PART 1: Official PBHL Rulebook

Facility: Sprowls Horizon Rink, Pinellas Park, FL Season: Season 2 Winter Season (10 Weeks / 10 Games)

Section 1: League Registration & Financial Policies

• Player Registration: The standard runner registration fee is $150 (Note: Credit card processing fees may apply at checkout). This guarantees 10 games, an official PBHL jersey, and access to all league media. Must be 18+ to play.

• The Goalie Deposit: Goalies play in the PBHL for free. However, goalies must pay a $50 refundable deposit to hold their roster spot. This $50 will be handed back in cash at the end of the season, provided the goalie does not forfeit/no-show any games without notifying the Commissioner.

• The "Work-Study" Referee Refund: Players who commit to being PBHL Referees can earn a full refund of their $150 registration fee. A player must successfully referee exactly ten (10) games to hit the quota. If the 10-game quota is met, the $150 is refunded in cash at the end of the season. Partial fulfillment will be pro-rated ($15 earned per game reffed).

Section 2: Game Format & Logistics

• Game Length: Three (3) 15-minute periods.

• Clock Rules: The clock will run continuously for the first two periods and the first 12 minutes of the third period. The clock will only stop on the whistle, for a foul by either team,. or during the final 3 minutes of the third period if the goal differential is two (2) goals or less.

• Timeouts: Each team is awarded one (1) 30-second timeout per game.

• Overtime (Regular Season): If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it will go to a 2 minute sudden-death period. If still tied after 2 minutes, game will be a draw.

• How Points Work
  Regulation Win: 3 Points
  OT Win: 2 Points
  OT Loss/Tie: 1 Point
  Regulation Loss: 0 Points

• Mercy Rule: If a team is leading by ten (10) or more goals at any point in the third period, the game is officially called and the score is finalized.

Section 3: Mandatory Equipment

• Players: All runners must wear shin/knee guards (dek hockey specific or soccer style), hockey gloves, and the official PBHL league jersey. Helmets are highly recommended but not strictly mandatory for adults 18+. * Goalies: Full standard hockey or dek hockey goalie gear is required (Helmet/mask, chest protector, blocker, catcher, pads, and cup).

• Footwear: Standard athletic running shoes or dek hockey shoes only. No cleats, no spikes.

Section 4: Gameplay Rules

• Offsides (Floating Blue Line): The PBHL uses the standard dek hockey "Floating Blue Line" rule. The offensive zone begins at the standard blue line. Once the attacking team crosses the blue line, the offensive zone expands back to the center red line. The defending team must clear the ball past the center red line to force the attackers to tag up.

• Icing: Icing will be enforced from your own defensive zone. Neutral Zone clearances on your own half of the rink are okay

Section 5: Penalties & Zero Tolerance (The "Shield" Rule)

The PBHL is a non-checking, adult recreational league. Player safety is the absolute priority.

***3 Penalties for any single player in any single game will be ejected***

• Minor Penalties (1 Minute): Tripping, Slashing, Hooking, Interference, Delay of Game.

• Major Penalties (5 Minutes) & Game Misconduct: Checking, Boarding, Fighting, Intent to Injure. Any player assessed a Major penalty is immediately ejected from the game and subject to a Commissioner's review for a multi-game suspension.

• The "Player-Ref" Protection Clause: The PBHL utilizes league players as referees. There is absolutely ZERO tolerance for referee abuse. When a player puts on the referee jersey, they are PBHL Staff. If a player excessively argues a call, screams at, or intimidates a referee, they will be assessed an immediate 1-minute Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. A second offense in the same game results in an automatic ejection.

Section 6: The Florida Weather & Rainout Policy

• Wet Tiles / Rain Delay: Dek hockey tiles become dangerously slippery when wet. If rain begins, the game will be immediately paused. If the rain stops and the rink can be dried within 15 minutes, play will resume. If the rink cannot be safely dried, the game is postponed, but only a league official has the authority to make the final decision.

• The Lightning Rule: If lightning is spotted or thunder is heard, the rink must be completely evacuated immediately. Play cannot resume until 30 minutes have passed without a lightning strike.

• Official Game Status: If a game is rained out after the completion of the 2nd period, the current score becomes final and the game is considered officially complete. If the rainout occurs before the end of the 2nd period, the game will be completely restarted and rescheduled.

Section 7: Rosters & Playoff Eligibility

• Substitute Players: If a team is short players, they may borrow players from other PBHL teams for the regular season to avoid a forfeit. Any substitution not signed up for the PBHL is limited to 2 games. After 2 games, the substitute will have to sign up, or not sub another game.  This will be the case, even when a team is playing a double header. If the substitute hit their 2 game limit after game 1, they will be unable to play game 2. However, a team using substitute players cannot have a roster exceeding 7 total runners for that game.

