Arena Rule 8. Dead Ball

In plain English

Whistle means dead - nobody plays it.

• The whistle kills the ball. Nobody may play it after that, and the game comes back with a free hit or a throw in.
• An unserviceable ball - broken, or trodden in - and a ball that strikes the umpire or their pony so as to affect the play, both stop the game: time out, then a throw in towards the boards where it happened, never closer than 15 yards to the goal.
• Carrying: one block or deflection with the body per play, no catching in an open hand, no deliberate carrying. Lodged so it cannot be dropped at once and it is a throw in where the carrying began.
• A ball buried in a melee that neither side can play is thrown in where it was blown dead, never closer than 25 yards to the goal.
• Over the side wall between the 25 yard lines: a free hit 5 yards in from the boards against whoever put it out, nobody within 10 yards, and the ball must travel 5 yards forward. Hit it straight into the boards and you have no play until somebody else has hit or hit at it.
• Over the back wall, or over the side wall inside the 25, by an attacker: the defence gets a free hit on the 25 yard line central to the goal. Everybody else stands behind a line 10 yards from the ball, and the striker must mean to send it past that line. One hit only, and no second play until somebody else touches it or it hits a wall - but they keep the right of way and may ride an opponent off, though not hook. Fall short or miss completely and the umpire throws the ball in.
• The same ball put out by a defender is a 25 yard penalty hit worth one point.
• No foul after a whistle: a throw in at the point of the alleged infringement, never closer than 25 yards to either goal. A dropped ball is only used where 'no foul' has been called with one side clear in possession; nobody can score from it, and depending on which half they were in it becomes a 25 yard or centre-spot indirect continuous hit.

At any time the Umpire blows the whistle the ball is dead and no further play may be made by any player.

Quoted extract · Green Book 2025, Rule 8

Read arena rule 8 in the Green Book 2025

How far must the ball travel forward when hit during a Penalty 2?

• It must travel 5 yards forward when hit ✓
• It must travel 10 yards forward when hit
• It must travel 15 yards forward when hit
• There's no specific distance requirement

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

In a Penalty 3, how far must the ball travel forward when hit?

• It must travel 10 yards forward when hit
• It must travel 5 yards forward when hit ✓
• It must travel 15 yards forward when hit
• There's no specific distance requirement

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

During a Penalty 4, where must one player of the fouling team be positioned?

• Within the 25 yard line
• Within 5 yards of the back wall ✓
• Within 10 yards of the player making the hit
• At the center of the field

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

What is expected of the hitter during a Penalty 5?

• They must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10 yard line ✓
• They must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 15 yard line
• They must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 25 yard line
• They must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the halfway line

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

How many times may the hitter hit or hit at the ball during a Penalty 5?

• Once ✓
• Twice
• Three times
• One full hit, followed by half swings only

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

What happens if the ball does not reach the 10 yard line during a Penalty 5?

• The game continues as normal
• The hitter is given another chance to hit the ball
• The whistle is blown and the ball is thrown in ✓
• The opposing team is awarded a free hit

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

How many times may the hitter hit or hit at the ball during a Penalty 6?

• Twice
• As many times as they wish
• Once ✓
• One full swing, followed by half swings only

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

What happens if the ball does not reach the 10 yard line during a Penalty 6?

• The game continues as normal
• The hitter is given another chance to hit the ball
• The whistle is blown and the ball is thrown in ✓
• The opposing team is awarded a free hit

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

In the event the hitter misses the ball completely on Penalties 5 and 6, what happens to the ball?

• The ball remains in play ✓
• The ball is given to the opposing team
• The game is paused until the ball is retrieved
• The penalty is retaken

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

Why is it important that the ball is put in play and the hit taken promptly?

• To keep the game moving ✓
• To give the opposing team less time to react
• It's not important

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

What is considered an "Unplayable Ball" in the game?

• A ball that has been hit out of the arena
• A ball that strikes the Umpire or the Umpire's mount and affects the flow of the play
• A ball that is broken or trodden into the ground and is unserviceable
• Both B) and C) ✓

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

Where is the ball thrown in from when it becomes unplayable?

