LRHL Rulebook - Lynbrook Roller Hockey

Rulebook - Table of Contents

Lynbrook Roller Hockey Rulebook
Updated for the Fall 2024 Season

SECTION ONE: RULES AT A GLANCE
1) Divisions
2) Teams
3) Rosters
4) Equipment
5) Puck
6) Minor Penalties
7) Major Penalties
8) Game Misconduct Penalties
9) Body Checking
10) Rainouts / Delays
11) Fighting
12) Hand Passes
13) Slapshots
14) Offsides
15) Length of Games
16) Tied Games
17) Timeouts
18) Mercy Rule
19) Protests

SECTION TWO: TEAMS
Rule 201: Composition of Team
Rule 202: Players in Uniform
Rule 203: Playing Lineup
Rule 204: Using a Goalie From Another Team
Rule 205: Three-Minute Line Change
Rule 205a: Squirt Division Line Changes
Rule 206: Change of Players - Intermediate & Junior Division
Rule 207: Injured Players
Rule 208: Bench Coaches
Rule 209: Handshakes

SECTION THREE: EQUIPMENT
Rule 301: Sticks
Rule 302: Skates
Rule 303: Goalkeepers Equipment
Rule 304: Protective Equipment
Rule 305: Dangerous Equipment
Rule 306: Pucks
Rule 307: Uniforms
Rule 308: Equipment Measurements

SECTION FOUR: PENALTIES
Rule 401: Penalties
Rule 402: Minor Penalties
Rule 403: Major Penalties
Rule 404: Misconduct Penalties
Rule 405: Match Penalties
Rule 406: Penalty Shot
Rule 407: Goalkeeper Penalties
Rule 408: Delayed Penalties
Rule 409: Calling of Penalties
Rule 410: Supplemental Discipline
Rule 411: Accumulation of Penalties

SECTION FIVE: OFFICIALS
Rule 501: Appointment of Officials
Rule 502: Referees
Rule 503: Goal Judges
Rule 504: Timekeepers
Rule 505: League Authorities

SECTION SIX: PLAYING RULES
Rule 601: Abuse of Officials and Other Misconduct
Rule 602: Adjustments to Clothing and Equipment
Rule 603: Attempt to Injure
Rule 604: Body Checking and Boarding
Rule 605: Broken Sticks
Rule 606: Charging and Checking from Behind
Rule 607: Crosschecking and Butt Ending
Rule 608: Deliberate Injury of Opponent + Head Butting
Rule 609: Delaying the Game
Rule 610: Elbowing and Kneeing
Rule 611: Faceoffs
Rule 612: Falling on Puck
Rule 613: Fighting
Rule 614: Goals and Assists
Rule 615: Gross Misconduct
Rule 616: Handling Puck with Hands
Rule 617: High Sticks
Rule 618: Holding an Opponent
Rule 619: Hooking
Rule 620: Illegal Clearing (Icing)
Rule 621: Interference
Rule 622: Interference by Spectators
Rule 623: Kicking a Player
Rule 624: Kicking Puck
Rule 625: Leaving Player or Penalty Benches
Rule 626: Offsides
Rule 627: Passes
Rule 628: Puck Must Be Kept in Motion
Rule 629: Puck Out of Bounds or Unplayable
Rule 630: Puck Out of Site And Illegal Puck
Rule 631: Puck Striking an Official
Rule 632: Refusing to Start Play
Rule 633: Slashing
Rule 634: Spearing
Rule 635: Start of Game and Periods
Rule 636: Throwing Sticks
Rule 637: Time of Match and Timeouts
Rule 638: Tied Games - Regular Season
Rule 638A: Tied Games - Playoffs
Rule 639: Tripping
Rule 640: Unnecessary Roughness
Rule 641: The "Squirts" Rule
Rule 642: Tie Breakers for Playoff Seeding

Section One - Rules at a Glance

1) Divisions

This is the current division structure for Lynbrook Roller Hockey. All divisions are broken down into age brackets.

Squirts (Ages 5-8)
Peewees (Ages 9-11)
Midgets (Ages 12-14)
Intermediates (Ages 15-18)
Juniors (Ages 19-21)

2) Teams

A division will either play 4-on-4 or 5-on-5 depending on the age bracket and depending on what the roster sizes dictate.

