SFHL Playing Rules
SECTION A: TEAM AND ASSOCIATION RULES
1. Annual Application: Annual application for membership by an organization shall be submitted to the SFHL EXECUTIVE BOARD for consideration. The EXECUTIVE BOARD shall not unreasonably withhold acceptance of teams that meet the SFHL criteria for membership.
Criteria for membership are as follows
Each organization must have its own USA HOCKEY Association Code
Each organization must be a member in good standing with USA HOCKEY and SAHOF
Each organization must agree to abide by the rules and regulations of USA HOCKEY, SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT, SAHOF, AND SFHL.
Each organization shall be required to pay a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to be included in the scheduling process.
The annual application shall be due no later than July 1st and the $1,000 deposit shall be due no later than 14 days after the acceptance of the annual application.
2. Home Ice: Each organization must have a firm commitment for available home ice.
Each organization shall assume the responsibility of providing sufficient ice time for their home games.3. Association Representative: All participating teams must assign an Association Representative. All communication with the SFHL League office is to be done by your Association Representative.
4. Team Registration: All teams must be registered as Tier II . The league office must have a certified roster (signed by the Affiliate Registrar) on file along with all certified supplemental.
5. Player Registration: All players must be registered with USA Hockey.
6. SAHOF Registration: It is the sole responsibility of each organization’s designated registrar to duly register the roster with the SAHOF ASSOCIATE REGISTRAR at their earliest convenience following the formation of the team, and with any subsequent changes. Non-registered teams are not permitted to count games toward the 20/10 requirements for post season and tournament play. Rosters may be changed as necessary through December 31.
7. Team Rosters: It shall be the responsibility of each coach or team manager to check the age eligibility of the team members and submit an official USA HOCKEY roster form, or reasonable facsimile for each team, showing player name, birth date, and signature NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1 for each Fall Season.
Failure to file the roster may result in forfeiture of all games until a complete roster is on file
Any updates or roster changes resulting in a revised roster must also be filed.
8. Team Make Up: A team roster shall consist of no more than twenty (20) registered players. No player can be on the roster of two Tier I or II teams at one time. Squirts & Mites rostered on two teams must declare intent by Dec. 31 (refer to SAHOF rules)
9. First Aid: It is recommended that the home city shall provide a suitable First Aid kit to be kept at the arena for the use of League teams and shall keep an emergency call list available. It is strongly recommended that all teams should maintain a first aid kit so as to be immediately accessible on the playing bench.
10. Jerseys: Each association shall be responsible for supplying their teams with a set of numbered jerseys. The home team shall wear their lighter colored jerseys; however, the home team must change their jerseys if home and visitors have the same color jerseys. All players shall be dressed uniformly.
11. Protests: Any grievances or protests involving officiating, procedures, rules and regulations at League games shall be handled according to these guidelines:
Grievances or protests are to be written and submitted by the ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE ONLY to the Commissioner of SFHL within 48 hours of the perceived infraction.
Grievances or protest involving judgment calls by the Referees are not allowed and will not be considered.
12. Fine For Failure To Play: Any SFHL team that does not attend a scheduled league weekend will have their association accessed a $750.00 fine. If the fine is not paid in its entirety within 30 days or 7 days prior to the divisional playoff, whichever comes first, the specific team will not be eligible for the SAHOF playoffs or the SE Districts. The fined association will not be allowed to participate in the SFHL at any level the following year until the fine is paid.
13. No Refunds: Each organization shall be required to pay the established registration fees to SFHL on the due dates. There will be no refunds issued for teams that drop out once the schedule is done.
14. Schedule changes: It is the responsibility of the team requesting the reschedule to coordinate with the other teams involved on an acceptable date for rescheduling. This includes securing and paying for the ice, referees and scorekeepers. There will be no refunds from the league for missed games. If ALL the teams cannot come to an agreement on a rescheduling date the commissioner will serve as an arbitrator to help resolve the conflict. If the game still cannot be rescheduled , the commissioner can elect to have the single visit, count for double points and or award a team with a win in the final standings. (Forfeit)
SECTION B: PLAYER AND COACH RULES
The SFHL will play by USA Hockey and SAHOF Rules and Regulations.
