playing rules – High sticks

Rule 62. High Sticks

(a) The carrying of sticks above the normal height of the shoulder of the opponent is prohibited. A 4 minute minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who checks or intimidates an opponent while carrying his stick above the shoulder of his opponent. If injury results, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed.

(b) A player who contacts an opponent above the normal height of his shoulders with a high stick shall be assessed a 4 minute minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty. If injury results, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed. If a player injures an opponent with an accidental high stick due to the actions of a player on the opposing team the player would receive a 4 minute minor penalty in place of the Major penalty and the Game Misconduct. Any player who strikes an opponent on the follow through of a shot (including a golf shot) shall be assessed a 4 minute minor penalty or a Major Penalty and a Game Misconduct at the discretion of the Referee.

RATIONALE: Although the offending player must be in control of his stick at all times, the injury occurred due to the action of the opposition and was not intentional in any way.

(c) A Match penalty shall be assessed any player who deliberately attempts to injure or deliberately injures an opponent with a high stick.

(d) Contacting the ball above the normal height of the shoulders with the stick is prohibited and when it occurs, play shall be stopped and the ensuing face-off shall be in the offending team’s defending zone unless:

(1) a player of the non-offending team gains possession and control of the ball, in which case play shall be allowed to continue, or
(2) (2) a player of the offending team high sticks the ball into his own goal, in which case the goal shall be allowed.

Note: Where play is stopped for a high sticking the ball infraction, the offending team will not be permitted to change players until play resumes – See rule 19(g).

(e) A goal scored from a high stick shall not be allowed except when such a goal is scored