Floorballmania Referee. Roland De Conno answers the Italian Federal Referee.

Roland De Conno Pobitzer

Like every Wednesday, the Floorballmania column dedicated to refereeing rules returns. Like every week, Roland De Conno, the Italian Federal Referee, answers the questions that come to the editorial office from Floorball players. 

The column, shared in collaboration with the Italian Unihockey Floorball Federation, is arousing a lot of interest, according to the questions that come to our email. 

1) From this year, protective goggles are mandatory, if at the beginning of a game a player takes the field without, what happens? And if during the game, the goggles break and there is no possibility of replacement, what should the player do? And what happens to the team? 

Starting this year, protective goggles will be mandatory for all underage players. An appendix to the 2018 regulation will follow shortly which will cover this novelty. 

I can anticipate that it will be penalized for non-compliant equipment. I'll explain; the referee must first warn the player, if he does not comply with the rules he will receive a 2 minute penalty. this penalty can be given to any player even more times per game.

 If the player loses them during the game, the rule similar to that of when a player loses a shoe applies, he can continue with the action but at the first interruption he will have to immediately regain possession.

 The case of broken goggles needs to be clarified, as you well know in such a difficult period we should stick to what will be the rules of the ministry of health. So the "passing" the goggles may not be allowed.

 2) if in a foul that generates a penalty, the one who committed the foul takes a match penalty, what and how should one proceed?

 The first thing to do is to dismiss the player who has received a match penalty. A match penalty is always accompanied by a 5 minute time penalty.

 The captain of the team that has suffered the penalty will indicate the number of the player who will serve the penalty in the penalty box. Then the penalty shot will be taken. At the end of the game the referee must draw up the report on the match penalty given. 

3) if a goalkeeper is injured and the team does not have a spare, can a player replace him, if the injured goalkeeper recovers after a period of time, can the player return to play? What exactly does the rule say?

 3) if a goalkeeper is injured during the match, his team, if he does not have a spare goalkeeper, has 3 minutes to equip a field player. The new goalkeeper will be noted on the match sheet, as well as the time of the substitution. 

As soon as the injured goalkeeper is able to play again, he will be able to take his place again. The player who replaced him will remain the goalkeeper until the end of the match.

 We thank Roland De Conno, for his availability. Keep writing to us.