Underwater Hockey Rules

Index

1. Equipment

2. Team identification

3. Officials and their duties

4. The Game

5. Foul play and the action taken by officials

6. Diagrams - signals, playing area, obstructions and stick fouls

1. Equipment

1.1) The stick is to be made of wood, plywood or any other homogeneous material that floats horizontally in the water.

1.2) It is to conform to the dimensions as shown below.

1.3) The playing area of the stick must be uniformly black or white.

1.4) The handle of the stick must not protrude from the heel of the hand by more than 25mm.

1.5) A wrist lanyard may be attached to the handle to secure the stick to the playing hand.

* Note -This Tasmanian Underwater Hockey Rules booklet is a guide and not a complete record. A complete and comprehensive copy of the rules of Underwater Hockey can be obtained by completing a referees course or obtaining one from the Australian Underwater Federation.

1.6) Personal Equipment each player is to be equipped with a mask, which must have safety glass (or other safety equipment fitted), a non-metal, pliable snorkel, a pair of conventional underwater hockey fins (made entirely of rubber or other non - dangerous pliable synthetic material, excluding fibreglass), a head cap with firm polyethylene or rubber ear protectors and an underwater hockey stick. A protective glove may be worn on the playing hand providing it does not contain any rigid or sharp reinforcing material.

FINS MASK SNORKEL

2. Team identification

2.1) All members of the team shall play with the appropriate colour stick and the corresponding colour cap (State, A, A reserve and B grade are currently the only grades that are required to wear the correct colour cap in the TUHA run competitions).

3. Officials and their duties

3.1) Water referees conduct their duties from the water, each being generally in charge of one longitudinal half of the playing area. Before the start of play they shall ensure that the puck is in the middle of the playing area, the goals and the walls are correctly fitted and that both teams have the correct equipment. During the match they will stop play for infringements, breaking, goals, injury or accident and the end of time periods. After the game they will award 1, 2 and 3 best and fairest votes to the players.

3.2) Pool side scorers/referees are responsible for recording the goals and the best and fairest votes. They will ensure teams are subbing correctly and that there are only 6 people from each team in the water at a time.

4. The game

4.1) A player is said to be 'in possession' whilst the player's stick is in contact with the puck.

4.2) Any part of the stick's playing area may be used to play the puck. However, the puck must not be lifted up or carried in any direction whilst balanced on the stick; and should a puck be lifted accidentally onto a stick, it must be dropped off the stick immediately.

4.3) Whilst a match is in play, the puck may be pushed or passed in any direction along the pool bottom anywhere within the playing area by the player in possession.

4.4) At no time shall a player handle the puck with the free or playing hand. Should the puck accidentally touch the back of the playing hand, this will not be considered handling the puck unless used deliberately to advance the puck.(Gloving)

4.5) The game usually consists of two 15 minute halves with a 1-3 minute break in between. The teams change ends at half time. The teams consist of up to 10 players with up to 6 players in the water at one time. A minimum of 4 registered players for each team must be in the water for the start of the game.

4.6) The winning team is the team who has the highest number of goals at the end of the 30 minutes playing time. An extra 2x5 minutes may be played if at full time a draw has occurred in a game in which it is necessary to have a winning team. At the end of the first 5 minutes the teams change ends and the referees will restart the game when they consider the teams have had enough time to change ends. If after 10 minutes a match remains a draw the teams play until a goal is scored. This teams the winner.

4.7) Scoring occurs when the puck has wholly entered the goal volume, and makes contact with either the back and/or bottom of the goal, having been propelled off a stick. Should the puck enter the goal volume propelled by anything other than a stick, it shall be disallowed and the appropriate action taken.

