Official NHSSC Floor Hockey Rules

1. Rosters
1. A team must have a minimum of 12 rostered players, with at least 4 of each gender.
2. A team may have up to 5 players on the floor (including the goalie) with at least 2 of each gender (the goalie also counts towards this requirement), except when serving penalties (in which case, the gender of the player serving the penalty counts towards this requirement).
3. A minimum of 4 players (including the goalie) is required to start (or continue) a game.
4. Unrostered players (players who are not registered with the team) are strictly prohibited, unless the other team’s captain has agreed to allow the unrostered player(s) prior to the game’s start. Teams found to be playing with such a player will automatically forfeit the game. 
2. Equipment
1. The NHSSC will provide all necessary equipment for all players and goalies, including sticks, masks, gloves and chest pads for the goalies; and protective eyewear and sticks for players. However, players and goalies may provide their own equipment provided it meets the rest of the rules.
2. Sticks can be wood, plastic or composite. 
3. Players MUST wear protective eyewear and/or full hockey-type helmets
4. Players may wear gloves for hand protection, however it is not required.
5. Goalies MUST wear a mask (either hockey-style or catcher-style).
6. Goalies MUST wear a street-style goalie glove OR a baseball/softball-style glove on their non-stick hand.
7. Goalies MUST wear either baseball/softball-style pads OR hockey-style goalie pads.
8. The NHSSC will provide a 3-inch hollow plastic ball for game-use.
9. Players must wear their NHSSC-provided t-shirt uniforms.
10. Players may NOT wear jewelry during the game.
3. Game Play
1. Games will consist of 3 periods of 12-minutes (running time) with 2 minute intervals between periods.
2. In the last 2 minutes of the 3^rd period, if there is a 3 goal (or less) difference, the time will be stopped anytime the whistle blows.
3. Each team will be allowed 1 time out per game, which will stop the game and time for 1 minute. A team may only call a time out while in possession of the puck or at a stoppage in play.
4. An official time out may be called for an injured player or for any other circumstance deemed appropriate by the official(s).
5. Any game with a tie score at the end of regulation will be considered a tie game (with 1 point going to each team in the standings) except during playoffs.
6. During playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, a 5 minute sudden death period will be played. If no goal is scored, additional 5 minute periods will be played until a winner is determined.
7. A faceoff will be used to start each period as well as after every whistle, which includes: after each goal, after the ball touches anything outside of the field of play, when a player is given a penalty, when the goalie catches or covers the ball, when the ball is tied up in the corner or along the wall, after a team or official time out, after a missed penalty shot, after the official blows an inadvertent whistle, or any other stoppage in play by the official. 
8. Substitutions are allowed at any time during the game, including during live play. When making a substitution during live play, the player can only enter the game when the other player is completely off the floor.
4. Scoring
1. A goal is scored when the ball passes completely across the goal-line.
2. Goals can be scored from anywhere on the floor.
3. A goal will be disallowed if the ball is tipped with a stick from the offensive player above the waist level, kicked in by the offensive player, or the batted in with the hand, unless the contact is incidental (official’s judgment).
4. A goal will also be disallowed if an offensive player’s feet (1 or 2) are in the goalie’s crease.
5. Penalties
1. Teams cannot play with fewer than 4 players on the floor. If multiple penalties are called, they shall be served consecutively.
2. Minor penalties will expire if a goal is scored by the opposing team, or at the end of 2 minutes, whichever occurs first. 
3. Penalties will carry over into the next period, if necessary.
4. If multiple penalties are in effect (see rule 5.b.), only one penalty will expire (the first one called).
5. When a penalty occurs, a delayed penalty (official will raise one hand) will be called if the offended team has possession of the ball. A whistle (stoppage of play) will be blown when the offending team gains possession or there is otherwise a stoppage in play. 