5-on-5 Division: 5 players on the playing surface plus one goalkeeper
4-on-4 Division: 4 players on the playing surface plus one goalkeeper

3) Rosters

Players will be placed in a division based on their age bracket and/or according to their skill level. All rosters in Lynbrook Roller Hockey will be determined by a league draft, which will be conducted by board members and head coaches. All players are assigned a numeric value to represent their skill level in order to ensure a competitive balance amongst all teams and divisions. Players are expected to play within their age brackets unless otherwise approved by the league.

The LRHL reserves the right to place any player in a different division, regardless of age, that best suits the players talent level.

4) equipment

Listed below is all mandatory equipment required to participate in Lynbrook Roller Hockey

Pelvic protector
Certified hockey helmet (HECC Approved)
Gloves designed for hockey
Mouth guard
Elbow pads
Knee and Shin guards
Hockey Skates (no stoppers/brakes)
Hockey Stick

5) Puck

League certified pucks will be at the league's discretion. All head coaches will be provided with two approved game pucks when receiving their game jerseys. The home team of each scheduled LRHL game is expected to provide a puck to be used for game action.

6) Minor Penalties

Teams cannot be reduced to less than 3 players for 5-on-5 play and 2 players for 4-on-4 play.

If a single player is assessed FOUR (4) minor penalties over the course of one game, the player will be suspended for the remainder of that game.
If a single player is assessed THREE (3) stick related penalties over the course of one game, the player will be suspended for the remainder of that game.
- Examples of stick penalties: Slashing, hi-sticking, cross-checking

7) Major penalties (refer to rule 403)

A FIVE (5) minute major penalty will be assessed to any player for fighting with another a player, regardless if they were the instigator or the retaliator, and/or attempting to injure another player during a game. That player's team will be shorthanded for the next five minutes of game play and any goals scored by the opposing team will not wipe the penalty off of the scoreboard.

Any skater receiving a major penalty will also be given a game misconduct penalty, ejected from the current game and receive an automatic ONE game suspension. The offending player(s) will have 15 total penalty minutes added to their season penalty minute totals. All incidents involving a major penalty will be subject to review by league officials to determine if there will be any further discipline handed out.

8) Game misconduct penalties (refer to rule 404)

Any player that receives a FIVE (5) minute major penalty will also receive an automatic game misconduct penalty and be ejected from the current game. In addition, the player will receive an automatic ONE game suspension for that team's upcoming game. If the suspension occurs during the final game of the regular season, the suspension will carry over into the playoffs.

9) Body checking

Intentional body checking is NOT permitted at any level, or at any time during sanctioned league games.

10) Rainouts / delays

Regular season games
- A referee or league official will have the authority to stop a game in the event of inclement weather. If a regular season game is suspended after TWO (2) periods are completed, the current score of the game will be declared FINAL and OFFICIAL and the results will be posted in the standings.
- If a regular season game is suspended before TWO (2) periods are completed, the game will be rescheduled at a later date and start as a brand new game.
Playoff games
- If a playoff game has started and play is suspended for any reason due to inclement weather, the game will resume at a later scheduled date. The game will resume from the point of the initial stoppage, with the scores of each team intact, and will continue until a winner is determined.

11) Fighting

Fighting will be tolerated in any game at any time. Any player throwing a punch at another player, either as an instigator or retaliator, will receive the follow:

A FIVE (5) minute major penalty
A game misconduct penalty
Player(s) are ejected from the current game
Receive an automatic ONE (1) game suspension for the team's next game. If the next game is a playoff game, the suspension will carry over into the playoffs.
Incident will reviewed by league officials and the player may be subject to further discipline if deemed necessary.

12) Hand passes

Hand passes to another teammate are only permitted in the defensive zone. A hand pass that occurs in any other area of the rink will be whistled down as a stoppage.

13) Slapshots

There are no restrictions on slapshots, they are permitted in all divisions.

14) Offsides

In all divisions, the puck must cross the center red line before any players from that team are permitted to enter the offensive zone. If a player in possession of the puck crosses the center line before the puck, and no other teammates are across the center line, the play is considered on sides.

