McGILL UNIVERSITY - DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS
INTRAMURAL BALL HOCKEY RULES
ID CARDS
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Prior to the start of intramural games students must present their valid McGill ID card to the timer / scorer. Staff
and Alumni must present their valid Sports Complex Membership Cards. Please indicate to the timer which team
you will be playing for.
NO ID. - NO PLAY!
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After the scorer has seen your ID card, take the appropriate coloured pinnie and report your number to the scorer.
After the game is played, return your pinnie to your captain. The captain is responsible for returning all pinnies to
the scorer. The scorer will return the ID cards to the captain when all pinnies are accounted for.
DEFAULT RULE
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A five (5) minute delay to the start of the game will be granted if a team has an insufficient number of players to
begin.
The amount of time that the start of the game is delayed will be subtracted from the first period of play.
A two (2) minute penalty will be given to the team causing the delay.
Should a team still have too few players following the delay, the offending team will default the game.
EQUIPMENT
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All players must have C.S.A. approved eye guards or safety glasses in order to participate in the ball hockey
league. Prescription eyeglasses with plastic lenses are accepted, but not advisable due to the design of the frames.
Players without the appropriate eyewear will not be permitted to participate.
All sticks used during IM Ball Hockey must meet the one of the following criteria:
(1) Have a plastic blade (no wood blades)
(2) Be an approved ball hockey stick
Sticks are not provided.
One-piece composite sticks are allowed providing that the blade is in good condition
Clean, non-marking athletic shoes must be worn by all players.
Mouth guards are recommended.
Goaltenders are permitted to wear hockey road hockey goalie pads. Other goalie equipment such as chest
protectors/arm pads and trappers are permitted, but optional.
Goaltenders are required to wear a C.S.A. approved helmet and facemask.
Individuals who intentionally damage university property shall be held responsible.
RULES
PLAYERS
 Each team must have a minimum of four (4) players on the floor, dressed signed-in and ready to start the
game. The game shall start once both teams have the minimum number of players.
 Varsity ice hockey player may not participate in intramural ball hockey.
 Even strength play will consist of 5 on 5 (including the goaltender)
GAME TIME
 Games will consist of two (2) 22 minute periods (running time).
 If the goal differential is 2 or less, the final 2 minutes will be stopped time.
 If, however, the game is tied, time will continue to run.
OVERTIME
 No overtime (except playoffs).
 Overtime in playoff games will consist of a five-minute sudden death period of play. If the score remains
tied, a shoot-out will take place.
 Shoot-outs will consist of three (3) different shooters per team.
 If the game is still tied after the three (3) shooters, one (1) additional shooter from each team (no repeats
until everyone has gone once) will be paired off in sudden death until a winner is determined.
No shooter may shoot twice before all other players have gone once (Excluding goaltenders).
 In pairings each player is given his/her shot.
 Shooters begin at centre court and move toward the offensive goal.
 The shoot-out is of a breakaway format (no rebounds permitted).
 Goaltenders must remain in crease until the player touches the ball.
If a shooter is fouled by the goaltender while taking a penalty shot, it is an automatic goal.
eg. Attempt to poke check, but miss the ball and trip shooter- automatic goal. If the goalie plays the ball
(knocking it out of play or making unplayable) and then makes contact with the shooter afterward, it is not
a foul.
SUBSTITUTION
 Unlimited substitution is permitted.
 Substitutions are allowed while play is in progress, however, the player exiting the game must be off before
the replacement enters the play.
SCORING
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Ball must completely pass over the goal line.
A player cannot score directly while in-bounding the ball.
The ball cannot be directed or redirected into the net with the stick above waist level.
Offensive players are not allowed to be in a stationary position within the goaltender’s crease. They may
only enter the crease if the ball precedes him/her. Goals will be disallowed if an offensive player
interferes with the goaltender, or is in the crease unobstructed before the ball enters the net.
 Sticks must be kept at or below waist level on all shots.
FACEOFFS
 Centres must place their sticks behind the designated ‘tape lines’, while the ball is placed in centre of the
circle.
 The official's whistle commences play.
 If the ball goes directly out of bounds off the face-off, it shall be returned for another face-off.
 Face-offs occur after all goals (at centre).
PLAYING AREA
The shaded area in front of the
goal crease represents the 5second area.
Any offensive player, with or
without the ball, can remain in the
shaded area for only 5 seconds.
Once an offensive player leaves
the shaded area, their 5-seconds
resets to zero.
Infractions of this rule will result in
a loss of possession. Defensive
team gets the ball behind the goal
line.
