JBHL Rules & Policies

Rules, Equipment and Waiver Information

Equipment

Players are required to wear:

  • Helmet
  • Hockey gloves
  • Shin guards
  • Athletic shoes (no skates)
  • Hockey stick

Additional protective equipment is encouraged.

Rules & Regulations

The Jacksonville Ball Hockey League is built around competition, sportsmanship, and community.

Our goal is to provide a fun, competitive environment where players of all skill levels can enjoy the game while respecting one another. While we want every game to be competitive, we also expect every player to help create a positive experience both on and off the rink.

Sportsmanship First

Every player is expected to:

  • Respect teammates and opponents.
  • Respect league organizers and volunteers.
  • Play with integrity.

Physical Play

Ball hockey is a physical sport, but body checking, roughing, fighting, and intentional dangerous contact are not permitted.

Repeated dangerous or unsportsmanlike behavior may result in removal from the game or league.


Penalties

JBHL games are currently played without referees.

Players are expected to call their own penalties honestly and respectfully.

This includes:

  • High sticking
  • Tripping
  • Hooking
  • Slashing
  • Other obvious infractions

If a disagreement occurs, team captains should discuss it calmly and resolve it in the spirit of fair play.


Referees

League games will feature one Referee and Scorekeeper. They are volunteers so please be respectful and know humans make mistakes but try their best. 

Zero tolerance policy on fighting with players or refs, including verbal altercation.

If you're interested in officiating or know someone who is, please contact the league. We'd love to hear from you.


Respect the Facility

Please help us keep Mandarin Skate Station clean by disposing of trash, respecting the facility, and following any venue guidelines.


Player & Participant Waiver

JACKSONVILLE BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE, LLC
ADULT PARTICIPANT LIABILITY WAIVER, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION, AND PHOTO/MEDIA RELEASE

This Adult Participant Liability Waiver, Assumption of Risk, Indemnification Agreement, Medical Authorization, and Photo/Media Release (this "Agreement") is entered into by and between Jacksonville Ball Hockey League, LLC, a Florida limited liability company ("JBHL" or the "League"), and the individual registering below ("Participant"), in connection with Participant's registration for and participation in the League's adult recreational ball hockey games, practices, clinics, and related activities — known for insurance-classification purposes as "Deck/Floor Hockey" — organized by the League (collectively, "League Activities"), which are generally held at Skate Station Mandarin, 3461 Kori Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32257, and at such other facilities as the League may designate from time to time (each, a "Facility").

PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND CONTAINS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AN ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AN INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, A COVENANT NOT TO SUE, AND A MEDIA RELEASE. DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO ITS TERMS.

1. ELIGIBILITY AND AGE REQUIREMENT

Participation in League Activities is limited to individuals who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age. By submitting this form, Participant certifies, represents, and warrants that:

- Participant is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
- Participant is legally competent and has full legal capacity to enter into this Agreement on Participant's own behalf;
- Participant understands that individuals under the age of twenty-one (21) are prohibited from participating in League Activities in any capacity as a player.

JBHL reserves the right to request and verify proof of age at any time and to remove from participation, without refund, any individual who does not meet or cannot verify this eligibility requirement.

2. ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Participant understands and acknowledges that ball hockey is a physically demanding contact-adjacent recreational sport that carries inherent risks of injury. While checking is prohibited under League rules, incidental body contact is common and expected during normal play, and collisions with other participants, officials, sticks, hockey balls, dasher boards, goals, and other playing-surface features are inherent to the sport. Participant further understands that these risks cannot be eliminated regardless of the care taken to avoid injury, whether by Participant, other participants, officials, or JBHL.

Without limiting the foregoing, Participant acknowledges that the inherent risks of participating in League Activities include, but are not limited to, injury or harm resulting from:

- collisions and incidental contact with other participants, officials, or spectators;
- falls, slips, and trips, whether or not caused by playing-surface conditions;
- overexertion, fatigue, and pre-existing medical conditions aggravated by physical activity;
- contact with sticks, hockey balls, dasher boards, goals, and other equipment or fixtures;
- for participants playing goaltender, repeated direct impact from shots on goal at close range;
- the actions, inactions, negligence, or carelessness of other participants, spectators, officials, or third parties;
- officiating decisions, including calls, non-calls, and rule enforcement (or lack thereof);
- defective, damaged, improperly fitted, or improperly maintained equipment, including Participant's own equipment;
- weather conditions and conditions of the Facility, including surfaces, lighting, and structures;
- concussion and other traumatic brain injury;
- dental injuries and eye injuries;
- fractures, sprains, strains, and soft-tissue injuries;
- catastrophic injury, including paralysis, permanent disability, and death.

