Floor Hockey

 

This game is an adaptation of ice hockey with safety modifications made since no protective gear is worn by the players.

 

History

Stick and ball games similar to hockey have been played since ancient times. Hurling, an Irish game played in the first millennium BC, and Lacrosse, a native american stick game, along with others are thought to have influenced the development of modern hockey.

 

British soldiers devised modern ice hockey while stationed in Canada in the 1850s. In 1879 rules were set by students at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. This sparked the formation of several clubs in Canada in the 1880's.

 

Professional hockey leagues began forming shortly afterward. In 1904, the International hockey league formed in northern Michigan, In 1909, in Canada, the National Hockey Association was formed, This league folded in 1917, but the strongest teams immediately formed the NHL and continued playing. By 1926 there were 10 teams in the NHL with 6 from the USA.            In the 1960's the WHA was formed, This league was not as strong as the NHL but possessed many great players. In 1979 the WHA and the NHL merged, Many teams in the WHA were purchased and moved to larger cities. The Fargo, ND, Sugar Kings moved to California as one of the west coasts' first hockey teams, now they play as the L A Kings.

 

Rules

The game of Hockey is a fast paced hard hitting sport which can be very dangerous. It also has many terms unique to the game which we must cover.

 

Checking - checking is any contact between two players. Body to body, stick to stick, or stick to body. Any type of contact which is deamed hazardous has a penalty attached.

 

Legal checks

Hip Check - using your hips to change a players direction

Poke Check - using your stick to move a players stick or take the puck away

 

Illegal Contact

Cross check - using your stick sideways across your body when making contact

Slashing - hitting another players body with a chopping motion of the stick.

Tripping - when your stick causes a player to fall

High sticking - when the blade of your stick is above shoulder. very dangerous

Charging - using unnecessary distance to gain speed before contact

 

These are only the basic examples, but you can see the intent of these rules.

 

Six players are on each team

3 offense - 1 center, two wings

2 defensemen & one goalie

 

The offense and defense are divided into different groupings called lines.

 

College teams use 3-4 offensive lines and 2-3 defensive. They change at will during play and much of the coaching strategy comes from matching lines to give you an advantage. 2 or 3 players move on and off the ice as players tire and coaches jockey for the advantage.

 

Playing Area - We show an actual arena but will use the basketball court to play in.

 

The playing surface is divided into 3 zones, offensive zone, neutral zone, & defensive zone. The two blue lines on the rink signify these three zones.

 

Players move up and down the playing surface trying to put the puck in the goal or stop the other team from scoring as the case may be. During the game no player may cross into their offensive zone before the puck does.

 

Five Face off circles are used when play is interrupted by the goalie making a save ( stopping a shot puck ) or players freezing the puck against the boards ( in our case, going off the court ).

Time is kept in 3 equal periods. High school plays 15 minute periods, College play 20 minutes.

 

Two basic shots are the wrist shot & slap shot. The slap shot requires a large back swing and propels the puck over 100 miles per hour. The wrist shot is more deceptive and accurate.

 

The penalty box is used for infractions in player contact. The offending player is removed from play, while the other team get a one player advantage for 2 minutes or until a goal is scored by the advantage team.

 

A-Tech rules

  • The stick blade may never come above your waist (high sticking ).
  • The penalty for high sticking is the 2 minutes out.
  • The puck must enter the offensive zone before an offensive player.
  • Off sides is a face off at center ice.
  • Only stick checking us allowed.
  • Penalties for rough play may include a point awarded to the other team for an infraction.
  • Face offs will occur when the puck goes out
  • The goal is the width of the free throw lane.
  • Knocking a player over, or down from body to body contact, whether intentional or not will result in a penalty, and the offending players removal from play for two minutes.