1. USA Hockey Registration: All Coaches and Players must be registered with USA Hockey.
2. Coaches’ Qualifications: All Coaches must have a valid coaching card and must meet USA Hockey minimum coaching guidelines for the team being coached.
3. Suspensions: In any situation where USA HOCKEY/SFHL rules provide for a participant (Player or Coach) to be suspended for one (1) or more games, the suspension is to be applied and served at the next scheduled SFHL sanctioned game(s). This game must be a regularly scheduled game shown on the master schedule. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of the game.
If the player or coach’s next scheduled game is in a USA Hockey sanctioned Tournament, the manager/coach of that team can apply to the Commissioner of SFHL to use those games in lieu of the next SFHL official games. The decision of the SFHL Commissioner is at his(her) sole discretion.
All Suspensions should appear on the Point Streak score sheets, and while we will make every effort to keep the suspensions up to date It remains the ultimate responsibility of the coaches & mangers to comply and not play any player that is to be serving a suspension. Any Coach/Player that knowingly plays in a game that he/she should be serving a suspension will lead to forfeiture of the game along with any Sanctions outlined in USA Hockey.
4. Multiple Game Misconducts: Any Coach or Player that receives
5 or more game misconducts during the course of the season automatically receives a 6 game suspension.5. Players’ Equipment: It shall be mandatory that the following equipment be worn by players in league games:
A. Helmet and full-face mask (USA HOCKEY approved, HECC, CSA, etc.)
B. Hockey Gloves
C. Shoulder Pads
D. Shin Guards
E. Athletic Cup
F. Hockey Pants
G. Elbow Pads
H. Neck Guard-Goalies included for Squirts, Peewees & Bantam. It is strongly recommended for the Midget age division.
I. Mouth Guard (Required in all age divisions, must be colored. (Recommended Type: Class III, form fitted by Dentist)
J. Any other equipment mandated by USA HOCKEY RULES.
6. False Registration: Any player, parent or coach who willingly gives materially false information in connection with a player’s registration for a team shall be suspended for the current season. The same shall apply to any player who signs his parents’ name to his contract.
7. Player Dismissal: Any Coach may replace a player on the team roster for any reason. Once a player is removed from the team’s roster, that player shall not rejoin the team during the current season. Such changes must be reported to the SAHOF ASSOCIATE REGISTRAR so that a certified supplemental USA HOCKEY roster can be obtained. The supplemental roster must be submitted to the Commissioner before the replacement player can play in any league game. This rule begins with the first regularly scheduled game (weekend series) for each team.
8. Age Eligibility: Eligibility for play in an age bracket will be based on the year of birth as provided in USA Hockey guidelines. Players are not permitted to play down an age division in the League.
9. Zamboni Rules: While ice is being resurfaced, no player shall step onto the ice until after the Zamboni has left the ice and the Zamboni exit doors have been closed.
SECTION C: LEAGUE PLAY
1. Game Rules: All SFHL games will be played under the rules of USA Hockey and SAHOF. In addition, the SFHL may modify or supplement USA Hockey rules with local rules applicable to SFHL games as appropriate.
2. Age classifications: League play may be scheduled for teams entered in the following classifications:
• SQUIRT
• PEEWEE
• BANTAM
• MIDGET 16U
• MIDGET 18U
3. Participation: The Executive Board may restrict the number of teams in any one division or classification.
It is recommended that any organizations with 2 or more teams at an age classification should enter at least 1 team in the "A" level leagues.
NO MINOR OR MAJOR CLASSIFICATIONS will be recognized.
At this time the SFHL will not recognize the Mite Age Classification
4. Player Rosters: USA HOCKEY Tier II rules for the registration of players and teams strictly apply. No team may dress a player(s) not on that team's official roster for League games. Any team using a player(s) not on the team’s official roster shall forfeit all games played with the ineligible player(s).
