Run and Score Deck Hockey
[Revised 2/04]

Each team has a 5 minute grace period after its scheduled game time to field a minimum of 4-5 players, including at least 1-2 females for co-ed league, depending on facility size. Otherwise, the opposing team's captain may either decide to play, permit borrowed players or take win by forfeit. Game clock will begin running during grace period.

Game clock will start immediately at scheduled game time and will run non-stop for 20-25 minutes/period, depending on league. All players, including goalie, must be dressed and ready to play by scheduled game time.  All games will consist of 2 periods with a three minute intermission. Either team’s failure to begin/resume play will result in delay of game warning with fifteen second grace period, followed by two minute bench minor with fifteen second grace period, followed by forfeit/loss. Each team is entitled to one 30 second time-out per game, unless time-out is charged to injury stoppage or equipment adjustment. Ties will result in one 5 minute sudden-death overtime period.

Protective equipment, including but not limited to mouth guards and eye-goggles, is strongly recommended for all players.

Final standings will be based on point system, and remaining team in each conference will qualify for championship game, following playoff semi-finals.

Should any two teams have an equal number of points at the end of the season, the following tie-breaking system will be employed: 1. Record in head-to-head competition; 2. Total goals differential for season; 3. Coin toss.

Player trades must be approved by all players involved, by captains for both teams and by league commissioner. Extra players may also be added to team roster during season. All such roster moves must be completed before game 3.


Important: This is a non-contact adult recreational league and each player is expected to be in control of body, stick, and temper at all times.  Penalties will be strictly assessed, regardless of intent.

Face-off will be repeated if ball fails to hit playing surface once dropped and/or if physical contact between players occurs.

"Offsides" will be called when ball enters offensive zone (i.e. across center line) after any offensive player enters offensive zone. Although play will continue, any goal scored while offsides will be disallowed.

Hand-passes outside defensive zone will result in face-off in offending team’s zone.

If a stick is lost and the player fails to retrieve the stick and interferes with the ball, face-off will occur in offending team’s zone. A broken stick will result in a stoppage of play.

Ball will be faced off at point of play if frozen for over three seconds, hits ceiling obstruction or if any offensive player is positioned within the crease for over two seconds. Ball will be faced off in opposing team’s zone if ball-carrier’s forward progress is obstructed and/or a stick placed between ball-carrier’s legs. A 2-minute minor penalty will be assessed for holding the ball-carrier with hands or stick, throwing stick/glove, or hooking.

Falling on the ball or covering ball with hand, except by goaltender, will result in a 2-minute minor penalty, unless committed within a two foot radius of goal, which will instead result in a penalty shot.

Sliding toward the ball is permitted, but colliding with opponent will result in 2-minute minor penalty.  If the opposing player is knocked down, a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct will result.

Regardless of intent: (a) high-sticking (i.e. above waist), including follow-through, slapshots, signaling for pass and incidental tie-ups, (b) all tripping, and (c) slashing, including wild swings at ball and swinging stick at opposing player with or without contact will result in 2 minute minor penalty for all players involved. A 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct will be assessed if injury results.

Cross-checking, boarding, charging, spearing, etc. will result in a 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct.

Hooking, tripping, checking, holding, throwing stick, etc. to prevent break-away or displacment of net/falling on ball in crease by defensive players will result in penalty shot at conclusion of play, if a goal is not scored, in addition to 2-minute minor penalty or 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct, depending on infraction.

<>Rough-housing, bumping, taunting or otherwise agitating will result in 2 minute minor penalty for all players involved, including a 2-minute bench minor penalty, if necessary. Throwing/slamming stick, and/or challenging referee’s judgment--before, during, or after game--will result in 2 minute minor penalty for all players involved, consecutive to any penalty already called. Prolonged infraction will result in game misconduct, warning and game forfeit/loss if conduct persists.


Penalized player re-entering game before expiration of penalty will result in a 2-minute minor penalty in addition to consecutive 2-minute minor penalty for too many players on rink.

Three 2-minute minor penalties assessed to the same player in one game or one 5-minute major penalty occurring in first half will result in game misconduct and ejection for remainder of game. Same penalty occurring in second half will result in ejection for the remainder of the game and a one-game suspension.

Two game misconduct penalties assessed to the same player in a season will result in suspension for the remainder of the season and forfeiture of league fees.

Failure of a player to leave the building following a game misconduct penalty will result in a warning to team with a fifteen second grace period, followed by forfeit/loss.

Fighting will result in a game misconduct for all players involved and the continuation of the game.  If additional players on rink and/or bench become involved in the altercation, termination of game with current score recorded as final, or termination of game with instigator’s team losing by forfeit, will be declared at the referee’s discretion. Furthermore, the league commissioner reserves the right to issue game misconduct penalties and/or eject offending players/teams from the league with forfeiture of all league fees.


All other rules follow judgment of referee and/or league commissioner under NHL guidelines.