Rules

 

RCSSC BROOMBALL RULEBOOK

This page was last updated August 16, 2012.
River City Sports & Social Club, LLC © 2004-2011

ALL GAMES WILL BE AT LIL’ RINK.

 

RULE 1: TEAM FORMATION AND EQUIPMENT

 

General Team Rules

League Basics


Section 1. Roster

  1. Number of Players. There is no maximum number of players allowed on a team roster. All players must be listed on the roster and sign the RCSSC waiver to participate.
  2. Adding Players. Players may be added at any time until the final tee shirt order date. After that time, until the third week of play, a team must drop a player before it may add a player. The dropped player must provide his/her tee shirt to the added player.  After the third week of play, team rosters are frozen. Teams must provide an updated roster to the Commissioner at the end of the third week. See the Commissioner for additional roster forms.
  3. Players on the Field. A team can field no more than 6 players at a time. At least 2 of the players on the field must be women. A team must have at least 5 players, and at least 2 women, present at game time to avoid a forfeit.
  4. Playing Short. A team may play with a full team of 6 if its opponent is short a player.

Section 2. Player Restrictions

  1. Age. Players must be 22 years old at the start of the season. Teams with players who are not 22 years old will forfeit the entire season. The Commissioner may request confirmation of age from players throughout the season. 

  2. RCSSC leagues offered. SUPER SOCIAL is designed for teams/individuals that love to socialize and have LIMITED athletic skills. 

  3.  Professional or Division I Athletes. Players who have competed in professional or Division I collegiate sports in the last five years may not participate in the RCSSC. 

  4. League Membership. Players may only play for one team, regardless of league (Social or Super Social)

  5.  Violations. Teams that violate the rules in this section will forfeit the entire season’s games and must pay a fine.

Section 3. Uniforms

  1. Tee shirts. RCSSC will provide each team with tee shirts for its roster. All players must wear the current season’s RCSSC tee shirt for each game. 

  2. Permitted Alterations. Players may add their names, numbers, and other similar personal information to their tee shirts. Players may also add depictions of the American flag. Players’ additions may not cover the RCSSC or sponsor logo.  

  3. Excluded Alterations. Players may not add any corporate information to their tee shirts, including website addresses and company names. Players may not include any offensive material on their tee shirts. The Commissioner has the exclusive right to determine whether additions are offensive. 

  4. Penalty. Players who do not wear the official RCSSC tee shirt will be sidelined for that game. Players who are caught exchanging shirts will also be sidelined, and if the players are not listed on the team roster, the team will forfeit the game and must pay a fine. Teams with players who violate alteration guidelines must purchase new RCSSC shirts ($20/shirt), and the team will forfeit all games until it has paid for the new shirts.

Section 4. Equipment

  1. Ice Rink. All games will be played at Lil’ Rink at 7501 Ranco Road in Glen Allen. The ice rink will be divided into two separate playing rinks: Rink #1 and Rink #2. Rink #1 is closest to the warehouse (front entrance) entrance. Two games will be played simultaneously.\
  2. RCSSC-Provided Equipment. RCSSC will supply all teams with brooms, helmets, goalie masks, and a game ball. If players have their own helmets, they may wear them.
  3. Player-Provided Equipment.

a. Shoes. Players must wear tennis shoes or broomball shoes on the ice. Any player wearing metal spikes will be suspended from the league.

b. Pads. Each player must wear elbow, knee pads and wrist-guards. Players without these pads will not be allowed on the ice. (shin guards are recommended, but not required.)

c. Goalie Mask. Each goalie must wear a mask at all times on the ice.

d. Goalie Gloves. Standard ice/field hockey goalie gloves and leg pads are NOT permitted under any circumstances. Goalies may wear a baseball mitt on one hand and may wear leg guards underneath pants.

 

RULE 2: THE GAME AND FORFEITS

 

Section 1. Player Positions

1. Start of Play. Teams may start with no more than 6 players on the ice: 4 men and 2 women. Five players must be on the ice, with 1 player in the goal.

2. Ice Players. All players except the goalie are “ice players.” No more than 3 men can be ice players. The goalkeeper may be male or female.

