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Mixed Broomball League

Rules and Regulations

Rule Additions:

·Goalie - Any player can be in the crease surrounding the net in any physical position (standing, kneeling, sitting, etc.) and block the ball with any means necessary.  The player cannot "freeze" the ball for more than 5 seconds.  If this happens, the ball goes back to the offensive team with a free position starting behind the net of the offending goalkeeper.  No additional equipment is allowed (arm blockers, softball gloves, hockey goalie pads, etc.) for a person playing in this position.

AWARDS

Each season JAM will hand out awards in the following categories:

• 1^st place – Best record based on overall head to head wins, points scored against, and point differential.
• Most social team – Based on socializing/attending the bar, good sportsmanship on the field, and always smiling!
• Most social player – Being a true advocate and representation of the JAM mission!

TEAMS

• Broomball is played with an inflated ball with 7 players on the ice for each team.
• Teams are comprised of a minimum of 9 players, at least 3 women or gender minority players and 3 men or gender minority players on the ice at all times.
• Teams play with a goalie, but may have an empty net and all 7 players on offense if desired. 
• FORFEITS: A team must produce at least 5 players (at least 2 women or gender minority players and 2 men or gender minority players) with a 10 minute grace period after the scheduled start time.
  • If a team does not meet roster requirements, they MUST let a JAM Staff member know and then meet with the opposing captain to decide & agree if the game may be played “as-is” and thus play down a player(s) or if an automatic forfeit will be taken and then the game will just be played for fun with the forfeit score counting.
    • No matter what the decision, a forfeit form must be signed by both team captains.
    • Failure to sign a forfeit form with the JAM Staff will void any “as-is” agreements and;
      • The team present with the required roster will win that game with a score of 5-0.

SUBS

In order for your sub to play:

• The player must actually be replacing a paid player that is absent
• The sub must sign in with the club staff upon arrival.  Failure to do this will get you kicked out :(
• The sub does not wear the absent player's game shirt, but rather a tee shirt similar in color to the team they are on.  
• Please be aware if you or anyone on your team needs a sub during any week of your leagues, we need that person to be aware of rules and that they need to be 21 or older in order to play. All subs WILL be required to sign in with the League Ambassador and obtain a wristband prior to being able to play which also makes them eligible for our Club specials at the partner bars! Subs should also try to wear a shirt that matches your team color as close as possible to help eliminate confusion when playing. You may only have as many subs as players missing from the roster on that day, for example: 2 players from the roster missing would equal 2 friends playing in place of them that night. You may not have 3 people filling in for those 2 players as that would result in a player technically playing for free and using playing time of players on the team that have fully paid for their roster position. 
• When making substitutions, the player coming off the ice must be within arm's reach before the substitute enters the ice.  Subs will be in the team bench area in the hockey arena.

TIME

• A broomball game consists of two periods. 
• The periods consist of two 20-minute, running time periods, with a 5 minute break between periods.

EQUIPMENT

• Official broomballs will be provided by the Club.
• Sticks are provided by the Club.  If you want to bring your own, and then make sure it’s commercially produced. The broom must not be altered illegally in any way. The shaft of the broom must be wood, aluminum or graphite. The head of the broom must be between seven and nine inches in height (from the handle attachment to the tip of the broom). The width of the head must be between four and six inches, with the tip, or base of the broom, being no less than two and a half inches. Tape may not cover up a cracked stick. Any bent or cracked shaft can be found unsafe and removed from the game by the referee.
• A helmet must be used to play (NO EXCEPTIONS!).  Bring your own helmet, it can be any kind, from bicycle to football, so have fun with it and surprises us! Just make sure it will buckle and be secure if you fall.
• We strongly recommend knee pads.  They will give you more options to slide and be in control.
• Shin guards are also valuable as sticks do tend to fly around.  Even unintentional hits can really hurt.
• Gloves are good.  Winter gloves, hockey gloves or anything else that will keep your fingers warm, protect your hands from sticks and balls and allow you to control your broom better.

SCORING

• To score a goal, the ball must COMPLETELY cross the goal line between the posts and must have been legally directed.  Illegal shots include:
  • Any ball which was last hit above the waist of an offensive player
  • Any ball which is kicked or hand-passed intentionally by an offensive player
  • If the whistle blows prior to the ball crossing between the goal posts
• FORFEITS: A team must produce at least 5 players (at least 2 men or gender minority players and 2 women or gender minority players) with a 10 minute grace period after the scheduled start time. Winning team will earn a forfeit score of 5-0.

REFEREES

• The Club staff will assist calling the game; however, players are encouraged to help call the game fairly and appropriately in the name of sportsmanship and the spirit of the Club.

