Ontario Gurudwaras Committee
Official Tournament Rulebook & Technical Regulations
1.1 Matches are played under the current FIH Rules of Outdoor Hockey and the FIH Tournament Regulations for Outdoor Competitions, except as modified in this rulebook.
1.2 The FIH Code of Conduct applies to all players, team staff, umpires, and officials.
1.3 Where this rulebook is silent or ambiguous, FIH protocols are followed. Where this rulebook expressly modifies FIH (Sections 6, 7, 8), the modification prevails.
1.4 The Technical Delegate and the Sikh Games Organizing Committee hold absolute discretion to formulate and publish the match schedule, assign umpires, and rule on any matter not covered here.
A player is eligible to be registered and to take the field only if all of the following are met:
| # | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sikh identity, consistent with the cultural mandate of the Sikh Games |
| 2 | Ontario residency |
| 3 | Valid, non-expired government photo ID submitted at registration |
| 4 | Registration approved by tournament admin |
| 5 | Not withdrawn |
| 6 | Registered with one — and only one — club (Section 3) |
No upper or lower age restriction beyond the general eligibility above.
Outfield players must be 45 years of age or older. Date of birth on the submitted photo ID is the controlling record.
Because of a genuine and ongoing shortage of 45+ goalkeepers, and following precedent set in previous tournaments:
3.1 Once a player registers with a club, that player may only represent that club for the entire tournament — in Open, in 45+ (Masters), or in both.
3.2 Worked example. A player registers with Brampton Field Hockey Club in the Open division. He cannot also play for Punjab Panthers in Masters — even though it is a different division. He must play for Brampton Field Hockey Club in both, or not register in the second division at all.
3.3 Why. Club binding preserves competitive integrity, prevents roster-stacking across divisions, and keeps disciplinary and deposit records attached to a single accountable club.
3.4 Only exception. The 45+ goalkeeper exemption in Section 2.5. Cross-club goalkeeper usage is permitted for the goalkeeper position only, and must be declared to the Technical Delegate before the match.
3.5 Breach. Playing for two clubs is an eligibility violation. The match is forfeited 5–0, the player is removed from the tournament, and the club's security deposit is forfeited in full (Section 17.3).
Registration is player-completed, through a single link.
A registration is complete only when all of the following are submitted:
| # | Required at registration |
|---|---|
| 1 | Full name |
| 2 | Date of birth |
| 3 | Selfie (used as the profile photo and to verify the ID) |
| 4 | Valid, non-expired government photo ID |
| 5 | Emergency contact name and phone number |
| 6 | Signed disclaimer, waiver, and media consent (Section 23) |
ID documents are stored privately and are visible only to tournament admin and the player's own club. An incomplete registration is not eligible for selection, regardless of what the club submits.
A club is compliant only when both the $500 club security deposit and the registration fee are paid. Clubs missing the club registration deadline may not register without a written admin override.
The system checks full name (case-insensitive) plus date of birth across all registered players. A confirmed duplicate is a duplicate player violation — full forfeit of the club security deposit and removal of the duplicate registration.
Two deadlines are published to clubs and govern the tournament:
| Deadline | What it closes |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | New club registrations, new player registrations, and deposit payment |
| Roster deadline | Squad and playing-roster submission. In all cases before a team's first match. |
The Organizing Committee may grant a written override to a club. Every override is recorded with the granting admin, the reason, and the date.
| Division | Playing roster | Goalkeepers included | Team officials on the sideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 18 players | 2 | 2 |
| 45+ (Masters) | 13 players | Goalkeeper included in the 13 | 2 |
Each team may have two officials on the sideline with the team: a Team Manager / Head Coach, plus either an Assistant Coach or a Team Physio. Only these two, plus rostered players, may occupy the team bench.
After the roster deadline, all squad and roster changes are blocked. Only a written, logged, per-club override from the Organizing Committee reopens them.
Only players who are approved and not withdrawn may be placed in a squad. Removing a player from the squad automatically removes them from the playing roster.
Both divisions follow the same shape: a single round robin in the group stage, followed by knockout matches. In the Open division the knockout stage is played cross-group — the winner of one group meets the runner-up of the other. Group results carry no further weight once the knockout stage begins.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Baba Deep Singh Ji Akali Phula Singh Ji Nawab Kapur Singh Ji |
Bhai Mani Singh Ji Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Ji Bhai Taru Singh Ji Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa Ji |
Single round robin within each group, followed by semi-finals, a 3rd/4th place playoff, and the final.
