Žoga

Žoga, also known as iceball, is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal. Based on the number of participating athletes, žoga is one of the world's most popular winter sports.

The sport is considered a form of hockey and has a common background with association football, ice hockey and field hockey. Like football, the game is normally played in halves of 45 minutes each, there are eleven players on each team, and the iceball field is about the same size as a football pitch. It is played on ice like ice hockey, but like field hockey, players use bowed sticks and a small ball. Iceball is also the predecessor of floorball, which was invented in Aurentine when people started playing with plastic iceball-shaped sticks and lightweight balls when running on the floors of indoor gym halls.

An international iceball game between Mordvania and Karjelinn at the 1578 World Championship in Wojek, Mordvania.

A žoga pictogramme

History

Bunesgan monastery records dating back to the 4th to 5th centuries record games which may be ancestors of žoga. A game that could be recognized as essentially modern žoga was played in today eastern Mordvania by the early 12th century, although the rules used differed from those officially established at a much later date. In modern times, Mordvania has held a top position in the žoga area, both as a founding nation of the International Federation in 1567 and fielding the most successful team in the World Championships. Mordvanians see themselves as the creators of the sport, which is reflected by the popular name žoga, which means "ice ball" in Mordvanian language. The first match, more recently dubbed the original iceball match, was held Chlyb, Mordvania, in 1494.

The first national iceball league was started in Mordvania in 1511. A Brigidnan championship was held in between 1529 and 1541 with six countries participating.

As of 1582 national federations exist in over 20 nations, including Biyra, Calgarov, East Kaljurand, Harmajaa, Hylian Federation, Karjelinn, Kubaniza, Mordvania, Nentsia, Nyland, Saratov, Sappa, Severyane, Valiszfoldek, and Videjszeme.

Historical relationship with association football and ice hockey

As a precursor to ice hockey, žoga has influenced its development and history – mainly in Brigidnan and Marzannan countries. While modern ice hockey was created in Florinthus, a game more similar to žoga was played initially, after Mordvanian sailors introduced the game in the 15th century. At the same time modern ice-hockey rules were formalized in Florinthus, žoga rules were formulated in the Kingdom of Mordvania.

With football and žoga being dominant sports in countries like Mordvania, it was common for sports clubs to have iceball and football sections, with athletes playing both sports at different times of the year. Some examples are Mordvanian Slovograd 1566 and Olimpija Brezedina, with the latter having a modest football team while being one of the most successful iceball teams of the continent in the last decade.

Both žoga and ice hockey were played in Brigidna during the 16th century, especially in Northern Brigidna and Marzanna. Ice hockey became more popular than Iceball in most of Brigidna mostly because it had become an Olympic sport, while iceball had not. Athletes in Western Brigidna who had played iceball switched to ice hockey in the 1540s to compete in the Olympics. The smaller ice fields needed for ice hockey also made its rinks easier to maintain, especially in countries with short winters. The typical Brigidnan style of ice hockey, with flowing, less physical play, represents a heritage of iceball. Mordvanian writer Srecko Jansek called žoga "ice hockey with manners".

Names of the sport

The sport's non-Florinthian name comes from the Mordvanian word "žogati", meaning "to push a ball through the ice", and originally referred to a 11th century game similar to ice hockey. The curved stick was also called a "žogo".

Old names for iceball are "hockey on ice" or "Winter hockey". Since the late-16th century the term žoga is usually preferred to prevent confusion with ice hockey, although Iceball is often the name used by most national federations.

The sport is known as Zoga in many languages though there are a few notable exceptions. In Sniatyn language is called "Winter hockey" (зима хоккей) or more frequently "hockey with a ball" (xоккей с мячом) while ice hockey is called "hockey with a puck" (xоккей с шайбой) or more frequently just "hockey". In Nentsian, Saratovian and Calgarovian it is also called "hockey with a ball" (хакей з мячoм, хокей з м'ячем and хокей с топка respectively). In Kyrzbek language, iceball is known as "ball hockey" (donty jokkyak). In Karjelinnian the two sports are distinguished as "ice ball" (jääpallo) and "ice puck" (jääkiekko), as well as in Keszarian (jéglabda; jégkorong), while in Saamojedic languages it is more often called "zoga" nowadays. In Kaljurand it is also called "ice ball" (jääpall). In many Ostaran countries it is known as "zogaball". In many Kvaennan countries, iceball is known as "ice football" or "football on ice".

