The Rules of Stickerchief ------------------------- (c)2003, MiniSport Flobossia, Publications Division Sponsored by Spyro's Pizza of Flobossia City and Red Ryder Air Rifles, Inc. 1 The field A standard stickerchief field is 50 meters long by 30 meters wide, with a turf surface; grass is preferred but artificial turf may be used. Sidelines and end lines shall be marked with a 10-cm white border. There shall be a 25-meter line from sideline to sideline at midfield, 10 cm wide, in white, with a 2-meter-radius circle (the faceoff circle) at the exact center of the field, with a 20-cm-radius red circle at its exact center. There shall be a 10-meter line, 5 cm wide, in white, on each side of the field from sideline to sideline. At midfield, extending for three meters on each side, the sideline marker shall be yellow; this is the penalty stripe. 2 Terms Change of possession -- Defined as passing control of the flag from one team to the other. Crossline -- Any line that crosses the width of the field -- end lines, 10-yard lines, and center line. Ejection -- Designates an illegal act where the offending player is removed from the game. Faceoff -- The putting into play of a flag at the center line, with the centers of each team contesting for possession. Infraction -- Designates an illegal act where the opposing team recieves possession of the flag through a restart play at the offending team's 10-yard line. Major penalty -- Designates an illegal act where the offending player must leave the field for ten minutes and remain behind that player's team's penalty line as judged by the referee or timekeeper. The offending team may substitute for that player; however, further penalties assessed to that player will result in the player's ejection. Minor penalty -- Designates an illegal act where the offending player must leave the field for three minutes and remain behind that player's team's penalty line as judged by the referee or timekeeper. The offending team is not allowed to substitute for that player during that three minute period. Offsides -- When a player crosses a dividing line before the start of play during a faceoff or a restart. Own-score -- When a player carries the flag across that player's team's endline. No points are assessed, but the opposing team recieves the flag in a restart. Restart -- the putting into play of a flag after a stoppage of play, with possession given to one team. Safety -- a restart where the offending team retains possession. Substitution -- the one-for-one replacement of players on the field with players on the sidelines. 3 The teams Each side must field five players, designated as follows: -1 center, who is responsible for taking face-offs, -1 halfback, who stands behind the center at face-off to recieve the flag, -3 sweepers, who must remain behind the 10-meter line until the faceoff is complete. Each side may have up to fifteen players, who are allowed to substitute one-for-one on the fly. An infraction shall be assessed against any team with more than five players actively playing on the field at any given time; all other players on the field must be either behind the sideline or heading towards it, and may not take part in play. 4 The equipment 4.1 The sticks Each player shall be equipped with a rod made of plastic or bamboo between 45 and 150 cm in length, and between 10 and 15 mm in thickness at all points. The rod shall be capped or taped on the tip to a thickness of no less than 2 mm, and shall have a handle made of plastic or fabric tape covering the butt end to the same thickness. No stick containing protruding points or sharp edges shall be allowed, nor shall a player remain on the field if that player's stick becomes damaged; the player shall drop the stick and substitute off the field or recieve a minor penalty. Players designated as centers may carry a stick no longer than 60 cm. If, due to stick breakage or other circumstances, such a stick is not available to the designated center, that player must be replaced with a player who does have access to such a stick. A center playing with an overlength stick will be assessed a minor penalty. 4.2 The flag The flag shall be made of lightweight cotton or cotton blend terry cloth, measuring 30cm by 30cm, and colored yellow (between #FFFF33 and #FFFF00 on your color picker). It shall have a finished edge (no fringe) and may not be torn or threadbare; if it becomes such in the period of play the referee may replace it at the next faceoff. 4.3 Safety equipment Each player shall be required to wear regulation full-coverage safety goggles, held on to the head with an elastic strap. Uniforms must be made of a rip-stop or tear-proof material, and may be lightly padded. Shoulder pads and helmets are not mandatory; however, should a player choose, lightweight pads such as are used in lacrosse or ice hockey are acceptable. Heavy American football-type shoulder pads are not acceptable. 4.4 Uniforms Uniforms shall consist of a long-sleeve shirt made of rip-stop or tear-proof material, and standard running shorts. Uniforms may not be colored in any way that can be used to camouflage the flag (i.e. no predominantly yellow uniforms). Shoes are expected to be standard turf shoes with plastic or rubber cleats; spiked or metal cleats are not acceptable. 5 Sequence of play 5.1 Faceoff The flag shall be placed, unfolded, on the red circle at the center of the field. The opposing players designated as centers shall be the only players allowed inside the face-off circle until possession of the flag is established. The referee shall whistle to indicate the start of the face-off, at which time the centers are to either take possession of the flag themselves or get the flag out of the circle to the halfback. If the halfback of a team enters the face-off circle or any of a team's sweepers proceed forward of their 10-meter line before possession is established, that team shall be assessed an offsides infraction. Each team (apart from the centers) shall remain on its side of the centerline from the time of the whistle until possession is established; if any member of the team fails to do so, an offsides will be called and an offside infraction assessed against the offending team. 5.2 Flow of play The object of the game shall be to carry the flag on a player's stick over the opposing team's endline. To that end, the flag may be carried, passed, or thrown by the players using the sticks only. If a player happens to catch the flag by hand, the flag must be dropped to the ground before the player moves; if the player does not drop the flag before taking a step, this is called "traveling" and an infraction is assessed against that team. One point shall be scored when a player carries the flag across the opposing team's endlines. If a player carries the flag across the player's team's endline, this is an "own-score" and a safety restart (s 2) will take place at the offending team's 10-meter line. An infraction will not be assessed. When a point is scored, play is restarted with a faceoff at the face-off circle. If the flag falls or is carried outside the field of play, a restart with change of possession shall take place at the point on the sideline where the flag left the field of play, the flag given to the team that did not propel the flag out of the field. An exception shall be made if a player is pushed or checked out of bounds while in possession of the flag, in which case there shall be a safety restart. If a team carries the flag across the centerline to the opposing team's half of the field and then carries or passes it back over the centerline with no change of possession, a backfielding infraction shall be assessed. 