Playing the ball with no stick

[Kimbo]

Question? A field player drops his stick but continues to play the ball by kicking it away. Is this legal? He does not kick it to a team mate because that is not allowed but rather kicks it to the other end of the rink at which time the opposition picks the ball up.
I would suggest it is not legal because you cannot attempt to play the ball with a broken stick so why would you be allowed to play with no stick - isn\'t the first obligation of the player to pick up his stick? Just a question as it happened at Fed Sq and I was wondering what the ruling should have been? Should it have been just a free hit or a 2 min penalty or is it legal?

[Robbie]

Yep, it should have been a 2 minute penalty (section 605/25 in the rules:

25) When a field player participates in play without a stick. (no offence sign)
This does not include a goalkeeper, temporarily considered a field player.

). But we were quite (as we should have been) soft on the beginners on the other rules...

[Kimbo]

Thanks for that Rob! I have no problem with the call that was made on the weekend because they where beginners - I was just wondering what he ruling would have been if it was say an international game.
cheers. :laugh:

[#61]

Good to see referal to IFF rules...as always should be...also another major failing of Australian Floorball is lack of clearance from back of rink to goal line. This is 3.5m ALWAYS. This helps people develop a proper style of floorball behind goals and helps develop a STANDARD way to play which avoids confusion and anomalies down the ranks. Only in a situation of modified 3on3 etc should this be different. Soon the AFA will have recommended dimensions so all around Australia we go to the market with the same product. That makes us much stronger in marketing the sport.

Incidently on the going \'soft\' on rules for new people. Be careful how much you do this - more often than not people walk away with a distinct a) wrong impression of the sport b) injury c) lack of respect for loose rulings. No matter how it feels always lean on the IFF rules. For new players in a social modified format, give one warning per team - and allow the team to spread the rule understanding. If you said one warning per player it multiplies the work the referee has to do which is already enough.

Lastly the two people with the whistles are REFEREES ...there are no umpires in Floorball.

Have fun and well done on Swedish Style!  

[cookie]

hi there
 you can not with out a stick it is iglegall only they gaol keeper can and he can only kick it once.   it is a 2 minute penalty for kicking the ball.