HOCKEY SUR TABLE QUÉBEC – GAME RULES
Version 9.3 - September 2009
© All right reserved 2007 Hockey sur table Québec
IMPORTANT NOTE: The english translation is provided for your convenience. If there’s a difference between the english and french rules, the french rules prevail.
1 - DECORUM, SPORTSMANSHIP: The participants agree to adopt a sportsmanlike conduct and pleasurable for all. The main objective of everybody will be to have fun in a friendly manner. After a warning, the tournament organization reserves the right to exclude a participant that wouldnt respect this rule.
2 - LE TEMPS: The games consist of a timed five (5) minute period. In the preliminary round, the ties are accounted for as such, and there is no overtime. In the playoffs, there is overtime until the first goal. Each player can ask for a timeout of thirty (30) seconds per game.
3- PLAY STOPPAGE CALLED BY THE REFEREE : There is a play stoppage and
the timer stops when :
a puck is projected out of the surface of play;
a puck is inaccessible on the surface of play (including behind the net, see
rule #6);
there is a goal or a disallowed goal (see the rules #9-10);
there is a defective part (see rule #7);
the 5 seconds rule is not respected (see rule #5);
the puck is frozen in the goalie crease for 3 seconds. The opposing centerman
can hit the goalie before the expiration of the 3 seconds delay;
the referee judges that a situation necessitates a play stoppage.
4- FACE-OFFS : All face-offs are done at center. During a face-off at center, the center figurines and the base of the rods must be outside the face-off circle. The winger-figurines and the defensemen-figurines must be placed outside of the zone included between both blue lines. During the face-off, the centers have the right to move only after the puck touches the surface of play. If a player moves or hits the puck before that it touches the surface of play, there is a « jump » or false start and the referee must stop the timer and redo the face-off by the « puck dropper ». When the players are ready and well placed, the referee drops the puck on the « puck dropper » and restarts the timer only when the puck touches the surface of play. Now the goals scored following a face-off are good without any restriction, no matter what happens on the game board.
5- « 5 SECONDS » RULES : When a player takes possession of the puck, a player disposes of a maximum of 5 seconds to try a pass, a clearing or an attack (passes from « winger-to-winger » or « defenseman-defenseman » behind the net are not considered like being a new take of possession). If this time limit is not respected AND/OR that the referee judges that this player lets time go down voluntarily, the referee calls a play stoppage and then does a face-off at center with the « puck dropper ».
6- DEAD ZONE BEHIND THE NET : When the puck lies in the dead
zone behind the net or in the little basket behind the goal, for any reason,
the referee calls a play stoppage and then does a face-off at center with the
« puck dropper ».
7- FALLEN FIGURINE AND DEFECTIVE PART: If a figurine falls (all, except
the goalie) or that a minor breakage occurs (removed knob, rod without any zip
, goal lightly removed, etc), the game continues until the disadvantaged player
regains possession of the puck. This player than has the choice to ask a stoppage
of to continue to play at his own risks. If he asks a play stoppage, the referee
gives it to him and then does a face-off at center with the « puck dropper
». When the goalie falls down or that a major breakage occurs (removed
spring, broken end-shield glass, moved and displaced board or uneven board,
pulled off goal, etc), the referee must demand an immediate play stoppage and
then will execute a face-off at center with the « puck dropper ».
8- DIRECTIVES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INTERDICTIONS : In all these infraction cases, the referee must stop play and remit
the puck to the winger of choice of the non guilty player. Thus the referee
will place the puck on the side of the board and also on the red goal line chosen
by the offensive player (non guilty) and then he can restart play as soon as
the puck is deposited by the referee. Also the referee must start the timer
only when the player that attacks touches the puck. Thus both players must be
ready without any express demand by the referee, meaning that the offensive
player can restart play right away after the puck is deposited by the referee,
and the player on defence must be ready without warning. 9 - GOAL: A goal is disallowed when the puck enters entirely into the
net and remains in. Thus the puck must cross completely the red line. In the
case when the puck immobilizes itself on the goalie rod completely behind the
red line, the goal is allowed. If a player moves the goalie rod forward in order
to make the puck touch the goal line, the referee will allow the goal. 10- DISALLOWED GOAL : Please note that goals scored following a face-off (at centre) are
now good, without any exception! 11 GRACE RULE: In the preliminary round, a game cannot end by more
than a seven (7) goal spread. All of the goals of the winning player above this
limit will not be accounted for at the end of the game. When the spread of seven
(7) goals is reached, the time is not stopped anymore during play stoppages.
If this spread is reduced under seven (7) goals, the referee will restart to
timing play stoppages. 12 - REFEREE: The referee is in charge of the good flow of the game.
He must apply the rules, do the face-offs, do the management of time and keep
score. At any moment, he must focus his attention to the game in course. His
decisions must be taken in all good faith but are WITHOUT APPEAL. No protest
will be tolerated. If a problem case happens, he can refer to the referee in
chief. To his discretion, the referee can consult a video replay, if that is
possible.
Please note that a player can ask for a play stoppage when a goalie falls, but
its the referee that decides to stop play and the timer and not the player.
When a goal is scored during a situation of a fallen goaltender, its the referee
that will judge if the goal is good or not; meaning that if the goalie fell
after the goal or not. In the event that any goalie falls before a goal, the
goal is no good even if its on the same sequence of play.
the goaltender zone (red rectangle) is forbidden to defensemen, that must
stay completely outside this zone, except if the puck enters in the zone before;
rods can only be touched by the hands (not the forearms or any other body
part);
it is forbidden to play the « helicopter » (i.e. turn his player
non stop) or the « saw » (i.e. do an excessive continuous up-and-down
movement with a figurine). Sustained forechecking but in a reasonable way is
allowed;
it is forbidden to move or to shake a board during play;
it is forbidden to use a rod to tilt or deform (even slightly) the surface
of play (play the « crack »);
it is forbidden to touch the figurines, the puck or any other part inside
the surface of play during the course of play;
it is forbidden to use modified figurines or any other figurines than those
furnished by the organizers of the tournament;
it is forbidden to use the goalie in reverse position.
a goal scored by « ramming » will be refused (« ramming
» : assault at the net by the centerman or shove, of the board provoking
a movement of the board);
the center figurine hits the goalie after the 3 seconds delay, when the puck
stops in the goalie crease (red rectangle), causing the puck to enter in the
net;
a goal will be refused if there is no more time left on the countdown timer
or if the count up timer indicates 5 :00 minutes.