ADDING & REMOVING OF PLAYERS-
If you would like to add a player to your roster. YOU MUST FAX or EMAIL A SCANNED COPY of the Supplemental roster you are sending to the Affiliate Register by the THURSDAY BEFORE YOUR GAMES. IF THE LEAGUE OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE A COPY OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ROSTER BY THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY ON THURSDAY THAT PLAYER IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO PLAY THAT WEEKEND. , Follow it up with an email to the league office and you will receive a confirmation that the league received it. You do not have to wait for it to be signed by the Affiliate registrar but it
must be signed by the player, once you receive the signed copy back from the affiliate registrar forward it to the League office.If you drop a player from your roster that player cannot rejoin the team this season for SFHL games, players sustaining injuries will be handled on a case by case basis.
Maximum amount of players on roster is 20.
In the event of a challenge by a team related to the play of non-rostered player, the following actions should be followed:
The team officials should inform the opposing team’s head coach and scorekeeper of the challenge. Whenever possible the challenge should be communicated before the game. The challenge should be noted on the score sheet.
The player in question will be allowed to participate in the game.
Subsequent to the game weekend, the team making the challenge is responsible for submitting, in writing, a formal complaint to the Commissioner along with a copy of the score sheet. The Commissioner, in consultation with the EXECUTIVE BOARD, will make a ruling. If the ruling is made that the player was ineligible, the game will be declared a forfeit.
5. Score sheets: Both Managers are responsible for bringing to ALL games the pre-printed Score sheets from Pointstreak. GAME SHEETS THAT HAVE LABELS ON THEM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL AND GAME RESULTS WILL BE POSTED 0-0 TIES WITH NO POINTS BEING AWARDED TO BOTH TEAMS.
The manager or coach is responsible for counting how many players the other team has on the ice. In the event there are more players on the ice than on the roster you should make the referee aware of it. Any players that are not present should be scratched.
All Suspensions should appear on the Point Streak score sheets, and while we will make every effort to keep the suspensions up to date It remains the ultimate responsibility of the coaches & mangers to comply and not play any player that is to be serving a suspension. Any Coach/Player that knowingly plays in a game that he/she should be serving a suspension will lead to forfeiture of the game along with any Sanctions outlined in USA Hockey.
Notes: Suspensions will appear on all game sheets of the day, until the suspension is actually served, so even if the suspension is only for one game it will show up on both score sheets for the day. (Because the suspension has not been served). BE SURE TO INDICATE THE PLAYER IS SERVING THE SUSPENSION ON THE Score sheet at the bottom.
If a player/coach receives a suspension in the first game of the day, it will not appear on the second Game Sheet, It is the coach's responsibility to report and not play that player in the next game. If a coach plays a player in a game that he knows he is suspended for, the game will be a forfeit and the coach and player will be subject to further suspension per USA & SFHL Hockey rules.
6. Game Results: The Winning team , or Home team in the event of a tie, is responsible of reporting( via email) the results of the weekend league games to the commissioner by the Monday Night following the weekend series.
7. Players’ Stats: Only penalties will be posted to Pointstreak. NO INDIVIDUAL STATS WILL BE POSTED.
8. Start Times: It is requested that players be at the rink thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled start time for their respective game. Games may be started as many as 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time. Referees have the latitude to issue delay of game penalties and teams will forfeit the option to warm-up if they are not ready to take the ice immediately after it has been resurfaced.
9. Game Times: The length of periods, time-outs, and penalties and the number and the arrangement of games in a league weekend are determined by the playing rules for each division of play. (See Addendum-1)
10. Curfew: Games shall not start before 6:00 AM or after 11PM.
In the event that host team cannot accommodate all scheduled games in accordance with the above curfew and the visiting team is unwilling to play during the curfew, the overall game schedule shall be reduced by the number of games required to meet the curfew guidelines.
11. Game Officials: The hosting rink is required to furnish all on ice and off ice officials including timekeeper and scorekeeper for all games. Both teams should provide a minor off ice official to handle the duties in the penalty box. All minor off ice officials, including penalty box workers, scorekeepers and timekeepers are to be reminded that coaching is not permitted from that area.
