TOURNAMENT SETUP

1. 3 games guaranteed!!

2. Games will be composed of two 15-minute halves with a 2-minute halftime.

3. All games are running-time and substitutions can be made during play ("on-the-fly") or while a puck is being retrieved. There is no stoppage of play after a goal is scored, or after a penalty is awarded. It is up to each team to ensure that there are only three players on the ice, though teams can be made up of more.

4. In the event of a tie during qualifying games, shots will be taken from center ice by one player from each team. The first team to score when the other team doesn't, wins. In the event of a tie during championship games, the play will move to sudden death format for 10 minutes. If it is still a tie after extra time then shots will be taken from center ice.

5. Prior to every game, each team will shovel/scrape one half of the rink.

TOURNAMENT RULES
 

1. All players must wear helmets and hockey skates. Protective equipment is optional but highly recommended.

2. No goalie equipment or goalie sticks permitted. 

3. Goals must be scored from the attacking side of center ice. 

4. Goal tending is not allowed. A player may not patrol, "camp out" or remain stationary in the crease area and act as a goaltender. A defender may deflect the puck in the crease area, but the defender must do so while continuing to move through the crease area. The crease area is defined as an imaginary box extending out four feet from the outside corners of the goal. The goals are US Pond Hockey regulation size so a goalie is not needed (2 - 6"x12" openings 40" apart).

5. All teams must have light and dark jerseys or shirts.

6. There will be one off-ice pond official to monitor the play (scoring, time, puck reset, and arbiter of infractions).

7. Referees will have the discretion to also award a "penalty shot" to the opposing team when a minor penalty is flagrant and/or a team is consistently playing in a reckless manner.  --Penalty shot will be taken from center ice and must be attempted within 30 seconds of the penalty being called. Anyone on the opposing team can take the shot. The team that is awarded the penalty shot will also be given possession of the puck following the penalty shot attempt (regardless of the outcome of the shot).

8. No checking is allowed. Such action will result in a minor penalty unless deemed serious enough to be a major (see off-ice pond official).

9. No slapshots allowed. Such action will result in a minor penalty.

10. Players cannot fall or lay on the ice in an effort to protect the goal area. Such action will result in a minor penalty.

11. Contacting the puck with a stick above the waist will result in a loss of possession.

12. Saucer passes (i.e. pucks that are lifted low, below the knee) are acceptable.

13. If a puck goes out of bounds, the last team to touch it loses possession. During restart, the defender must give his opponent 2-stick lengths of space.

14. There are no off-sides or icing calls.

15. Teams must give their opponents 1/2 ice after a goal is scored.

16. Players can only play on one team.