5. Fouls and the action taken by referees

5.1) Players may be penalised for the following rule infringements:

i) Breaking at the start of play or the restart of play after an infringement

ii) Standing on the pool bottom while the game is in play.

iii) Having more than 6 players in the water or allowing a substitute to enter the water to replace a player who has been given a time penalty.

iv) Advancing, or attempting to play the puck with anything other than the playing area of the stick.

v) Handling the puck with the free or playing hand ; this includes guiding the puck with an outstretched finger.

vi) Lifting of carrying the puck balanced on a stick.

vii) Obstructing an opponent in any way whilst not in possession of the puck.

viii) Behaving in any way or using conduct which in the opinion of the Officials can be considered contrary to the sportsmanlike conduct of the game.

ix) Stopping or attempting to stop a goal being scored with anything other than the playing area of the stick.

x) Covering or obstructing the puck with any part of the body or equipment, whilst not in possession, to prevent access to the puck by other players.

xi) Attempting to gain possession of the puck by obstruction.

xii) Using hands, arms or body in any way to grasp, pull or push an opponent or their stick.

xiii) Removing or attempting to remove an opponent's equipment.

xiv) Insulting, by word or gesture, other players or the Officials.

xv) Refusing to accept any decisions made by the Officials.

xvi) Physically attacking or deliberately hurting an opponent or striking or attempting to strike an opponent with any part of the body or equipment. This includes any action taken in retaliation.

5.2) At any time during the play, if a Referee observes an offence but decides that the rule infringement does not affect the advantage held by the team in possession, play will be allowed to continue as if the offence had not occurred.

5.3) Action by officials

PENALTY SHOT

Any rule infringement occurring within the 3 metre goal area which prevents an almost certain goal being scored. The referee will stop the game and award a penalty shot to the attacking team.

PENALTY GOAL

Any rule infringement occurring anywhere in the pool which prevents an almost certain goal in extreme cases may result in the referee awarding a goal to the non-offending team.

5.3) Penalty shot

1) To prepare for a penalty shot (see diagram) the puck is placed directly in front of the offending teams goal on the 3m D. The offended team's captain selects two attackers from their team. The offending team's captain selects one defender who must have at least one hand on the wall. All remaining team player's from both teams must remain out of the penalty area (the 6m D)and on the surface.

2) When all players are in the correct position (see diagram) the referee starts play. An attacking player will submerge and take possession of the puck within 5 seconds of the signal being given. The other attacking player may now move in front of the puck.

3) Once an attacking player takes possession, play is continuous until the penalty shot is decided. The other attacking player will submerge and both players will attempt to keep possession and score a goal.

4) The defending player will submerge at his/her discretion and must keep one hand in contact with the end line until the attacker has taken possession of the puck. Then the defender must try and defend the goal and swim or flick the puck over the 6m line, thus out of the penalty area and thus successfully defending the shot.

5) Once the penalty shot has been played the players will return to their respective ends and the game will resume with the puck being placed in the centre. If a time period ends before the penalty shot has been completed the procedure continues until completed.

5.4) Match dismissal

1) In the event of a player being dismissed for the remainder of the match for a deliberate major infringement or repeated un-sportsmanlike conduct the player must remain in the penalty area for the remainder of the match. The player must not be replaced be a substitute in the water.

2) At the referees discretion he/ she may decide to abandon the match and the chief referee will decide what subsequent action is to be taken.

Penalty shot Playing area

A) goal area

B) penalty shot area

C) centre spot

D) team bench

E) goal frame

F) side line out restarting

location

Equal puck Free puck

Stick use (first contact must be made with the puck)

Correct Stick Usage

Stick Infringements

First contact MUST be made with the PUCK

Obstruction

a) lifting a player from underneath

b) swimming down onto another players fins (legs)

c) shepherding

d) hooking around a players neck or arm – if players have arms hooked with no apparent advantage to either, award an equal puck

e) pushing into other's body without the puck

f) lying in front of a player and making no immediate attempt to gain possession

Note : Obstructing an opponent in any way while not in the possession of the puck is an infringement.

Signals

a) I'm signalling that I am ready to start play. The puck and the teams are in the correct position.

b) I'm signalling a free puck to one team.

c) I'm letting the teams know it is an equal puck.

d) I'm signalling to start play for a free or equal puck.

e) I'm signalling a goal because the puck has wholly entered the goal volume,

f) I'm signalling time as the the time period is over.

g) I'm letting the players know one of the following infringements has occurred: Illegally stopping the puck