Section 7: Technical Penalties
§7.1 – Delay of Game
§7.1.1 – A Delay of Game penalty is assessed in the following scenarios:
§7.1.1.1 – A player or team prevents the restart of play according to §4.2.
§7.1.1.2 – A player prevents other players from playing the ball by pinning the ball with their bicycle while leaning against the boards, or shielding the ball with their bicycle, body or mallet while dabbed.
§7.1.1.3 – A player intentionally scoops or throws the ball out of play.
§7.1.1.4 – A player shifts the goal according to §4.8.
§7.2 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct
§7.2.1 – An Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty is assessed when a player is judged by the Referee to be behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
§7.2.1.1 – General disruption of game proceedings or excessive protest of Referee’s decisions.
§7.2.1.2 – Verbal or physical assault of a Referee, Goal Judge, Timekeeper, Scorekeeper, Event Organizer, Spectator, or any other Player on the court.
§7.2.1.2.1 – This is automatically assessed as Personal Misconduct per §6.9.
§7.2.1.3 – Relocating an opponent’s dropped mallet in order to make it more difficult for them to recover per §9.6.
§7.2.1.4 – Failure to tap-in or leave the play after dabbing.
§7.2.2 – This penalty is assessed as a Minor, Major or Personal Misconduct at the Referees discretion, except in §7.2.1.2.
§7.3 – Interference
§7.3.1 - A player who is not in possession of the ball is entitled to attempt a fair play on the ball or ball carrier and is entitled to free and open movement on the court to gain an offensive or defensive position.
§7.3.2 – A Bike Interference penalty is assessed when a player who is not in possession of the ball actively impedes the movement of an opposing player who is not in possession of the ball.
§7.3.2.1 – This movement is referred to as ‘screening’ or ‘picking’ and is defined as using bike movement and position to abruptly and/or continuously block an opponent from taking a direct line to a loose ball, challenge the player in possession of the ball, or gain a defensive or offensive position on the court.
§7.3.2.1.1 – A penalty is not assessed if a player is occupying their own space when stationary, or is moving at a predictable and constant speed when taking their own offensive or defensive position on the court.
§7.3.2.1.2 – A penalty is not assessed if the nearest player to a loose ball utilizes a 'screen' within approximately 10 feet (10' or 3m) of the loose ball to safely gain possession.
§7.3.2.2 – If a player in possession concedes or losses possession according to §5.1.1, that player can no longer be 'screened' and an interference penalty is assessed if the 'screen' is held to prevent them from contesting the loose ball.
§7.3.2.3 – If a ‘screen’ is set that is stationary or momentary a bike interference penalty is not assessed, however legal bodily contact as described in §7.3.3 is allowed.
§7.3.2.4 – When contesting a loose ball, all players challenging for possession must move directly and naturally towards the ball or concede the ball. Natural impedance of an opponent based on position and velocity does not result in a penalty
§7.3.3 – A Body Interference penalty is assessed when a player initiates physical contact with an opponent who is not in possession of the ball.
§7.3.3.1 – If the ball leaves the immediate vicinity of the player in possession according to §5.1.1, that player can no longer be engaged physically.
§7.3.4 – Mallet Interference penalty is assessed when a player uses their mallet to restrain or impede the movement of an opposing player’s mallet, body or bike.
§7.3.4.1 – A player is only allowed to impede the movement of an opposing player’s mallet if that opponent is in possession of the ball and if both players are in close enough proximity to the ball to play it with their mallets. Proximity is defined in §7.3.5.
§7.3.4.1.1 – If the ball leaves the proximity of the player before they have an opportunity to attempt to gain possession, a penalty is not assessed.
§7.3.4.2 – Examples of mallet impediment/restraint include, but are not limited to:
Multiple actions such as slashing, tapping or lifting an opponent’s mallet without attempting to gain possession of the ball.
Prolonged pinning or occupying the space of an opponent’s mallet without attempting to gain possession of the ball.
Reaching around the ball carrier from the front or back to occupy their mallet space.
Impeding the ball carriers mallet so your teammate can gain possession of the ball.
§9.4.2 and §9.1.1 further regulate mallet play by defining hooking and slashing, respectively.
§7.3.5 – The referee can determine bike, body and mallet interference by considering:
The proximity of the 'screening' or impeding player to their opponent.
Proximity to the ball is determined by which side of the ball carrier the defender is on, the velocity at which the players are moving and the position the ball carrier has in relation to the defender.
The duration of a ‘screen’ or impediment after it is initiated.
An abrupt change in speed or direction of the ‘screen’.
The use of any mallet on mallet, bike, or body contact to create the scenario for a 'screen' or impediment to be initiated.
§7.4 – Illegal Substitution
§7.4.1 – When there is a bench of players, teams are allowed to substitute players from their bench during live play, stoppages and timeouts. Substitutions can be made by either team before and during a Minor or Major penalty Player Advantage, excluding the player who committed the penalty.
§7.4.2 – The player exiting the court must have at least one wheel in the designated transition area around their team's door before the player entering can cross the threshold of the court or an Illegal Substitution penalty is assessed.
§7.4.3 – If both players are within the transition area around their team's door and either player actively interferes with the ball or ball carrier, an Illegal Substitution penalty is assessed as a Minor penalty and must be served by the player who perpetrated the action.
§7.4.3.1 – If a loose ball contacts either player but is not redirected actively, no penalty is assessed regardless of which player it hits or whether both players are on the court.
§7.4.4 – If more than 3 players from the same team are on the court at the same time and are actively involved in play, a Major penalty is assessed and served by the player who last entered the court and the team must select one other player to sit on the bench for the duration of the Player Advantage.
§7.5 – Crease Violation
§7.5.1 – Only one defensive player (the “Goalie”) is allowed to be within the crease prior to the ball/ball carrier for more than 3 seconds. Any additional defensive player or any offensive player who is within the crease for more than 3 seconds prior to the ball/ball carrier is assessed a Crease Violation penalty.
§7.5.1.1 – At the point the ball enters the crease, players can also enter the crease to make a fair play on the ball. When the ball exits the crease, all players except the “Goalie” are required to remove themselves within the 3 second time limit. Any player who remains within the crease and disrupts subsequent offensive plays, is assessed a penalty according to §7.5.1.4.
§7.5.1.2 – All body, mallet, or bike contact initiated by any player who enters the crease is not allowed, unless it is a direct play on the ball or ball carrier.
§7.5.1.3 – If a player uses their bike, body or mallet to prevent an opponent from exiting the crease within the 3 second time limit, a penalty is not assessed on the player who remains in the crease.
§7.5.1.4 – The Referee determines the severity of the Crease Violation using the following criteria:
§7.5.1.4.1 – If the penalty is committed while their opponent has no scoring opportunity, a ball turnover is assessed. Subsequent penalties elevate by one degree to a Minor and then Major penalty regardless of which player on the offending team commits the infraction.
§7.5.1.4.2 – If the penalty is committed while their opponent has a clear scoring opportunity because of a shot, pass or loose ball in or near the crease, a Minor penalty is assessed immediately on the first occurrence of the infraction. Subsequent infractions are elevated to a Major penalty regardless of which player on the offending team commits the infraction.
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