• Roster Cap: 10 Players

• Playoff Eligibility: To play in the PBHL Playoffs, a player must have physically played in at least four (4) regular-season games for their specific drafted team. No substitute players from other teams are allowed during the playoffs under any circumstances.

• Top 4 Teams in League will go to a 4 Team Playoff

Section 8: Waiver Wire & Free Agency Policy

1. Waiver Wire Eligibility & Roster Limits

• Eligible Players: Any registered player who went undrafted, players formally dropped or released by an active franchise, or late registrants approved through the league portal.

• Roster Cap (10 Players Maximum): Each franchise is permitted a maximum active roster size of 10 total players.

• Goaltender Allocation: Teams have full roster flexibility regarding goaltenders. Franchises may carry up to two (2) goalies on their 10-player active roster if they choose, or operate with one primary goaltender and nine skaters.

• League Standing & Fees: Every claimed player must have an active liability waiver on file and be in good standing regarding league dues before suiting up for game action.

2. Waiver Priority Order & Active Rotation

Roster Cap Exclusion Rule (10-Player Rule)

• Rotation Removal: Any team that currently carries a full roster of ten (10) players is automatically excluded from the waiver priority order.

• Zero Hoarding: Teams at the 10-player limit cannot submit waiver claims or hold a waiver spot.

• Re-entering Rotation: A team will only re-enter the waiver priority list if they open a roster spot (via an approved release/drop or qualifying LTIR transaction). Upon re-entry during the weekly reset, their placement will reflect their current reverse standings position.

Initial Season Priority (Week 1)

Initial Season 2 waiver priority is explicitly awarded only to the four (4) teams that did not hold a 5th-Round draft pick (and have not hit the 10-player roster cap):

1. Priority 1–4: Florida Snowbirds, Southside Storm, TikTok Famous, and Tampa Bay Thunder Herd (ordered by inverse draft order among these four franchises).

2. Excluded from Initial Rotation: Bay Area Big Tippers and Pinellas Park Puck Hogs (made Round 5 selections / held 10-player rosters).

In-Season Weekly Priority (Week 2 Onward)

• Weekly Reset: Beginning Week 2, waiver priority resets every Tuesday at 12:00 PM EST among eligible teams with fewer than 10 players, ordered by reverse league standings (worst record to best record).

• Tiebreakers: If eligible teams are tied in standings points, priority is broken by:

  1. Fewest total regulation wins.

  2. Worst goal differential (GF - GA).

  3. Head-to-head result.

• Priority Burn: When an eligible franchise successfully claims a player during a waiver run:

  • If the pickup brings the roster to 10 players, they are completely removed from the waiver rotation.

  • If the team still has fewer than 10 players, they drop to the bottom of the active priority order for the remainder of that waiver cycle.

3. Claim Procedures & Transaction Windows

• Waiver Period (48-Hour Hold): Dropped players remain on waivers for 48 hours. Eligible captains must submit claims directly to the League Commissioner.

• Unrestricted Free Agency: If a player receives zero claims during the 48-hour period, they become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) and may be signed on a first-come, first-served basis, provided the signing team has an open roster spot under the 10-player limit.

• Parity & Integrity Clause: The Commissioner reserves the authority to review any waiver claim or free agent addition to protect competitive balance and league integrity.

4. Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) & Goaltender Emergencies

• Season-Ending Mandate: Placement on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) is strictly reserved for verified season-ending injuries or illnesses. Once placed on LTIR, that player is ineligible to return for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.

• Minimum Games Remaining (4-Game Threshold): A franchise may only petition for an LTIR roster designation and replacement if their team has a minimum of four (4) regular-season games remaining on its schedule. If three (3) or fewer games remain in the regular season, the injured player may not be placed on LTIR to open an additional roster slot.

• Roster Relief & Re-Entry: Upon Commissioner approval of an LTIR designation meeting the criteria above, the injured player no longer counts against the active 10-player limit. This drops the team below the cap, immediately making them eligible to re-enter the waiver rotation and claim a replacement.

• Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG): If a team carries only one netminder and that goalie is unexpectedly unavailable, the team may petition for an approved emergency substitute from the league pool. Emergency netminders cannot be active skaters from a direct divisional opponent without prior consent from the opposing captain.

5. Playoff Eligibility & Roster Deadlines

• Roster Freeze: The waiver wire and free-agent signing window officially close at 11:59 PM EST following the conclusion of Week 7. No roster changes or additions may occur after this deadline.

• Postseason Eligibility: Any player added via waivers or free agency must skate in at least four (4) regular-season games with the franchise to be eligible for the PBHL Playoffs.

• No Postseason Additions: Postseason rosters are strictly locked; no replacement players or substitutes from non-playoff teams may be added during the tournament.