5.3 Restarts A restart shall begin with a team being given possession at a point designated by the referee. The team without possession must remain behind the nearest crossline until the referee whistles to begin play or be assessed an offsides infraction. 5.4 Contact Stickerchief is a contact sport, and a player may check another player who is carrying or attempting to acquire the flag (checking defined as forcible bodily contact with shoulders, hips, or buttocks); forcible contact with hands, arms, or head shall be assessed a minor penalty for roughing. Kicking another player shall be a major penalty. Checking a player who is not in possession of or attempting to take possession of the flag results in the offending player being assessed a minor penalty for roughing. A player may use the stick to knock the flag off another player's stick; a player may not swing or poke a stick at another player (minor penalty, stick swinging; major penalty, spearing). 5.5 Timing The game shall be played in 4 15-minute quarters. The visiting team will recieve the choice of which end of the field to defend, and will alternate that choice with the home team each quarter. Each team gets five thirty-second time-outs per game. Should the game end in a tie, sudden-death overtime will continue in fifteen-minute blocks until one team scores. In case of a time-out, play shall be restarted with a face-off. Should a team not come to the field in a timely manner or otherwise delay attempts to restart the game, an infraction shall be assessed. 6 Penalties There shall be three categories of penalties, as stated under Sec. 2 Terms: infractions, minor penalties, and major penalties. A penalty shall be noted by the referee by dropping a white flag; if the penalty is committed by the team in possession of the flag, the referee shall blow a whistle to stop play; otherwise, play shall continue until possession changes, at which point the referee stops play. Infractions shall be assessed by transfer of possession and a restart at the offending team's 10-meter line. Minor penalties shall be assessed as with infractions, but with removal of the offending player from the field for a period of three minutes, without substitution of the offending player. Major penalties shall be assessed as with infractions, but with removal of the offending player from the field for a period of ten minutes. Substitution is allowed, and the player recieves a warning; if the player commits another minor or major penalty, the player is ejected. Ejections shall be assessed in cases of flagrant aggression or abuse of officials, and shall result in the removal of the player from the game. At the referee's discretion, the player may be asked to leave the playing area completely, having no contact with team personnel on the field until the end of the game. A penalized player, who has not been ejected, may at the end of the penalty periodeither reenter the game at the penalty line or return to the team bench and be replaced by a substitute. If a team is scored against during one of its player's penalty periods, the penalized player may reenter the game at the next face-off. 6.1 Infractions Infractions are as follows: -Traveling (s 5.2) -Offsides (s 2) -Backfielding (s 5.2) -Too many players on the field (s 3) -Delay of game (s 5.5) -Inappropriate time out (no time outs left, non-captain calls time out, or (if instant replay rule applies) loss of appeal of call) -- in addition, if applicable a timeout will be charged against the offending team 6.2 Minor penalties Minor penalties are as follows, and are assessed for negligent behavior risking the safety of other players on the field: -Roughing (s 5.4) -Stick-swinging (s 5.4) -High sticking -- A player may not raise the tip of the stick above shoulder level when another player is three meters or less away. -Grabbing (s 5.4) -Tripping -- If the referee judges that a kicking penalty was meant to impede rather than injure the victim player, a minor penalty shall be assessed for tripping. -Illegal stick or uniform (ss 4.1, 4.2, 4.4) -- the offending player has a piece of equipment or clothing on that the referee or rulebook deems either unsafe or confusing. 6.3 Major penalties Major penalties are as follows, and are assessed for flagrant or violent behavior with the intent of causing physical harm to another player. -Kicking (s 5.4) -Fighting -Spearing (s 5.4) 6.4 Ejections Ejections are generally at the discretion of the referee and are to be reserved for situations of special severity or extreme game disruption. The following are situations for automatic ejection: -instigation of a fight -arguing a decision with no grounds for appeal -verbal or physical abuse of other players, personnel, or audience 7 Officials and Rulekeeping 7.1 Officials There shall be at least one official, designated the referee. The referee is responsible for starting and stopping play and is the final arbiter of all decisions on the field, as well as signalling any timekeepers. If available, there shall be a timekeeper, who is responsible for keeping the time of the game and recording penalties assessed. The timekeeper may be assisted by a scorekeeper and/or statistician. If available, there shall be at least one line judge, who is responsible for determining the location of penalties and restarts. 7.2 Appeals and replays There shall be a member of the team designated as captain at all times on the field. This player is charged with the responsibility of communicating with officials; if there is a request to appeal a call, this player is authorized to call a time out to appeal it. If there is no captain on the field, the coach must make the call, and an infraction for inappropriate timeout will be assessed in spite of the result of the appeal. The calls which may be appealed are limited to those which result in scoring or change of possession; penalties may not be appealed, or an infraction will be assessed. If video equipment is available, the referee may be allowed access for "instant replay" purposes. An appeal must be made no later than the next whistle beginning play.