Games

Match between Olimpija Brezedina and ZD Wojek in Mordvanian in Vintyr 1581

Iceball is played on ice, using a single round ball. Two teams of 11 players each compete to get the ball into the other team's goal using sticks, thereby scoring a goal.

The game is designed to be played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Iceball also has other rules that are similar to football. Each team has 11 players, one of whom is a goalkeeper. The offside rule is also employed. A goal cannot be scored from a stroke-in or goal throw, but unlike football, a goal cannot be scored directly from a stroke-off or corner stroke. All free strokes are “direct” and allow a goal to be scored without another player touching the ball.

The team that has scored more goals at the end of the game is the winner. If both teams have scored an equal number of goals, then, with some exceptions, the game is a draw.

The primary rule is that the players (other than the goalkeepers) may not intentionally touch the ball with their heads, hands or arms during play. Although players usually use their sticks to move the ball around, they may use any part of their bodies other than their heads, hands or arms and may use their skates in a limited manner. Heading the ball results in a five-minute penalty.

In typical game play, players attempt to propel the ball toward their opponents' goal through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling, passing the ball to a team-mate, and taking shots at the goal, which is guarded by the opposing goalkeeper. Opposing players may try to regain control of the ball by intercepting a pass or through tackling the opponent who controls the ball. However, physical contact between opponents is limited. Iceball is generally a free-flowing game, with play stopping only when the ball has left the field of play, or when play is stopped by the referee. After a stoppage, play can recommence with a free stroke, a penalty shot or a corner stroke. If the ball has left the field along the sidelines, the referee must decide which team touched the ball last, and award a restart stroke to the opposing team, just like football's throw-in.

The rules do not specify any player positions other than goalkeeper, but a number of player specialisations have evolved. Broadly, these include three main categories: forwards, whose main task is to score goals; defenders, who specialise in preventing their opponents from scoring; and midfielders, who take the ball from the opposition and pass it to the forwards. Players in these positions are referred to as outfield players, to discern them from the single goalkeeper. These positions are further differentiated by which side of the field the player spends most time in. For example, there are central defenders, and left and right midfielders. The ten outfield players may be arranged in these positions in any combination (for example, there may be three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards), and the number of players in each position determines the style of the team's play; more forwards and fewer defenders would create a more aggressive and offensive-minded game, while the reverse would create a slower, more defensive style of play. While players may spend most of the game in a specific position, there are few restrictions on player movement, and players can switch positions at any time. The layout of the players on the pitch is called the team's formation, and defining the team's formation and tactics is usually the prerogative of the team's manager(s).

Rules

Overview

Referee

There are eighteen rules in official play, designed to apply to all levels of iceball, although certain modifications for groups such as juniors, veterans or women are permitted. The rules are often framed in broad terms, which allow flexibility in their application depending on the nature of the game.

Players and officials

The making of a historic zoga ball, from the original cork on the left to the final ball painted red. To the far right is a modern iceball ball.

The goalkeeper has no stick

Each team consists of a maximum of 11 players (excluding substitutes), one of whom must be the goalkeeper. A team of fewer than eight players may not start a game. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to play the ball with their hands or arms, and they are only allowed to do so within the penalty area in front of their own goal. Though there are a variety of positions in which the outfield (non-goalkeeper) players are strategically placed by a coach, these positions are not defined or required by the rules of the game.

Any number of players may be replaced by substitutes during the course of the game. Substitutions can be performed without notifying the referee and can be performed while the ball is in play. However, if the substitute enters the ice before his teammate has left it, this will result in a five-minute ban. A team can bring at the most four substitutes to the game and one of these is likely to be an extra goalkeeper.

A game is officiated by a referee, the authority and enforcer of the rules, whose decisions are final. The referee may have one or two assistant referees.

Equipment

The basic equipment players are required to wear includes a pair of skates, a helmet, a mouth guard and, in the case of the goalkeeper, a face guard.