Broomball Tips & Tricks

PLAYING THE BALL

• Lifting the ball – lifting the ball, even just a little, can throw your opponents off and get a pass through the defense.  Learn how to lift and also how to give your harder shots a little “air”
• Pass to yourself off the boards if possible.  This is a very powerful tool to get both you and the ball around a defender.
• When trying to block a pass, put your flattened stick out to one side, extend your opposite arm and crouch down low to take away as large an area as possible.
• When defending a pass near the boards ALWAYS take away the boards with your body and have your stick in towards the ice.
• Use your body (hands, feet, legs, torso, head if you’re brave enough) to knock the ball down to your own stick
• When trying a “one-timer”, get your stick as flat as possible on the ice (versus trying a golf or hockey shot at the moving ball).  The odds are much better that you will at least get a piece of the ball.
• Take your time.  For the most part, broomball is a relatively slow game and you typically have more time than you think.
• Listen to your teammates.  When you get the ball, someone will usually be yelling at you to do something.  You don’t have to listen, but at least give it some consideration.

STRATEGY

• On defense, typically you will want to pass it away from the center (aim towards the boards).  Only if you are relatively sure of the pass should you try to pass it through the center.
• On offense, you will want to send the ball into the front of the net.  If there are no clear passing options for you, hit it toward the center in front of the net.  You never know what may happen.
• Use an opponent’s momentum against him/her.  Unlike ice hockey or soccer, you cannot turn, stop or change direction quickly in broomball. 
• If you are on defense, watch the player.  The ball can move quickly, but not necessarily the player.  Their body will tell you where they are going.

PLAY STOPPAGE

• High stick – hitting the ball above the waist with a stick.  Play is stopped with a face-off 15ft in front of the goal in the offending team’s zone. (minor penalty)
• If the ball is deflected over the railing or into the opposing court, a face-off will occur at the nearest point of where the ball left the playing area.
• Illegal pass – passes can only be between players using the broom.  A player can kick or hand-pass the ball to themselves but not to another player.  An illegal pass results in a face-off at the nearest point of the infraction.

PENALTIES

• Types of penalties:
  • Minor – Offending player must spend 2 minutes in the penalty box.  The offending team must play with only 6 players on the ice. Up to two players from the same team can be in the penalty box simultaneously.  More than two penalties will be run consecutively.  If a goal is scored on a team that is “short-handed”, one player’s penalty is immediately concluded.  If a period ends, the penalty resumes at the beginning of the next period. Examples of minor penalties:
    • Elbowing, charging, checking, interference, hooking, holding, slashing, roughing, stalling, delay of game, high sticking, tripping, too many players on the ice, and illegal substitutions.  It is not cool to do these things, so play nice!
  • Major – Offending player must pay for the 1^st pitcher of beer for both teams at the bar and spend 5 minutes in the penalty box.  The offending team must play with only 6 players on the ice.  Up to two players can be in the penalty box simultaneously.  More than two penalties will be run consecutively.  If a goal is scored on a team with a major penalty, the player does NOT return to the ice until the 5 minutes are up.  If a period ends, the penalty resumes at the beginning of the next period.  Examples of major penalties:
  • Throwing the stick, playing the ball above the shoulders with the stick, other major penalties done in a flagrant manner.  Any action viewed by the official viewed to be malicious or reckless will be a major penalty.
  • Knowingly using illegal and/or dangerous equipment, failure to report directly to the penalty box, use of foul and/or abusive language, intentionally injuring or attempting to injure another player, gross disrespect for the official, or any other action deemed flagrant by the official.
  • Misconduct – Offending player is ejected from the game and possibly the entire league.  Examples of misconduct penalties:
• Checking: Checking is not allowed in this league.  Checking is a minor penalty.
• High Stick–Is called when the stick is not under player control or if a ball makes contact with the player's stick above Waist  level. A minor penalty is called, unless an injury occurs as a result of the high broom, which is a major penalty. ( A high stick penalty can be called if a stick is above the Waist and hits another player regardless if the ball is in the area. )
• Throwing the broom:  any player who intentionally releases the broom will be charged a major penalty.
• Interference: Many things fall under the “interference” heading.
• Intentionally touching an opponent’s dropped broom – minor penalty
• Physical contact with a goalie – minor penalty
• Sliding resulting in interfering with and/or knocking down an opponent – minor penalty
• Delay of game – intentionally covering the ball with body, hands, feet or broom to delay the game – minor penalty.
• Using a broken broom: if a broom is broken it must be immediately dropped.  A new broom can be taken from a teammate either on the ice or the bench. Holding onto a broken broom is a minor penalty.
• Slashing – hitting the broom or opposing player with a broom.  Broom lifts are allowed, but attacking the broom is a minor penalty.
• Picking up multiple brooms – a player cannot hold multiple brooms, even if attempting to return a lost broom to a teammate – Minor penalty.