NJPA WEATHER POLICY - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ---->
BUNCHING:
Bunching should not be called against either team when the ball is being played inside the striking circle. We are not going to kill a scoring opportunity or defensive stop simply because two players from the same team attempted to play the ball. That said, be alert for ‘companion’ fouls.
If there is bunching, there is very likely something else happening or about to happen – be on the lookout for fouls like advancing, obstruction, hacking, high sticks, and any number of other things that are likely to happen in a crowd. These fouls can and should be called.
Bunching is a rule in both the 2/4 and the 5/6 division
25-YARD HIT (formerly the long hit):
There is no “long hit line” 7 yards up from the end line anymore – hasn’t been for a many years.
The long hit, or 25-yard hit, now comes out to the "25-yard line" in line with the foul.
In the 2/4 division, the 25-yard line is the restraining line at 10 yards.
In the 5/6 division, the 25-yard line is the midfield line.
TACKLING FROM BEHIND:
On its face, tackling from behind is not illegal, however at this level, it is rarely executed in a legal manner.
Coaches – you should be instructing your players to tackle from the front. Teach them to take the extra few steps to get ahead of the player with the ball and approach cleanly from the front. Most players should be able to run faster without the ball than someone who is trying to control a dribble (particularly on most of our fields). The majority of attempts to tackle from behind result in either (a) a foul from a hack or uncontrolled stick, or (b) the defender slowing down on approach to attempt to dislodge the ball, only to give up a few more steps to the ball-handler and make the gap wider.
Officials – be aware of the difference between a clean tackle and a foul. Hacking is something of a ‘gateway foul’ that if left uncontrolled tends to lead to a chippy game and bigger problems.
WING ALLEYS (2/4 division only):
The only two players who may challenge for a ball in the wing lanes are the two opposing wings.
No other player may play a ball in the wing, with the exception of a restart. A midfielder or back may take a restart from inside the alley to allow the wing to get in proper position upfield. When they do this, they must exit the wing lane immediately after the restart.
To be clear – no player other than the opposing wings may enter the alley with their feet or sticks (or anything else) to play a live ball.
That said, a wing may take a step or two outside of the wing lane to play a ball, provided he/she brings it back into the lane as play continues.
POP-UPS:
Particularly in the 2/4 division, these should be called immediately to prevent a dangerous situation. The 2nd player to touch the ball is usually the cause of the pop-up, but it can be restarted with a bully if you can’t tell clearly and no other foul created the situation. You may relax the immediacy slightly for the 5/6’s but not much – if the ball is going to pop up, it’s probably going to come up high enough to create a dangerous situation that should be called.
RESTARTS:
In the 2/4 division, make sure all players are at least 5 yards away before allowing any restart.
In the 5/6 division, restarts after fouls may start on the offensive player’s ready – just make sure (a) they start from the point of the foul, (b) the ball is stationary prior to restart, and (c) once the restart occurs, the defenders must channel for 5 yards.
Officials should direct players to place the ball properly for a restart. If the player does not respond as desired, the official should further communicate directions to the player.
If a player continues to not respond properly because he or she is confused and it becomes clear that the official is not getting through to the player (this happens quite a bit at the 2/4 level), the official should, in the interest of time, pick up and place the ball for the player, explaining what was intended while doing so.
If the player is not responding because of attitude, this may be called an unsportsmanlike or delay of game foul.
CORNERS:
ALL CORNERS will now start with the lead umpire's whistle. Umpires will hold the inserter (raised hand) until the defense is properly situated behind the endline and the 50. Then whistle to begin play.
At the 2/4 Division, there are only 2 defenders allowed at the start of the corner play. The third defender must go back to the 50 and may only join the play after it starts.
Only the defending team needs to send players back to the 50. The attacking team does not. A corner is a result of a foul against the defense, there is no reason to also disadvantage the attack.
RESTARTS BELOW THE 25, BUT OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE:
In the 2/4 division, the ball must be controlled for at least 3 yards before going into the circle.
In the 5/6 division, the ball must be controlled for at least 5 yards before going into the circle.
The 3 or 5 yards can be in any direction (including back and forth), so long as it stays out of the circle.
PLAYERS ALLOWED INSIDE THE 25 (2/4 DIVISION):
There can be no more than 3 players from either team inside the 25 at any one time. Not the circle - the entire area inside the 25.
The three players from the offensive team should be the two wings and the center.
HOWEVER... the a midfielder or back does not need to stop their fast break cold at the line, or some similar situation, as long as no more than 3 enter the zone.
Coaches: You ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT take advantage of this leniency in the rule by instructing your (typically younger, less experienced) wings to stop at the 25 so that the (typically older, more experienced) midfielders can run the offense with the center. Sending only your strongest players into the circle and denying your younger ones the opportunity to develop is a gross misinterpretation of the rule and goes against everything that we strive to teach in this division.
Officials: If you notice this developing as a trend (as opposed to an accepted ‘one-off’ situation) during a game, the offending coach should be warned immediately. You are encouraged to yellow-card the coach if it seems he or she is not responding to your warning – the league will support you in full should you need to penalize this unsportsmanlike conduct.
SIDELINE CONDUCT:
Coaches are not allowed on the field during play in the regular or postseason.
In the 5/6 division, coaches shall not cross over the 50 to the other team’s sideline.
In the 2/4 division, coaches may roam the entire sideline to help guide their players. However, please be conscious of how intrusive you may be to the other team when you do so. If you’re ahead and in a power down, your team is probably doing fine, and the other team would probably appreciate you staying on your side so he/she can instruct his/her own team without distraction. Use common sense and sensitivity should you opt to travel beyond your bench.
There shall be NO MORE THAN TWO SPEAKING COACHES representing any team during a game. One additional representative may be the "team bench parent," but that person does not have coaching privileges, they are only there to manage the bench. If your team shows up to a game with more than 2 non-players in their entourage, you must identify the speaking coaches to the umpires prior to the game.
Parents and other spectators must be on the opposite sideline from the players.
Both sidelines must maintain a 5-yard buffer between themselves and the field.
ILLEGAL THIRD GOALS:
It is ONLY illegal for a player to score a third (or more) goal if their team is the leading team in a power-down situation. If the game is within 3 goals, or the player is on a team that is trailing, any player may continue to score if they have already netted two or more goals.
POWER DOWN:
All coaches and officials should familiarize themselves with the required power-down steps. You should all have a copy of at least that page with you at all games.
We have standardized steps to (a) eliminate any ambiguity about what the right measures are in what circumstances, and (b) so that we do not have to ‘make a production’ out of powering down, effectively embarrassing the trailing team.
You should teach the power-down steps at your practices so that your kids are familiar with them should they become needed. Come up with a way to implement the steps without having to teach it right there on the field. Screaming across the field to your star player that she can’t score another goal or any other such instructions is embarrassing to the trailing team. If you have to call a timeout, do it, but try to be as subtle as you can. Code words (colors, animals, etc.) for each remediation are a great way to remind the kids without reminding everyone what you’re doing. The other team knows they’re losing – no need to beat them over the head with it.
If there are any questions throughout the season, please feel free to contact the league at NJPAHockey@gmail.com or NJPAHockey.Ethics@gmail.com