Game Format & Rules

• The rink size is approx. 16x28 meters.
• Games are played on mini goals - without goalies. Goals: 140 cm wide, 12 cm high. Closed for 80 cm in the middle, open for 30 cm on the left and right.
• Players aged 18 and over are eligible to participate. In the men's category, all players are eligible who are NOT actively registered in one of the three highest leagues of their country.
• All participants are requested to present a medical certificate of fitness for sport at accreditation. If a participant cannot present a medical certificate, a self-declaration must be signed. The organizer is not liable for accidents or damage. Every player plays at their own risk and is liable for accidents and damage of any kind.
• Teams must register at least 4 and may register a maximum of 9 players. Teams can compete as men's, women's or mixed teams. Players may only be registered with one team. If a team fields unregistered players, the game will be scored 0:5 in favor of the other team.
• Game format: 3-on-3, a maximum of 6 substitutes per team with changes on the fly. Each team can register 4 to a maximum of 9 players for the tournament, who then play on all days. A late nomination is only possible after consultation with the organizing committee.
• A game official (referee) is assigned to each rink and is responsible for the entire course of the game. He supervises the game, decides on goals and penalties, counts the points and reports the result to the tournament organization.
• Group allocation & preliminary round:
  • Allocation to one of 16 groups by draw (random group allocation)
  • Preliminary round & pre-playoff: 6 games/team
  • Playing times: Friday from 1:00 pm & Saturday
  • Playing time preliminary round: 14 minutes gross playing time
  Group allocation playoffs:
  • Champions Group: places 1-2
  • Buddy Group: places 3-4
  • Chillout Group: places 5-6
  Playoffs Saturday:
  • Per group: 32 teams → 16 qualify
  • Per team: 3 playoff games
  • Playing time: 12 minutes gross playing time
  Final games Saturday:
  • Knockout format: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final
  • Final games: Saturday, 16 January 2027, from approx. 8:00 pm
  • Tie: shootout
  All teams that have been eliminated can arrange "friendly games" on Sunday.
• The organizing committee has the right to exclude players who pose a danger to themselves or the other participants from the tournament at any time.
• The organizing committee has the option of adapting the rules if necessary. These changes will be communicated to the teams immediately before the first games.

All the helpers who support our Pond Hockey tournament at Lake Weissensee as referees or officials do so on a voluntary basis.
It is therefore all the more important to us as the organizer - and also in the interest of all fans of ice hockey - that all players conduct themselves respectfully at all times, both towards each other and towards the referees.

We welcome commitment and healthy ambition on the ice, but misconduct towards our voluntary staff will not be tolerated. Verbal or physical attacks on referees or the officiating team will lead to immediate exclusion from the tournament.

Please remember: Pond Hockey stands for fun, team spirit and fair play. It is not an official form of competition, but a game played on a small surface at high speed. That is why the safety of everyone - players, fans, spectators and referees - has top priority.

We therefore ask all participants to behave fairly and respectfully at all times. It is the responsibility of each team to familiarize itself with the tournament rules before the start of play.

• Faceoff: At center ice - only at the start of the game. The referee does not step onto the ice surface. Both teams line up three against three, the two face-off players have their sticks on the ice, the puck in the middle (no throw-in). The game starts on the referee's whistle.
• The gross playing time is 14 minutes in the group stage and 12 minutes in the playoffs. Exact playing times can be found in the tournament schedule. If a team does not show up for a game on time or at all, the game will be scored 0:5 against the team that failed to appear.
• No goals can be scored from your own half of the rink (not even if the puck is deflected off a defender's stick or skate). Goals can only be scored in the attacking half, i.e. beyond the center line.
• Slapshots/snap shots/slap shots or excessively hard wrist shots are prohibited. All players weigh up their shots conscientiously so as not to endanger other players on the rink, spectators or other persons.

• There is no offside or icing.

  Pucks that leave the ice are returned to play by the team that did not touch the puck last.

  The defending team must keep a distance of at least one stick length from the player returning the puck to play at the nearest possible point where the puck left the rink.

  The player with the puck must attempt a pass (not a shot on goal) to continue play. The referees are equipped with spare pucks so that play can continue without delay.

  As the game is very fast and the referees cannot see every action, players are asked to behave fairly. Every player is encouraged to do their part to help the referee decide who touched the puck last before it left the ice surface.

• Goaltending - No player may throw themselves onto the ice in front of the goal, kneel on the ice, block the goal with their skates closer than one meter in front of the goal, throw or place their stick in front of the goal, or stand in front of the net to prevent the other team from scoring.

  If this nevertheless happens, the referee raises his hand and warns the defending team. If the referee's repeated warning is not respected, the referee blows the whistle and may award a goal to the attacking team.

• "Flip passes" are generally allowed. Deliberately lifting the puck is not allowed. However, if the "flip pass" endangers players or spectators, this results in a minor penalty. -> Loss of puck

• Body contact and body checks of any kind are prohibited.

  Basic infringements such as tripping, hacking, slashing or interference count as "minor penalties".

  The same rules apply to stick handling as in ice hockey. High stick - contact with the puck above hip height - results in a minor penalty, safety first.

  Shots must not be higher than skate height, nor may passes to another player be played higher.

  Slap shots are not allowed, sticks must stay on the ice → minor penalty

• A minor penalty means loss of the puck. In the event of repeated offenses, the referee may, after a warning, also award a technical goal to the opposing team.

• Each team is assigned to one half of the rink; if necessary, the referee can also decide this. A bench next to the rink is available for the substitutes of each team.

  Changes are made on the fly as in ice hockey: when a player leaves the rink behind the goal, the substitute player may not enter the rink. The same applies at the side in the opposing team's change area. This means the change zone is explicitly defined only at the side of your own half (players' bench) up to the center of the rink (referee).

  In the event of an illegal change, a warning is given. The referee may also decide on loss of the puck for a team. In the event of repeated offenses, a goal against may also be awarded.

• The tournament management reserves the right to exclude players who pose a danger to themselves and others from the tournament.
• In the event of rule violations, it is at the referees' discretion to award a goal or possession of the puck to the opposing team.

• After the game, both teams ensure that the playing surface is free of snow and ice shavings.

  As a rule, the losing team takes over the ice cleaning. Snow pushers and shovels are provided at every rink.

• Any kind of insult or attack on the referee will be punished as a major penalty. Penalties of this kind include excessive swearing, shouting, arguments and any physical altercation over a referee's decision.
• Major penalties or incidents that endanger the safety of players, volunteers and spectators will lead to the immediate exclusion of the responsible player from the remainder of the tournament. In addition, the referee may also award a technical goal.

• In the group stage, a tie is possible as a game result. As soon as the signal sounds, the game is over.
• In the knockout round, in the event of a tie, a 3-minute overtime is played, possibly followed by a "shoot out" with 3 shooters from the center line on the empty goal.