PARTICIPANT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS LIST IS ILLUSTRATIVE AND NOT EXHAUSTIVE, AND THAT PARTICIPATION IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES INVOLVES RISKS OF SERIOUS INJURY THAT CANNOT BE ELIMINATED EVEN WHERE JBHL AND ITS RELEASEES (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3) EXERCISE REASONABLE CARE. PARTICIPANT KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUMES ALL SUCH RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERS, AND ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARTICIPANT'S PARTICIPATION IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES.

If Participant observes any unusual or significant hazard before or during participation, Participant agrees to remove Participant from participation and to promptly bring the hazard to the attention of the nearest League official.

3. RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

IN CONSIDERATION OF BEING PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPANT, FOR PARTICIPANT AND ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPANT'S HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, AND NEXT OF KIN, HEREBY RELEASES AND HOLDS HARMLESS JACKSONVILLE BALL HOCKEY LEAGUE, LLC, TOGETHER WITH ITS MEMBERS, OWNERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REFEREES, SCOREKEEPERS, VOLUNTEERS, CONTRACTORS, SPONSORS, ADVERTISERS, AND LEAGUE OFFICIALS, OTHER PARTICIPANTS, AND, AS APPLICABLE, SKATE STATION MANDARIN AND ANY OTHER FACILITY USED FOR LEAGUE ACTIVITIES, TOGETHER WITH EACH FACILITY'S OWNERS AND OPERATORS, AND THE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF EACH OF THE FOREGOING (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASEES"), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH, OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO PARTICIPANT'S PARTICIPATION IN LEAGUE ACTIVITIES, WHETHER ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY FLORIDA LAW.

Nothing in this Agreement releases, or is intended to release, any Releasee from liability for gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, to the extent such a release is prohibited under Florida law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, at all times, in a manner consistent with Florida law governing the enforceability of liability releases for recreational activities.

4. COVENANT NOT TO SUE

Participant agrees that Participant will not bring, and will not permit to be brought on Participant's behalf, any claim, lawsuit, or legal proceeding of any kind against any Releasee for injury, loss, or damage arising out of or related to Participant's participation in League Activities, except to the extent such a covenant is prohibited by applicable law.

5. INDEMNIFICATION

Participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Releasees from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

- Participant's own acts, omissions, or conduct during League Activities;
- Participant's negligence, whether ordinary or gross;
- Participant's violation of any League rule, this Agreement, or applicable law;
- damage caused by Participant to property of the League, a Facility, or any third party; and
- claims brought by any guest, spectator, or family member of Participant arising out of Participant's acts or omissions.

6. MEDICAL REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTY

Participant represents and warrants that:

- Participant is physically fit and capable of participating in League Activities;
- Participant has no known medical, orthopedic, cardiac, neurological, or other condition that would make participation unsafe;
- Participant will not participate in League Activities while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or any medication that affects Participant's ability to safely participate; and
- Participant is solely responsible for consulting a physician before participating if Participant has any question or concern regarding Participant's fitness to safely participate.

7. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AUTHORIZATION

Participant authorizes League representatives and Facility personnel, in the event Participant is unable to give consent as a result of injury or incapacitation, to secure and authorize emergency medical treatment, including transportation to a medical facility, that a reasonable person would deem necessary under the circumstances. Participant understands and agrees that Participant is solely responsible for all costs and expenses associated with any medical treatment, transportation, or care provided, whether or not such treatment is authorized under this Section.

8. INSURANCE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

JBHL maintains commercial general liability insurance and limited participant medical payments coverage placed through an amateur sports league insurance program, underwritten by AIG Specialty Insurance Company (the "Policy"). As of the date of this Agreement, the Policy provides limits of $1,000,000 in general liability coverage and $25,000 in medical payments coverage per participant, subject to a $100 deductible, with a supplemental Brain Injury endorsement applicable to concussion and related traumatic brain injury claims. Policy terms, limits, deductibles, and endorsements are subject to change upon renewal or amendment and are governed exclusively by the Policy itself, not by this summary. Participant specifically understands and agrees that:

- the medical payments coverage is a "Full Excess" benefit — that is, secondary and excess coverage only — and applies, if at all, only after any coverage available under Participant's own health, disability, or other applicable insurance has been exhausted;
- this coverage is not health insurance and does not replace Participant's own health insurance coverage;
- this coverage is subject to the Policy's limits, deductible, exclusions, and conditions, which may limit or preclude payment for a given injury, and which may change from time to time; and
- Participant remains solely responsible for the $100 deductible, all co-payments, and any medical expenses not covered by the Policy or by Participant's own insurance.

