The Quest for Glory...The Quest for the Tyng

Broomball

 

THE GAME

Broomball is a game very much like hockey. Most hockey rules apply except that the game is played with a regulation broomball stick (which is shaped like a broom) and a regulation broomball (which is a heavy plastic ball, slightly bigger than a softball). Helmets, sticks, and balls will be provided by Yale IMs.

The game will be played using the width of the rink as the end lines. There will be no offside in broomball except during face-off situations. 

THE TEAM

  • Each team has a (1) goalie, three (3) forwards and two (2) defensemen (same lineup as ice hockey). Each team consists of a minimum of 4 players.

  • Each team will designate one captain. They will be the only individual to discuss with the officials.
  • The team captain will notify the officials when the team pulls their goalie, or subsequently, puts the goalie back into the game.
  • If multiple penalties occur, a team can only play two (2) people short of the number they have on ice at full strength.
  • In a simultaneous minor penalty situation where both teams are at even strength and one team scores a goal, nobody returns to the ice. Therefore, a team cannot score and make themselves short-handed.
  • Standing benches: Players who are not currently in the game may stand behind the blue line, allowing for easy subbing. 

Players must substitute during live ball situations providing the following conditions: 

  • Players entering the ice after an expired penalty may not participate in a play until touching the centerline along the sideline
  • Players entering the game must wait until the player leaving the floor is completely off the ice before entering the playing area. 
  • Players leaving the ice must exit the same place that the substitute is entering the ice. 
  • Goalies must notify the referee or supervisor when substituting. 

      Goalies

  • They must use a broom, but may not lay their entire stick horizontally on the ice to make a save. 
  • They can use their hands and may catch and/or freeze the ball as long as some part of their body is in the crease. If completely out of the crease and ball is frozen, an indirect shot is awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction.
  • A goalie in possession of the ball has five seconds to get rid of it. Opponents must back off enough to allow the goalie to pass the ball.
  • The goalie may not roll or throw a ball outside their half of the ice. If this occurs, possession of the ball will be given to the opponent at center ice for an indirect shot.
  • A goalie leaving the crease loses all goalie privileges.
  • Goalie may not use hockey goalie thigh/shin pads, but may wear a softball/baseball glove and dress similar to other players. A helmet/mask is required and will be provided.
  • The goalie may be pulled or put back into goal at any time, as long as the officials have been notified.
  • No player (offensive or defensive), except the goalie, is allowed in the crease area. A goal is scored by an offensive players in the crease is disallowed, unless the player was pushed by a defensive player into the crease. A defensive player, other than the goalie stopping the ball in the crease, will be penalized by awarding a penalty shot to the opponent. The goal crease is a four foot radius making a half-circle and extends from the center point of the goal line perpendicular from the front of the goal.
  • Goalies will serve all penalties they receive. 
     
  • Players may only play in goal for 1 out of 2 halves.

PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT 

  • Footwear: Rubber-soled, non-marking tennis-, basketball- or running-type shoes with good tread suitable for running on ice are required. No skates, spikes, cleats, heavy boots, street shoes, or similar footwear is allowed. Players should change into their playing shoes once at Ingalls Rink (to keep sidewalk salt/sand off the ice).
  • Helmets are mandatory and will be provided by the IM department. 
  • Mouthguards are strongly encouraged but not required in Broomball. The IM program will supply one mouthguard for every Broomball participant via a sign-out system, and it is their responsibility to bring it to each game, or you may buy your own mouthguard from the retailer of your choosing.
  • Hand protection is limited to the use of mittens or gloves. Softball/baseball gloves can be used by goalies; however, no ice hockey goalie gloves can be used.
  • No artificial padding, hockey-specific or otherwise, is permitted, for any player.
  • Regulation balls and sticks (“brooms”) will be provided and must be used.
  • No dangling jewelry is allowed.

LATE POLICY

Teams are expected to be at the rink and ready to begin play at the time designated on the schedule. If at the starting time a team has the minimum number of players then the game must begin as soon as possible. If a team has fewer than the minimum at the designated starting time then the start of the game will be delayed until enough players arrive. However, if the late team does not have the minimum number of players up to 15 minutes after the original starting time, then the game is reduced by 15 minutes, and one goal is awarded to the opposing team along with possession at center ice. If at 30 minutes past the scheduled starting time the team does not have the minimum number of players, then the game is forfeited.

