After the successful events of the last years in 2020 the "European Pond Hockey Championship" will take place again on the Ice Rink of the Arena Ritten. Save the date: 14 + 15 February 2020!
Pond Hockey is named the purest form of hockey. It’s all about the beauty, the elegance and of course the fun of the game. Skill is what you need!
Pond Hockey is named the purest form of hockey. It’s all about the beauty, the elegance and of course the fun of the game. Skill is what you need!
Play Mode
About 60 teams will compete for the 3rd European Pond Hockey Championship Title.
Each team can have up to 8 players. Play mode is 3 on 3 on small nets without goalies in the preliminaries and knockout rounds. Games in the preliminaries last 1 x 15 minutes, in the playoffs 2 x 10 minutes. Playing surface is 12x30 meters.
After the pool stage, the 2 best teams of each group will enter the knockout round. The teams ranked third and fourth, will enter the "loser-finals". The playoffs then start with the quarterfinals and finally will culminate in exciting and nerve-wracking finals.
Rules
THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADAPT RULES WHERE NECESSARY. SUCH CHANGES WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO TEAMS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO FIRST GAMES.
Each game is refereed by a representative of the 1st European Pond Hockey Championship. This referee will monitor and surveil the game, reporting the result to the tournament committee.
FACE OFFS
Each game is refereed by a representative of the 1st European Pond Hockey Championship. This referee will monitor and surveil the game, reporting the result to the tournament committee.
FACE OFFS
- Referees only carry out face offs at the beginning of each game.
- After a goal or penalty, the defending team must withdraw into their half of the ice. The attacking team must bring the puck back across the center line as quick as possible to avoid a delay of game. The defending team can only attack the puck or an opponent after the puck or the attacking player has crossed the center line again.
- There is neither offside nor icing.
- Goals can only be scored in the offensive zone, across the center line.
- Pucks that exit the ice will be played back into the game by the team that didn’t touch the puck last. The defending team must keep a distance of at least one stick length to the player who is playing the puck back in at the spot where it has exited the ice before.
- Referees are equipped with spare pucks so the game can move on without delay.
- Flip passes are generally permitted.
- If a team doesn't show up in time or does not compete at all in the game, the game ends 0:5.
- The following scoring applies for all preliminaries' games: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. 0 points for losing.
- In the pool stage, ties are valid game results. As soon as the signal sounds, the game is over.
- If after the preliminaries, several teams are tied, the following factors are consecutively determining: direct match, goal difference, total of goals scored, and lastly the lot.
- In the event of a tie during play-off games, the play will be extended by 3 minutes, and finally be decided through shoot outs from the center line on the open net.
- All participants must wear hockey skates (no speed -, figure -, or goalie skates!). We recommend wearing a helmet, hockey gloves, shin guards and elbow pads. Any additional equipment such as shoulder pads, hockey pants or any kind of goalie equipment are not allowed.
- Teams must have light and dark jerseys. All team members must be easily and quickly identified as belonging to a team.
- Teams need at least 3 players and may have up to 6 players total (3 players on ice, 3 substitutes, change on the fly).
- If a team doesn't have enough players, it can borrow a player from another team. The opposing team, however, can decide whether to accept these circumstances. If so, the game is considered regular. If not, the player cannot be used and the game ends 0:5.
- Before the game, both teams have to make sure that the playing surface is free of snow and ice chips. Snow shovels and blades are placed near each playing surface.
- In case of rule violations, referees will have the discretion to award a goal as well as puck possession to the opposing team > see face offs
- Referee assesses penalties as minor or major.
- Minor penalties that the referee calls repeatedly may be converted into major penalties.
- Body contact and body checks are in no way allowed.
- Basic violations such as tripping, hooking, slashing and interference are regarded as minor penalties.
- As for stickhandling, the same rules as in ice hockey apply.
- High sticking (hitting the puck with a stick above height of the hip) is a minor penalty.
- Slapshots are prohibited. If a player shoots the puck by lifting his stick above the height of his knee this will be punished as a minor penalty.
- It is not allowed to shoot a puck high, sticks must be kept on the ice. If the referee finds a shot being too hard, he will declare a minor penalty.
- Lifting a puck on purpose is not allowed with exception of flip passes. If a flip pass however puts players and/or audience in danger, it will result in a minor penalty.
- No player is allowed to throw himself on the ice in front of the net, place himself in front of the net, block the net with his skates, throw or place his stick in front of the net or stand in front of the net to prevent the other team from scoring. For all these instances a minor penalty will be called.
- Any kind of insult or attack on the referee will be punished as major penalty. Penalties of such kind are excessive cursing as well as arguing and fighting regarding a referee’s decision.
- Major penalties or instances that put the safety of players, volunteers and the audience at risk will result in expulsion of the player responsible for it from the remainder of the tournament.
- In extreme circumstances or if several team members are involved, the whole team may be expelled from the tournament.
