The official rules of broomball are, as for most sports, very long and very boring to read. But some people like doing it, so this is the page to download your very own version of the rules.

Currently available is a zipped (downloadable) version of the full official rules. A shortened version more useful for the average player will appear here shortly.

Shortened Version of the Rules

NB: This version of the rules has been written by the Webmaster of the site, and is based on the current official IFBA rules (which can be downloaded, in full, below).  They are based on the playing conditions and circumstances of broomball in the NQBA.  Not all IFBA rules have been included here for logistical reasons - this is a copy of the rules meant for the average player wanting to know about the rules of the sport.

Duration of the Game - games consist of two twenty-minute halves, timed continuously, a half ending as soon as twenty minutes has expired.  A rest period of a maximum of two minutes constitutes half time.

Team Short of Players - any team with fewer than three registered players may request to use another registered member of the NQBA in their game, under the discretion of both the opposing team and the officials.  A maximum of two fill in players may be used to form a team of five players.  Any team starting with fewer than three registered members may play the match, but they will automatically forfeit the match.

Goals - a goal can be awarded (under the below criteria) when the ball crosses all of the goal line.  A goal counts as one point in the scoring classifications.

Legal Goal

1.  When an attacking player directs or deflects into the goals; 2.  When an attacking player deflects the ball into the goal from any part of their body or shoes (not deliberately); 3.  When a defending player directs or deflects the ball into their own goal; 4.  If a defensive player drags an attacking player into the goaltender's crease and the ball goes into the net.

Illegal Goal

1.  When an attacking player hits, throws or kicks the ball into the goal (deliberately) with anything other than their broom; 2.  When an attacking player hits the ball into the goal with a stick higher than shoulder level; 3.  When an attacking player enters the crease and interferes with the goaltender in any way; 4.  When an attacking player hits, throws or kicks the ball (deliberately) with anything other than their broom, and the ball enters the goal from a defensive player; 5.  If the ball deflects into the net directly from an official; 6.  If a goal is scored in a manner unforeseen in the rules.

Goal Awarded by Decision - a goal may be awarded without the ball crossing the goal line if the defensive team's goaltender is not present to out play, and an attacking player is illegally hindered from making a shot at goal.

Assists - an assist is awarded to a player who legally passes the ball to a teammate, who goes on to score a goal.  No more than two assists are awarded per goal.  An assist counts as one point in the scoring classifications.

Substitutions - substitutions are allowed at any point in a game.  The player being substituted must be touching the wall before being replaced on the ice, and not be interfering in the game in any way. Substitutions must be completed before the completion of a face-off.  Only the appropriate number of players per team (maximum of five) is allowed on the ice at any one time.

Goaltender Substitutions - a goaltender may be swapped for an outfield player (from the bench at any time), and an outfield player may replace a goaltender in goals at any time after notifying an official. 

Goaltender Privileges - the goaltender has privileges when in contact with the goal crease, including the right to use any piece of legal equipment to defend his/her goal, and the right to close their hand over (freeze) the ball when an attacking player is near.

Passing -

Legal Pass	1.  Pass made legally with one's broom or foot; 2.  Pass made with one's hand, which is intercepted and controlled by an opponent; 3.  Pass made by the goaltender that is directed behind the goal line, or played laterally, while the goaltender is in contact with their crease; 4.  Pass made with one's hand by the defensive team while in their defensive zone.
Illegal Pass	1.  Pass made with one's hand while in the neutral or attacking zone; 2.  Pass directed forward by the goaltender; 3.  Pass made with one's hand while in the defensive zone, to a teammate not in the defensive zone.

Face-offs - a central face-off is conducted at the beginning of each half and after a goal is scored.  Face-offs (in their appropriate positions) are also conducted after every offside, penalty, frozen ball, and out-of-bounds ball.  The ball must hit the ice after the official drops it before it may be played at, and the broom must not be touching the spot where the ball will be dropped.  Face-offs are conducted from the territory of the player who caused the stoppage of play, at a face-off position closest to where the stoppage occurred.