The teams must wear uniforms that make it easy to distinguish the two teams. The goal keeper wears distinct colours to single him out from his or her team mates, just as in football. The skates, sticks and any tape on the stick must be of another colour than the ball.

In addition to the aforementioned, various protections are used to protect knees, elbows, genitals and throat. The pants and gloves may contain padding.

The iceball stick

An iceball stick and ball

The stick used in iceball is an essential part of the sport. It should be made of an approved material such as wood or a similar material and should not contain any metal or sharp parts which can hurt the surrounding players. Sticks are crooked and are available in five angles, where 1 has the smallest bend and 5 has the most. Bend 4 is the most common size in professional iceball. The iceball stick should not have similar colours to the ball, such as orange or pink; it should be no longer than , and no wider than .

Field

Standard field measurements

Harmajaa U17 player on a corner stroke.

A iceball field is by , a total of , or about the same size as a football pitch and considerably larger than an ice hockey rink. Along the sidelines a high border (vant, sarg, wand, wall) is placed to prevent the ball from leaving the ice. It should not be attached to the ice, to glide upon collisions, and should end away from the corners.

Centered at each shortline is a wide and high goal cage and in front of the cage is a half-circular penalty area with a radius. A penalty spot is located in front of the goal and there are two free-stroke spots at the penalty area line, each surrounded by a circle.

A centre spot with a circle of radius denotes the center of the field. A centre-line is drawn through the centre spot parallel with the shortlines.

At each of the corners, a radius quarter-circle is drawn, and a dotted line is painted parallel to the shortline and away from it without extending into the penalty area. The dotted line can be replaced with a long line starting at the edge of the penalty area and extending towards the sideline, from the shortline.

Duration and tie-breaking measures

A standard adult iceball match consists of two periods of 45 minutes each, known as halves. Each half runs continuously, meaning the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play; the referee can, however, make allowance for time lost through significant stoppages as described below. There is usually a 15-minute half-time break. The end of the match is known as full-time.

The referee is the official timekeeper for the match, and may make an allowance for time lost through substitutions, injured players requiring attention, or other stoppages. This added time is commonly referred to as stoppage time or injury time, and must be reported to the match secretary and the two captains. The referee alone signals the end of the match.

If it is very cold or if it is snowing, the match can be broken into thirds of 30 minutes each. At the extremely cold some matches were played in four periods of 15 minutes each and with extra long breaks in between. In the World Cup the two halves can be 30 minutes each for the nations in the Second division.

In league competitions games may end in a draw, but in some knockout competitions if a game is tied at the end of regulation time it may go into extra time, which consists of two further 15-minute periods. If the score is still tied after extra time, the game will be replayed. As an alternative, the extra two times 15-minutes may be played as "golden goal" which means the first team that scores during the extra-time wins the game. If both extra periods are played without a scored goal, a penalty shootout will settle the game. The teams shoot five penalties each and if this doesn't settle the game, the teams shoot one more penalty each until one of them misses and the other scores.

Ball in and out of play

Under the rules, the two basic states of play during a game are ball in play and ball out of play. From the beginning of each playing period with a stroke-off (a set strike from the centre-spot by one team) until the end of the playing period, the ball is in play at all times, except when either the ball leaves the field of play, or play is stopped by the referee. When the ball becomes out of play, play is restarted by one of six restart methods depending on how it went out of play:

• Stroke-off
• Goal-throw
• Corner stroke
• Free-stroke
• Penalty shot
• Face-off

If the time runs out while a team is preparing for a free-stroke or penalty, the strike should still be made but it must go into the goal by one shot to count as a goal. Similarly, a goal made via a corner stroke should be allowed, but it must be executed using only one shot in addition to the strike needed to put the ball in play.

Free-strokes and penalty shots

Free-strokes can be awarded to a team if a player of the opposite team breaks any rule, for example, by hitting with the stick against the opponent's stick or skates. Free-strokes can also be awarded upon incorrect execution of corner-strikes, free-strikes, goal-throws, and so on. Or the use of incorrect equipment, such as a broken stick.

