SIMSBURY CULTURE, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
COED BROOM HOCKEY LEAGUE RULES - New 2020 Rules in Red


I. EQUIPMENT
SHOES - Must be free of abrasives, spikes, metal, foreign objects, or chemical applications. Boots, galoshes, etc. are illegal. Broomball shoes are recommended. GOALIES - must wear hockey helmets with a mask. ICE HOCKEY GOALIE PADS AND/OR ARM BLOCKERS ARE ILLEGAL. Brooms and balls are supplied.  Shinguards and gloves are encouraged.  HELMETS ARE MANDATORY, facemasks/cages are STRONGLY recommended – PLAYERS WITHOUT HELMETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE ICE.

II. SUBSTITUTION - Substitutions may be made at any time, except that a player serving a minor or major penalty may not be substituted. The penalty for too many players on the ice will be a minor penalty. A player entering play may not “play” the ball (touch, shield other players from, etc.) until the player he/she is replacing is off of the ice surface.

III. SCORING - One point will be awarded for each goal as determined by the referee. The ball must completely cross the goal line. NO GOAL IF:

1.     The ball is contacted by an attacker’s stick at height above the boards.

2.     The ball strikes official and goes into goal,

3.     An attacking player carries the ball on a part of his body into the goal.  (In the crease occurs before the goal occurs)

4.     The ball is lodged on any part of goalie’s body and goalie is propelled by an opponent into the net.

5.     Ball is intentionally propelled into goal by the offense by other than stick.  A player may “hold ground” and allow the ball to deflect off of them, but moving body parts (legs, arms, hips, chest, head, etc.) to redirect the ball into the goal is not allowed.

6.     The goal has been unintentionally dislodged from its normal position. Restart will be either a face off or free possession at spot of whistle, if referee can award clear possession.

IV. USE OF BROOM–

1.     HIGHSTICKING - The broom head must remain below the top of the half-boards on both the backswing and follow-through. If the ball is above the half-boards it may not be played with the broom.

2.     THROWING or SMASHING THE BROOM against the ice, goals, boards or benches is forbidden and a violation entitles the opposing team to a penalty shot, irrespective of where the foul occurs. Breaking the stick by smashing the broom will result in a Misconduct penalty, in addition to the penalty shot.

3.     Lifting the ball to any height is legal.  If an undeflected ball leaves the rink or touches the protective netting or any structure or object outside the rink, the result will be a change of possession in the zone from which the ball was struck (blue line in offensive zone, spot of foul in neutral, spot shot in defensive zone).

4.     IT IS LEGAL for a player to lift or press down opponent’s broom with his/her broom ONLY while a player is playing the ball.  A forceful chop down on an opponent’s stick will be considered a slash even if the stick remains in the opponent’s control.

V. USE OF BODY

1.     The ball may be stopped or controlled with the feet but not intentionally PASSED to another team member. The ball may not be carried or held.  A ball which merely deflects off of a player’s feet or legs will not be considered a kick pass unless the referee discerns an intentional kicking motion.

2.     The ball may be batted down by open hand, but that player must be first to recover it for his team. The ball may not be passed in the air or on the ice with an arm or hand.

3.     Irrespective of being first to the ball, a player may not throw, bat, kick or deflect a ball with anything other than a stick such that it crosses two lines on the hockey ice without being touched.

4.     Sliding on shins or shinguards is not allowed (playing down). No player may play or block the ball if any body part other than his/her feet are on the ice.

5.     NO BODY CHECKING is allowed! The primary emphasis in this league is FUN! Penalties will be called for intentional or reckless checks as determined by the referee.

6.     DANGEROUS PLAY: A player may not leave his feet (diving play) to play a ball if doing so puts other players in danger. A diving player who hits another player with his stick or collides with another player will be charged with a minor penalty.

VI. GOALIE

1.     The goalie has 3 seconds to dispose of the ball after controlling it. Unless he uses his stick, the goalie must clear the ball laterally. Change of possession in the zone will be awarded if a goalie intentionally throws, kicks or deflects the ball forward to his teammates, or beyond the blue line.

2.     While within 3 6 feet of the crease area, the goalie may use any part of his body to make a save.

3.     Once outside of this area, he must control the ball as normal player.

4.     Goalie changes: A goalie may be changed on any hard stoppage (after a goal or a period break). Other changes are “on the fly” and may only be made with the ball in the opposing half, the original goalie in his defensive zone and with notice to the trailing referee. Penalty for illegal goalie change is a minor and improperly substituted goalie does not have goalie privileges (may not play down, etc.)

VII. PENALTIES-

1.     MINOR - 2 MINUTES OFF THE ICE MUST PLAY SHORTHANDED (Releasable if a goal is scored).

2.     MAJOR - 4 MINUTES OFF THE ICE MUST PLAY SHORTHANDED. (Non-releasable)

3.     MISCONDUCT - OFF THE ICE FOR 8 MINUTES, PENALIZED PLAYER MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR IMMEDIATELY.

4.     GAME MISCONDUCT - EXPULSION FROM REMAINDER OF GAME AND SUSPENSION FROM NEXT GAME. Player may be substituted after 8 minutes. TWO GAME MISCONDUCTS, PLAYER SUSPENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON.

5.     PENALTY SHOTS – Penalty shots may be taken by any player on the ice at the time of the foul. Shooters will begin at blue line and proceed to goal with one shot on goal with no chance for rebound. Shooter’s momentum must continue forward until shot is taken. Missed penalty shot will be restarted by face-off in the attacking zoneblue line by the team defending the shot. The high stick rule is eased for a penalty shot (must keep the stick head below shoulder height), as long as the shooter releases the ball before the first hash mark (lines even with the face-off dot) and controls his stick otherwise. The goalie may play the ball down outside the crease area. If a penalty shot has been awarded and time expires, the penalty shot will still be taken.

