MASHA Street Hockey Rule Book
Last revision
January 26th, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION ONE: THE RINK
Rule 1: Rink 4
Rule 2: Dimensions of Rink 4
Rule 3: Goalposts and Nets 4
Rule 4: Goal Crease and Goalkeeper’s Privileged Area 5
Rule 5: Division of the Playing Surface 5
Rule 6: Center Face-off Spot and Circle 5
Rule 7: High Zone Face-off Spots 5
Rule 8: End Zone Face-off Spots and Circles 6
Rule 9: Players’ Benches 6
Rule 10: Penalty Bench 6
Rule 11: Signal and Timing Device 7
SECTION TWO: TEAMS
Rule 12: Composition of Team 8
Rule 13: Adding of Players in a Draft League 8
Rule 14: Adding of Players in a Team League 8
Rule 15: Captain of Team 10
Rule 16: Players in Uniform 10
Rule 17: Change of Players 11
Rule 18: Injured Players 12
SECTION THREE: EQUIPMENT
Rule 19: Sticks 14
Rule 20: Shoes 15
Rule 21: Goalkeeper’s Equipment 15
Rule 22: Offenseman and Defenseman Equipment 17
Rule 23: Dangerous Equipment 18
Rule 24: No-Bounce Ball 18
Rule 25: Puck 18
Rule 26: Team Uniforms 19
Rule 27: Protesting of Illegal Equipment and Equipment Measurement 19
SECTION FOUR: PENALTIES
Rule 28: Penalties 20
Rule 29: Time of Penalties 21
Rule 30: Minor Penalties 21
Rule 31: Major Penalties 22
Rule 32: Misconduct Penalty 23
Rule 33: Game Misconduct Penalty 23
Rule 34: Gross Misconduct 23
Rule 35: Match Penalties 24
Rule 36: Penalty Shot 25
Rule 37: Goalkeeper’s Penalties 27
Rule 38: Delayed Penalties 28
Rule 39: Calling of Penalties 28
SECTION FIVE: OFFICIALS
Rule 40: Appointment of Officials 30
Rule 41: Referee 30
Rule 42: Penalty Timekeeper 31
Rule 43: Official Scorer 32
Rule 44: Game Timekeeper 32
SECTION SIX: PLAYING RULES
Rule 45: Abuse of Officials and other Misconduct 34
Rule 46: Adjustment to Clothing or Equipment 35
Rule 47: Attempt to Injure 36
Rule 48: Boarding 36
Rule 49: Bodychecking 36
Rule 50: Broken Stick 36
Rule 51: Butt Ending 37
Rule 52: Charging 37
Rule 53: Checking from Behind 38
Rule 54: Clearing 38
Rule 55: Clipping 39
Rule 56: Cross Checking 40
Rule 57: Delaying the Game 40
Rule 58: Deliberate Injury of Opponents 41
Rule 59: Elbowing 41
Rule 60: Face-offs 41
Rule 61: Falling on Ball 43
Rule 62: Fighting 44
Rule 63: Goals and Assists 44
Rule 64: Gross Misconduct 45
Rule 65: Handling Ball with Hands 46
Rule 66: Head Butting 47
Rule 67: High Sticks 47
Rule 68: Holding an Opponent 48
Rule 69: Holding an Opponent’s Stick 48
Rule 70: Hooking 48
Rule 71: Illegal Ball 48
Rule 72: Interference 49
Rule 73: Interference by/with Spectators 51
Rule 74: Kicking a Player 51
Rule 75: Kicking the Ball 51
Rule 76: Kneeing 51
Rule 77: Leaving the Players’ or Penalty Bench 52
Rule 78: Lobbing the Ball 53
Rule 79: Obscene or Profane Language or Gestures 53
Rule 80: Off-sides 54
Rule 81: Physical Abuse of Officials 55
Rule 82: Protection of Goalkeeper 56
Rule 83: Ball Must be Kept in Motion 58
Rule 84: Ball Out of Bound or Unplayable 58
Rule 85: Ball Out of Sight 59
Rule 86: Ball Striking Official 59
Rule 87: Refusing to Start Play 59
Rule 88: Roughing 60
Rule 89: Slashing 60
Rule 90: Spearing 60
Rule 91: Start of Game and Periods 61
Rule 92: Throwing Stick or Equipment 61
Rule 93: Tied Game 62
Rule 94: Time of Match 63
Rule 95: Tripping 63
SECTION SEVEN: MISCELANEOUS
Foul Weather 65
Protesting Referee’s Interpretation of a Rule 65
League Standing Rules 65
Addendum 1: Excessive physical play 66
Addendum 2: Playoffs eligibility 66
SECTION ONE: THE RINK
Rule 1: Rink
The game of Street Hockey shall be played on a wood, cement, asphalt, or plastic surface known as the "RINK."
