Summer 2026 Canada Ball Hockey Rule Amendments

CBHA effective April 23rd, 2026 has made several rule changes to ball hockey as we are use to it.

There are many rule changes to penalties, icing and beyond as we enter the 2026 Summer season.

The CBHA Rulebook can be found here: CBHA Online Rulebook

We understand the many adjustments will take time for players, as this is a lot at once. Please share the rule amendments with your team.

We ask for your teams and players patience as it will not only be an adjustment for you, the player, but for our game referees as well.

Protective Equipment - Rule 24c: (c) *NEW* Should the helmet of a player come off while play is in progress, such player shall replace the helmet (properly fastened) or shall proceed to the players’ bench for a substitution. If such a player participates in the play in any manner without their helmet, the play must be stopped immediately and the player assessed a Minor penalty. The penalty shall be assessed for participating in the play without the proper protective equipment and recorded on the Official Game Report as “ineligible player”. When a goaltender loses their helmet, facial protector, blocker or trapper play shall be stopped immediately, unless there is an imminent scoring chance that does not pose a safety risk to the goaltender.

Penalties - Rule 27e: (e) *NEW* Any player, including the goaltender, shall be ejected from the game if they receive 3 penalties of any kind in the game (Rule 32 - Game Ejection). The offending team shall be required to place a substitute player on the penalty bench to serve any time penalty. The substitute player will be permitted to return to the playing surface after the penalty time has elapsed. Note: For the purposes of this rule, a double minor penalty for Butt-Ending, Spearing, High Sticking, Head-Butting and Head Contact will only count as one (1) infraction towards the 3-Penalty rule.

Penalties - Rule 28f: (f) *NEW* A double minor penalty may be assessed to any player who commits any of the following in fractions: Butt- Ending (Rule 49), Head- Butting (Rule 49), Head Contact (Rule 86), High Sticking (Rule 62), , Slew Footing (Rule 85) and Spearing (Rule 49). A double minor penalty will be recorded and served as separate minor penalties (2-minutes + 2-minutes). Should the opposing team score a power play goal in the first 2 minutes of the double minor, the first minor will be cancelled, and the next minor penalty will be begin. The offending team will continue to play shorthanded until the penalty expires or another power play goal is scored during the remaining 2 minutes. The player may return to the floor at the conclusion of their penalty, unless otherwise stated in the rules

Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Rule 47f: (f) *NEW* Any player or team official who engages in taunts, insults, or intimidation based on discriminatory grounds will be assessed a Gross Misconduct penalty. Discriminatory grounds include the following, without limitation:- Race, national or ethnic origin, skin colour, or language spoken- Religion, faith or beliefs- Age- Sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity/ expression- Marital or familial status- Genetic characteristics- Disability (in addition to league banned inappropriate comments)

Attempt to Injure - Rule 49: (b) *NEW* A Match penalty shall be assessed any player or team official who head-butts or attempts to head-butt an opponent with force or who injures an opponent with this action. A double minor penalty shall be assessed any player who head-butts or attempts to head-butt an opponent but no injury results. A double minor penalty and a Gross Misconduct shall be assessed any team official who head-butts or attempts to head-butt an opponent but no injury results

Attempt to Injure - Rule 49: (d) *NEW* A player who pulls an opponent’s hair or who grabs the facial protector, helmet, or chin strap of an opponent and uses this to gain an advantage or to inflict punishment or injury, shall be assessed a Match penalty. A player who grabs an opponent’s hair, facial protector, helmet or chin strap, but does not use it to gain an advantage or to inflict punishment or injury shall be assessed a double minor penalty or at the discretion of the referee a Major and a Game Misconduct penalty

Cross Checking - Rule 54 (a) *NEW* A 2-minute minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Mis conduct penalty shall be assessed any player who cross-checks an opponent.

Faceoffs - Rule 57 (f) *NEW* When a stoppage of play in the end zone is caused by the goaltender the ensuing face-off shall take place the nearest end zone face-off spot based on the location of the shot and not related to the location of the ball when play was stopped.

Faceoffs - Rule 57 (j) *NEW* The non-offending team will have a choice of which end-zone face-off spot (left or right) the face-off will occur, following the calling of flooring or penalties where one team is shorthanded and is serving a time penalty. This does not supersede the four exceptions outlines by Rule 39, with respect to a team being shorthanded. 