Offside - offside is called when the entirety of both of a player's shoes crosses all of the centre red line before the ball does so (in other words, when a player precedes the ball into their attacking zone).  An offside call is automatically made when the attacking team retains control of the ball in their attacking zone when one of their players is in an offside position.  An offside call is delayed, and potentially cancelled, if the defensive team takes control of the ball when an attacking player if offside, or if a player who is offside makes a legitimate attempt to not play the ball and return to an onside position.

Icing - icing is not currently enforced in the NQBA competition.

Progression with the Ball - a player must move forward with the ball at all times, unless they are close to an opposition player who is attempting to take control of the ball from them. 

Out-of-Bounds - a ball is deemed out-of-bounds when it leaves the playing arena, or touches a fixture not part of the game on the ice (NB: this rule is not enforced if the ball hits the wall behind the goals at the far side of the Warrina Ice Rink and returns to the playing surface).

Ball Touching an Official - play shall continue if the ball touches the official at any time, unless the ball deflects directly into goal from one.  While an official will generally attempt to avoid the path of the ball, it is not their responsibility to do so.

Body Contact - acceptable body contact is permitted when two players are attempting to go for the ball.  As the NQBA competition is mixed, contact with females by males should be kept to an absolute minimum.  It is at the discretion of the official to decide what body contact is acceptable during a game.

Broom Above the Shoulders - a player must not play the ball with the broom above their shoulder level.  An infringement will automatically be called if a goal is scored from this, or if the guilty player's team retains control of the ball, while a verbal warning will be given if the non-guilty team take control of the ball.

Injured Players - an official may stop play immediately if they feel a serious injury has occurred (a serious injury is one in which the player cannot return to their bench without assistance).  Other injuries, that do not need major assistance, should result in the player being immediately substituted.  In the event of the goaltender becoming injured, they will be given two minutes to resume their position after play has been stopped.

Penalties & Infractions - the officials may call penalties for infringements on the game, with these penalties being punished accordingly (see table below).  When a player is sent to the penalty bench, they may not be replaced on the ice until their time has expired.  A player must remain in the penalty box until their penalty time has expired or the opposing team has scored a goal, and they are given permission to return by an official.  Penalties can be called by one or both officials, and may be called at any time in a game.  The player who committed the infraction will be the one who serves the penalty time, except for the goaltender, who has a teammate nominated to take his/her place in the penalty box (unless the infraction is serious).