• From the spot where the event occurred ✓
• From the centre of the arena
• From the halfway line
• From the 25-yard line

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

How close can the throw-in be to the goal when the ball becomes unplayable?

• No closer than 10 yards
• No closer than 15 yards ✓
• No closer than 20 yards
• There is no specified distance

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

Towards what direction is the ball thrown in when it becomes unplayable?

• Towards the centre of the arena
• Towards the team that was in possession
• Towards the boards ✓
• Towards the goal

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

What action does the Umpire take in a "Ball in Melee" situation?

• They allow the play to continue
• They give a penalty to the team that caused the melee
• They blow the whistle and throw the ball in at a point where it was blown dead ✓
• They replace the ball

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

How close can the throw-in be to the goal in a "Ball in Melee" situation?

• No closer than 10 yards
• No closer than 15 yards
• No closer than 20 yards
• No closer than 25 yards ✓

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

From where will the free hit be awarded when the ball is hit out over the side wall between the two 25 yard lines?

• From the center of the field
• From the point where the ball went out of play
• 5 yards from the side boards where the ball went out of play ✓
• From the 25 yard line

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

Following a ball been hit out of play between the two 25 yard lines, what happens if the hitter hits the ball directly against the boards or netting during the free hit?

• The game is paused
• The hitter is penalized
• The hitter does not have a play until the ball has been hit or hit at ✓
• The ball is thrown in from the center of the field

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

What condition must the ball meet when the free hit is made when the ball has gone out of play between the two 25 yard lines?

• The ball must be hit towards the goal
• The ball must be hit towards the side boards
• There is no specific requirement for the ball's direction or distance traveled
• The ball must travel 5 yards forward when hit ✓

Play is resumed by a free hit or a throw in. b. Unplayable Ball. When a ball is broken or trodden into the ground in such a manner as to be unserviceable.

What penalty is awarded if the ball is hit out by a defender over the back wall or within the 25 yard line?

• Penalty 1
• Penalty 2
• Penalty 3
• Penalty 4 ✓

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

In the case of a ball being hit over the back wall or within the 25 yard line by an attacker, where should all the players, except the hitter, be positioned when play resumes?

• They must be behind an imaginary line across the arena 10 yards from the ball ✓
• They should be near the sidewall
• They must stand in the center of the arena
• They can stand anywhere in the arena

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

What is the requirement for the hitter when the ball is hit over the back wall or within the 25 yard line by an attacker when play resumes?

• The hitter must attempt to hit the ball at least across the 10 yard line ✓
• The hitter should aim to hit the ball over the sidewall
• The hitter must aim to hit the ball directly into the goal

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

How many times can the hitter hit or hit at the ball when play resumes following an attacker hitting the ball out within the 25 yard line?

• Once ✓
• One full swing, then have shots
• Once, but unlimited if it rebounds of the sides or backborad
• No limits

The hitter must have the intent to hit the ball at least across the 10-yard line.

What is the right of the hitter under these circumstances: Play resumes after an attacker hit the ball out within the 25 yard line, and the hitter has just hit the ball?

• The hitter can "ride off" an opponent to prevent the ball being hit or hit at ✓
• The hitter can hook an opponent’s mallet
• The hitter can hit the ball as many times as they want
• The hitter can change the direction of the ball after it's hit

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

What happens if the ball does not reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, when play resumes after an attacker hit the ball out within the 25 yard line?

• The game continues without interruption
• A penalty is given to the hitter
• The opposing team is awarded a free hit
• The whistle is blown and the ball is thrown in ✓

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

What happens when a foul is called but overruled, and no goal is scored?

• The play is resumed with a penalty shot
• The play is stopped permanently
• The play is resumed by a throw in at the point of the alleged infraction ✓
• The team that was allegedly fouled is granted a free hit

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

Where should the throw in not be located after a foul is called, overruled, and no goal scored?

• Not closer than 25 yards from either goal ✓
• Directly at the center of the arena
• Exactly at the point where the alleged infraction took place
• Anywhere on the field is acceptable

Should the ball fail to reach the 10-yard line or the hitter misses the ball completely, the whistle shall be blown and the ball thrown in.

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