Floor Ball which is a new sporting discipline has joined the other sporting disciplines in the country after it was recognized by the Sports Council of Sierra Leone on April 11th 2008 by the outgoing Director of Sports Saidu Mansaray.
This was disclosed by the Secretary General and coordinator of the association Joseph Oreilly Campbell, who said that they want to visit the new Director of Sports Bai Kabia, the Minister of Education Youth and Sports Dr Minkailu Bah and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Henry Moore to inform them about the formation of the executive.
He went further that they have also written a letter to the International Floor ball Federation (IFF) for recognition and they are also planning to organize courses for coaches and referees.
After these courses he said the coaches will then take the game to the schools and these coaches will also promote the game in their different communities. The launching of the association is expected to be next month in Freetown.
Campbell went further to explain about the rules of Floor ball saying the regular time of playing the game shall be 3 periods of 20 minutes with two 10 minutes inter mission at which teams shall change sides.
Exemption for a shorter game time with no less than 2 times 15 minutes in a case of extensions of time if a match which must have a winner, ends with a tie. It shall be extended until one team scores(So called sudden death).
Before any extension, teams have the right to 2 minutes rest and extra time is not divided into periods and no change of ends shall take place. During extra time the same rules apply to starting and stopping time as during regular game time.
He also disclosed that penalty time remaining after the regular game time shall continue during extra time if the score after limited extra time is still equal, the match shall be decided by penalty shootout.
He noted that each team staff may have at most five members of the team staff in the match record (team sheet) and allowed to be in their own substitution zone. A match shall be led or controlled by two equally authorized referees.
In a case of substitution, zones with a length of 10metres shall be marked along one of the long sides of the rink, 5metres from the centre line, and include player’s benches.
Joseph Campbell mentioned that each team is allowed to use a maximum 20 players. These shall be noted in the match record (recording sheet). During play at most six players in each team including only one goalkeeper may be on the rink simultaneously and substitution of players may take place at any time and an unlimited numbers of times during a match in the team’s own substitution zone.
Any player leaving the rink has to be on his way passing over the board before a substitute may enter the rink. An injured player leaving the rink outside his own substitution zone must not replaced until the game is interrupted.
During the regular game time each team shall have the right to request time out, which shall be carried out, and be marked by a triple signal as soon as play is interrupted. Time out may be requested at any time, including in connection with goals and penalty shots, but only by the team captain or a member of the team staff. A penalized player must not participate in a time out.
The rink (court) shall be 40mx 20m and enclosed by a board with rounded corners which is approved by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) and marked accordingly.
He also noted that the marking shall be made with lines 4-5 cm in width in a clearly visible colour and a centre line and a centre spot shall be marked and also the goal creases (area) will be measuring 4mx5m shall be marked 2.85m.
The executive of Floor ball is comprises of the following Pastor Alie D Bangura of Sports Avenue as President, Sahid Conteh for first Vice President representing the Western Area, S O Williams second Vice President representing the Northern Province.
Abu S Bangura third Vice President representing the Southern Province; Victor Amara another Vice President representing Eastern Province. The Secretary General Joseph Orielly Campbell Assistant Secretary General Claudius Rahman, Organizing Secretary Mohamed S Kamara National Fire Force Assistant 0rganizing Secretary Sarah Johnson Prison. Public Relation Officer(PRO) Lansana Claye of Radio Kalleone, Jenneh Mustapha female coach, Samuel Morris male coach and Teddy Campbell of RSLAF.
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