Floor Hockey Information
Floor hockey is a family of indoor hockey games, usually in the style of ice hockey, that are played on flat floor surfaces, such as a basketball court.[1] Each team attempts to shoot a ball or puck into a goal using sticks, usually with a curved end.[2]
The games differ from street hockey in that the games are more structured, and from roller hockey in that players typically wear indoor sports shoes.
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History
Floor hockey codes are derived from ice hockey, which was invented by British soldiers stationed in Canada in the mid-1800s [3].
A version of ringette was introduced as a sport in the Winter Special Olympics in 1970. It is currently the only team sport played in the Winter Special Olympics [4].
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) was formed in 1991 to provide more formal leagues of ball-based floor hockey.[5]. The CBHA runs leagues for men, women, and juniors, and organizes National Championships for each division [6].
In 2003, the National Intermural-Recreational Sports Association Hockey Committee released a baseline set of rules for intramural floor hockey for college campuses across the United States.
Equipment
Floor hockey equipment differs between each code. Some codes use an indoor puck, while others use a lightweight plastic ball, or a heavier ball. Some codes require standard ice hockey or field hockey sticks, while others use lightweight plastic. The types of checking and protective equipment allowed also vary.
Variations
One variation, especially popular in Europe, is floorball. Floorball uses a lightweight plastic ball and sticks made of plastic and carbon fibre. Limited checking is permitted.
Another variation, cosom hockey, uses plastic sticks and pucks, while ringette uses circular pucks and sticks with no blade.
Typical rules
Although floor hockey is made up of several different codes, there are some basic rules which are typically followed regardless of code.
Games start with a face-off, where a player from each team have an equal chance to gain possession. The face-off is also used to resume play after goals, and to start each period [7].
A goal is scored when the entire puck or ball crosses the plane of the goal line, unless it is intentionally kicked in by the attacking team.
The team with the most goals at the end of the game is declared the winner. If the game is tied, the games usually proceed into overtime in order to determine a winner. Overtime rules vary, but typically include extra time and/or penalty shootout.
Penalties for illegal actions are enforced. A player committing a major infraction is required to sit out of the game for two minutes, resulting a power play, but a minor infraction may result in a free hit. Penalties are typically given for the following actions:
- Tripping – Using the body or stick to intentionally cause a player to fall
- Hooking – Using the curved end of the stick to impede a player’s forward progress by pulling him or her back
- Slashing – Using the stick to hit an opposing player's body or stick
- Interference – Using the body to move a player from his current position on the floor or preventing him from playing the ball or puck
- High Sticking – Allowing the curved end of the stick to come above your waist
- Cross Checking – Using the stick to push an opponent down
- Checking from behind – Hitting a player from behind
Due to the limited padding worn by players, body checking is typically disallowed in floor hockey games [8], although shoulder-to-shoulder checking is allowed.
References
- ^ “NIRSA Floor Hockey Basics,” Last modified 2010, The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, http://www.nirsa.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Sports/IntramuralRules/im_floorhockey.htm
- ^ “Floor Hockey Rules,” http://sportsvite.com/sports/FloorHockey/rules
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica, Academic Edition, s.v. “Ice Hockey”
- ^ “Floor Hockey History,” Last modified 2006, Special Olympics – Pennsylvania, http://www.specialolympicspa.org/sportslive/FloorHockey.php
- ^ “Canadian Ball Hockey Association History,” The Canadian Ball Hockey Association, http://cbha.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=2
- ^ “CBHA Who We Are”, The Canadian Ball Hockey Association, http://cbha.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=7
- ^ “NIRSA Official Rules,” The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, http://www.nirsa.org/am/documents/Sports/intramurals/floor_hockey_rule_book_2nd%20edition.pdf
- ^ “NIRSA Floor Hockey Basics,” Last modified 2010, The National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association, http://www.nirsa.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Sports/IntramuralRules/im_floorhockey.htm
Categories: Team sports | Indoor sports | Ball games | Variations of hockey
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