6.     Bench Penalties – As much as possible, the referee shall enforce bench penalties (too many men on the ice, delay of game, etc.) against the players and/or gender involved. Examples: If two men substituting cause too many players, the player entering the ice shall be penalized. If too many players are caused by an extra woman, one of the women shall serve the penalty.

VIII. CREASE AREA - No offensive player may be in the crease area at any time (including the stick.) Example: A ball in the crease may not be played offensively. A violation will result in a change of possession. Exception: an offensive player pushed in the crease by the defense, who exits without interfering with the goalie. If such player does interfere with the goalie, at the referee’s discretion, a face off in the circle may be provided. A defender may pass through the crease area and may use his stick in the crease area. However, if a defender blocks a clear scoring opportunity while his feet are in the crease area, a penalty shot will be awarded to the attacking team.

IX. HIGHSTICKING - The penalty for HIGHSTICKING (see IV above) and Playing Down (see V 4 above) will be as follows for each individual period: (1) individual warning, (2) team warning, (3) minor penalty. Example: On the third and each subsequent highsticking violation in a period, there will be a minor penalty. Highsticking which results in contact with another player’s head will be an immediate minor or major penalty, and will add to the count in the period.


X. SLIDING/PLAYING DOWN RULE - Any player intentionally playing down or sliding who interferes with an opposing player’s clear opportunity to score a goal will draw a penalty resulting in a penalty shot. A player unintentionally down must make reasonable efforts to get up, or may be considered intentionally down.

XI. DELAY OF GAME –

1.     The clock will be stopped for minor and major penalties (and will not resume until the play resumes), scoring situations in the final minute of the first two periods and at the referees’ discretion for other lengthy stoppages (e.g. lost ball, injury, etc.).  However, the intent is that the game be running time, and the clock will not normally stop for goals, possession fouls, etc.  If the clock cannot be stopped, reasonable time may be added at the referees’ discretion.

2.     In the case of an intentional delay of game a minor penalty may be awarded, and the referee may stop the clock (if possible), or alternatively, restore the time elapsed or add overtime periods of 1 minute for each infraction. The referee may disregard this rule if he feels the rule is being manipulated (examples, team behind delays game, or players trying to add time to avoid a tie).

XII. OFFSIDES –

1.     At least two players must remain outside their defensive area at all times (i.e. their feet must not touch the blue line, but they can play the ball with their stick inside). The first two infractions in each period will result in possession for the attacking team inside the zone. Each additional infraction in the period will be a minor penalty (and still, two players must remain outside the zone).

XIII. TEAMS

1.     Teams will consist of 8 players on the ice----3 females and 5 males, including the goalie.

2.     A male may not replace a female position.

3.     A team must field at least 5 players.

4.     Players must be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate.

5.     A team roster must have a minimum of 10 players, with no maximum.

6.     Team rosters will remain open throughout the season with the following exceptions:

A. Once a player plays for a team, he or she may not play for any other team following the 7^th week of play. (Individuals may only be listed on one team’s roster and must play for that team.)
B. In order to be eligible for the play-offs a player must have played in a minimum of two regular season games.
NOTE: All participants must be listed on the roster prior to playing.


SUMMARY OF PENALTIES

MINOR - TWO MINUTES OR MAJOR - FOUR MINUTES Minor and major penalties may be awarded for the following at the discretion of the referee. Any penalty inside the offensive half which denies an attacking player a clear goal scoring opportunity may be awarded a penalty shot.

 

COOLING OFF RULE

The referee will have the discretion to remove a player(s) from the ice for a time period for any infraction which they deem is enough to warrant a cooling off period. The affected team(s) will be allowed to substitute for that player during the time.


MISCONDUCT - EIGHT MINUTES

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE TO ANOTHER PLAYER
DISRESPECT TO OFFICIALS
SMASHING THE STICK

GAME MISCONDUCT - EXPULSION FROM REMAINDER OF GAME AND ONE GAME SUSPENSION

ALTERCATION OFF ICE SURFACE
DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO INJURE
FIGHTING
SPEARING
 
DELAYED PENALTIES – Any minor penalty will be called on a delayed basis in accordance with hockey convention.  That is, on a defensive foul, play will continue as long as the attacking team controls the ball.  Loss of control results in a whistle, assessment of the penalty and attacking team possession.  A subsequent attacking team foul results in a whistle, assessment of penalties and a neutral zone face-off at the point nearest the second infraction.  Delayed offsides will be called along hockey conventions.  That is, the current attack will be allowed until offensive team loses control.  Restart is attacking team possession inside the zone (spot shot).

POSSESSION FOULS - Any foul in favor of a team 1) in the attacking end will be taken at the nearest face-off dot in the zone with the defending players outside the circle, 2) in the defensive end will be taken at the blue line, and 3) in neutral territory, at the spot of the foul. Other than in the attacking zone, the player will be given 10 feet. Following the restart whistle, the player has three seconds to play the ball, after which the defense may approach and play the ball.

HIGH STICK (no contact)

PLAYING WITHOUT A STICK
SLIDING/PLAYING DOWN (see sections IX & X)
CREASE AREA VIOLATION
BALL PROPELLED BY OTHER THAN STICK
GOAL KEEPER HOLDS BALL LONGER THAN THREE SECONDS
MINOR, MAJOR, OR MISCONDUCTS


FACE-OFFS

BALL LEAVES ICE SURFACE After Deflection
AFTER GOAL IS SCORED
START OF PERIOD
COINCIDENTAL PENALTIES
Following referees’ discretionary stoppage (injury, errant whistle, etc.) if clear possession cannot be awarded