Rules
Rules in short:
- 5 players and up to 3 rolling subs per team.
- No goalkeeper.
- The ball can only be played on the flat side of the stick
- The ball is not allowed to touch any body part.
- The ball cannot be lifted above knee height, even when shooting on goal.
- No short corners.
- The umpire makes all final decisions and is always right.
Detailed rules:
1. The Team:
1.1 There will be 5 players from each team on the pitch at one time during the match, it is the umpires responsibility to ensure there are the correct number of players on the pitch at the start of the match.
1.2 There are no official goalkeepers, 5 outfield players only.
1.3 Each team can have up to 3 rolling substitutes:
a An unlimited number of substitutions can be made throughout the game.
b The player leaving the field has to leave the playing area before the substitute can enter the field of play.
c Substitutions are not permitted for any suspended players.
d Substitutes must stand off the pitch at the right corner of the end they are defending when waiting to come onto the pitch.
1.4 Thanks to our unique ‘flexi-squad system’ teams do not have to register players before a game and can use any amount of players during the season, as long as they do not conflict with any other team in the same division.
2. Captains Responsibilities:
2.1 Each team must appoint a captain before play commences.
2.2 If the captain cannot attend a match or is suspended then another player should be appointed.
2.3 Please note that the Team Captain is responsible for the conduct of all players and all spectators connected with the team. Failure to control the conduct of players or spectators will result in the Team Captain being responsible for any resulting fines being paid in full.
3. Clothing and equipment:
3.1 Each team must attempt to wear the same colour clothing to play in.
3.2 Players must remove any jewellery and must not wear anything that could be harmful to other players.
3.3 Players must not wear jeans, caps or shoes.
3.4 Players are advised to wear hockey shoes or Astros although trainers can be worn, no studded shoes are to be worn.
3.5 Players must be wearing a shirt to play.
3.6 It is strongly recommended that all players wear shin pads, ankle protection and mouth guards throughout the match.
3.7 The must not have any sharp or rough edges that could cause any harm to any other players.
3.8 Teams must not alter or move equipment to gain an advantage.
3.9 The pitch is half of a full sized hockey pitch and markings at the side of the pitch will mark 4 quarters to identify where to take free hits.
4. General Player rules:
4.1 Players must not use their stick in a dangerous manner.
4.2 Players must not interfere with other players, any part of their clothes or equipment.
4.3 Players must not aerial the ball, any balls lifted above knee height anywhere on the pitch will result in a foul, even when shooting.
4.4 Players must not play the ball dangerously, it will be the umpires decision as to whether the play is dangerous and only they should decide if a free hit is awarded.
4.5 Players must not use any part of their body to play the ball.
4.6 Players are not allowed to obstruct play in anyway, including physically interfering with play, backing into an opponent and shielding play.
4.6 Players must not throw any equipment at another person or onto the field.
4.7 The umpire will always make the final decision and are encouraged to make any decision to keep themselves and players safe.
5. General Umpire Rules
5.1 One umpire will control the match, they will have the first and last call of any decision made on the pitch, the umpire is always correct.
5.2 Umpires are responsible for keeping a record of goals and cards used throughout the match.
5.3 Umpires are responsible for the time keeping of the match, ensuring each team plays the full 26 minutes and communicating the start, half time break and end of the game to both teams.
5.4 Umpires must indicate any foul, stopping and restart of match with a blow of the whistle.
5.5 Umpires are not to coach during a match.
5.6 Play continues if the ball hits the umpire or any loose object on the pitch.
4. Match format
4.1 The match will be 13 minutes each way with 2 minutes for half time and 2 minutes at the end of the game for the next match to start.
4.2 To decide who has first push back the umpire must choose a team, the other team then receives push back at the start of the second half. The team that does not have first push back can choose which end they start in first.
4.3 All players must start the match in the half that they are defending. The team that has push back must pass back to one of their players in their own half to start the game.
4.4 The team who scores the most goals win, there will be no extra time or penalty shoot outs if the match ends in a draw, if there is a draw at the end of the league then goal difference will be used to decide the winner.
4.5 A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the line under the cross-bar and between the posts in the goal.
4.6 When a goal is scored, play is restarted from the first quarter line by the defending team.
4.7 A bully can be taken to restart the match after an injury or any other reason that is not a foul.
4.8 The umpires whistle will overrule the hooter where applicable.
5. When the ball goes out of play
5.1 The ball is classed as out of play when the whole ball crosses over the side lines or back line.
5.2 Play is restarted as a side line ball by the team who did not hit it out of play. If the ball goes out of play at the back line, play is restarted at the quarter line in line with where the ball went out.
5.3 When taking a free hit the player can take the ball themselves.
6. When a foul is committed
6.1 A foul is any one of the following;
a Using the back of the stick for any type of play.
b A stick tackle, any player hitting their stick against another players stick without tackling the ball.
c The ball hitting any part of the hockey player’s body.
d Any player raising their stick in a dangerous manner.
e Any player that shoves or advances the ball using any part of their body.
f Any play that appears dangerous to the umpire, it is the umpires final decision.