Rule 2: Dimensions of Rink
a) The official size of the rink shall be no bigger than one hundred and eighty-five feet (185’) long and eighty-five feet (85’) wide. The minimum size shall be no smaller than one hundred and forty-five fee (145’) long and sixty-five (65’) feet wide. The corners shall be rounded in the arc of a circle with a radius of twenty-eight feet. The rink shall be surrounded by a wooden or fiberglass wall or fence known as the "boards" which shall extend not less than forty inches (40”) and not more than forty-eight inches (48”) above the level of the surface. The ideal height of the boards above the surface shall be forty-two inches (42”).
b) The boards shall be constructed in such a manner that the surface facing the playing surface shall be smooth and free of any obstruction or any object that could cause injury to players. All doors giving access to the playing surface must swing away from the playing surface. All glass or other types of protective screens and gear to hold them in position shall be properly padded or protected. All equipment used to hold the glass or screens in position shall be mounted on the boards on the side away from the playing surface.
Rule 3: Goalposts and Nets
a) The goal posts shall be of approved design and material, extending vertically four feet (4') above the surface of the playing surface and set six feet (6') apart measured from the inside of the posts. A cross bar of the same material as the goal posts shall extend from the top of one post to the top of the other.
b) There shall be attached to each goal frame a net of approved design made of white nylon cord which shall be draped in such a manner as to prevent the ball coming to rest on the outside of it, yet strung in a manner that will keep the ball in the net.
c) The goal posts and cross bar shall be painted red and all other exterior surfaces shall be painted white.
d) A “GOAL LINE” two inches (2'') wide shall run between the goal posts on the playing surface and extend completely across the rink. The goal line shall be no more than fifteen feet (15’) and no less than twelve feet (12’) from the back boards.
Rule 4: Goal Crease and Goalkeeper’s Privileged Area
a) In front of each goal, a "GOAL CREASE" area shall be marked by a red line two inches (2") in width. The goal crease shall be laid out as follows: One foot (1') outside of each goal post a two inch (2'') wide line shall be painted extending four feet, six inches (4' 6") in length. These lines shall be at right angles to the goal line. A semi-circle line six feet (6') in radius and two inches (2") in width shall be drawn using the center of the goal line as the center point and connecting both ends of the side of the crease. On the side of the crease lines, four feet (4') from the goal line, extends a five-inch (5") line into the crease.
b) The goal crease area shall include all the space outlined by the crease lines and extending vertically four feet (4') to the level of the top of the goal frame. The area outlined by the crease line and the goal line shall be painted a contrasting color as compared to the playing surface.
c) The goalkeeper’s “PRIVILEGED AREA” is an area bounded in the rear by the end boards, in front by an imaginary line connecting the end zone face-off spots and on the sides by imaginary lines extending perpendicular from the end boards to the end zone face-off spots.
Rule 5: Division of Playing Surface
a) The playing surface area between the two goals shall be divided into two halves by a “CENTER RED LINE” twelve inches (12'') in width that extends completely across the rink parallel to the goal lines and continues vertically up the side of the boards.
b) The center red line shall be considered part of the zone in which the ball is located.
c) Two “CLEARING LINES” three inches (3”) wide are positioned twenty feet (20’) from the center red line on each side.
d) That portion of the playing surface in which the goal is situated shall be called the "DEFENDING ZONE" of the Team defending that goal and the portion farthest from the defended goal shall be called the "ATTACKING ZONE."
Rule 6: Center Face-off Spot and Circle
A circular spot twelve inches (12'') in diameter shall be marked exactly in the center of the rink, and with this spot as a center, a circle with a thirteen (13’) to fifteen feet (15') radius shall be marked with a line two inches (2'') in width.
