Basic Ball Hockey Rules:
The object of the game is to strike the ball with the hockey stick and knock it into the opponent’s net. Typically, a low-bounce type of ball is used. For added safety, hockey gloves, helmets and shin pads are mandatory for play. When played on the surface of a hockey rink, six players, including the goalie, compete against the opposing Team’s six players. Extra players are usually kept on each bench, outside the playing surface, and interchanged with the six on the floor either during play or at a stoppage of play.

The following are additional Rules:
Face-offs (players are lined up facing each other in a designated area on the floor), are used at the start of each period of play and after goals, penalties, icing, offside, or when the ball leaves the playing area.

Penalties are called when a player commits a foul. The offending player is then removed from the playing for a period of time, depending on the severity of the infraction and the Team continues play, one player short until the penalty has elapsed.

When an offside occurs, play is stopped. Before entering an opponent Team’s zone (the area from behind their net to their blue line), the ball must cross the blue line first before the player or any of his teammates.

Icing (or flooring) occurs when a Team shoots the ball before the player physically crosses the centre line and the ball passes the opponent’s goal before any player, of either Team, can touch it. A stoppage of play shall occur with the ensuing faceoff taking place in the end zone of the Team that shot the ball. If the goalie touches the ball, or the shot creates a goal, there is no icing on the play.

“Floating Blue Line”: expansion of the offensive zones occurs once a Team crosses the opponent’s blue line with the ball. The attacking Team will then have half of the entire playing surface within which to control the ball, from behind the opponent’s goal to the centre line of the area. If the defending Team sends the ball past centre, the zone is reset to the blue line and their opponent must regain it as explained above.

To score a league goal, it cannot be kicked in; struck with a stick above the shoulders; pushed in using the hand or while offside.

Games may vary in length, for example two 15 minute periods, but are generally played with either two or three periods of equal time. There is a stoppage in play, after a goal, penalty, offside, icing, ball out of play, or goaltender holding the ball for more than a few seconds.