GOALTENDER
 Goaltenders must be clearly designated to officials on any given play. This individual must abide by the
rules for goaltenders.
 Goaltenders may advance the ball up the floor with their stick, however, using their glove to advance the
ball forward to a team-mate is illegal. (Playing the ball laterally, backward or anywhere behind the goal
line with the glove hand is legal).
 The goal crease area shall be a 10'x 6' rectangular box directly in front of the net.
 Goaltenders may not freeze the ball outside the designated goal crease area.
(This infraction will result in a 2 minute delay of game penalty.)
 If the goaltender legally freezes the ball, the play will be whistled and a team-mate will put the ball into
play from behind his/her goal line.
 When the ball is to be put in play, it must be by means of a pass within 3 seconds of the official's signal.
The ball cannot be carried across the goal line by the person putting the ball in play.
 The goaltender may not hold onto the ball if he/she is not being closely guarded.
 A penalty received by the goaltender will be served by one of his/her team-mates that is on the floor at the
time of the infraction. The only exception is in the case of a match penalty where the goaltender himself
must leave the game.
 If the goaltender shoots the ball outside the playing area, the opposing team shall take possession at the spot
the ball went out of bounds.
BALL POSSESSION
 When the ball leaves the playing area, the non-offending team gains possession of the ball at the point of
the infraction, but never within 3 meters of either goal.
 When a team is penalized, the non-offending team takes possession of the ball at the point of the infraction,
but never within 3 metres of either goal.
 All defenders must be a minimum of (8) eight feet from the person putting the ball in play.
 The ball may not be shot at, or in the direction of the net when putting the ball in play.
 As a result of directing the ball at the net, or by waiting longer than (3) seconds after the official's signal,
the opposing team will take possession of the ball at the point of the infraction.
 Play continues as long as any part of the ball remains inside the playing area.
 Violations, other than directing the ball at the net, committed on putting the ball in play
ie. In-bounding the ball prior to the official’s whistle, require the in-bounding play be restarted.
HORN - ends a period & alerts officials of problems at the timers table etc.
PENALTIES
 Each team will designate a Captain at each game. The captain will be the only player permitted to talk
with the officials. All others conversing with the officials may receive a misconduct penalty.
 Three (3) minor penalties to any one player will result in his/her ejection from that game. This situation is
subject to review by the Intramural Discipline and Protest Committee and may result in an additional
suspension.
 A team receiving seven (7) penalties during the course of one (1) game will forfeit that game and their
opponents will be declared the winners. Furthermore, the team will receive a “white card” and be put on
probation.
 In the event that a team receives a third minor penalty, while two others are being served, the penalized
team will continue to play short 2 players (ie. 5 on 3). The third penalty will begin once the first of the
two previous penalties has finished. The individual whose penalty is finished first may only return to the
playing surface at the next stoppage in play. At this time, the team may still be short 2 players.
 No team can be more than two (2) players short on the floor at any given time. The penalized player must
leave the floor immediately, but the penalty time only begins when the first of the two previous penalties
is finished.
 A penalized player will sit out the entire duration of his/her penalty, however, if his/her team is scored
upon, the team will no longer play short-handed. Note: for a double minor, where the first penalty is not
over when a goal is scored, the team will continue to play short-handed for two minutes from the time
when play resumes.
 Delayed whistles are applied to all minor penalties.
 Whistle will stop the play when offending team gains possession.
 There is No Body Checking.
MINOR PENALTIES - 2 MINUTES
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Holding
Repeated careless stick control
Interference
Unsportsmanlike Behaviour
Goaltender's delay of game
Freezing the ball, i.e.
holding the ball with hands
Delay of Game (CAHA ice hockey rule)
(Last 2 minutes = penalty shot)
- Playing with a broken stick
- Slashing (sticks, hands, shins etc.)
- Rough play
- Checking
- Playing without approved eye guards
- Using illegal equipment
MAJOR PENALTIES - 5 MINUTES
- A Player is automatically ejected from the game and receives a minimum 1 game suspension.
- The Intramural Coordinator reserves the right to take further disciplinary action.
- The following infractions will result in a match penalty:
- fighting
- deliberate intent to injure
- leaving bench to take part in any altercation
- high sticking - drawing blood in the facial region
- harassment of official
- striking an official
- gross behaviour
ANY PLAYER WHO RECEIVES A MAJOR PENALTY DURING THE PLAYOFFS WILL
AUTOMATICALLY BE SUSPENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE POST SEASON.
January, 2016