Highsticks - Rule 62 - a) *NEW* The carrying of sticks above the normal height of the shoulder of the opponent is prohibited. A 2-minute minor penalty or, at the discretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who checks or intimidates an opponent while carrying their stick above the shoulder of their opponent. If injury results, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed. (b) *NEW* A player who contacts an opponent above the normal height of their shoulders with a high stick, including with a follow-thru of a shot shall be assessed a 2-minute minor penalty. (c) *NEW* A player who by accident (i.e.: missed stick lift, follow-thru of a shot, golf-style shot, etc.) injures an opponent with a high stick, causing blood, will be assessed a double minor penalty.

Flooring/Icing - Rule 65 - ii) *NEW* In Adult divisions, including National A, B, C, D, U23, Masters and Legends, associations and leagues have the option to use Hybrid Flooring. At National level tournaments, Hybrid Flooring will be used. When there is no ‘race’ for the ball on a delayed flooring, flooring will not be called until a defending player (excluding the Goaltender) crosses the threshold of defending zone face-off spot(s), and the ball has completely crossed the goal line. Should there be a ‘race’ for the ball during a flooring, there are two (2) judgements an official must make when applying the ‘hybrid-flooring:’ The official must determine if the ball will in fact cross the goal line in the attacking zone. If it is determined that the ball will NOT cross the goal line, then the flooring will be waved off. However, if it is determined that the ball will cross the goal line the official should proceed to the second judgment for hybrid-flooring. The officials second judgment is to determine whether a defending player (excluding the Goaltender) or attacking player would be first to potentially touch the ball after crossing the goal line.

This decision must be made no later than the instant the first of the players crosses the threshold of the end zone faceoff spot(s), although the decision may be made earlier. If a defending player is determined to be the first player to potentially touch the ball, then hybrid-flooring will be called, and play should be stopped. If an Attack ing player is determined to be the first to potentially touch the ball, then hybrid flooring will be waved off and play will continue. NOTE 1: Should the ball be shot or propelled in such a manner that it travels around the boards or bounces off the end zone boards (behind the goal line), the official must determine which player would be potentially first to touch the ball, under these new conditions. If the ball comes above the goal line, the official will not stop play unless a defending player is the first to physically touch the ball. If the attacking team is first to touch the ball, the icing will be waved off. NOTE 2: If a race for the ball is too close to determine which player would potentially touch the ball first, then hybrid-flooring must be called. Officials must err on the side of player safety with close plays, in the favor of stopping play for flooring. NOTE 3: If a Goaltender leaves their crease with both feet, moving in the direction of the ball, the official will wave off the hybrid-flooring. However, if the Goal tender is out of the crease prior to flooring being initiated (e.g. retrieving a stick or leaving for an extra attacker etc.) and the Goaltender moves back toward their crease, the hybrid-flooring will remain in effect.

(g) *NEW* When flooring is called, the offending team shall not be permitted to make any player substitutions prior to the ensuing face-off. The players on the floor at the time the flooring infraction was initiated must remain on the floor until the next face-off is completed. This includes teams who decide to call a time out; no player substitutions may be made.

Ball Out of Bounds/Unplayable - Rule 75e: (e) *NEW* As a result of the ball being shot out of play or becoming unplayable with the zone set, play will be stopped and the ensuing face off will take place with the zone remaining set, regardless of which team caused the stoppage

Slashing - Rule 79. Slashing (a) *NEW* A 2-minute minor penalty or, at the dis cretion of the Referee, a Major penalty and a Game Misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an oppo nent by “slashing” with their stick

Tripping/Slewfooting - Rule 85 (b) *NEW* A double minor penalty, or at the discretion of the Referee, a Match penalty based on the degree of violence of impact with the floor shall be assessed any player who uses their feet to knock an opponent’s feet out from under them with a kicking or leg drag ging motion from behind (“slew footing”). “A match penalty shall be assessed to any player who injures an opponent with a slew foot”

Head Contact - Rule b) *NEW* A double minor penalty or a Major Penalty plus a Game Misconduct penalty at the discretion of the Referee and based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who intentionally contacts an opponent in the head, face or neck with any part of the player’s body or equipment other than the stick