Rule 82. Throwing Stick or Object

(a) Where any player of the defending team, including the goaltender, deliberately throws their stick or any part thereof or any other object at the ball or ball carrier in the defending zone, the Referee shall allow the play to be completed and, if a goal is NOT scored, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded to the attacking team. If a goal is scored, the Penalty Shot shall not be awarded.

(b) A Minor penalty shall be assessed any player who deliberately throws their stick or any part thereof or any other object at the ball or ball carrier in any zone, except when such act has been penalized by the awarding of a Penalty Shot or a Goal.

(c) “A Minor penalty for Throwing a Stick / Object (as applicable) shall be assessed any player who deliberately throws their stick or any part thereof, or any other object in any zone, but not at the ball or ball carrier.

(d) A Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who deliberately throws a stick or any part thereof or any object, outside the playing area.

EXAMPLES:
I. If a player had possession of the ball in the neutral zone and an opposing player who is located in any one of the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any other object at the ball or ball carrier, the penalty to be assessed would be a MINOR PENALTY, except when such act has been penalized by the award ing of a Penalty Shot as in example (c) below.
II. If a player has possession of the ball in their attacking zone and an opposing player who is located in any one of the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any object at the ball or ball carrier, a PENALTY SHOT would be awarded.
III. If a player has possession of the ball in the neutral zone and an opposing player who is located in any one of the defending, neutral or attacking zones throws their stick or any other object at the ball or ball carrier, and during the time elapsed between the actual throwing, shooting, or kicking of the stick/object, and the time when it actually reaches the ball or ball carrier, the ball has reached the attacking zone, award a Penalty Shot.

SITUATION 1 Rule 82 and Rule 36 (a) – Awarded Goals
A goal shall be awarded to the attacking team if a stick or any part thereof or any other object is thrown by a defending player at an opponent in control of the ball on a breakaway in the neutral or attacking zone, preventing a shot at the open goal.
Note: An open goal is defined as one from which the goaltender has been removed for an additional attacking player

SITUATION 2
A goaltender throws their stick at the ball in their own defending zone. The ball is not in the possession of an attacking player and was last in possession of a defending player.
QUESTION: What player of the non-offending team would be awarded the Penalty Shot?
ANSWER: Any player of the non-offending team who was on the floor at the time of the infraction could take the shot, as stipulated in Rule 35 (c).

SITUATION 3
QUESTION: Can a player kick a stick that is on the floor back to their goaltender or another teammate without being assessed a penalty?
ANSWER: Yes – provided the kicked stick does not interfere with the play or an opposing player. (This is consistent with the guidelines for shooting a stick back to a teammate as described in Rule 51 Situation 5).

SITUATION 4 Rule 82
A stick is thrown to a player on the floor by a teammate who is also on the floor. The player picks up the stick.
RULING: Assess a Minor penalty to the player throwing the stick and assess a Minor penalty for “illegally receiving a stick”, to the player who picks up the stick.

SITUATION 5
Where a player throws their stick at an opposing player, whether or not they have the ball, assess a Minor penalty for Throwing the Stick (or Penalty Shot as appropriate). If the opposing player is injured by the thrown stick, assess the guilty player a Major penalty and Game Misconduct for Interference. A Match penalty may be assessed if, in the opinion of the Referee, there was either deliberate attempt to injure or deliberate injury. See Rule 66 (e).

SITUATION 6 Rule 82 (a)(b)
Where a stick is thrown by a defending player in the neutral zone and another stick is thrown at the ball or ball carrier by a defending player in their defending zone, a Minor penalty shall be assessed and a Penalty Shot shall be awarded. Should the player fouled score on the Penalty Shot, the Minor penalty shall still be assessed for the first infraction in the neutral zone.

SITUATION 7
The goaltender is out of the goal (in the corner or on their way to the bench) and a stick is thrown at the loose ball by the defending team. Such a situation would call for a Minor penalty or a Penalty Shot depending on the location of the ball when the stick is thrown.
QUESTION: Since the goaltender is out of the net, do you award a goal?
ANSWER: No, the determining factor in whether a goal is awarded is the substitution of the goaltender. If the goaltender is anywhere on the floor and no substitute has replaced them, then only a Minor penalty or a Penalty Shot would be called.