Beginning in 2010 the Canadian Ball Hockey Association has regulated a new 4 minute stick penalty rule for all Men's Divisions Only. The 4 minute stick penalty rule will replace the double minor stick penalty rule. It applies to all five stick penalties: SLASHING, HIGH STICKING, CROSS CHECKING, BUTT ENDING AND SPEARING.

The Basic Guidelines Are As Follows:

- The penalized player must serve all four minutes of the penalty.The team with the man power advantage can only score one power play goal.

- If a power play goal is scored the short handed team will now place a substitute player on the surface so they can play at even strength

- The player serving the penalty will remain in the penalty box until the first whistle after his time expires (similar to a misconduct penalty).

How It Works:

- When a player commits a stick foul that calls for a 4 minute minor penalty (formerly a double minor) the player’s penalty time is put on the clock as 4 minutes the player must always serve the complete length of the penalty.

- If his team is scored upon while they are short handed due to his penalty the player’s penalty time remaining will be removed from the clock (a team can only score one power  play goal in this situation), the player will remain in the penalty box and serve the remaining time like a misconduct (waiting for a stoppage in play to return to the playing surface).

-His team will be allowed to substitute for this player (from the player’s bench)so that they are no longer short handed.

For all details and applicable cases please click here to download the new 4 minute penalty rule document.