How to Referee Broomball

Broomball is a game that is played on the ice. The players use sticks to push a round ball across the ice and into a goal. Unlike hockey, the sticks are not elongated on one end and no one gets to wear skates. If you'd like to referee broomball match, here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Before Each Broomball Game

1. Inspect the ice before each game. Make sure the ice is clean and ready to be played on. This also means setting up the goals, if they are not yet set up.
2. Check that the broomball players have legal equipment. Different leagues have different rules on equipment. For example, some intramural leagues will not allow broomball shoes. Children's leagues might require special helmets. Know your leagues rules ahead of time. Many leagues require wood, aluminum or graphite sticks. Some children's leagues might require or allow plastic.
3. Look closely at each player's broomball stick before the match. You may need to measure a stick if it seems altered. The entire broom should be no longer than nine inches long and no shorter than seven inches. The head should be between 4 and 6 inches wide. Brooms should not be broken or cracked.
4. Make sure you have the right equipment to referee the game. Some broomball leagues ask their referee to wear broomball shoes. Other leagues have the referee wear ice or hockey skates. Check with your league ahead of time to see which is allowed and if you can rent or must buy your equipment.

During the Broomball Match

5. Start the match by calling six players, including one goalie, to the ice. Play actually begins in one of two ways. You may start with a drop, as in hockey, by releasing the ball from 3 feet above ice level, between two players of the opposite teams. For younger or pickup matches, you can start with the ball on the ground, and have play begin when you blow your whistle.
6. Start a timer when you drop the ball or begin play. Broomball games have two haves, and each is between 10 and 18 minutes. The referee must tell players when time is up. The referee must also time a 2 to 5 minute half-time break and alert the players when they need to return to the ice.
7. Look for an offsides penalty. Offsides occurs when any broomball player is on the other team's half of the ice and closer to their opponent's goal than any other opponent on the ice.
8. Watch for high-sticking penalty. Call high-sticking when the stick moves above shoulder height. Keep in mind that younger leagues might call high-sticking for anything above the waist. Know your broomball league's rules before you start.
9. Pay attention to the order of players that hit the ball. This is important for calling icing penalties. In an icing, a referee stops play if the ball is hit from one half of the ice into the other half of the ice and goes all the way to the opposite wall without another player touching it.
10. Watch for physical fouls. Players should never trip or block their opponents with their sticks. Depending on your league rules, players should not check their opponents, especially into the boards. (A check occurs when a player pushes another player into the boards with their arms, hips or shoulders.)