15) Length of games

All divisions will play THREE (3) 18-minute periods with a running score clock. The score clock will stop on all stoppages in the final THREE (3) minutes of the third period when the differential in score is within 2 goals or less.

16) Tied games

Regular Season
- Overtime will be played in all divisions except the Squirts division. In the Squirts division, if the score is tied after THREE (3) periods of play, the game will be declared a tie and both teams will receive one point in the standings.
- If a game is tied after THREE (3) periods of play in all other divisions, the teams will play one FIVE (5) minute running time overtime period. Teams will skate 4-on-4 for the overtime period. The only stoppage of the score clock in overtime will be due to an injury, the puck leaving the playing surface or a timeout is called. The THREE (3) minute interval clock will also be turned off and all player changes will be at the discretion of the head coach.
- If the score remains tied at the conclusion of the overtime period, the game will be declared a tie and both teams will receive one point in the standings.
Playoffs
- If a game is tied after THREE (3) periods of play in any division during the playoffs, the teams will play continuous overtime with a running clock until a winner is determined. Teams will skate 5-on-5 for the overtime period(s). The only stoppage of the score clock in overtime will be due to an injury, the puck leaving the playing surface or a timeout is called. The THREE (3) minute interval clock will also be turned off and all player changes will be at the discretion of the head coach.

17) Timeouts

In the Squirts division, each team will be permitted TWO (2) timeouts per game. The only exception is that the timeouts cannot be used during the same period of play.
All teams in the other divisions will be permitted ONE (1) timeout per game. Timeouts will carry over to the overtime period if they were not used during the game previously.
At the referee's discretion, goalkeepers will be allowed a water timeout on hot weather days.
The score clock shall stop for all timeouts

18) Mercy rule

Regular Season
- An EIGHT (8) goal differential in any regular season game will result in the suspension of all scoring statistics. The leading team will be declared the winner of the game. The scoreboard will be reset to 0-0 and the game will continue until time has concluded.
- All penalties will still be recorded
Playoffs
- An EIGHT (8) goal differential in any playoff game shall result in the losing team being declared "mercied" and play will be suspended. The leading team will be declared the winner.

19) Protests

A $25 deposit is required on all protests
Protests must be filed with any league official or the recreation office at Greis Park in writing within 24 hours of the game in question.
Judgement calls made by a referee cannot be protested.
If a protest is won, and the league feels it had any bearing on the outcome of the game, the game shall be replayed. The $25 deposit will also be returned.
When a game is replayed, only the players at the original game will be eligible to participate in the replayed game.

Section Two - Teams

Rule 201 - composition of a team

A team shall be composed of FIVE (5) skaters and ONE (1) goalkeeper for all divisions playing 5-on-5. For divisions playing 4-on-4, a team shall be composed of FOUR (4) skaters and ONE (1) goalkeeper. No team shall be allowed to start a game with less than the minimum amount of players listed above.

Rule 202 - players in uniform

(A) Only players that have registered with the league and have been drafted onto a team, regardless of division, are eligible to play in a game.
(B) Each team shall be allowed one goalkeeper on the playing surface at a time. The goalkeeper may be removed and substituted for an additional skater. Such substituted player shall not be permitted the privilege of the goalkeeper.
(C) If a goalkeeper is unable to continue playing as a result of injury or illness, a skater may be permitted to dress as a replacement goalkeeper with full goalkeeper's privileges. A 10-minute timeout will be allowed for the replacement goalkeeper to get dressed, but no warm-up will be permitted. A goalkeeper may be substituted by another goalkeeper during play, with full goalkeeper's privileges.