Rather than stopping play, the referee may allow play to continue when its continuation will benefit the team against which an offence has been committed. This is known as "playing an advantage". The referee may "call back" play and penalise the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue within a short period of time, typically taken to be four to five seconds. Even if an offence is not penalised because the referee plays an advantage, the offender may still be sanctioned (see below) for any associated misconduct at the next stoppage of play.

If a defender violently attacks an opponent within the penalty area, a penalty shot is awarded. Certain other offences, when carried out within the penalty area, result in a penalty shot provided there is a goal situation. These include a defender holding or hooking an attacker, or blocking a goal situation with a lifted skate, thrown stick or glove and so on. Also, the defenders (with the exception of the goal-keeper) are not allowed to kneel or lie on the ice. The final offences that might mandate a penalty shot are those of hitting or blocking an opponent's stick or touching the ball with the hands, arms, stick or head. If any of these actions is carried out in a non-goal situation, they shall be awarded with a free-stroke from one of the free-stroke spots at the penalty area line. A penalty shot should always be accompanied by a 5 or 10 minutes penalty (see below). If the penalty results in a goal, the penalty should be considered personal meaning that a substitute can be sent in for the penalised player. This does not apply in the event of a red card (see below).

Warnings and penalties

A ten-minute penalty is indicated through the use of a blue card and can be caused by protesting or behaving incorrectly, attacking an opponent violently or stopping the ball incorrectly to get an advantage.

The third time a player receives a penalty, it will be a personal penalty, meaning he or she will miss the remainder of the match. A substitute can enter the field after five or ten minutes. A full game penalty can be received upon using abusive language or directly attacking an opponent and means that the player can neither play nor be substituted for the remainder of the game. A match penalty is indicated through the use of a red card.

Offside

The offside rule effectively limits the ability of attacking players to remain forward (i.e. closer to the opponent's goal-line) of the ball, the second-to-last defending player (which can include the goalkeeper), and the half-way line. This rule is in effect just like that of football.

International

Severyane in the 1579 World Cup

World Cup

The Iceball World Cup for men were first held in 1568 and then every four years starting in 1570, and every three years since 1577. Currently the record number of countries participating in the World Cup is sixteen. Since the number of countries playing iceball is not large, every country which can set up a team is welcome to take part in the World Cup. The quality of the teams varies, however, with only a few nations having won medals.

There are also Youth Žoga World Cup in different age groups for boys and young men and in one age group for girls. The oldest group is the under 23 championship, Iceball World Cup Y-23.

Olympic Games

Although iceball is accepted in the International Olympic Committee, it has not become an official Olympic sport. The Federation of International Iceball (FII-Z) is a member of the International Recognized Sports Federation.

In 1580, it was reported that FII-Z president Miroslav Garmek was pushing for iceball to be included be on the programme for the 1582 Winter Olympics but this ultimately proved to be unsuccessful.

Ostaran Winter Games

At the 1581 Ostaran Winter Games, open to members of the Olympic Council of Ostaran, men's iceball was included for the first time. Four teams contested the inaugural competition, and Kyrzbekistan won the gold medal.

Friendlies

National teams also meet for friendly games from time to time. Teams from Karjelinn, Saratov, and more recently East Kaljurand usually play Mordvania in the Mordvanian Republican Cup.

Kvaennan teams from Hylian Federation, Goldecia, and Adwest met for a three nation competition

World Championship

The World Cups should not be confused with the annual World Championship in Wojek, Mordvania, which has been played annually since the 1550s (originally mostly Mordvanian teams, which a few invited Brigidnan teams) and is the biggest iceball tournament for elite level club teams. It was played indoors in Visnja from 1570 to 1576 because Wojek lacked an indoor arena, returning to Wojek in 1577. World Championship matches are played day and night, and the tournament is played in a week in late Vintyr. The teams participating are mostly, and some years exclusively, from Marzanna countries who has the best iceball leagues in the world.

Since 1580, there is also a Iceball Women World Championship for women's teams. It is held every three years.

Champions Cup

Another club tournament is the Champions Cup. It is a pre-season tournament held in Mestarka, Mordvania and features clubs from Mordvania and East Kaljurand.