playing rules – fighting & roughing

Rule 59. Fighting and Roughing

a) A Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who fights with an opposing player.

(1) A player who is identified by the Referee as being the instigator, or the aggressor in a fight shall be assessed a Minor penalty, in addition to any other penalties she may incur.
(2) A Minor penalty shall be assessed any player who, having been struck, shall retaliate with a blow or attempted blow. Should such a player continue to retaliate, she shall be assessed a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty.
(3) Any player who does not retaliate after being struck will not be assessed a penalty under this section, but may be assessed a penalty for a violation of other rules.
(4) Any player wearing a ring or rings, tape or any other material on her hands, who becomes involved in a fight and who uses such to gain an advantage or to inflict punishment and/or injury, shall be assessed a Match penalty in addition to any other penalties she may incur.

Note: The foregoing sections shall also apply to goaltenders.

(5) When a fight occurs, all other players except the goaltender shall immediately retire to the front of their respective benches or to a neutral zone (should the fight occur in front of a players’ bench) designated by the Referee and remain there until the Referee calls them back to resume play. The goaltenders must stay in their goal creases or proceed to a neutral zone designated by the Referee. Any player(s) refusing to do so after being instructed by the Referee shall be assessed a Misconduct penalty, plus any other penalty she (they) may incur.

(b) A Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who is involved in fighting with another player off the playing surface.

(c) Any player joining in a fight, acting as a peacemaker or taking part in another fight during the same stoppage of play, will be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty plus any other penalty the offender incurs under the rules.

(d) Any player or team official who becomes involved in a fight with a team official shall be assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty. This does not eliminate the possibility of further penalties being assessed for such an infraction.

(e) Branches are authorized, at the discretion of their members, to assess further penalties in the case of Rule 59 (a), for all players in all divisions of ball hockey.

(f) A Minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who is guilty of unnecessary rough play.

Note 1: If the penalty assessed is for an infraction after the whistle, “Roughing after the Whistle” shall be recorded.
Note 2: The Major penalty for roughing is not to be confused with and utilized in lieu of the Major Penalty and a Game Misconduct Penalty for fighting.

(g) A Minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who, in the Referee’s judgment, makes deliberate physical contact with an opponent after the whistle.