6. The penalty time (2 minutes) will start at the drop of the ball on the faceoff following the penalty.
7. Minor penalties (2 minute penalty) include:
• Tripping – Intentional tripping with the stick or any part of the body
• Elbowing – Use of the elbow to impede an opponent
• Hooking – Using the shaft or blade of the stick to impede or obstruct the opponent by pulling them back or preventing them from moving.
• Checking – Using the shoulders, hip or upper body to drive into an opponent
• Roughing – Any unnecessary body contact (Official’s judgment)
• Throwing the stick – Intentionally throwing the stick or an opponent’s stick to gain an advantage
• Intentional delay of game – Intentionally shooting (or throwing) the ball out of play or intentionally moving the goal off the goal line (when the goal is intentionally moved off the goal line either on a breakaway or with a  shot on goal, a penalty shot will result instead of a 2 minute penalty)
• High Sticking – Bringing the stick blade above the waist line (including on the wind-up or follow through of a shot/pass, while running or attempting to avoid another player)
• Interference – Intentionally impeding the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. Intentionally attempting to knock the stick out of an opponent’s hand, or preventing an opponent from regaining possession of a dropped stick.
• Illegal substitutions – Substituting during live game play when the player coming off the floor has not left the floor before the oncoming player joins the game.
• Slashing – Hacking a player with the stick or using hands in a “chopping” motion on the opponents stick.
• Goalie Interference – Offensive player makes contact with the goalie while the goalie is inside the crease (accidental or intentional)
• Too many players on the floor – When too many players are on the floor at the same time.
• Too few of a gender on the floor – When too few players of a gender are on the floor (note rule 1.b.)
• Throwing the ball/Hand pass – Catching an airborne ball and throwing it outside the immediate radius of the catching player’s stick radius. Hand Passes are allowed in the defensive zone only.
• Dangerous Play – Sliding, diving, intentionally going down to the floor with both knees or otherwise playing in a reckless manner
8. Game misconduct penalties (immediate ejection from the game) include: 
• Excessive use of profanity
• Abuse of the facility and/or equipment
• Unnecessary rough play
• Deliberate roughing/checking (official’s judgment on whether the act is deserving of a game misconduct or minor penalty)
• Fighting
• Verbal or physical abuse towards an official or opponent.
• Any other unsportsmanlike conduct that in the opinion of the official, warrants an ejection
9. Stoppages in play (result in stop of play, but no penalty)
• Offsides – A player lining up on the opposing side of a faceoff (there is no offside rule during live game play)
• Goalie throwing – When a goalie throws the ball past the centerline or throws the ball above waist level (note: a goalie may pass/shot the ball, with their stick, past the centerline)
6. Penalty Shot
1. A penalty shot will be awarded to a player who, in the official’s judgment, has a clear opportunity to score a goal and was prevented from doing so by an opposing player committing a penalty which resulted in a loss of that clear opportunity. A goal will automatically be award if a defensive player stops a clear opportunity by throwing their stick in the crease (no penalty will be given, only the goal).
2. All players, except the goalie and player attempting the penalty shot, will move to the opposite half of the floor.
3. The shooting player will place the ball on the centerline and the penalty shot will start on the official’s whistle.
4. The goalie must be inside their crease until the ball is touched by the attempting player.
5. If the penalty shot is missed, the play will immediately be stopped and a faceoff will occur at the spot the penalty was called. 
6. If the goal is scored, a faceoff will occur at the center point.
7. Officials
1. The NHSSC will provide an official or officials for all games
2. NHSSC officials will be responsible for:
• Keeping time
• Recording scores
• Recording wins/losses
• Calling all penalties and stoppage of plays.
3. All NHSSC officials’ decisions are FINAL
4. All NHSSC officials MUST be treated with respect, and MUST do the same to players/other officials
8. Forfeits
1. Teams that arrive at game time with fewer than four players shall forfeit the game, and the opposing team shall be awarded a 1-0 win.
2. If both teams arrive at game time with fewer than four players, both shall forfeit the game, and both shall receive no points in the standings for that game.