Westport Lions Pond Hockey Rules

Rules and Regulations

Pond Hockey Tournament Format

	4 players on ice – 2 substitutes for a total of 6 players
	No goaltenders
	30 minutes in duration 2-15 minute running time periods with a 2 minute break

Pond Hockey Tournament Rules

All games will start at the sound of horn/siren. Any teams late for games will be penalized 1 goal each minute late. After 5 minutes the late team will forfeit the game with 10-0 score awarded to the opponent.

	All players must wear hockey skates and hockey helmets. Protective Equipment is optional but highly recommended
	No goalie equipment or goal sticks permitted
	All teams must have home (white) and away (dark) uniforms
	There will be one off-ice Pond official to monitor the play (scoring, time, puck reset and arbiter of infractions)
	Penalties will be called for rule infractions. Penalties called on honor system. A minor penalty will result in a goal awarded to opposing team as well as possession of puck
	Any major penalties which include any action that could possibly injure another player, will result in ejection from the tournament. The team that received the ejection will play the remainder of the tournament short-handed (3 vs. 4). Off-ice Pond Official will determine major penalties.
	Abusing of official will be considered a major penalty. This includes yelling, swearing or arguing about calls.
	No body checking allowed. Such action will result in a minor penalty. Unless deemed serious enough to be a major penalty.
	Players cannot fall or lay on the ice in an effort to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty.
	Players cannot lay their sticks down to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty.
	Contacting the puck with a stick above the waist will result in a loss of possession.
	If a puck goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it lose possession. During restart, the defender must give his opponent 2-stick lengths of space.
	There are no off-sides or icing calls. Teams will switch ends at the half. Teams will also be able to substitute players on the fly.
	Goals must be scored from the attacking side of centre ice.
	Teams must give their opponents 1/2 ice after a goal is scored or an infraction takes place.
	Each team will be awarded 1 point for each period they win, and 2 points for winning the game. If there is a tie at the end of the game first goal wins.
	Teams are not allowed to lift the puck off the ice intentionally. Raising of the puck will result in the puck being awarded to the opposing team (Change of possession).
	No slap shots. Stick blades must remain on the ice during play.

	Aside from the opening face-off, teams will be required to give their opponents ½ ice after a goal is scored or a change in possession occurs for a penalty infraction. The team that has been scored upon must move the puck over the ½ ice marker before the defending team can engage play within 15 seconds of a goal. Failing to do so will result in loss of possession and a goal award to the other team.
	Pucks that are accidentally shot out of bounds will result in the opposing team gaining possession at the spot closest to where the puck left the area of play. Defenders must give the in-bounding team 2 stick lengths to initiate play once again. Players should not pursue or chase pucks as the assigned official will have extra pucks and immediately spot a puck for play to continue.
	All minor rule infractions will result in a goal awarded to opposing team as well as possession of the puck. These include tripping, hooking, slashing, body contact, elbowing, etc.
	All major rule infractions which include fighting, swearing, abuse of any official or committee member, or intent to injure will result in an ejection from the tournament with no substitution allowed for the offending player’s team and goal awarded to opposing team as well as possession of the puck.