Rule 203 - playing lineups

Upon the referee's signal prior to the start of the game, the visiting team shall promptly place a starting lineup on the playing surface. No substitutions shall be made from that point on until play as started. The home team may then make an desired substitutions to their starting lineup as long as it does not result in delaying the start of the game. If there are any delays by either team in changing lines, the referee shall order the offending team(s) to take their positions immediately and not permit any further player substitutions.
When a substitution has been made under the above rule, no additional substitution may be made until play has commenced, except when a penalty is assessed.

rule 204 - using a goalie from another team

All teams are required to draft a goalkeeper, unless the player pool lacks enough goalkeepers to spread one evenly across every team. If a team in any division is scheduled to play a game and their "drafted goalie" is unable to make the game, a head coach has two options to replace the team's goalkeeper for that game:
- (A) A coach may contact a drafted goalie from another team that is not playing, within the same division, to inquire about borrowing their goalkeeper. Only drafted goalies are permitted to play for another team. Skaters or secondary goalkeepers(skaters who play goalie when their drafted goalie are unavailable) are PROHIBITED from playing for another team at any time.
- (B) If a coach is also unable to borrow a goalkeeper from another team, another skater must be dressed from the current roster. Coaches will be responsible that all protective equipment for a replacement goalkeeper is required to have is available to ensure their safety.
Drafted goalkeepers, skaters or secondary goalkeepers from a team in a lower division are PROHIBITED to "play up" a division at any time. This is for safety reasons.
Coaches are PROHIBITED from allowing their draft goalkeeper from "skating out" in a game, and using a draft goalkeeper from another team as a replacement.
FOR PLAYOFFS ONLY: A team may only use its own drafted goalkeeper or a secondary goalie from their current roster. Teams are PROHIBITED from borrowing a goalkeeper from another team under any circumstance in a playoff game. ANY TEAM IN VIOLATION OF RULE 204 DURING A PLAYOFF GAME WILL RESULT IN A FORFEIT OF THAT GAME.

rule 205 - three-minute line change: SQUIRT, PEE WEE & MIDGET DIVISIONS

(A) Line changes will occur every three minutes in the Squirts, Peewees and Midget divisions
(B) Line changes will be signaled by the score clock horn and the referee's whistle
(C) Line changes shall be changed immediately and without delaying the game. At the referee's discretion, a delay of game penalty will be assessed for an excessively long line change
(D) The score clock will continue to run during the line change process
(E) No player shall sit for more than two shifts (6 total playing minutes) or play more than 2 shifts (6 total playing minutes). This is known as the three-minute rule. Tracking of this will be kept by one parent from each team, who will be in the timekeeper's bench. If no parent is available then one of the coaches will handle the duties for his team. When a violation of this rule occurs, it will be brought to the timekeeper's attention who will sound the horn to stop play. Upon the referee's review of the line change sheet, the offending team will be assessed a two-minute penalty bench minor penalty.
(F) When a team is shorthanded and a line change occurs, if the player in the penalty box is replaced, the player who replaces him cannot be a player that has already sat for two straight shifts on the bench. In addition, the original player in the penalty box that is being replaced must go to their player bench for that next shift. This player cannot go back on the rink and play a shift while their penalty is ongoing.
(G) If a team has 7 skaters or less to start a game, there will be no line change restrictions for a player playing more than two shifts. The horn will continue to sound every three minutes even if one team doesn't have enough skaters to make a full line change. If an 8th skater shows up after the game has started, the teams may continue to play out the remainder of the period with no line change restrictions. Upon the start of the next period, both teams will revert back to regular line change restrictions, where no skater on either team can play more than (2) TWO shifts and/or sit more than (2) TWO shifts in a row.
(H) A team is permitted to pull their goaltender on the last shift of the game in exchange for an extra skater. The coach may choose any player on the bench to be the extra skater regardless if that player has just completed a double shift. If for any reason the team puts the goaltender back in the goal, the player who came on the playing surface in exchange for the goaltender, must return to the player bench.

rule 205a - Squirt Division Line Changes

(A) In any game where a team or both teams can dress (10) TEN skaters and a goaltender, the coaches will use a five on / five off line change format. The first line shift will be five skaters of the coaches choice. The second line shift will be the other five players that did not skate on the first shift. This rotation will continue throughout the entire game.
(B)In games where a team has less than 10 skaters, the coach will choose five skaters for the first line shift at the start of the game. The next line shift will consist of ALL players who sat the previous shift, plus one or two skaters who will double shift to ensure the team has five skaters on the playing surface. This format will continue for the remainder of the game.
- In order to give all skaters an equal chance to play, no one skater can double shift in a game for a second time until all skaters for that game have had the chance to double shift at least once. This ensures that no skater will sit more than one shift at a time. Should every player double shift at lease once, the coach can choose any player to double shift for a second time. The same rule of giving every player a second chance to double shift still applies until the game has concluded.
(C) If a team has 7 skaters or less, the line change restrictions will not be enforced for either team, however the horn will still sound every three minutes to signal a shift change. If an 8th player shows up after the game has started, the teams may continue to play without line change restrictions for the remainder of the period. Upon the start of the next period, both teams will revert back to regular squirt line change rules.