12. Travel Rule (Inclement Weather): All League games on the SFHL master schedule are to be played as scheduled. In the event that inclement weather is imminent, the association representatives for the organizations affected should be in contact with each other and with the various state agencies and media sources as necessary to gather information to make the most prudent decision. In the interest of the safety of the players, coaches, families and officials, it is best to err on the side of caution. Every effort must be made to reschedule the games as soon as possible. Each organization is to leave the weekend two weeks prior to the SAHOF Playoffs open to fill any weather related series games. If the home team cannot reschedule the game before the end of the SFHL regular season or the weekend two weeks preceding SAHOF Playoffs, the visiting team may reschedule the games on its own ice with the "home team" paying for the ice and the officials. If neither team can reschedule the games, all affected games shall be counted as tied games. Both organizations must make reasonable, good faith efforts to schedule the games; especially if the games have an impact on the positioning for playoffs. If all age groups cannot be rescheduled, then the divisions where playoff implications are greatest should be rescheduled first.
13 Officials: Every effort will be made to schedule not less than two (2) on ice officials for Squirt , Peewee and Bantams games per current USA Hockey rules, and a three (3) man official system for Midget games. In the event that an official cannot be present, both coaches must agree to play the game with the number of officials present and record and sign the score sheet.
14. Determination of Champions: League champions may be recognized as per the direction of the SFHL EXECUTIVE BOARD. The team within the specific age group with the highest total points at the end of the season will be designated as Champion of that age level. Teams will receive the following points based on game play:
·
2 points for a win in league play.·
One point for a tie·
Zero points for a loss·
League champions may be recognized as per the direction of the SFHL EXECUTIVE BOARDIn the event of a tie the following tie breaker rules will apply:
Head to Head goal differential between the two teams
If more than two teams are tied or if the goal differential for the two tied teams is zero, the following tie breaker shall apply in this order until a tie breaker is reached:
Most Wins
Least Goals Allowed
Most Goals Scored
Least amount of Penalties minutes.
Coin toss.
The SAHOF Executive Board has sole determination of how teams from our Affiliate advance to the SE District Playoff Tournament – not the SFHL.
Should SAHOF extend Automatic Bids for SFHL teams to participate in the SE District Playoffs, any Automatic Bid shall go to the highest ranked team in each age group at the conclusion of regular season league play.
SECTION D: SUPPLEMENTARY DISCIPLINE, GRIEVANCES AND PROTESTS
1) Grievances: Any grievances or protests involving officiating, procedures, rules and regulations at League games shall be handled according to these guidelines:
Grievances or protests are to be written and submitted by the ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE ONLY to the Commissioner of SFHL within 48 hours of perceived infraction.
Grievances or protest involving judgment calls by the Referees are not allowed and will not be considered.
2. Investigations: The Commissioner shall be responsible for investigating and reporting on incidents which may call for the assessment of supplementary discipline under the USA HOCKEY rule book and shall make recommendations on supplemental disciplinary actions to the EXECUTIVE BOARD.
The Commissioner shall use his(er) best efforts to gather and report on each situation in a fair and consistent fashion and complete the review and recommendation process in within one week. The EXECUTIVE BOARD will act upon the recommendation of the Commissioner.
The EXECUTIVE BOARD may assist the commissioner with his investigations and in preparing the recommendation. The EXECUTIVE BOARD shall have 72 hours to review the recommendation of the Commissioner and cast their vote in favor of or against the stated recommendation. Supplementary discipline shall only be assessed upon a majority vote of the EXECUTIVE BOARD. In the case of a tie, the commissioner shall cast the deciding vote.
The SAHOF
SUSPENSION COMMITTEE will handle any appeals of this process through the USA HOCKEY BY-LAWS SECTION 10.Addendum 1 (2007-2008)
Game time will be as followed: All games have 1:15 minute time limits.
Squirts: 3-12 minute stop time periods, one time out allowed.
Peewees 3- 13 minute stop time periods one time allowed.
Bantams 3- 14 minute stop time periods one time out allowed
Midget U16 3- 15 minute stop time periods one time out allowed
Midget U18 3- 15 minute stop time periods one time out allowed.
The third period will start with the allotted game times,
In the event of time constraints the third period will become running clock with 10 minutes left in the allotted ice slot; no time outs will be allowed once the clock has begun running time.
All games must be completed the allotted time slot.
At any time that a team is ahead by 5 goals in the third period, time will be running clock. If time permits timeouts will be allowed, see rule above.
All USA Hockey guidelines concerning penalties apply.