Rules:
DEL MAR LIGHTNING STREET HOCKEY RULES
THE BASICS:
Ball hockey is a fast-paced game that any player can enjoy! A player of any size can pass and shoot a hockey ball and contribute to their team’s success. Games are played on blacktop with a rink barrier, in regular athletic shoes. Del Mar Lightning is a learning league! We will have free skills clinics in the Fall for all players to get a feel for the game, and referees will be there on game day to instruct as well as call the game. Sticks, hockey balls, and NHL-branded jerseys will be provided to all teams.
- Del Mar Lightning is a 6 v 6 Co-Ed league. 5 players and a goalie for each team will be in the rink. Maximum team size is 12. A minimum of 8 is recommended to account for gameday illnesses or other player needs. 5 is the minimum required on game day.
- Games are coached by parent volunteers. Coaches may put together their own teams in the 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade divisions.
- Every street hockey game begins with an opening faceoff at center court and operates with a running clock. Players are on foot, trying to maintain possession of the ball and ultimately score on their opponent’s net. A ball is considered in the net and counts as a goal once it fully crosses over the goal line. After a score, the referee will start the next play with a faceoff.
- Our main safety rule is BLADE BELOW THE KNEE! Keeping the hockey stick blade low reduces incidental body contact and keeps the focus on the ball!
- Faceoffs will be between 1 player from each team, with the rest of the players backed up 2 stick lengths away.
- At faceoff, you must have at least one player on the defensive side of the half court line. Players may move freely around the court, there is no offsides.
- Out of bounds: A ball that exits the rink will result in a turnover at the spot the ball exited. Opponents will give player 1 stick length on the pass-in. Please note that when resuming play, the new ball carrier can’t take a direct shot on the opposing net—this is called “in-bounding” and the goal will not count.
PLAYERS/GAMES:
- Teams must field a minimum of 5 players at all times. Registered players MUST play for their own team. No fill-in players. Any team using a fill-in player is subject to forfeiting game(s) and/or being disqualified from post-season play.
- ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY A MINIMUM of ONE HALF OF EACH PERIOD
GAME GEAR:
All teams will be provided with a stick for each player and 2 goalie sticks, 6 hockey balls for the team and an official NHL jersey for every player. Players must provide:
- Mouth guard – Any football mouth guard will work. Mouth guards will be available for sale at the check-in table on game day.
- Shin guards. A lightweight soccer shin guard is fine, and can be worn under the socks or over. Players who do not have mouth guards or shin guards will not be allowed in the rink.
- Optional gear: Gloves, Face mask
- Checking, and other aggressive stick moves seen in ice hockey are not a part of Del Mar Lightning. Players will get amazing exercise and play in a super fast-paced game that anyone can learn.
GOALIE GEAR: Full protective gear (mask, chest/leg pads, gloves) will be provided for goalies on game day. We will have multiple goalie gear sets so that a goalie on the bench can be geared up during game play, and the teams in the next game can get a goalie geared up before their game. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before game time so your goalie can be ready for face-off.
Game length:
Del Mar Lightning games will have three periods of 8 minutes each. At the 4 minute mark of each period, all non-injured players on the bench must sub in for the second half of the period. You have 30 seconds to make substitutions. There will be a 2 minute break between each period. Penalties incurred during regular gameplay do not stop the clock. A penalty committed during a scoring attempt at the end of a period can result in a timeout and replay at the referee’s discretion.
Matchup rules:
5 players – Team with 6 or more players can choose to play 5 v 5, or 6 v 5.
6 players – All players play full time, no subs. If a player is injured, team will play with 5.
7-12 players – All non-injured players must play at least 4 minutes per 8 min period.
**A team with 4 or less players on gameday will forfeit the game. Coaches can agree to play a “friendly” (exhibition game) to get more practice time in the rink. In this case, the team with 5 or more players will receive an automatic win, scored 1-0 in the standings. The team with extra players will rotate players to the team with 4 to make an equal matchup.
SAFETY:
- ENTERING/EXITING RINK: Through the designated openings only. Do not lean on or jump over the rink wall.
- STICK CONTROL: Players must keep the blade of the stick below knee level at all times. This is the #1 safety rule in our league! This is to keep all players safe and avoid injuries from backswings or follow through. The Franklin Hockey balls we use are light and move quicker when hit with the flat face of the blade. Use a sliding motion with the stick to get the most power and control!
- GOALIE CREASE: Goalies ONLY in the crease. No bodies, feet or sticks in the crease except for the goalie. This is an essential rule and includes defensive players.
- Offensive player enters crease: Goalie ball. No goal if crease line was crossed.
- Defensive players enters crease: Other team gets a free pass from the penalty line. Repeated violations or entering during a shot attempt can result in a penalty shot.
INFRACTIONS:
An infraction will result in a turnover with a one-stick length space from opponents.
High stick – Player raises the blade above the knee when hitting the ball. Repeated violations can result in a penalty.
Kicking the ball: Player uses feet to stall ball or move the ball to their advantage.
Hand pass: player uses hands to manipulate the ball forward.
Crease violation: Players other than the goalie who enter the crease will force a turnover to the opponent. Defensive players who enter crease on a shot attempt, or who have multiple crease violations may force a penalty shot at the referee’s discretion.
PENALTIES:
We are a non-contact league, and rough play that puts players at risk will not be tolerated. Some incidental contact is expected, similar to a youth soccer game. DML referees will always be teaching and explaining the rules, but penalties will be enforced on the first offense.
A penalty will result in a penalty shot and removal from the game of the offending player (power play) for 2 minutes. If a penalty happens inside of 2 minutes to go in period 1 or 2, a player must sit on the offending team for remaining penalty time in the next period. A penalty shot will happen from the referee’s mark, with all other players behind the half court line.
SLASH/CROSS CHECK: Player uses stick to hit, push or poke at an opponent.
TRIPPING: Player uses legs or stick to trip or an opponent.
HOLDING/HOOKING: Player grabs the jersey or equipment of an opponent or uses stick on opponent’s body to obstruct movement.
BODY CHECK: Player uses their body to shove another player or throw them off balance.
TRASH TALK: Using profanity or other rude language towards opponents, coaches or fans.
PLAY THE BALL, GET TO THE NET!
TIES/OVERTIME:
During the regular season, there will be no overtime on a tie. In the playoffs, a tie at the end of the third period will result in one 6 minute overtime period, with a sub period at 3 minutes.
If there is no winner at the end of the overtime, we will go to a PENALTY SHOOTOUT.
A PENALTY SHOOTOUT will work like a soccer shootout. Referee will mark the shooting spot and teams will trade off in a best of 5. A new player must shoot each penalty. If there is no winner after a best of 5, teams will shoot 1 for 1 until a winner is determined.
STANDINGS:
Official league standings and playoff seedings* are determined based on the following:
- Win/Loss Winning Percentage (all games are included)
- Head to Head
- Points Allowed per game
- Coin Toss
*NOTE – For playoffs, all 1st place teams get top seeds, then rule above is applied.