Official Rulebook
// Metro Ball Hockey Association - Governing Rules & Standards · 2025/26 Edition
The Metro Ball Hockey Association is committed to providing a fair, competitive, and enjoyable experience for all participants. These rules govern all regular season, playoff, and exhibition games organized by the Metro League. All players, coaches, and officials are expected to know, respect, and uphold these rules. The spirit of the game - competitive but respectful - must be reflected in everything that happens on and off the floor.
The league commissioner reserves the right to make rulings in situations not explicitly covered by this rulebook. All commissioner rulings are binding and take effect immediately. This rulebook was last reviewed and updated ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The Game
Games are played 5-on-5 (including goaltender) on a full-size gymnasium floor. All games are played at Northgate Arena unless otherwise posted by the league office.
Regulation consists of three periods of 15 minutes each, running time. Clocks stop on whistles only in the final two minutes of the third period when the score is within two goals.
The official league ball is an orange low-bounce ball suited for indoor gymnasium play. Teams may not substitute ball types without referee approval. The referee will replace a damaged or defective ball immediately.
A semicircular crease extends 6 feet in front of each goal. Attacking players may not position themselves inside the crease before the puck arrives. Goals scored while an attacking player stands in the crease are disallowed unless the goalkeeper initiated contact.
Face-offs occur at centre court at the start of each period, after a goal, and following any stoppage. Face-offs in the defensive zone occur at one of two dots located 10 feet from the goal line, on each side of the crease.
Metro League uses a no-icing rule. Players may shoot the ball from their own end without stoppage. However, if a team shoots the ball without any player touching it and it crosses the opposing goal line, the referee may use discretion to whistle a delay-of-game if the shot was intentionally lofted to waste time.
Equipment
Wooden or composite ball hockey sticks only. No ice hockey sticks are permitted. Blade length must not exceed 12.5 inches. Curved blades are permitted but may not exceed a half-inch lie at rest on a flat surface.
All players must wear a certified hockey helmet with full cage or a visor plus mouthguard combination. Shin guards, gloves, and elbow pads are strongly recommended. The league is not responsible for injuries resulting from failure to wear protective equipment.
Goaltenders must wear a full cage helmet, chest protector, blocker, catching glove, and leg pads rated for ball hockey. Ice hockey goalie equipment is permitted provided it does not exceed dimensions suited for a standard gymnasium crease.
Non-marking athletic shoes or ball hockey shoes are required. Cleats, ice skates, roller blades, and bare feet are prohibited. The referee has the right to remove a player from the game for non-compliant footwear.
Each team must wear matching jerseys in team colours. Home and away colours are determined by schedule. If a colour conflict occurs, the home team must change. Numbers must be visible on the back of each jersey.
Scoring
A goal is scored when the ball fully crosses the goal line between the two posts and under the crossbar. The ball may deflect off any player, including a teammate, provided no attacking player was in the crease. The referee's call is final on all scoring decisions.
Goals scored off a deflection by an attacking player's stick are allowed. Goals scored directly off an attacking player's body (kick, hand, shoulder) are disallowed unless the ball deflected off the player unintentionally from a shot.
Once a goaltender covers the ball with their hand or traps it under a pad, play is whistled dead immediately. The goaltender may not hold the ball for more than three seconds while on their feet.
A team may pull their goaltender at any point. If a goal is scored into an empty net, it counts. A team playing without a goaltender must have a sixth skater on the floor.
Penalties
Assessed for: tripping, slashing, cross-checking, interference, high-sticking, delay of game, too many players, holding. The penalized player serves the full two minutes unless the opposing team scores, in which case the penalty ends.
Assessed for: fighting, boarding, charging, or a third minor in the same game. The penalized player serves the full five minutes regardless of goals scored. A major penalty may result in game ejection at the referee's discretion.
A player receiving a misconduct must immediately leave the playing area and may be replaced by a teammate. Misconducts do not affect the on-floor player count. Two misconducts in the same game result in automatic game ejection.
A player who is ejected must leave the arena immediately and will serve an automatic one-game suspension. The league commissioner reviews all ejections and may impose additional suspensions based on severity.
Awarded when a defending player commits a foul against an attacker who has a clear breakaway and no defenders between them and the goaltender. The shooter begins at centre and has one attempt. The goaltender must remain on the goal line until the shooter crosses the face-off dot.
Any player who receives three minor penalties in one game receives an automatic one-game suspension. Suspensions are reviewed by the league commissioner within 48 hours. Players under suspension may not enter the arena during league games.
Overtime & Shootout
If a regular season game is tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute sudden death overtime period is played 4-on-4 (excluding goaltenders). The team that scores first wins. If no goal is scored, the game proceeds to a shootout.
Each team selects three shooters. Shooters alternate. If the shootout is still tied after three rounds, it proceeds to sudden death, one shooter per team, until a winner is determined. The same player may not shoot twice until all players have shot.
Playoff overtime is sudden death, 4-on-4, with no time limit. Periods are 20 minutes with a 5-minute intermission between each. If still tied, a shootout is used: three shooters, then sudden death. Playoff overtime cannot end without a winner.
A regulation win earns 2 points. An overtime or shootout win earns 2 points for the winner and 1 point for the loser (OTL). A regulation loss earns 0 points.
Player Conduct & Eligibility
All players must be registered with the Metro Ball Hockey Association before playing in any game. Unregistered players who appear in a game will result in that team forfeiting the game, regardless of the final score.
Teams may carry a maximum of 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders on the official roster. Rosters may be modified up until the trade deadline, set at the halfway point of the regular season.
All players must be 16 years of age or older on the first day of the regular season. Players under 18 require a parent or guardian waiver on file with the league office.
All players, coaches, and team staff are expected to treat officials, opponents, and arena staff with respect at all times. Verbal abuse, threatening language, or discriminatory remarks of any kind will result in immediate ejection and a minimum two-game suspension.
A team unable to field at least four skaters and one goaltender within 10 minutes of the scheduled game time will forfeit. Forfeited games are recorded as 5–0 wins for the opposing team. Three forfeits in a season may result in expulsion from the league.
Game protests must be submitted in writing to the league commissioner within 24 hours of the game's conclusion. Only protests involving rule misapplication are accepted - referee judgement calls are final and non-protestable.
Contact the Metro Ball Hockey Association commissioner directly. All rule interpretations and disciplinary decisions are documented and available to registered teams upon request.
// Metro Ball Hockey Association · Official Rulebook · 2025/26 Edition