Floor Hockey Safety Students should be playing the

Floor Hockey

Safety • Students should be • • playing the puck, not the opponents. The stick must be carried below the waist level at all times. Body checking is absolutely forbidden. Goalies should wear masks. All players will wear protective goggles.

History • The first indoor hockey games were held in • • • Battle Creek, Michigan in 1962. The program was developed by Tom Harter, Director of Civic Recreation of Battle Creek. He made the simple rules of the game and taught the game to athletic directors and physical education teachers and coaches. The program was so successful that by the end of the year, 43 teams participated in the league.

Techniques • Stick Handling- Keep hands separated 8 -12 inches on the stick. Right handed players should have their right hand in the lower position, opposite for those who are left handed. Carry the stick low at all times and do not make wide swings at the puck. Get close and control the puck. Speed, control and accuracy are the 3 things that you should concentrate on. Wrist action is most important. A “flicking” motion is best for speed and accuracy. Shots can be made forehand of backhand.

Techniques cont. • Dribbling- Tap the puck with either side of the stick blade to keep • • it in control and to move it in a straight line. Short, rapid taps keep the puck moving and prevent opponents from taking it away. Passing (backhand or forehand)- Flick your wrist for speed and make sure you lead your teammates with a pass so they can take it on the run to pass of shoot. Short, rapid passes from one player to another are the most effective means of moving the puck across the floor. Wrist Shot- With the puck touching the blade of the stick, use a sharp snap of your wrists to shoot it in the goal. The “flicking” action will cause the puck to move fast. Remember to keep the stick close to the ground.

Playing Area • Any basketball court may be used. – The center line is ½ court and this line divides the court into an offensive and defensive sides. – Play always starts from the center circle with a face-off. – Goals are placed at the end lines of the floor, under the baskets w/ some floor for playing behind the goals. – The crease area around the goalie is an area only for the goalie. – There is NO out-of-bounds in floor hockey.

Players • Each team consists of 6 players. – Center- (1) This is the only player that is allowed to move the full length of the court. They need speed, alertness, and adeptness in passing, dribbling, and stick handling. – Wings- (2) They only play on the offensive end of the floor. They are not allowed to cross into the defensive end of the floor. They are primarily the goal scorers. – Defensemen- (2) They only play on the defensive side of the floor. They have to protect the goal and distract the offense. They want to clear the puck and get it away from the goal. – Goalie- (1) They try to keep the puck out of the goal. They should stay between the puck and the goal at all times. The puck should be cleared to the side, away from the center. They should stay in a crouched position, holding the stick with one hand so the other hand is free to knock down a puck in the air. They should use the blade of the stick to block the puck.

Scoring • The entire puck must be over the goal line for a • • • goal to count. A goal can be scored by deflecting off a player of equipment as long as the deflection was unintentional. Intentional deflections can only be done with a stick. A goal cannot be scored if an offensive player is in the crease. Kicking or throwing the puck in the net does not count.

Rules • A game is started by a face-off between the 2 opposing centers with their • • sticks on the floor. Center-Line Rule- Only the center can play the entire floor. The wings must stay on their side of the center line and the defensemen and goalie can only stay on their side. Penalty= 2 minutes for roughing or their team will lose possession of the puck. Checking- There is not checking allowing. Penalty= 2 minutes High Sticking- The hockey stick cannot be brought above the waist in the back swing or follow through. Penalty= 2 minutes for high sticking. If an opponent was hit while the high sticking, Major Penalty= 5 minutes. Crease Rule- No offensive player may be in the goal crease. Penalty= 2 minutes for interference Holding- Using your hands to hold someone is forbidden. Penalty= 2 minutes for holding Hooking- Using your stick to prevent someone from reaching the puck is also forbidden. Penalty= 2 minutes for hooking Roughing- This is an unnecessary pushing of contact. Penalty= 2 minutes for roughing

Rules cont. • Slashing- Using your stick to intentionally hit another player is forbidden. • • • Major Penalty= 5 minutes Tripping- Using your stick to intentionally trip another player is forbidden. Penalty= 2 minutes for tripping Holding the Puck- Only the goalie may use their hands for the purpose of possession of the puck. They may catch it but cannot hold it for more than 2 seconds. They may not throw the puck forward but they may place the puck on the floor and hit it forward with their stick. Penalty= face-off at the sport that the infraction occurs. A player besides the goalie may catch a puck in the air but must immediately drop the puck. There is no running with the puck in hand. Playing the Short-Handed- If a referee were to call a penalty on Team A then Team A will play a man short on the defensive end. Team B will have a 3 on 2 in the offensive end for the length of a penalty. If during this advantage, Team B scores before the length of the penalty is finished, the player may return out of the penalty box. Exception- If the player in the penalty box is in for a major penalty, they stay in the box for the entire 5 minutes, whether the opposing team scores or not.

Terminology • Face-Off- Starts play and happens after a goal is scored, when the puck is • held, and when the puck goes out of play. This is between the 2 centers of opposing teams. Their sticks start on the floor and when the referee drops the puck on the floor is when each center can try to gain possession of the puck. Rebound- This is when a shot is missed or stopped by the goalie. Retrieving the puck is a rebound. This can be done by the offensive or defense.