Length	Reason	Description
Verbal Warning	High Stick	See above
	Dangerous sliding	A player sliding on their knees towards a player with the ball, but not making contact
	Illegal Substitution	A substitution takes place that does not follow aforementioned procedures
	Dangerous/Missing Equipment	A player is missing essential protective equipment, or has dangerous or unnecessary equipment.  The player must fix the situation, at the discretion of either official.
	Needless Disturbance	A player hits or kicks the wall deliberately.
	Leaving Team/Penalty Bench	A player enters the ice before their penalty time has expired, or when too many players on the ice.  On both occasions, they shall return immediately to the bench - interfering with the play will result in a penalty being assessed.
	Playing with a Broken Broom/Two Brooms	A player begins a game with a broken broom, or with two brooms.  They should return it to the bench and have it replaced immediately, or return their second.
	Illegal Face-off	A player hits the ball before it hits the ice.  Face-off shall be reset, and if player does it again, they will be swapped for a teammate at the face-off point.
Minor Penalty (Two Minutes, or until advantaged team scores goal)	Goaltender in Offensive Territory	A goaltender may not enter the offensive zone at any time.  They must have been replaced as goaltender, and notified an official, before crossing the line.  Teammate will complete penalty for goaltender.
	Intentional Dislodging of Net	A player intentionally removes the net from its normal position.  Advantage should be played whenever possible, penalisation occurring if no goal is scored.
	Playing with Forbidden Equipment	A player uses dangerous or forbidden equipment after being warned by an official.
	Leaving Team/Penalty Bench	A player interferes with play after illegally entering ice (see above).
	Illegal Face-off (contact)	A player incites unnecessary body contact during face-off.
	Unsportsmanlike Conduct	A player swears at or makes gross gestures towards an official, opponent, or audience.
	Throwing an Object	A player deliberately throws their broom towards the ball.
	Interference	A player deliberately hinders the advance of an opponent not in possession of the ball, or interferes with the broom of another player.
	Holding	A player holds an opponent with their hand, foot or broom.
	Tripping	A player deliberately uses part of their body or broom to cause an opponent to fall.
	Obstructive Fall	A player falls to the ice and forces his opponent to fall - not applicable if the defensive player wins the ball.
	Hooking	A player causes an opponent to fall by hooking them with their broom or body.
	Slashing	A player hits an opponent with their broom in an attempt to hinder their progress.
	Kneeing/Elbowing	A player deliberately uses their knee or elbow on an opponent.
	Charging	A player recklessly charges towards an opponent while attempting to take control of the ball or otherwise.
	Hitting from Behind	A player hits an opponent from behind with hand, foot or broom.
	Cross Checking	A player, holding the broom in both hands, uses it to hinder the progress of an opponent.
	High Broom	A player hits an opponent (not deliberately) above shoulder level with their broom.
	Roughing	A player makes inappropriate contact with an opponent.
	Arguing with Official	A player needlessly argues with official, or continues an argument after being warned by an official.
Major Penalty (Five Minutes, regardless of goals scored)	Throwing an Object	A player deliberately, and violently, throws the broom or other object towards any other player.
	Causing Injury	Any minor penalty that causes injury to an opponent automatically becomes a major penalty.
	Slashing	Slashing as above, with excessive force or attempt to injure.
	Charging	Charging as above, with excessive force or attempt to injure, or when charging is attempted against the goaltender in his/her crease.
	Cross Checking	Cross checking as above, with checking occurring above normal shoulder level, or if attempted on goaltender in his/her crease.
	Roughing	A player uses excessive roughness in contact with an opponent.
	Spearing/Butt-ending	A player uses an extremity of their broom (either end) to make contact with another player deliberately.
	Attempting to Injure	A player attempts to injure an opponent.
	Body Checking	Excessive force is used while body checking an opponent.
Match Penalty (Player sent off for rest of game)	Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Spitting	A player deliberately spits at an official, opponent, teammate or spectator.
	Kneeing/Elbowing	Kneeing/elbowing as above, with the gesture made violently.
	Cross Checking	A player cross checks an opponent violently.
	Boarding	A player checks an opponent deliberately into the wall.
	Fighting	A player incites a fight with a teammate or opponent, or becomes significantly involved in one.
	Attempting to Injure	A player deliberately attempts to injury an opponent.
	Threatening an Official	A player attempts to intimidate an official through words or actions.
	Molesting an Official	(NB. This is the wording in the official rules) A player spits at, deliberately interferes with, or manhandles an official.

Penalty Shot - a penalty shot is awarded when an attacking player is illegally hindered from shooting at goal, with only the goaltender to prevent the ball from entering the goal.  No other penalty is awarded.  Once awarded a penalty, the attacking player may choose to either make a run from the centre red line towards the goal, or take a set shot from in front of the goal.  If the penalty shot is successful, a goal is awarded, and if it is unsuccessful, a face-off will be conducted at a face-off point closest to the defensive team's goal.

Official Mistakes - if an official feels he/she had made a mistake, they may reverse their decision before the proceeding face-off has taken place.  An official is not required to act upon advice from anyone.

Dislodging the Net - if the attacking team dislodges the net, deliberately or otherwise, and they retain possession of the ball, play shall be stopped immediately.  Advantage will be played if the defensive team dislodges the net.  If, in playing advantage, the ball crosses the goal line and both officials feel it would have passed through the front of the goals, a goal shall be awarded.  If the net is dislodged in back play, play shall be allowed to continue while the net is fixed.

Download Official IFBA Rules (111 KB; ZIP/Microsoft Word format)