3. Goalkeeper. The goalie may stop or clear the ball in any direction by catching, trapping, covering, kicking, or batting the ball with his or her hands, feet, or broom. After a shot, the goalkeeper may pick up the ball and roll it or pass it using his or her broom to any teammate on the same side of the ice. A rolled ball or ball tossed underhand cannot go past the center line without being touched by a field player. A ball put on the ice and hit with the broom can cross the center line. The goalkeeper cannot hold the ball for more than 5 seconds. In the box, goalies can slide ONLY if no opposing players are in the box. Goalies cannot leave their side of the ice.

4. Defensive Players. At all times, there are 2 defensive players on the ice. A team’s defensive zone consists of their goal to the center ice. If a defensive player crosses the center ice, the referee will assess an offside penalty.

a. Fourth Quarter Rule. In the fourth quarter, all teams must have at least one female defensive player.

5. Offensive Players. At all times, there are 2 offensive players on the ice. A team’s offensive zone consists of the center ice line to their opponent’s goal. If an offensive player crosses the center ice onto his or her defensive zone, the referee will assess an offside penalty.

6. Rover Player. At all times, there is 1 rover player on the ice. The rover is allowed to play in his or her team’s offensive and defensive zones. Rover players must wear mesh pennies to distinguish themselves from their teammates.

Section 2. The Clock

  1. Quarters. Each game will consist of four 9-minute quarters with two minutes between each quarter. 

  2. Running clock. The clock will run during each quarter. If an injury occurs on the rink, the game will stop and the referee will add time at the end of the game.  

  3. Start of Game. Both games will start on the timekeeper’s whistle. All games will start promptly.

Section 3. Substitutions

  1. Ice Players. Players may substitute on the fly, but only after the player being replaced has left the ice. Players must enter or exit the ice using the door closest to their bench. 

  2. Goalie. Teams may only substitute goalies between quarters, unless the goalie is injured during the game.

Section 4. Forfeits

  1. Avoiding Forfeit. If a team notifies the Commissioner at least 48 hours before the game that it intends to forfeit its scheduled game time, a forfeit fine will not be assessed since the Commissioner will have sufficient time to notify the opposing team of the forfeit. Email forfeits to rivercityssc@aol.com . 

  2. Minimum Players. If a team does not have the minimum number of players (5, with 2 female players) by game time, a $50 forfeit fine will be assessed.  

  3. Fine. The forfeit fine will be contributed to the forfeiting team’s opponent’s bar tab the following week. The fine recipient must use the tab the following week: the fine will not be carried over. 

  4. Inclement Weather Policy. In case of inclement weather, check the RCSSC weather hotline (804) 307-7294 and your e-mail for updates. If you do not receive a cancellation e-mail and there is no cancellation message on the RCSSC voicemail, all games are on.

 

RULE 3: REFEREEING

 

  1. Responsibilities. The RCSSC will provide 1 referee per game. 

  2. Home Team. The home team, which is listed first on the schedule, will defend the goal on the entrance side of the rink. Teams will not change sides during the game.

 

RULE 4: FORFEITS AND FINES

 

  1. Time of Payment. All fines must be paid before the team’s next scheduled game. 

  2. Failure to Pay. Teams that fail to pay an assessed fine before the subsequent week’s game will have two points subtracted from their win total. After the second week, the fine will double. 

  3. Ejection. After three weeks of nonpayment, the Commissioner may eject the team from the league.

 

RULE 5: SPORTSMANSHIP

 

  1. Social Aspect of League. Teams should patronize the sponsor bar after its game. The league’s focus is on being social, not winning or losing.

  2. Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Any RCSSC member who does not conduct himself or herself, whether on or off the field, in a manner that demonstrates courtesy and respect for his/her own teammates and other teams will be removed from the league.

    The RCSSC will keep a record of all players and/or teams who engage in unsportsmanlike conduct.     

