Rule 14 · USPA Rulebook 2026
Duration of periods
Seven minutes plus up to thirty seconds, how a period ends, the last period, overtime and the shootout.
Warning and start
The horn shall be sounded two minutes before each period (also referred to as a “chukker”) as a warning of its commencement, and two horns shall sound at the time each period is to commence.
Seven minutes and up to thirty seconds
In each period of the game, at the end of 7 minutes of elapsed time, a single horn or bell will sound to indicate that up to 30 seconds of overtime remain in the period. At the end of the overtime portion of the period, a horn or bell will sound twice to terminate the period. When the sounding twice of the second horn or bell is either untimely or not heard by the players or Umpires, the period ends at 7 minutes and 30 seconds expired on the official clock, unless it is the final regulation period and it ends earlier pursuant to subsection (2) below. A goal scored after time has expired on the official clock does not count, even if it is before the second horn or bell sounds and before the Umpires blow their whistles. Should there be an electronic malfunction of the official clock or a situation where the official clock does not start and/or stop in accordance with the play on the field the Umpires shall have final authority to correct the official time and shall direct the Timekeeper and/or Scorer to make any necessary adjustments to the official clock.
A four-period game: each period 7 minutes and up to 30 seconds of overtime; intervals of 3 minutes, and 5 at half time. How an ordinary period ends
Except for the final period of regulation play, each period will terminate following the 7-minute horn or bell, when the ball goes out of play, a goal is scored, or the Umpire(s) whistle sounds. When played on a boarded field, play will not stop when the ball hits the boards and remains on the playing field. If a foul is called after the 7-minute horn or bell sounds, the Umpire’s whistle ends the period and the foul shall be awarded at the beginning of the next period.
The last regulation period
In the final regulation period, play will continue following the 7-minute horn or bell until the second horn or bell, or until a goal is scored, unless that goal ties the score, in which case play will continue until the second horn or bell, or until another goal is scored. If play is stopped by the Umpires after the 7-minute horn or bell for any reason, the penalty, throw-in or free hit, as the case may be, shall be executed. If play is stopped by the Umpire’s whistle after the 7-minute horn or bell for any reason, a minimum of 5 seconds shall be allowed for execution of any penalty, free hit or throw-in, as the case may be. If play is stopped by the Umpire’s whistle after the 7-minute horn or bell for a Penalty 1 call that stands, the team fouled shall be awarded one goal, and the game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5.b awarded to the fouled team and a change in direction. In this event, the clock shall only be reset if less than 5 seconds remains on the clock for execution of the Penalty 5.b, in which case the clock shall be reset to 5 seconds.
Subject to Rule 14.b(2), as long as the ball remains in play, the overtime portion of a period will continue until the time expires and the second horn sounds. In all periods but the final regulation period, a ball hit through the goal or over the backline or sidelines after the 7-minute horn is considered out of play and ends the period. If a foul is called, that also ends the period. Play stopped for any other reason after the 7-minute horn will resume in the appropriate manner. “Execution of the penalty” shall include the free hit on a Penalty 2 or 3 when the ball hit by the fouled team does not clear the playing field.
After the 7-minute horn, Blue #3 scores and is simultaneously fouled by Red #2. Penalty No. 1 is awarded. The penalty ends the period in any regulation period but the final regulation period. In the final regulation period, the game shall be resumed with a Penalty 5.b awarded to the fouled team and a change in direction with a minimum of 5 seconds on the clock. In any other regulation period, the next period shall begin with a Penalty 5.b awarded to the fouled team and a change in direction. In the closing seconds of the period, Red hits a long ball to goal. The Timer sounds her horn but the can is empty. Several seconds are lost until the can is changed and the horn sounded during which time Red scores the goal. The Timer should advise the Umpire that the period was “intended to end” well before the goal scored. The goal does not count and play is resumed at the point where the horn was intended to sound. The 7-minute horn sounds when the ball is in the Umpire’s hand for a throw-in. In every regulation period but the final regulation period, the period ends as the ball is out of play.
Overtime
Should the score be tied at the end of the final regulation period, the game shall be resumed in overtime periods with intervals between periods as provided in Rule 16, until one side obtains a goal which shall determine the game. A minimum of 5 seconds shall be allowed for execution of any penalty, free hit or throw-in, as the case may be.
Shootout
At the discretion of the Committee, in the event of a tie at the end of the last regular period, or any overtime period, the game may be concluded by a “shoot out” procedure. A shootout should be conducted immediately following the game with a reasonable amount of time allowed for all participants to prepare. The shootout will be conducted as follows:
The Umpire(s) will determine which goal to use. One Umpire will set up each ball, the other Umpire to serve as a goal judge. If only one Umpire is officiating, a goal judge will be selected to assist in the shootout.
The team to hit first shall be decided by lot. Each player, in turn, and alternating teams, will attempt a free hit from the forty-yard line at an undefended goal. All players not hitting to be behind, and not closer than 10 yards from, the ball.
All players from each team will participate. The Host Tournament Committee can determine that using all players from both teams is not in the best interest of the tournament and may choose to use only one player from each team, but a team versus team shootout is preferable. The team to hit first shall be decided by lot.
The teams shall hit in the same order in each round until a winner is produced. Each shootout goal to score 1 point. After all players have hit, the team with more points will be declared the game winner by one goal.
Should all players participate, each player, in turn, and alternating between teams, will attempt a free hit from the forty-yard line at an undefended goal. All players not hitting to be behind, and not closer than ten yards from, the ball. Each shootout goal to score 1 point. After all players have hit, the team with more points will be declared the game winner.
Should one player hit for each team, each player will hit once from the forty-yard line at an undefended goal. The player not hitting to be behind and not closer than 10 yards from the ball. Following the first round the ball will be moved back to the sixty-yard line for the second round. If the score is tied after the first round of hits from the sixty-yard line, the players will each hit again in a subsequent round from the sixty-yard line until one player misses and the other player scores.
Should no hits score after the first two rounds by either team or an individual player representing his or her team, the ball will be moved up to the thirty-yard line in games with an upper handicap limit of 6 goals and under. In games with an upper handicap limit above 6 goals, hitting will continue from the sixty-yard line until the tie is broken.
Note: This procedure for a shootout will be followed in games between two teams that end in a tie. Additional conditions may apply in games between three teams (see Tournament Condition VI.c - Round Robins) and to determine which team advances between tied teams in a tournament with one or more brackets (see Tournament Condition VI.f - Order of Finish for additional considerations when using the shootout to determine winners in the event of a tie in either of these two occurrences).
The final horn
All periods shall terminate at the first sound of the final horn, wherever the ball may be. To avoid any mistake about whether the horn has actually been sounded or not, or whether such sounding may have been inadvertent or untimely, players should continue to play until they hear the Umpire’s whistle.