What is a team foul in rink hockey?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and cards · 4 of 7Team fouls are minor fouls, such as pushing, holding, an illegal block or hitting an opponent's stick, that the auxiliary referee counts against the team for the whole match. Each gives the other side an indirect free hit. The 10th team foul, and every fifth after it, gives a direct free hit instead.
How it works
- Examples: pushing, holding, an illegal block, obstruction, hitting the opponent's stick.
- Also: standing too close at an indirect free hit, or delaying it.
- Counted: by the auxiliary referee, carried over the whole match.
- Usual sanction: an indirect free hit.
- 10th foul: a direct free hit.
- Then: another direct free hit every five fouls.
- Warning: a sign at the table after nine.
- Inside the area or stopping a clear chance: a penalty or direct free hit, and the foul is not counted.
The glossary has the team foul, the direct free hit, the indirect free hit, the yellow card (rink hockey), the main referees and the penalty area.
Tricky cases
What is an illegal block?
A screen with contact, an aggressive stance, a raised stick or moving without keeping 50 cm from the defender.
A player throws the ball off the rink to waste time. Sanction?
A team foul and a yellow card.
Does the count reset at half-time?
No. It carries through both halves and extra time.
The 10th foul comes as the half ends. What happens?
The direct free hit is a single shot with no follow-up.
Why the rule exists
Counting small fouls stops teams fouling to break up play. The direct free hit at ten makes repeated fouling costly.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fouls 1 to 9 | Indirect free hit | Art 23.1 |
| 10th, 15th, 20th | Direct free hit | Art 23.3 |
| Inside the offender's area | Penalty, not counted | Art 23.7 |
From the rule book
World Skate, Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027, Rules of the Game, Articles 17 and 23 with Clarification 11. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Skate Rink Hockey Rulebook 2027.