Rules of Play  4 x 4 Games only.

Three 15-minute, running-clock periods

● 2-minute warm-up w/ 1-minute intermissions between periods.

● Each team is responsible for bringing their own pucks and water bottles.

Limited face-offs | Only 1 face-off to start each period

• Referee whistles play dead upon goal, frozen pucks, pucks out of play, off-sides, icing, etc.

• Pucks frozen by the goalie will be played out to their team

• Goals are not “make it take it” and will be given to the defensive team from the last play

Goal/Frozen Puck

● After a goal or a frozen puck by the goaltender, each player of the

opposing team must either

• be beyond the top of the circles; OR

• allow a reasonable gap (at least 10 feet away from the puck and wait until the referee blows whistle to restart play).

• Opposing teams may not attack the puck until the first pass, or the puck crosses the top of the circles

Penalty Shot

● Regardless of the result of the penalty shot, the goalie’s team is given possession of the puck and each player of the shooter’s team must either

○ be beyond the top of the circles; OR

○ allow a reasonable gap (at least 10 feet away from the puck and wait until the referee blows whistle to restart play).

• Opposing teams may not attack the puck until the first pass, or the puck crosses the top of the circles

Off-Sides/Icing

● Automatic, no “tag-up” offsides – New 2022

● Infracting team must exit & wait outside offensive zone until the referee

blows whistle to start play.

Injured Player/All Other Whistles

● Team that causes whistle loses puck possession. Other team get’s puck in either the neutral zone (if whistle occurred in offensive zone) or defensive zone (if whistle occurred in the neutral zone).

● Opposing team must give reasonable gap (10+ feet) & wait until the referee blows whistle to restart play.

No checking or fighting

● Full checking is strictly prohibited and will result in a penalty shot for the opposing team. The new bantam style “competitive contact” will be allowed.

• Stick on ice, going for puck making clean contact to the shoulder or chest

● Fighting will not be tolerated. Fighting will result in suspension and/or removal from any further participation.

● Intentional checks, cheap shots, reckless/careless acts unfit for the rules and anything deemed inappropriate or over-the-line will result in a major penalty (5 minutes) that the penalized player will be forced to serve (penalty shot awarded to the other team; the penalized team will still play at even strength 4 on 4). Another major penalty by the same player will result in immediate ejection from the game. Multiple game ejections will result in removal from the league.

● To the ref's discretion, any flagrant check or play deemed an attempt to cause injury results in a penalty shot and immediate game ejection of the penalized player.

Normal USA Hockey penalties – penalty shot awarded to player who is the victim of the penalty

● Player starts at center ice without chaser and must maintain forward motion of the puck.

● All players not participating in the penalty shot must remain behind the redline and/or out of the shooters path.

Miscellaneous

● Pucks off the net above the glass are live.

● Change on the fly.

●   Automatic, no “tag-up” off-sides

● No touch icing