19. Alterations to the Table Playing area - no changes can be made that would affect the interior playing characteristics of the table by any player. This includes changes to the men, playing surface, bumpers, etc. 19.1 A player cannot wipe sweat, spit or any foreign substance on his hand before wiping ball marks off the table. 19.1.1 Wiping rosin or any other substance on the playfield is illegal. 19.1.2 Any player using a substance on their hands to improve their grip must make sure that this substance does not get on the table or ball. If this does occur and the substance is judged to affect the play of the ball (Example: a ball coated with rosin) that ball and any others in the table similarly affected shall be cleaned or replaced immediately. The player in violation shall be penalized for delay of game and any subsequent violations the player will be prohibited from using the substance for the remainder of the match. 19.2 If a player who uses a substance, such as rosin, to improve his grip leaves a deposit on the handles when switching sides he must clean the handles immediately. 19.2.1 If the time necessary to remove the substance exceeds 90 seconds, the player will be penalized for delay of game, and the player will be prohibited from using the substance again. 19.3 A player may not place anything on the rods, handles or exterior of the table that affects the movement of the rods (example: limiting the motion of the goalie rod). 19.4 A player may switch the handles on the exterior of the tables if it can be done within the time limits and without impeding the opponent’s ability to change sides between games. Taking too much time will be grounds for delay of game (See Rule 25). 19.5 A request to change balls before the start of the match must be approved by the official present or the Tournament Director. The request will be granted only if the playing characteristics of the existing balls are significantly different from the standard. 19.5.1 New ball - a player may not ask for a new ball while the ball is in play. During a dead ball, however, a player may request a new ball from the rack inside the table. Such a request will generally be granted, unless the official present judges that such a request is made for the purpose of stalling play. 19.5.2 A player requesting a new ball while the ball is in play shall be charged with a time out, unless the official present judges the ball to be unplayable, in which case no time out will be charged. 19.6 Unless otherwise specified, penalty for violation of any part of this rule may be grounds for a technical foul.