Open division — cross-group semi-finals:
| Match | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 | Group A winner (A1) v Group B runner-up (B2) |
| Semi-final 2 | Group B winner (B1) v Group A runner-up (A2) |
| 3rd/4th place playoff | The two losing semi-finalists |
| Final | The two winning semi-finalists |
45+ (Masters) division: after the single round robin, the top two teams on the standings table play the final. The third-placed team is ranked third; no playoff is played for it.
Group positions for all of the above are determined under Section 12.
Single group, single round robin: Maharaja Ranjit Singh · Baba Banda Singh Bahadur · Sardar Baghel Singh.
Format: 7-a-side, half field. The 45+ final is played on August 2, early morning.
Charda Punjab v Lehnda Punjab — exhibition fixture, played on August 3. Exhibition results do not count toward standings, but all conduct, safety, and disciplinary rules apply in full.
| Date | Window |
|---|---|
| Friday, Aug 1 | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday, Aug 2 | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Sunday, Aug 3 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Where two teams draw from the same player pool (e.g. Bhai Taru Singh Ji in Open Group B and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in 45+), their matches will not be scheduled back to back. Teams may not request schedule changes on this basis after publication.
| Element | Duration |
|---|---|
| First half | 25 minutes |
| Half-time (mandatory) | 5 minutes |
| Second half | 25 minutes |
| Total elapsed per match | 55 minutes |
10-minute break after each match. 15-minute water break after every two matches.
All matches are centrally timed by the Technical Officer, who signals start, half-time, and full time by horn. Time is stopped only for penalty strokes awarded in playoff matches. The Technical Delegate may alter match duration where the schedule requires it.
The schedule is tight. Teams must:
In addition to the 7-a-side half-field format:
Umpires will apply these strictly. Repeated breach is treated as a personal penalty under Section 9.
| Card | Sanction |
|---|---|
| Green | 2 minutes off the field |
| Yellow | 5 to 10 minutes off the field — full FIH rules apply |
| Red | Immediate and permanent removal; automatic suspension |
Yellow cards accumulate across all matches in the tournament. Every 3rd yellow triggers an automatic 1-match suspension (3rd yellow → 1 match; 6th yellow → a further match; and so on).
A red card triggers an immediate 1-match suspension, applied the moment it is recorded.
Suspensions are additive. A player with 1 match remaining from yellow accumulation who then receives a red card has 2 matches remaining. Suspensions never reset.
After each match, the match tracker reduces the player's remaining suspension by 1. When it reaches zero the suspension is cleared.
A suspended player appearing in a match lineup is a suspension breach. The match is forfeited 5–0 and a deduction is applied against the club's security deposit (Section 17).
Match Report forms are printed by the Organizing Committee and brought to the field for every match.
11.1 All players must wear their team colours, including jerseys with numbers on the back.
11.2 Goalkeepers must wear a shirt or garment completely different in colour from both teams, and must bring to every match a minimum of two completely different coloured shirts, each with their unique number on the back.
11.3 Shin guards must be worn properly at all times on the field. Mouth guards are strongly recommended.
11.4 In case of colour conflict, the team listed second in the schedule must change for that match.
11.5 Opening ceremony: all teams must be present at 9:00 AM at Brampton Soccer Centre, in full kit.
Every team jersey at these Games carries the name of a Sikh historical figure — Gursikhs whose lives are remembered for sacrifice, discipline, and dignity. When you pull that jersey on, you are carrying their name in public.
Players and team officials are therefore asked to hold themselves to that standard whenever they are in kit: no alcohol, tobacco, or any other intoxicant while wearing the tournament jersey — on the pitch, on the sideline, at the venue, or anywhere in public afterwards. The same applies to conduct, language, and how you carry yourself in photographs and on social media. This is asked of you as a matter of respect. Where it is breached inside the competition area, Section 15.4 applies.
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Win | 3 |
| Draw | 1 |
| Loss | 0 |
Where two or more teams are level on points, the following are applied in order:
| Priority | Rule |
|---|---|
| 1 | Goal difference (GF − GA) |
| 2 | Goals for |
| 3 | Wins |
| 4 | Head-to-head (points, then head-to-head goal difference, then head-to-head goals for) |
| 5 | Coin flip, conducted by the Technical Delegate in the presence of both Team Managers |
Standings count completed, result-locked matches only.
13.1 Playoff qualification and seeding are determined by group standings under Section 12, and the fixtures are set under Section 6.3.
13.2 A tied playoff match is decided immediately by penalty shoot-out, conducted per FIH General Tournament Regulations Appendix 12.