  3. Contact. RCSSC Broomball is a non-contact sport. Any players or teams that violate this rule are subject to immediate suspension from the league without warning.

    a. Checking is not allowed.

    b. Slight incidental contact is allowed when one player is in possession of the ball.

    c. After a player has passed, kicked, or released to another player, both players must avoid contact. If the referee believes either player did not sufficiently attempt to avoid contact, either player or both players will be ejected from the game and may be suspended if the referee deems the contact unsportsmanlike conduct.

    d. All players must avoid contact with each other’s brooms when possible.

  4. Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties. Any player ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct will receive a mandatory two-game suspension. If the player receives a subsequent ejection, that player will be dismissed from the league and shall not receive reimbursement of any league fees. 

  5. Team Penalties. Teams who engage in two unsportsmanlike conduct offenses or who engage in illegal contact will be ineligible to participate in any RCSSC sports for one year. Teams that are suspended will not be reimbursed for any league fees. 

  6. Fighting. Fighting will result in a player’s or a team’s permanent suspension from participation in the RCSSC

 

RULE 6: PLAY OF GAME

 

Section 1. Start of Play

  1. Face Off. At the beginning of the game, each team’s rover player will assume a neutral position facing each other, with his or her broom on the floor alongside the center line. The referee will place the ball between the brooms. When the referee blows the whistle, the game will start. No other players can be within five feet of the face off. 

  2. After a Goal. After a team scores a goal, the referee will give the ball to the goalie and teams should reset their players.  

  3. Subsequent Quarters. At the start of the second and fourth quarters, the home team’s goalie will start off with the ball. At the start of the third quarter, the visitor’s team goalie will start with the ball.

Section 2. Gender Play

  1. After the ball crosses into the opponent’s side of the ice, it must be passed and controlled by a woman before the offense can score a goal. A “touch and go” will not be considered a gender play and the goal will be called off.

  2. Every time the ball crosses midfield, the gender play resets, even if the attacking team maintains possession of the ball.

Section 3. Passing

  1. Legal Pass. A legal pass is one made with the broom. A player who intercepts a pass with his or her hand should control it then direct it to the ice.

    The goalkeeper can pass with his or her hand, provided the goalie is in contact with the crease and the rolled pass is to a player on the defensive side of the ice.

    A defender may deflect or clear the ball with his or her foot but cannot pass it to a teammate.

  2. Illegal Pass. Any pass made with a player’s hand or foot is illegal. If a player intercepts a pass with a hand and then passes the ball using the hand, the referee will whistle the ball dead. Goalkeepers cannot throw the ball or roll it past center ice.

Section 4. Scoring

1. Teams can only score from their offensive half of the ice.

2. A goal is worth one point. To be legal, the ball must completely cross the goal line before any official game stoppage, including a referee’s whistle or end-of-period buzzer.

Goals may be scored when:

a.  An attacking player directs the ball into the goal using the broom.

b. An attacking player deflects the ball into the goal using the broom or with any part of his body, including his or shoes.

No goal is scored when:

a. Any part of an attacking player, including the broom, penetrates the goalkeeper’s crease before the ball.

b. An attacking player intentionally directs the ball into the goal without using the broom.

c. An attacking player hits the ball with the broom higher than waist level.

d. An attacking player directs the ball with any body part and a defending player’s body deflects the ball into a goal.

e. A defending player has possession of the ball (no own goals).

 

 

RULE 7: PENALTIES

 

Section 1. Dead Ball Penalties

  1. Dead Ball Penalties, Defined. After a dead ball penalty, the ball is turned over to the opposing team at the current spot of the ball. After a ball is turned over, all defending players must be at least 15 feet away from the ball.

  2. Out of Bounds. When the ball leaves the playing area or touches any object that is not part of the playing surface, including the area behind the goal, the ball is out of bounds. Out of bounds balls are placed back on the playing surface nearest where they went out of bounds.

    If the ball goes out behind the goal, the goalie takes possession of the ball.

    If the referee decides the ball or a player is too close to the fence, the referee will all a dead ball and give possession to the team in control or closest to the ball.

