Eastern Massachusetts Roller Hockey League

The Eastern Massachusetts Roller Hockey League (EMRHL), is the premier recreation roller hockey league in Massachusetts. Based out of Hockey Town in Saugus, Massachusetts, there are two different leagues, a Saturday morning league and a Tuesday night league. The EMRHL uses a ball, instead of a puck, which allows increased scoring and faster play.

Rules
All standard hockey rules apply with the exception or addition of specific league rules below.

Game setup
* Saturday games consist of three 18 minute running periods.
* Tuesday games are 17 minute running periods.
* Game clock stops in last two minutes of game if the lead is two goals or less.
* Regulation play is 4 on 4 skaters and 1 goalie per team.
* One point for regulation tie. One more point for OT or shootout win.
* Each team has one timeout per game.
* Minor penalties are served at the player bench, 2 minute penalties, to start when the ball drops at the ensuing faceoff.
* 17 goals scored by one team ends the game. The game may continue until the clock runs out, but the game is awarded to the team with 17 goals and no more stats are kept for that game.
* The clock will run after a whistle in a 2 goal game if there are under 10 seconds remaining.

Game play
* Kicking the ball in with your skate is LEGAL and a goal.
* Lifting your stick over your shoulder to play the ball will result in a delayed whistle, in which a faceoff in the offending players own zone will take place once the ball is touched by any member of the offending team. (Note: you do not have to make contact with the ball for the high stick violation to take place.)
* Passing directly to a teammate over the center ice line is an offside pass.
* You cannot put yourself offside on a play.
* There is no need to clear the offensive zone, only the direct pass from teammate to teammate over the center line is whistled for an offside pass.
* Icing is from behind the defending zone (white) line across the opposing goal line.
* Icing must be touched up.
* Icing will be waived off if the goalie comes out of his crease to play the ball.
* The goalie is given one warning for shooting the ball out of play. All subsequent infractions will constitute a minor penalty for delay of game.
(The penalty boxes and player benches are not considered out of play for this rule.)
* You can legally grab the ball if you put it right down.
* Hand passes are legal if they start and end in your defensive zone.
* The Scorekeeper is an official, and may discuss a play with the on ice officials.
* A player CAN be in the crease when a goal is scored, as long as in the opinion of the officials, the player did not interfere with the goaltender trying to make the save.
* The game will continue if the goal is slightly displaced. If the goal has been displaced by more than a few inches, the ref can either stop play, or fix the net if play continues away from the displaced goal.
* The official can drop the ball if a player is deliberately stalling to enter the face off.
* If you trip a player, even if you touch the ball first, it is still a minor penalty.
* Shooting the ball down the court after a goal will result in a warning, with a minor penalty handed out for all subsequent actions.

Overtime
*Overtime penalties, maximum one minute for minor penalties.
*Overtime in the regular season is played 3 on 3. Three minute run time.
*NO STOPPING THE CLOCK IN OT.
*If one team deliberately delays the game during the running time in the Overtime, and this deliberate act causes the clock to run out, or nearly run out, thus giving said team an unfair advantage, the ref can award a penalty shot to the other team.
*Overtime in the playoffs is played 3 on 3 for a standard time running period, sudden death.

Teams
Teams consist of 8 players plus a goalie, and are drafted before the season starts. Trades are done throughout the season in order to try and keep league parity. In the event that one or more players of a team does not show up, a sub may be added onto the team as decided by both captains. Having a sub is not mandatory, and some teams like to play with only 6 people.

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See Also

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