Proposal 114: 14A.1 Preface [ Revision 1 ]
Committee: 14. HockeySubmitted on 2025-07-20
Status: Set-Aside (Reviewed from July 20, 2025 to July 28, 2025)
Background
Malte Voelkel:
I am in favor of removing this sentence:
“Teams have to agree on a specific amount of elbowroom before playing.”
This phrasing is misleading. We have an official rulebook, and referees are responsible for enforcing it. If teams make informal agreements to interpret or apply rules differently, it undermines the referee’s authority and creates inconsistency.
Proposal
Old:
14A.1 Preface
Unicycle hockey is a variant of hockey which is played on unicycles with a tennis ball. It is usually played in a gym. These rules cannot cover every situation. Teams have to agree on a specific amount of elbowroom before playing. The different backgrounds of the players and the conditions of the location have to be considered. Fairness of everyone involved is vital.
New:
14A.1 Preface
Unicycle hockey is a variant of hockey which is played on unicycles with a tennis ball. It is usually played in a gym. These rules cannot cover every situation. If standard playing conditions (e.g. field size, goal dimensions, or equipment) cannot be met, the Tournament Host and Hockey Director may define appropriate adjustments with the least possible deviations in consultation with the participating teams before the tournament starts. The different backgrounds of the players and the conditions of the location have to be considered. Fairness of everyone involved is vital.
Body
Benjamin Fischer:
I understand the concerns raised by both Malte and Herbie, and I appreciate the thoughtful examples and perspectives shared.
From my point of view, the sentence "Teams have to agree on a specific amount of elbowroom before playing" does indeed raise questions due to its vague wording. As Malte rightly pointed out, it might be misunderstood as an encouragement for teams to make informal rule changes, which could undermine the role of the referee and lead to inconsistencies.
At the same time, I fully agree with Herbie’s observation that certain adaptations — such as using different goal dimensions or field sizes — have been a practical necessity at past tournaments, especially at international events like Unicon. These adjustments did not compromise fairness, but rather enabled the games to take place despite logistical limitations.
In my opinion, it’s important to strike a balance:
We should avoid encouraging informal negotiations between teams that go beyond the rulebook, but we should also acknowledge that minor deviations from standard playing conditions may be necessary in some situations — provided they are communicated transparently and agreed upon by the organizer and all participating teams in advance.
Ole Jaekel:
Instead of deleting the sentence it even becomes longer now... :-/
References
This proposal refers to the discussion: "Preface" https://iuf-rulebook-2025.committees.unicycling-software.com/discussions/158