  3. Infractions. Players who engage in the following conduct will be assessed a dead ball penalty

a. Offside: Entering a zone outside their territory.

b. Illegal pass using the hands or feet.

c. Illegal gender play: Offensive player takes a shot on goal without first passing to a woman. If a goal is scored, it will be refused and the goalie takes possession of the ball.

d. Illegal shot: Player takes a shot on goal from behind the center ice.

e. Sliding.

f. Illegal substitution: A substitute player enters the ice before his or her teammate has left the ice.

g. Goalie’s pass does not touch a teammate before it crosses center ice.

h. Raising the broom above the waist as a reflex action in open space and without danger to other players.

Section 2. Two Minute Penalties

1. Two Minute Penalties, Defined. This penalty requires the penalized team to play shorthanded for two minutes. Penalty time carries over after a goal and after time in the quarter or half runs out. A team member on the ice at the time the penalty is assessed must serve the penalty. The position of the player serving the penalty cannot be replaced during the penalty. For example, if the home team’s rover is penalized, his or her team will not have a rover until after the two minute period. 

2. Infractions. The following conduct will give rise to a two-minute penalty:

a. Sliding, second offense. Players must attempt to stay on their feet at all times. Players, including goalies who slide outside their box, who slide will be assessed a penalty and their team will lose possession. If a goalie is penalized, a defender will sit for the goalie.

b. Illegal stick checking --NO CHOPPING or HACKING.

SWEEPING MOTION ONLY!

c. Intentional or unintentional lifting stick above the waist, including while shooting or blocking the ball and including goalies who high stick outside the box, if the referee deems it to endanger other players or to not be a reflex action. If the goalie is assessed the penalty, a defender will sit for the goalie.

d. Recklessly sliding, grabbing, or running into the dividing fence.

e. Pushing an opposing player.

f. Tripping an opposing player by using the legs or by stopping in front of or behind a player to cause the player to fall or lose his or her balance.

g. Holding an opposing player.

h. A player who is not in possession or not attempting to play the ball deliberately obstructs an opposing player from taking possession or making a play.

i. Charging the goalie.

j. Intentionally playing the ball using a hand or arm to disrupt the game.

k. Having too many players on the ice.

l. Unsportsmanlike conduct, including arguing with the referee, taunting an opponent, using abusive language, etc.

Section 3. Major Penalties (Suspension)

  1. Major Penalty, Defined. A major penalty requires the penalized team to play a man down and lose that player’s position for the duration of the game, whether the team scores a goal or not. 

  2. Suspension. Players who are suspended will also be suspended for the following week’s game. Players who are suspended twice during the same season will be removed from the league. Suspended players must immediately leave the ice rink.  

  3. Infractions. Players who engage in the following conduct are subject to suspension from the game:

a. Illegal or excessive contact with either the body or the broom.

b. Aggressive or repetitive (2 or more) minor penalties.

c. Sliding, third offense.

d. Sliding into a goalie while the goalie is in the box.

e. Breaking equipment out of anger. Player will also be fined double the equipment’s replacement cost and will not be allowed to play until the equipment is replaced.

Section 4. Ejections

1. Players who engage in the following conduct may be immediately ejected from a game:

a. Excessive unsportsmanlike behavior

b. Fighting.

 

RULE 8: TEAM STANDINGS

 

  1. Regular Season. Points will be awarded to teams for each game as follows: Win, 3 points; Tie, 1 point; Loss, 0 points. 

  2. Ties. During the regular season, there will be no overtime or penalty shots to break ties. If a tie occurs in a playoff game, the teams will participate in a shootout.  

  3. Shootout. In a shootout, each team will be allowed 5 shots on goal. A female player must attempt every other shot. The team with the best scoring record after five shots wins. If the game remains tied after 5 shots, teams will take one shot at a time until a winner is determined. A coin flip will determine who shoots first. The goalie who finished the game at regulation must be the goalie for the shootout. 

  4. Playoffs. The Commissioner will determine the number of teams making the playoffs in each division. The computerized playoff wizard will break regular season record ties. Playoff games may be scheduled on days other than regularly scheduled game days, especially in case games are canceled due to inclement weather.

 

REMINDERS

 

NO GLASS containers.

NO alcohol.

PLEASE police yourself.

Coaches are responsible for controlling their teams. We are all adults. Enough said.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR BAR!!!!!

 

 

River City Sports & Social Club, LLC© 2004-2011