13.3 August 3 programme. Matches begin at 9:00 AM. The Open 3rd/4th place playoff is played that day. A tug of war runs between the exhibition match and the Open final. The closing ceremony window (12:00–4:00 PM) includes the final matches themselves, not merely an awards presentation afterward.
| Placing | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $2,100 |
| 2nd | $1,100 |
Trophies awarded to the top teams.
Every participant receives a medal.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) · Best Forward · Best Defender · Best Goalkeeper.
Individual awards are decided by the Organizing Committee in consultation with the umpire pool and Technical Delegate. Their decision is final.
15.1 The FIH Code of Conduct applies in full.
15.2 Team staff are responsible for the conduct of everyone occupying their team bench.
15.3 Captains are responsible for the behaviour of all players on their team and for ensuring substitutions are carried out correctly. A personal penalty is awarded against a captain who fails to exercise these responsibilities.
15.4 Alcohol and intoxicants are strictly prohibited — consumption or possession anywhere within the field of play, including the pitch, benches, technical areas, and the immediate surrounding perimeter. This applies to all athletes, coaches, team officials, and umpires. Breach results in immediate ejection from the competition area and potential further disciplinary action. See also Section 11.6.
15.5 Vocal communication from the bench must not be directed at umpires, technical officials, or opposing players and staff.
15.6 If misconduct continues after team staff have been warned, the Organizing Committee or Technical Delegate may order the person(s) involved to leave the bench and the vicinity of the pitch for the remainder of the match. A written report follows for further disciplinary review.
15.7 The Technical Delegate, together with the Tournament Chair, reserves the right to eject any person — spectator, player, or official — from the tournament area where their conduct is deemed disruptive. Team Managers and Coaches are held responsible for the conduct of their players and officials at all times.
15.8 Violence or brawling is a violence/brawl violation — full forfeit of the club's security deposit, plus expulsion of the individuals involved and, at the Committee's discretion, the team.
16.1 A team refusing to play or complete a scheduled round-robin match forfeits that match. The opponent is awarded a win with an assumed score of 5–0.
16.2 If a team scratches from the competition, all its previously played matches are treated as not having been played — for the scratching team and for every team it played. Those results are recorded as 5–0 to the non-scratching side.
16.3 A no-show is a no-show violation, deducted against the club security deposit.
16.4 Late arrival is a late arrival violation, deducted against the club security deposit. Team Managers are responsible for having their team at the pitch and ready to start on schedule.
There is one deposit: a club security deposit of $500. There is no player-level deposit. Every deduction in this tournament — for cards, late arrivals, no-shows, suspension breaches, eligibility violations, dismissed appeals, or violence — is taken from the club's $500 deposit and from nowhere else.
| Violation | Club deposit deduction | Full forfeit |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow card | ✅ | — |
| Red card | ✅ | — |
| Late arrival | ✅ | — |
| No show | ✅ | — |
| Suspension breach | ✅ | — |
| Appeal dismissed | ✅ | — |
| Eligibility violation | ✅ | ✅ |
| Duplicate player confirmed | ✅ | ✅ |
| Violence / brawl | ✅ | ✅ |
Violations marked full forfeit wipe the entire remaining balance of the club's deposit. This cannot be undone. The forfeit reason is recorded on the ledger.
After every deduction, the club manager receives an SMS and email stating the amount, the violation type, and the new balance.
The remaining balance of the club deposit is returned after the tournament closes and all incidents, appeals, and reports have been resolved. Refunds are issued against the original payment; where no payment record is on file, refunds are processed manually.
18.1 Who may withdraw a player. Super admin or sub admin — any player. Club manager — only players in their own club.
18.2 Effect. A withdrawn player is removed from squad and roster eligibility and notified by SMS and email with the reason. The record remains in the system for audit. A withdrawn player cannot be reactivated without admin intervention.
18.3 Deposit. Because there is no player deposit, withdrawing a player triggers no refund calculation. A club that withdraws entirely before the registration deadline has its remaining deposit balance returned in full; a club that withdraws after the registration deadline forfeits 50% of its remaining balance, in recognition of scheduling disruption. A forfeited deposit is not refunded.
To lodge a protest at the end of a match or shoot-out, the Team Manager must:
The Technical Officer must immediately notify the Technical Delegate. A decision of an umpire or technical official during play may not be protested.
An Appeals Committee sits for the duration of the tournament.
Appeals against a match result or disciplinary decision may also be filed through the platform by a club manager.