Rule 7: High Zone Face-Off Spots
Four face-off spots two feet (2’) in diameter shall be positioned fifteen (15’) to eighteen feet (18’) from the center red line and forty-four feet (44’) apart, equidistant from the side boards. Within the face-off spot, draw two parallel lines three inches (3'') from the top and bottom of the spot. The area within the two lines shall be painted red and the remainder shall be painted white.
Rule 8: End Zone Face-Off Spots and Circles
a) In both end zones and on both sides of each goal, face-off spots and circles shall be marked on the playing surface. The face-off spots shall be two feet (2') in diameter. Within the face-off spot, draw two parallel lines three inches (3'') from the top and bottom of the spot. The area within the two lines shall be painted red and the remainder shall be painted white.
b) The circles shall be two inches (2'') wide with a radius of thirteen (13’) to fifteen feet (15') from the center of the face-off spots. At the outer edge of both sides of each face-off circle and parallel to the goal line shall be marked two lines two inches (2'') wide and two feet (2') in length and four feet (4') apart.
c) The face-off circles should be twenty feet (20’) from each goal line and forty-four feet (44’) apart, equidistant from the side boards.
Rule 9: Players Benches
a) The rink shall be provided with seats or benches for the use of players of both Teams. The accommodations provided, including benches and doors, MUST be uniform for both Teams. Such seats or benches shall have accommodation for at least fourteen (14) persons of each Team. The benches shall be placed immediately alongside the playing surface as near to the center of the rink as possible.
b) The players' benches shall both be on the same side of the playing surface opposite the penalty bench and should be separated by a substantial distance, if possible.
c) No one but players, the Manager, Coach, and Trainer shall be permitted to occupy the benches.
Rule 10: Penalty Bench
a) The rink must be provided with benches or seats to be known as the "PENALTY BENCH." These benches or seats must be capable of accommodating a total of ten persons including the Penalty Timekeepers. Separate penalty benches shall be provided for each Team and they shall be situated on opposite sides of the Timekeeper's area, directly across the playing surface from the players' benches.
b) On the playing surface immediately in front of the Penalty Timekeeper's seat there shall be marked a semi-circle with a ten foot (10') radius and two inches (2") in width which shall be known as the "REFEREE'S CREASE."
Rule 11: Signal and Timing Device
a) The rink must be provided with a siren, or other suitable sound device, for the use of Timekeepers.
b) The rink shall be provided with some form of electrical clock for the purpose of keeping the spectators, players, and game officials accurately informed as to all time elements at all stages of the game including the time remaining to be played in any period and the time remaining to be served by at least two penalized players on each Team. Time recording for both game time and penalty time shall show time remaining to be played or served.
c) The game time clock shall measure the time remaining in tenths of a second during the last minutes of each period.
SECTION TWO: TEAMS
(NOTE 1): A “Team” league is one in which an entire team is entered into the league. A “Draft” league is one in which individuals register to play in a league and are drafted or placed on teams by league officials or coaches.
(NOTE 2): When necessary, in a Draft League a goalkeeper may participate on more than one team, including during the playoffs. However, games played for his original team will only count for his personal playing statistics. Goalkeepers may not play on more than one team in a Team League.
Rule 12: Composition of Team
a) A team may not have more than 21 players on its roster, including the goalkeeper. It must have a minimum of 6 players to start a game. When play is in progress, no more than 6 players from one team are allowed on the playing surface. Only one goalkeeper per team is allowed on the playing surface at a time. The goalkeeper may be removed and another player substituted for him, but this player will not be permitted the privileges of the goalkeeper unless he is suitably dressed.
b) If during the game a team has less than 4 available players (excluding those in the penalty box) the game shall be forfeited to the opposing team.
c) Players suspended from league play may not sit on or stand at the players’ bench.
Rule 13: Adding of Players in a Draft League
a) In a “Draft” league new players may be added during the season and will be placed on the next team in line to receive a player or on a team that exhibits hardships in either attendance or skill. The League Director will supervise and approve any player additions.
b) Under no circumstances can a team add a position player during the playoffs.