rule 206 - Change of players (Intermediate & Junior division)

(A) A player may be changed at any time from the player bench, provided that the player or players leaving the playing surface are within (5) FIVE feet of the bench and out of the play before the change is made. If, during the course of making a player substitution, either player deliberately plays the puck while the retiring player is still on the playing surface, a "Too many players" bench minor will be assessed. If a player is accidently struck with the puck while making a line change, the play shall not be stopped and no penalty will be assessed.
(B) A goaltender may be substituted by a player or another goaltender at any time during play. The goaltender must be within (5) FIVE feet of the players bench before the substitution may occur. If a team is in violation of making a premature substitution, no penalty will be assessed but the ensuing faceoff shall take place at center ice.
(C) A player serving a penalty on the penalty bench may make a line change only after the full extent of the penalty is served or a goal is scored to wipe the penalty off of the score clock. If a player enters the playing surface before the penalty has concluded in either manner, a bench minor shall be assessed.
(D) During a stoppage of play, a goaltender is not permitted to go to the players bench without permission from the referee, unless there is a substitution being made or they are being pulled for an extra skater. When a goaltender is exchanged for an extra skater, the goaltender shall not return to the playing surface until play resumes.

rule 207 - Injured Players

(A) When a player, other than a goaltender, is injured or compelled to leave the game, the player may retire from the playing surface and be replaced immediately by a substitute.
(B) Any goaltender who sustains an injury or becomes ill must be ready to resume play immediately or be replaced by a substitute goaltender. No additional time shall be allowed by the referee for the purpose of enabling the injured or ill goaltender to resume the position. A substitute goaltender shall enter the game without delay and no warmups will be permitted.
(C) When a goaltender becomes incapacitated and no substitute goaltender is available, a player may be permitted to suit up in the goaltender equipment. A 10-minute timeout will be allowed for the designated player to dress in goaltending equipment but no warmup will be permitted.
(D) Any penalized player who has been injured may proceed to the players bench without having to go to the penalty bench. The penalized team shall immediately substitute the injured player to serve the entire penalty. The originally penalized player who has been injured and has been replaced on the penalty bench, is not eligible to return to play until the penalty time has expired.
(E) When a player is injured and cannot continue play or make it to the players bench for a substitution, play shall only be stopped once the injured player's team has secured possession of the puck. If the injured player's team is in possession of the puck at the time of injury, play shall be stopped immediately unless the team has a legitimate scoring opportunity. In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, play shall be stopped immediately regardless of who is possession of the puck.
(F) A player whose injury appears to be serious enough to warrant a stoppage of play, must return to the player bench and cannot return to the playing surface until the completion of the ensuing faceoff.
(G) If a player or goaltender is bleeding, play shall be stopped immediately and the injured player must return to the players bench. Such player shall not be permitted to return to play until the bleeding has been stopped and the cut/abrasion has been covered.

rule 208 - Bench Coaches

A maximum of (3) THREE coaches per team will be permitted on the players bench during games. This applies to all divisions. Rink coaches in the squirts division will count as one of the three permitted coaches for the game. Rink coaches will only be permitted on the playing surface for the first (4) FOUR games of their teams schedule and will coach the remainder of the games from the bench. The referees will strictly enforce this rule. Failure to comply with the above rules will result in bench penalties being assessed and/or suspensions.

rule 209 - Handshakes

After the completion of ALL games, everyone on the bench, including coaches, will lineup and shake hands with the opposing team. There will be no exceptions. The referees will monitor this closely and anyone who does not participate will be warned the first time and suspended 1 game for any future infraction. Any altercations that occur during the handshake line will result in a one game suspension for the instigating individual or player(s).