Rule 36. Awarded Goals

(a) A “Goal” will be awarded to the attacking team when the opposing team has taken their goaltender off the floor and an attacking player has possession and control of the ball on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone without a defending player between themselves and the opposing goal and:

(1) he is interfered with by an opposing player who has illegally entered the game or,
(2) a stick or any other object is thrown by a player on the defending team or,
(3) the ball carrier is fouled from behind and prevented from having a clear shot on the open goal or,
(4) any member of the defending team including the team officials, whether on the players’ bench or penalty bench, interferes by means of their body, stick or any other object with the ball or the ball carrier.

(b) A Goal will be awarded to the attacking team when the opposing team has taken their goaltender off the floor and when a shot has been taken (control no longer applies) and a defending player picks up the ball with their hand from the goal crease or intentionally falls on or covers the ball in the crease with their hand, thereby preventing an obvious and imminent goal.

SITUATION 1
QUESTION: May a goal be awarded when the goaltender is on the floor?
ANSWER: Yes. See Rule 35 (b), Rule 36, Situation 3, and Rule 24, Situation 7.

SITUATION 2 Rule 36 (a) (1), (2), (3), (4)
The determining factor for this rule is that the BALL must be in the neutral or attacking zone, not the player in possession and control of the ball, or their feet. Any such infraction taking place after the ball, is in the neutral or attacking zone shall result in an Awarded Goal. Any such action taking place before the ball is in the neutral or attacking zone shall be dealt with as follows:
a) For a player illegally entering the game from the players’ bench, a Bench Minor penalty or a Penalty Shot shall be assessed under Rule 19 (e) or (f).
b) For a player illegally entering the game from the penalty bench, a Minor penalty shall be assessed under Rule 70 (d). 
c) For a stick or any other object being thrown by a player of the defending team, a Minor penalty shall be assessed under Rule 82 (b).
d) For the ball carrier being fouled from behind, a Minor penalty or, if injury results, a Major and Game Misconduct, shall be assessed under Rule 85 (a).
e) For any member of the defending team, including team officials, whether on the players’ bench or penalty bench, interferes by means of their body, stick or any
other object with the ball or ball carrier, a Bench Minor penalty and a Game Misconduct shall be assessed under Rule 66 (d).
f) For any member of the defending team deliberately removing their helmet or facial protector, or deliberately participating in the play without their helmet or facial protector, a Minor penalty shall be assessed under Rule 24 (c).

SITUATION 3 Rule 36 (a) (2)
QUESTION: What happens if, in the course of being substituted for another player, the goaltender throws their stick at the ball carrier who has no other player (except the goaltender) between the goal and themselves and the ball is in the neutral or attacking zone of the player on a breakaway?
ANSWER: If the goaltender is still on the floor and not yet substituted for an extra attacker, a Minor penalty shall be assessed to them if the player is in the neutral zone and the stick has been thrown from the side. The Referee shall not award a goal. Rule 82 (b). If the goaltender throws the stick from behind the player who is on a breakaway, and that player is fouled from behind and thus prevented from having a clear, unimpeded shot on goal, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded, even if the player is in the neutral or attacking zone. Rule 85 (d). If the ball or ball carrier is in the attacking zone (defending zone of the goaltender), a Penalty Shot shall be awarded under Rule 82 (a). If the goaltender has already been legally substituted for within 3.05m (10 ft.) limit, the Referee shall award a goal under Rule 36 (a)(2). 

SITUATION 4 Rule 36 (a)(2)
The goaltender has been removed and an opposing player gains possession and control of the ball on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone. The ball is knocked off the stick of the player in control by a stick thrown by a defending player. The attacking player is not interfered with and could regain possession of the ball easily.
QUESTION: Should the Referee stop play immediately and award a Goal, or permit play to continue and only award a goal if the attacking player fails to score?
ANSWER: Stop play immediately (regardless of whether the stick makes contact) and award the goal.

SITUATION 5 Rule 36 (a)(2)
The goaltender has been removed and an opposing player obtains a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone. They shoot the ball towards the open goal. A defending player throws their stick at the shot ball.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    QUESTION: Do you award a goal?
ANSWER: No. A goal may not be awarded as the player who shot the ball is no longer in control of the ball. Before a goal can be awarded the player must have both possession and control of the ball at the time of the infraction.
RULING: The Referee would simply signal a penalty in the normal manner and if no goal is scored by the non-offending team, they would assess a Minor penalty
or award a Penalty Shot.
1. If, at the moment the thrown stick reaches the ball, the ball is in the defending team’s zone, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded under Rule 82 (a).
2. If, at the moment the thrown stick reaches the ball, the ball is anywhere else on the floor, a Minor penalty shall be assessed under Rule 82 (b).

SITUATION 6 Rule 36 (c)
The goaltender is on the floor but away from their goal crease. A player of the opposing team takes possession and control of the ball and shoots it towards the open goal. As the ball is about to enter the open goal a defending player knocks the goal off its mooring(s).
QUESTION: Do you award a goal?
ANSWER: No. No goal may be awarded as the goal tender is on the floor. The Referee would assess a Minor penalty for delaying the game. If this happens in the last two minutes of regular playing time, or any time in overtime, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded against the of fending team, as per Rule 55 (c).

SITUATION 7 Rule 36 (c)
A goaltender in the act of proceeding to their players’ bench deliberately places their stick or any portion thereof across the goal crease.
QUESTION: What happens if the opposing team shoots the ball which hits the stick, preventing a goal;
(a) While the goaltender is still in the act of lleaving the floor?
(b) When the goaltender is off the floor (or legally substituted for within the 3.05m (10 ft.) limit)?
ANSWER: (a) A Minor penalty shall be assessed to the goaltender under Rule 66 (f), as the goaltender is still on the floor.
(b) A goal shall be awarded under Rule 36 (c).

SITUATION 8 Rule 36 (c)
A team has removed their goaltender in favour of an extra player. With the goaltender off the floor, an opponent, who has control of the ball in their attacking zone, shoots the ball towards the open goal. Subsequently, a defending player deliberately pulls or knocks the goal off its mooring(s), preventing a goal.
RULING: Award a goal.
GUIDELINES:
1. The goal must be taken off its mooring(s)
2. The shot must be taken from anywhere on the floor and go into the area normally occupied by the goal.
Note: If no shot is taken, or if the ball did not go into the area normally occupied by the goal, then no goal may be awarded. Where there is no goal awarded for this action, Rule 55 (c) – Delay of Game – must be applied.

SITUATION 9
No assist(s) shall be given on an Awarded Goal.

SITUATION 10 Rule 36 (b)
The ball is in the goal crease and the goaltender has been removed from the floor. A player bats or scoops the ball out of the crease. They do not cover or grab the ball while the ball is still in the crease, just scoops it out.
RULING: (a)If the player does not close their hand on the ball or fall on it, just the scooping motion, assess no penalty.
(b) If the player then grabs it or falls on the ball once it is outside of the crease, assess a Minor penalty as per Rule 58 (c) and 61 (c).
(c) If the ball is clearly covered in the crease, either with hand, or by falling on the ball, and this action prevents an obvious and imminent goal from being scored, award a goal.