ELIGIBILITY

All undergraduate students and persons associated with a residential college who meet general eligibility requirements are eligible to participate. Ice hockey is not deemed a related sport, as there numerous rule changes that distinguish broomball from hockey, offering a competitive balance amongst all players. Instances involving special consideration require a review by the Athletic Secretaries Ad Hoc Eligibility Committee or IM Director and Head IM Secretary.

GENERAL RULES OF PLAY 

  • Play begins with a face-off at center ice with players in their defensive zone. A face-off at center ice also occurs after a goal is scored and at the beginning of each period. Any face-off requires all players not facing off to be a least six feet from the face-off spot.
  • There is absolutely NO CHECKING. The penalty is an ejection and a five minute major penalty. 
  • The ball must be passed from player to player using the stick. There is no kicking or sliding. If kicked, an indirect shot will be awarded to an opponent at spot of infraction.
  • To score, ball must be hit with a broomball stick into the goal. No goal for a ball diverted into the goal by an offensive player’s foot. The entire ball must cross the goal line.
  • Players may not catch the ball. They may knock it down with their hand, but if this occurs, they must be the first to play it with their broom before it touches another team member. No hand passes.
  • A broom may never be swung above waist height. This results in a minor violations – the ball being awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction for an indirect shot – or a two minute minor penalty.
  • A ball knocked out of play will be put back in play with a face-off at the nearest spot where the ball was last touched by a player.
  •  Players must play the ball, and not the body, at all times.
  • After each penalty, a face-off will result at the face-off circle nearest the spot of the penalty. Face-offs will be made at the center circle when the penalty occurred in the attaching area of the player/team being penalized. 
  • Players may slide to stop a loose ball from exiting the field of play, or to prevent a goal/pass from reaching its intended destination, but may not slide in an attempt to defend another player. Such an attempt is an infraction, and depending on the level of offence is either an indirect shot, two minute minor penalty, or five minute major penalty

TIMING & SCORING 

  • There are two fifteen-minute periods of running time with one minute between periods, no time outs. Teams shall switch ends at the end of the first period. The last minute of the second period will be stop time in all dead ball situations (i.e. violations, penalties, injuries, and when the ball leaves the playing area) as long as a team is not ahead by three or more goals.

Tied games

  • There will be no shoot-out for tie games in the regular season.
  • For playoff games, if the game ends tied at the end of regulation, a shootout will take place.
  • Five players from each team will attempt a penalty shot from the designated penalty shot line (five yards in front of the goal line). If still tied, the shootout procedure will continue in sudden death fashion (i.e. one player from each team attempts a shot, and if still tied, one more from each team until the tie is broken).

Shootout Rules

  • Goalies can take shootout shots.
  • Every player on a team that is signed in must shoot before any player can shoot a second time.
  • No player in the penalty box at the end of regulation may participate in the shootout.
  • Shootout and penalty shots will be taken from five (5) yards in front of the goal line with all other players behind and away from the shooter, except the goalie.
  • At the referee’s signal, the shooter may take the shot from the spot. A shootout or penalty shot may only be contacted once by the shooter, no rebounds.
  • There is no faking of shootout or penalty shots. If done, goal will not count and no retry is awarded.
  • The backward and forward arc of the stick during the swing of his/her shot must be kept below the waist. If in violation, the shot is no good and no retry.
  • The goalie must remain in the crease until the ball is touched. The goalie may not throw his stick or glove. A goal shall be scored if they are in violation whether the shot is good.
  • If, during a penalty shot, any player on the opposing team causes a distraction or interference, a second penalty shot attempt shall be awarded (provided the first attempt was unsuccessful) and a misconduct penalty will be given.

If a penalty shot is awarded during the game, the following provisions apply:

  • If a goal is scored off a penalty shot, play will resume with a face-off center ice.
  • If the penalty shot is unsuccessful, there will be a face-off at the nearest face-off circle.
  • The fouled player must take the penalty shot, unless they are physically incapable of doing so. In such a case, the captain will choose from a participating player on the ice.

