TEAM FORMAT

5-a-side 

Each team fields five (5) players six on the court (including the goalie).

Teams must include:

  • Minimum two (2) male players

  • Minimum two (2) female players

  • Remaining players may be any gender, including gender diverse participants

Teams may play with a minimum of four (4) players for the entire game, provided at least one (1) player is female. Teams meeting this minimum will not be considered a default or forfeit. 

Substitutes

Substitutes are permitted provided they:

  • Have created an Urban Rec account

  • Have signed the current Urban Rec waiver

Running substitutions may be made at any time during play.

Goalkeeper substitutions may only occur during a stoppage in play and the League Host must be notified.

COURT SURFACE, SIZE & EQUIPMENT

Urban Rec Hockey is designed to be flexible, allowing games to be played on a variety of hard-surface venues while maintaining a safe, social and fast-paced style of play.

Playing Surfaces

Games may be played on:

  • Astro turf

  • Indoor sports courts (timber or synthetic flooring)

  • Outdoor hard courts, including tennis or multi-purpose courts

  • Concrete or cement courts

Regardless of the venue, Urban Rec Hockey is always played on a hard, flat surface.

Court Sizes

Urban Rec Hockey may be played in one of two formats depending on the venue available.

Small-Sided Court

The small-sided format is designed for tennis courts and other similar-sized multi-purpose courts.

  • Approximate court size: 24m x 11m (or equivalent)

  • Recommended team size: 4 to 5 players on court per team

  • Goal size: Maximum 1.5m high

  • Ideal for faster games, smaller venues and higher player involvement.

Full-Sized Court

Where a larger facility is available, Urban Rec Hockey is played on a full-sized indoor or outdoor court/field.

  • Court size: 40m x 20m

  • Some courts include boards, others do not.

  • Recommended team size: 5 to 6 players on court per team

  • Goal size: 2m high

  • Provides additional space for structured play while maintaining the social nature of the game.

Equipment

Players must use:

  • Urban Rec supplied street hockey sticks

  • Urban Rec approved ball

Recommended personal safety equipment includes:

  • Shin guards

  • Gloves and Protective face masks if desired for goalie. 

  • Protective equipment is recommended, but is not mandatory. 

Ball

Urban Rec Hockey is played exclusively with a soft Airflow hockey ball.

The Airflow ball is lightweight, perforated and designed specifically for social hockey. It significantly reduces the speed and impact of the ball compared with a traditional hockey ball, allowing games to be played safely without protective equipment while still providing an authentic hockey experience.

No other type of hockey ball may be used unless specifically approved by Urban Rec.

GAME SPECIFICS

Game Time

Games consist of two (2) x 20-minute halves with a short half-time break.

Each team receives:

  • One (1) 30-second timeout per half.

  • Unused timeouts do not carry over.

The game clock stops during timeouts.

Starting Play

Games begin with a face-off at centre court.

The ball must touch the floor before either player plays it.

After every goal, play restarts with a face-off at centre, taken by the team that scored.

Scoring

A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line into the net.

The team with the most goals at full time wins.

RULE SPECIFICS

Restarting Play

Play is restarted when:

  • The ball leaves the playing area.

  • The goalkeeper freezes the ball.

  • An infringement occurs.

The team awarded possession has:

  • 3 seconds to restart play.

  • Opponents must stand 5 feet away.

Restarts are indirect, meaning a goal cannot be scored directly from the restart.

Goalkeeper

Goalkeepers may:

  • Freeze the ball while touching the crease.

  • Restart play by placing or dropping the ball beside or behind the goal.

If the goalkeeper intentionally throws or plays the ball away from the restart area, the ball becomes immediately live.

If the goalkeeper accidentally drops the ball into their own goal while restarting play, No Goal will be awarded.

Goalkeepers:

  • May not cross the halfway line.

  • May be replaced by another player provided they leave the court before the substitute enters.

If a goalkeeper freezes the ball while not touching the crease, possession is awarded to the attacking team at centre.

Goal Crease

Only the goalkeeper may enter the crease.

Players may:

  • Screen the goalkeeper.

  • Deflect shots.

Players may not enter the crease.

Where no crease markings exist, the League Host will use an area approximately 4 feet from the goal.

Contact & Stick Safety

Urban Rec Hockey is a non-contact sport.

Players must not:

  • Body check.

  • Push or hold opponents.

  • Slash at another player's stick.

  • Lift another player's stick when they are not in possession.

  • Play slap shots.

  • Make unnecessary contact with the goalkeeper or their equipment.

Players are responsible for keeping control of their stick at all times.

High Sticking

A player's stick must remain below waist height when playing the ball.

High sticking includes:

  • Contacting the ball above waist height.

  • Striking another player with the stick above waist height.

  • Lifting an opponent's stick into their body.

Any goal scored during a play involving high sticking will not count.

Staying Upright

Players must remain on their feet while defending.

Players may not:

  • Dive.

  • Slide.

  • Leave their feet to block a shot.

Goalkeepers are exempt while inside their crease.

If a goalkeeper leaves their feet outside the crease to challenge an attacker, the opposing team will receive a penalty shot.

Hand Passes

Players may not intentionally use their hand to pass the ball to a teammate.

Accidental deflections are play on.

Goalkeepers may use their gloves to play the ball.

ADDITIONAL URBAN REC RULES

Stick Control

Players must remain in control of their stick at all times.

Careless swings, wild follow-throughs or dangerous stick movements may result in a turnover or further disciplinary action.

Keep your stick low. Keep everyone safe.

Winning the Ball

Challenge for the ball, not the player.

If winning possession requires pushing, barging or excessive stick contact, you've probably gone too far.

Good positioning beats physical play.

Playing the Body

Urban Rec Hockey is a non-contact game.

Using your body to hold, shepherd, back into or block an opponent is not permitted.

Play the ball, not the player.

Protecting Possession

Players may shield the ball using movement and positioning.

Deliberately backing into defenders, pinning opponents against the boards or creating unnecessary contact is not permitted.

Move your feet, not your opponent.

Around the Goalkeeper

Once the goalkeeper has secured possession, the play is over.

Do not jab, slash or poke at the goalkeeper or their equipment.

Respect the goalkeeper's space.

Loose Ball Situations

Contest loose balls safely.

Repeated hacking, swinging or jabbing at the ball in a dangerous manner may result in a turnover.

One clean play is better than six wild ones.

League Host Discretion

Not every situation can be covered by the rulebook.

League Hosts may intervene where an action is technically legal but clearly unsafe, overly aggressive or against the spirit of Urban Rec Hockey.

URBAN REC SPECIFICS

Fun First Policy

All Urban Rec leagues are fun-first, regardless of skill level.

Our League Hosts aim to create a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment by:

  • Coaching where needed

  • Making calls appropriate to the level of play

  • Encouraging communication and sportsmanship

Urban Rec expects a degree of self-officiation. Respect, good vibes and camaraderie go a long way.

Discipline

  • League Hosts have final say on all unresolved issues.

  • If a player is acting disrespectfully or outside the spirit of the game, the Host may:

    • Ask the player to sub off and take a break

    • Issue further warnings

    • Ask the player to leave the court if behaviour continues

We’re here for good times, not bad attitudes. Play fair.

Inclusion

Urban Rec is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

  • Gender diverse, transgender and non-binary players are welcome

  • Participants of all sexualities, cultures and backgrounds are supported

Urban Rec has zero tolerance for bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment

Note that the above details are generic Hockey rules. The rules for each specific league may differ.



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