Section 6 – Playing rules: Part 2

Rule 73. Passes
(a) The ball may be passed by any player to a player of the same team within any one of the three zones into which the floor is divided without incurring an off-side penalty.
(b) A pass shall be considered to have been completed if the ball so passed contacts any part of the stick, body or foot of a player on the same team.
(c) A player anywhere in her own half of the rink is eligible to receive a forward pass from a teammate, provided she is on-side and she may also play the ball passed into the attacking half of the floor, provided the ball precedes the player completing the pass over the blueline.

(d) If an attacking player passes the ball backwards towards her own goal from the attacking zone, an opponent may play the ball regardless of whether or not she (the opponent) was in the same zone at the time the ball was passed.

Note: The position of the ball, and not the position of the player’s feet, is the determining factor in deciding from which zone the pass was made.

Rule 76. Ball Out of Sight and Illegal Ball
(a) At any time where the Referee loses sight of the ball, play shall be stopped. The resulting face-off shall be at the point where play was stopped, unless otherwise stated in the rules.
(b) If while play is in progress a ball other than the one legally in play appears, the play shall not be stopped, but shall continue with the legal ball until the play then in progress is completed.

Rule 77. Ball Striking Official
Play shall not be stopped if the ball touches an official anywhere on the rink, except when the ball is deflected directly off an official into the goal or out of the playing area.
(a) If a team is withdrawn from the floor and fails to return and start play, or if being on the floor, fails to start play within TWO MINUTES after being ordered to do so by the Referee, the game or series shall be suspended. The team officials and/or players of the team which are responsible for any of these actions may be suspended for one year or more from the date of the infraction. The Referee shall report full details of the incident to the President. If a team after being ordered to return, does return to start play, then a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct shall be assessed to the Coach for Delay of Game. If this infraction occurs in the last two minutes of regular playing time, or anytime in overtime, a Penalty Shot (in addition to the Major penalty and a Game Misconduct) shall be awarded against the offending team’s coach, as stated in Rule 55(e) – Delay of Game. 

Rule 81. Start of Game and Periods
(a) The game shall commence at the time scheduled by a face-off in the centre of the rink. It shall be renewed promptly at the conclusion of each intermission in the same manner. No delay shall be permitted by reason of any ceremony, exhibition, demonstration or presentation, unless consented to reasonably in advance by the Visiting Team.
(b) To start the game, at the beginning of each period (including any overtime periods) and following the scoring of a goal, the Referee shall conduct a face-off at the centre floor spot.
(c) Home teams shall have the choice of goals to defend at the start of the game. See Rule 9 (e).
(d) At the beginning of each period, only the players taking part in the actual face-off shall be allowed on the floor. All other players not taking part in the face-off shall go directly to their benches. For an infraction of this rule, a Bench Minor penalty for delay of game shall be assessed the offending team.
(e) At the end of each period, all players must remain on their respective players’ or penalty bench until directed off by the Referee. The Visiting team shall leave the floor first, unless otherwise directed by the Referee. Failure to comply shall result in a Bench Minor penalty. Any unusual circumstances shall be reported to the President. A Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed to the coach of any team that fails to comply with this rule at the end of the game if an altercation that results in penalties of any kind is either in progress as the game ends or begins after the game has ended.

Rule 81. Start of Game and Periods

(a) If at the end the regulation time the score is tied and overtime is to be played, the following shall take place:

(1) The teams will not change ends; 
(2) The ball shall be faced-off at centre floor and the play shall continue with a ten-minute sudden victory overtime period;
(3) If the score is still tied after the sudden victory ten minute overtime period, the teams would take the normal between period break and return to play ten minute sudden victory periods. The teams will now change ends.

(b) Any overtime period shall be considered part of the game and all unexpired penalties shall remain in force.
(c) If either team declines to play in the necessary overtime period or periods, the game shall be declared a loss for that team.

Note 1: Branches and leagues may make their own rules regarding overtime for games under their jurisdiction.
Note 2: Games may end in a tie unless a winner must be determined, in which case overtime will be played.
Note 3: Where the organizers of a tournament or league decide to employ a shoot-out to break a tie at the end of regulation play or any overtime period, the follow

(1) Shoot-outs shall consist of a best of 5 format with teams taking alternate shots;
(2) If still tied after 5 shooters from each team have shot, then teams shall alternate shots in a sudden victory format;
(3) The home team has the choice of shooting first or second in the shoot-out;
(4) Teams will defend the same nets as at the end of regulation or any played overtime;

(5)The procedure governing the taking of the shot shall be as set out in Rule 35 (penalty shots);

(6) No player may shoot more than once until the entire game roster of his or her team (aside from goaltenders) has been exhausted;
(7) Players serving any type of penalty which has not expired at the conclusion of regulation time or overtime, shall not be eligible to participate in the shoot-out;
(8) Prior to taking a shot, players shall turn their back to the scorekeeper so their number may be properly recorded;

(9) Ineligible shooters:

(a) If the referee becomes aware before the shot has commenced that the player about to take the shot is ineligible to take the shot for any reason, the referee shall allow the coach to substitute another player;
(b) If the referee becomes aware after the shot has commenced or has been completed, that the player taking the shot was ineligible to take the shot for any reason then the result of the shot will be considered “no goal” and no substitute shooter will be permitted;
(c) For the purposes of this rule, the shot is deemed to commence when the referee blows his or her whistle to signal for the player to proceed with the shot.

Rule 84. Time of Game
(a) Two periods of actual playing time with a two-minute intermission between each period, will be the time allowed for each game.
(b) The team scoring the greatest number of goals during the two periods shall be the winner and shall be credited with two points in the league standing.
(c) Teams shall change ends after the completion of each regulation period and each overtime period (except as stated in Rule 83 (a)(1).
(d) If any unusual delay occurs within five minutes before the end of the first or second period, the Referee may order the next regular intermission to be taken immediately. The balance of the period will be completed on the resumption of play with the teams defending the same goals, after which the teams will change ends and resume play of the ensuing period without delay.
(e) Each team shall be permitted to take one time-out of thirty seconds during the course of every period or overtime. This time-out must be taken during a normal stoppage of play. Any player designated by the Coach may indicate to the Referee that his team is exercising their option and the Referee will report the time-out to the Game Timekeeper who shall be responsible for signaling the termination of the time-out.

Note 1: All players, including goaltenders, on the floor at the time of the time-out will be allowed to go to their respective benches.
Note 2: Both teams may take their respective time-outs during the same stoppage of play. However, once a team has called their time-out, the second team must indicate their intentions to take a time-out during the same stoppage of play before the initial 30 seconds are over.
Note 3: Player requesting time out must be on the floor! The player’s number must be recorded on the game sheet.

(f) TIME-OUT GUIDELINES

1. Each team may have one thirty second time-out per period. This includes any overtime.
2. Both teams may take their time-out during the same stoppage of play.
3. All players including goaltenders may go to their respective benches during the time-out.
4. The Referee must advise the Timekeeper of the time-out and the Timekeeper will indicate when the time-out is over.
5. The Referee should allow the calling of a time-out at a stoppage of play, at any time up to the point where the referee blows the whistle during the line change procedure. Once the whistle is blown the face-off must occur and the request for a time-out will not be granted.
6. Subsequent to the time-out, the line change procedure shall recommence