PENALTIES & MINOR VIOLATIONS 

The following violations will be penalized by awarding the ball to the opponent at the spot of the infraction for an indirect shot:

  • Playing the ball with a high stick when others are not close and in a non-threatening manner
  • Hand passes or kicking the ball to another team member
  • Leaving your feet to make a defensive play on a ball carrier without contacting the carrier
  • Players other than goalie catching/freezing the ball
  • Goalie completely out of the crease freezes the ball
  • Goalie holding the ball longer than five seconds (ball awarded to opponent at nearest face-off spot)
  • Goalie rolling/throwing the ball past center ice without it being touched by another player on either team (ball awarded at center ice)
  • Goalie laying their entire stick horizontally on the ice to make a save

Player in the crease or breaking plane of crease with stick or body:

  • When the offensive team breaks the rule, the official shall stop play immediately and award the indirect shot.
  • When the defensive team violates this rule, the official will blow the whistle and award the indirect shot only when the ball has come into the possession of defensive team.
  • If defense stops a goal or ball in the crease, penalty shot awarded to attacking team.
  • A goal may not be scored directly from an indirect shot.
  • The ball must be touched first by a teammate or an opponent before going into the goal.

Penalties: Penalties time shall be kept by “stopped time”. Stopped time begins as soon as a penalty or violation occurs.

Minor penalty- penalized player removed for two minutes during which no substitute is permitted unless the penalized team gives up a goal

  • High sticking or brooms carried in a manner considered dangerous by the official
  • Too many players on the ice
  • Deliberate delay of game (This shall include a player who deliberately or intentionally knocks or shoots the ball out of the reach of the official who is retrieving it or shoots the ball out of the playing area)
  • Anyone who leaves their feet to make a defensive play on a ball carrier and makes contact with the carrier
  • Goalie who participates in a play in any manner beyond the centerline
  • Cross-checking and pushing off with the hands
  • Slashing with the broom 

Interference- one player who interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the ball, who knocks a broom out of an opponent’s hand, or who prevents a player from regaining possession of a dropped stick

  • Holding, tripping, elbowing
  • Unnecessary roughness-a minor or major penalty may be imposed on any player
  • Slapping of brooms or any other equipment on the playing floor in an inappropriate manner
  • Playing with a broken broom
  • Sliding into opponents (both intentional or unintentional)
  • Removing helmet during play, including shoot-outs

Major penalty – penalized player removed for five minutes during which no substitute is permitted not even if the penalized team gives up a goal

  • Checking and cross-checking a goalie (plus ejection)
  • Charging
  • Throwing broom or gloves at a ball
  • Sliding through another player in a manner deemed to be reckless
  • Boarding – shall be imposed on any player who body checks, cross checks, elbows, charges, trips, or throws an opponent into the boards or ice

Misconduct penalty – penalized player is removed for ten minutes during which a substitute is permitted immediately

Game penalty – penalized player is ejected for the remainder of the game and is suspended from his/her next scheduled game.

Penalties resulting in a penalty shot occur when: 

  • Defensive player other than the goalie stopping the ball in the crease or knocking the ball out of the crease with a chance of scoring
  • Offensive player has obvious breakaway when defensive player throws anything at the player, including the body or the broom, and makes him/her lose control
  • When defensive player catches up to the offensive player from behind and plays the body instead of the ball
  • Throwing a stick or helmet in frustration or anger

PROTESTS

Protests involving eligibility may be made by any captain or Athletic Secretary against any team and must be made during or immediately following a contest. Once notified the team captain is required to present that player’s valid photo ID for verification. If no ID is available then the captain must submit a brief statement that includes the name of the person in question and the circumstances of eligibility. If a person is found to be ineligible, all games in which they participated or were suspected of having participated are recorded as losses and any awarded Tyng Cup points are withdrawn. All other protests involving misinterpretation of the rules must be made at the time of the incident. Play must be stopped and may not continue until the protest is resolved on the spot by the game officials with the aid of the governing rules of the game, or if necessary by final decision of the Intramural Supervisor. Any team that disputes the result and refuses to continue play will default the contests.