Participant is strongly encouraged to maintain Participant's own health insurance coverage as a condition of participating in League Activities. Current proof of coverage may be requested from JBHL and is subject to change; this summary does not modify, and is superseded by, the actual Policy documents on file with JBHL.

9. REQUIRED PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Participant agrees that, during all warm-ups and games, Participant will wear the following equipment at all times while on the playing surface:

- a hockey-certified helmet;
- a face cage or face shield securely attached to the helmet;
- hockey gloves;
- shin guards; and
- athletic shoes (cleats and skates are prohibited).

Additional Equipment for Goalies. Participant understands that a participant playing the goaltender position faces distinct and heightened risks, including repeated direct impact from shots on goal, and agrees that any Participant playing goaltender will wear the following equipment, in addition to a hockey-certified helmet with full face cage or full face shield, at all times while playing that position:

- a hockey-certified goalie mask or helmet-and-cage combination rated for goaltending;
- a chest and arm protector rated for goaltending;
- goalie leg pads;
- a blocker and catch glove; and
- a protective cup or pelvic protector.

Participant acknowledges that goaltending equipment differs materially from standard player equipment, that it is designed to reduce — but cannot eliminate — the risk of injury from shots, deflections, and collisions at close range, and that Participant is solely responsible for using goaltending equipment that is properly rated, properly fitted, and in safe condition.

Participant acknowledges that this required equipment significantly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of serious injury, including injuries to the head, face, eyes, and teeth. Participant is solely responsible for ensuring that Participant's equipment fits properly, is maintained in safe condition, and is worn correctly at all times during League Activities. Failure to wear required equipment may result in a Participant's immediate removal from participation, without refund, at the sole discretion of League officials.

10. CONCUSSION ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Participant acknowledges receipt of information regarding the signs and symptoms of concussion, including headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, balance problems, and memory difficulties, and understands the importance of immediately reporting any such symptoms to a League official. Participant acknowledges that League officials have the authority to remove from play any participant suspected of having sustained a concussion or other head injury, and that the League may require written medical clearance from a licensed physician before permitting a participant to return to play following such removal. Participant further acknowledges the Brain Injury insurance summary described in Section 8, and understands that such coverage, like all Policy benefits, is limited, excess, and subject to the Policy's terms.

11. RULES, SAFETY, AND CODE OF CONDUCT

Participant agrees to:

- obey all League rules, including the prohibition on checking;
- comply with the decisions of referees, scorekeepers, and other League officials;
- wear all required protective equipment described in Section 9 at all times during warm-ups and games;
- maintain Participant's equipment in safe, functional condition;
- refrain from dangerous, reckless, or unsportsmanlike play;
- refrain from fighting or other acts of violence;
- refrain from harassment or discrimination of any kind; and
- exhibit good sportsmanship toward other participants, officials, and League staff at all times.

JBHL reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to remove a participant from a game, suspend a participant for a period of time, permanently expel a participant from the League, or deny future participation to any individual, in each case for violation of League rules, this Agreement, or applicable safety requirements. Any such removal, suspension, or expulsion may occur without refund of any registration fees or other amounts paid.

12. PROPERTY DAMAGE

Participant agrees to be financially responsible for any damage to League property, Facility property, or the property of any third party that is caused intentionally or through reckless conduct by Participant.

13. PHOTO, VIDEO, AND MEDIA RELEASE

Participant grants to JBHL an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to photograph, film, record, and livestream Participant during League Activities, and to use Participant's image, likeness, name, voice, video, audio, statistics, and highlights (collectively, "Participant Media") in connection with the League's website, social media accounts, livestreams, advertising, sponsorship materials, promotional and marketing materials, news releases, and printed materials.

Participant further agrees that Participant:

- waives any right to inspect, approve, or receive advance notice of any specific use of Participant Media prior to publication;
- waives any claim to compensation, royalty, or other payment in connection with the League's use of Participant Media; and
- releases the Releasees from any claim relating to rights of publicity or privacy arising out of any authorized use of Participant Media consistent with this Section.

14. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

Participant agrees that an electronic signature or electronic acceptance (including checking a box on this form) affixed to this Agreement shall have the same legal force and effect as a handwritten signature.

15. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

16. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Exclusive venue for any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement shall lie in the state or federal courts located in Duval County, Florida, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Participant and JBHL with respect to Participant's participation in League Activities, the assumption of risk, the release of liability, indemnification, and the use of Participant Media, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings on those subjects.

18. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM WAIVING SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE. I SIGN THIS AGREEMENT FREELY, KNOWINGLY, AND VOLUNTARILY, WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR COERCION.