6.2 A foul committed anywhere on the pitch results in a free hit being given to the opposite team.
6.3 No free hit is direct and must be passed to another player before shooting.
6.4 All players must retreat 5m when a free hit is being taken, if this does not happen the free hit is taken again and all players must retreat.
6.5 When taking a free hit due to a foul the player can take the ball themselves.
7. Dismissal and time wasting
7.1 If a player is dismissed then he/she should leave the pitch immediately. Failure to do so will result in the umpire automatically awarding the match to his/her opponents.
7.2 If a player is guilty of time wasting at any point then the umpire has full discretion to either award a free hit as he/she see fit.
7.3 The player does not need to be warned about time wasting.
8. All other rules
8.1 Teams who arrive late for their push back time may have to forfeit their match.
8.2 The signing of the entry form indemnifies Hockey Leagues from any responsibility for personal injury or lost property whilst participating in the organised leagues. Teams are responsible for arranging their own personal insurance cover at centres where this is not automatically applicable.
8.3 If teams wish to cancel a match, they automatically lose 5-0 (Hockey Leagues allow a flexible squad system) and their opponents will play a friendly arranged by Hockey Leagues.
8.4 If there are one or more vacancies in any league a friendly fixture will be arranged for the team(s) who are scheduled to play a ‘Points Match’ for that particular date. Teams are required to attend all scheduled Points Match fixtures, pay their full match fee and play the pre-arranged friendly as normal; the relevant team will then receive a 5-0 win and two points towards the league. If a team does not wish to play a scheduled friendly then it is the team’s responsibility to notify Head Office 7 days or more in advance or they will be liable for payment of the match fees for that particular week, teams who do not attend points matches will not receive their 5-0 win for that week regardless of whether they have provided 7 days’ notice.
8.5 If a team fails to turn up for a scheduled fixture without giving Hockey Leagues 7 days’ notice, they lose the fixture 5-0 and will be charged the full match fee for the missed game. Teams who wish to withdraw from the league need to give two weeks’ notice of their intent to withdraw from the league and are required to pay for and play two full matches prior to withdrawal; failure to adhere to this will result in the Team Captain being charged their full two weeks match fees for both missed fixtures.
8.6 If you are removed from the league for any reason, Hockey Leagues reserves the right to charge the 2 weeks’ notice period, for the games you would have played had we not removed you.
8.7 If a team fails to attend two consecutive matches and fails to inform Hockey Leagues Head Office of their intention to withdraw from the league then they will be liable for both missed match fees and will also be charged their two matches withdrawal notice on top of these match fees.
8.8 Please note that teams are automatically entered into a new league season unless they provide us with the required two weeks withdrawal notice prior to the end of the season. If a team wishes to withdraw from the league and only notifies us of this at the beginning of the new season then they will be required to play the first two matches of the new season before being able to withdraw, failure to adhere to this will result in the team being charged their match fees for these two fixtures.
8.9 All participants understand that this sport does pose risk of injury and contain risk to the person participating for which the organiser cannot be held responsible.
8.10 All participants agree that we have no control over the safety of the premises we hire, or persons admitted to the venues we hire and it is the sole responsibility of the team captain to ensure their team's players do not start any game unless they are satisfied that the surface and other conditions are satisfactory and safe for the activity in question having due regard for the participants. We cannot be held responsible for any defects to the venue which may cause injury and all team captains understand this when participating.
8.11 Team captains must inspect the pitch and playing conditions and must report any issues prior to their game commencing to the officials on duty otherwise it will be deemed that the team captain and their players have accepted any risks and any ensuing liability for any subsequent injury.
8.12 Please note that the Team Captain is responsible for the conduct of all players and all spectators connected with the team. Failure to control the conduct of players or spectators will result in the Team Captain being responsible for any resulting fines being paid in full.
ANY PLAYERS THAT PLAY IN HOCKEY LEAGUES NATIONWIDE PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PLAYER TO ARRANGE EITHER THEIR OWN INSURANCE COVER OR A TEAM’S INSURANCE COVER THAT WILL COVER THEM FOR INJURY. HOCKEY LEAGUES HOLD PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ONLY AND CONCLUDE, TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURY SUSTAINED WHILST PLAYING IN THEIR LEAGUES.
What Does Your Entry Fee Cover?
The entry fee is a discipline bond and is a one-off fee, covering the cost of administering discipline in the leagues. The entry fee is a non-refundable deposit.
What Does Your Match Fee Cover?
The match fee goes towards the pitch hiring enabling you to participate in the sport itself. When you pay this fee you agree that the majority or full amount of your fee is directly paid, via the organiser acting as the collection officer, for the following:
1 The hire cost of the pitch
2 The cost of the umpire and the match balls which are essential to the playing of the chosen competitive sport.
As our members you agree that when you make these payments you are making a commitment to participate for a minimum of ten consecutive weeks in the league, you automatically become our members along with other players in the league who are also our members, and that as part of our wider club or membership all our members have exclusivity on the pitch we have hired for the duration of hire and that non-members have no right to participate on the pitch during that time.
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