) who engages in fisticuffs. Players will be suspended for the duration of the game and must leave the immediate area. It is the referee’s report and event director’s discretion if the player(s) are suspended for the remainder of the tournament. – A minor penalty shall be imposed on a player who, having been struck, shall retaliate with a blow or attempted blow. However, at the referee’s discretion, a major or double minor penalty or a game misconduct penalty may be imposed if such player continues the altercation. > COOL Hockey Events follows a zero tolerance policy when dealing with individuals who act in unsportsmanlike like conduct. This includes any aggressive behavior toward referees and/or tournament officials.

> HIGH STICKING- Carrying a stick above the normal height of the shoulder is prohibited and a minor penalty may be imposed on a player violating this rule.
- A goal scored off a high stick shall not be allowed except if off of a defending player. The goal wipes off the penalty. - A major or double minor penalty shall be assessed if a player strikes another player in the head or face and results in an injury with a high stick. - Note – Players are fully responsible for the actions of their sticks except in the act of shooting.

> USING HAND ON BALL
- Players can use hand on ball anywhere on the rink and can grasp it. The ball when grasped must be placed in one motion to the ground without forwarding progress by more then one step. - Hand passes are allowed in the defensive zone.

> LOB - A player in the defensive zone may not intentionally lob a ball from behind the clearing line beyond the height of an offensive players hand and the ball lands outside the center blue line. Lobbing is not a pass or a shot; it is the act of flipping the ball high into the air so the offensive team cannot make a legal play to keep the ball in the defensive zone. For this violation a face-off will take place deep in the offending teams’ defensive zone.
PENALTIES - Minor – 1 minute - Bench minor 1 minute - Double Minor – 2 minutes - Major – 4 minutes, dismissed from game, refs should use a double minor if dismissal is not warranted - Major Misconduct - 4 minutes < Penalty Dismissal Rule – Any player receiving a total of 3 penalties is dismissed from the game and bench area.

TIME:> Three 10 minute periods with stoppages. No timeouts until pool play. 1.5 minutes inbetween games, 1 minute in-between periods.

> OT- No OT in Preliminary games - Teams will play a 5 minute OT in Pool play then a 5 player shootout with exception to the finals. Finals will be played until a team wins. Womens and Mens' A pools will play 10 minute OT in Semis and Finals with 5 player shoot out in semis.

> No Timeouts in Prelims, 1 timeout playoff games.> Mercy Rule - 10 points game is called.> Stoppages - Play will be called dead by the referee if the ball is hit out of play, clearing, covered balls or with penalty calls. Out of play is if the ball hits the roof of the facility, gets shot into the bench area or gets stuck in the netting. All balls off of the netting that land on the playing surface are in play.> Teams need to be at the assigned rink ready to play 20 minutes prior to playing time. Referees will start early when a mercy allows.> Teams are guaranteed at least 30 minutes break between games.

POINT SYSTEM:> Points - Win - 10 points plus goal differential. Max is 20 points - Tie - 5 points - Shutout - 1 point - Loss - 0 points <Tie breaker – Head to Head, goals against, goals for, shutouts and coin flip.> If a team does not show up the winning team gets a goal differential that is the average goal differential in their group/division.