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Appeal window | 48 hours from result lock |
| Open appeals per team, per match, per type | 1 |
After the window closes the system returns: “Appeal window has closed.” A second appeal of the same type for the same match by the same team is rejected.
Pending → under review → decided. The club manager is notified by SMS at each stage.
20.2 First aid. Qualified First Aid / CPR Level C support is engaged for the duration of the tournament. Please respect the physio's time so they can support every player seeking assistance.
20.3 Incidents. Incidents are logged manually by an admin or automatically when an emergency is activated on the match tracker. Each records player, match, severity (major / moderate / minor), description, and status: open → under investigation → closed.
20.4 Insurance notification. On incident creation or emergency activation, all insurance administrators are notified by email and SMS, and the notification is flagged on the incident record.
20.5 Medical data. Medical data (blood type, medical notes) is never returned in normal system responses. It is accessible only through the emergency activation flow or the physio portal, and every access is logged.
21.1 Umpires are appointed by the Organizing Committee and Technical Delegate.
21.2 Umpires are rated after each match across four categories, with an overall average computed. Duplicate ratings for the same match by the same rater are blocked.
21.3 Protection clause. Umpires cannot be penalised for decisions falling within the laws of the game. Ratings are a development tool, not a disciplinary mechanism.
The tournament is played in August in Southern Ontario. Rain, heat, and thunderstorms are all realistic possibilities across the three days, and the schedule is built with the expectation that at least some play will be affected. The tournament proceeds in rain. It stops for lightning, and it stops for unsafe footing.
Where the humidex is high, the Technical Delegate may add or extend water breaks, extend half-time, or shorten halves. Teams must bring their own water in sufficient quantity for a full day.
| Situation | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Play resumes, time available | Match continues for its full remaining duration |
| Play resumes, insufficient time | Match is shortened — the Technical Committee decides the new length (e.g. 2 × 12 minutes, or shorter). Teams are informed before restart. |
| Match cancelled, at least one half completed | Score at cancellation stands as final |
| Match cancelled, less than one half completed | Recorded as 0–0, one point to each team |
| Match cannot be played at all in the group stage | Recorded as 0–0, one point to each team, if it cannot be fitted into a remaining window |
| Knockout match cannot be played or completed | Decided on the tiebreaker sequence in Section 12.2, applied to the two teams involved, starting with head-to-head and group record. Where that cannot separate them, a penalty shoot-out is played at the first safe opportunity. |
Where a day's play is delayed, the Tournament Director and Technical Delegate may, without further notice: shorten matches, shorten or remove breaks, run matches concurrently on split fields, move fixtures to a different day within the playing windows, or reduce the exhibition and ceremonial programme. Competition matches take priority over exhibition and ceremonial items in every case. Teams must remain at the venue and contactable during a suspension unless released by the Technical Delegate.
All weather decisions are announced on the field by horn and posted to the tournament WhatsApp broadcast and the tournament website. Team Managers are responsible for relaying decisions to their players. No weather decision is made by any person other than the Technical Delegate.
23.1 Participants consent to being filmed, televised, photographed, identified, and otherwise recorded during Sikh Games competitions.
23.2 Their captured images, together with name, likeness, voice, performance, and biographical information, may be used in any content, format, media, or technology — existing or future — by the Sikh Games Organizing Committee and its authorised partners, during and after the competition, in perpetuity, in relation to promoting the Sikh Games and the sport of field hockey, commercially or non-commercially.
23.3 Breaches of social media guidelines are addressed under the Code of Conduct.
Should circumstances arise that are not provided for in these regulations, they will be dealt with by the Technical Delegate at their discretion, in consultation with the Organizing Committee. Such decisions are final.
| Item | Open | 45+ (Masters) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 11-a-side, full field | 7-a-side, half field |
| Roster | 18 (incl. 2 GK) | 13 (incl. GK) |
| Sideline officials | 2 | 2 |
| Match | 25 + 5 + 25 = 55 min | 25 + 5 + 25 = 55 min |
| Teams | 7 (Group A: 3, Group B: 4) | 3 (single group) |
| Group stage | Single round robin | Single round robin |
| Knockout | Cross-group: A1 v B2, B1 v A2 → final + 3rd/4th | Top 2 play the final |
| GK age limit | Standard | None — any Sikh GK, any age, any gender |
| Hitting the ball | Permitted | Prohibited — full sweeps only |
| Aerials | Per FIH | Prohibited |
| Prizes | $2,100 / $1,100 | Trophies |
| Final | Aug 3 | Aug 2, early morning |