Recently we had a situation where a team had numerous injuries and came to a game with only 10 players. Halfway through the first quarter, another player was injured and had to come out. That prompted lots of discussion about where the remaining players were allowed to be on the field. We got it right, but the situation isn’t real common, and a closer look at the guiding rules might help the next crew who encounters it. So below find a quick overview followed by citations from the pertinent rules.
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TEAMS PLAYING SHORT-HANDED
We occasionally see games where one or both teams have an extremely limited roster. So how many players are required to start a game? How many to continue? And if a team has less than ten on the field, where are they allowed to be?
- First of all, a team must have 10 players to start a game (and must always have a properly-equipped goalie) or it forfeits the game. (2.1.1)
- After a game has started, a team may play with less than 10 players, but offside and stalling rules are still in effect. (2.1.3)
- If, after a game is started, a team cannot field at least 7 players, the game will not continue. (The league determines the final result.) Players who are injured, ejected, or serving penalties are not counted.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT OFFSIDE AND STALLING ARE STILL IN EFFECT?
- The offside rules (4.10) tell us that a team may have no more than 6 players on its offensive end and 7 players on its defensive end. They say nothing about having too few players. Therefore, a team with 7, 8 or 9 active players can be at full strength on each end of the field, i.e. 6 on offense and 7 on defense (less any players serving penalties).
- Stalling rules (6.10) say that a team, even shorthanded, must attempt to attack the goal. If it is obvious that they are trying to “kill the clock” then we must put on a stall warning.
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RULES REFERENCED ABOVE
Rule 2 (Game Personnel)
Section 1 NUMBER AND DESIGNATION OF PLAYERS
ART. 1: …. A team shall begin the game with at least 10 players, and must have a legally equipped goalkeeper on the field at all times, or it forfeits the game.
ART. 3: … If, because of injuries or players out on ejection fouls, a team cannot keep 10 players in the game, that team may continue the game with fewer than 10 players, with onside and stalling rules remaining in effect. However, a game shall not continue if a team has fewer than seven on-field players.
Rule 4 (Play of the Game)
SECTION 10 OFFSIDE
ART. 1…A team is considered offside when it has:
- More than six players in its offensive of the field … including players in the penalty box, or
- More than seven players in its defensive half of the field … including players in the penalty box.
Rule 6 (Technical Fouls)
SECTION 10 STALLING
ART. 1 …It shall be the responsibility of the team in possession to attack the goal.
And…
6.10.1 SITUATION A: Team A is playing a player down and appears to be trying to keep the ball from play, Can Team A be warned for stalling? RULING: Yes. Team A shall try to create a scoring opportunity even when a player down.
BONUS MATERIAL: Requiring a team to have a minimum of 7 players on the field is consistent with how we “stack” penalties. See Rule 7.2.f for details.
