sahofhockey

Per SAHOF rules all Associations must register annually with SAHOF. You must register your Association first before registering your teams.

The Discipline Committees will hold Match Penalty Hearings once a month. The following are the dates for each District:

East District

TBD

North/Central and West Districts

TBD

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

OPEN LETTER TO ALL SAHOF USA HOCKEY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS

As we are all happy to be resuming a full season of hockey this year, for many of you it has regrettably not been a fantastic start for hockey around the Nation as well here in Florida. Many coaches, parents and players have voiced their frustration with the new rule changes mandated by USA Hockey this season. Even though these new rule changes were not supported by the voting membership from our Affiliate or any Affiliate in the Southeast District, we are all bound to the implementation of these rules as are all Affiliate Members of USA Hockey. The rationale behind the rule changes was predicated upon enhancing individual player development.  USA Hockey supported these changes and believes it is their responsibility to make changes to the playing rules as a leader of hockey and the National Governing Body of the sport.

As you may be aware, many officials have either not returned this season or left since the season started. In many cases SAHOF’s most talented officials and officials around the nation have decided not to officiate Youth games and have opted to officiate Junior, College, Adult or quit officiating hockey for a variety of reasons.

There are many contributing factors to this occurrence, however the number one factor according to all research is that officials have left due to the disrespectful treatment and abuse they receive from parents, coaches, and players both during and after games. There have been many troubling incidents this season and this unfortunately is driving officials away from the game. Most referees officiate because of the love of the game and the opportunity to give back or get involved. The constant harassment over calls that involve split-second decisions officials are making on the ice has taken its toll. Our officials are not necessarily happy with the new rule changes, much like the coaches, parents, and players, they are still adapting as well. This has not helped with their frustration with an already hostile officiating environment.

Unfortunately, this is not a new problem that developed this year. Bad behavior and abuse has increased over the past few years. The new rule changes implemented by USA Hockey have only exacerbated the situation due to parent and participant frustration. This ongoing abuse only decays our official participation as our official assigners have no choice but to assign officials to games that potentially exceed their qualifications. In other Affiliates around the country, Leagues and Tournaments are being forced cancel hundreds of games a weekend or play with one official. This is only creating a more dangerous situation in a game that we want to keep safe for all of our participants.

SAHOF and USA Hockey have a Zero Tolerance Policy for abuse of officials. If someone is found abusing officials, including a player, coach, or a parent, they will be subject to discipline including suspension and/or being banned from attending future games. In accordance with the SAHOF Abuse of Officials (Zero Tolerance) Policy, any coach or player receiving an abuse of official game misconduct penalty is subject to an additional game suspension as a result of any game misconduct penalty, for a total of two games. Furthermore, if a coach or player receives a second game misconduct penalty under the Playing Rule 601 during the course of the same season, the coach or player will receive an additional two game suspension, for a total of 3 games. In addition, parents and spectators are subject discipline as well. Holding discipline hearing​s​ for parents is the last thing we want to do.

USA Hockey has no minimum or maximum ages for officials. It is highly recommended that, regardless of level attained, officials do not work games of their own age classification or higher. Generally, officials can successfully officiate as young as age 10. We encourage all players above 10 to consider becoming a referee. It will give the player another perspective of the game and a better understanding of all the rules. Additionally, we’ve observed a wealth of knowledge from the parents in the stands. We would also encourage them to put on the skates and get involved in a positive way.

For information to become a USA Hockey official

https://www.usahockey.com/officiatingprogramregistration

Again, we ask you to practice patience and good judgement. The children are all watching us and following our example. We all need to make a better effort to respect the officials and keep them working so our kids can keep on playing!

https://www.sahofhockey.org/page/show/2477361-florida-alliance-aaa-program

All coaches, volunteers and referees must be screened per USA Hockey and the State of Florida

http://www.usahockey.com/backgroundscreen

April 2021

Dear USA Hockey Level 4 & 5 Coaches,

Beginning this season (2021-22), USA Hockey passed the below new requirements for coaching education.  

All coaches must have the required certification level by January 1 of the current season, unless earlier deadlines are established by the district and/or affiliate.  All coaches must complete the online age-specific modules PRIOR to participating with their team. 

1. All coaches must enter USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program at Level 1, and must continue their education with a coaching clinic each year until, at a minimum, they achieve Level 4. Coaches of only 8 and under players should remain at Level 1 until such time as they are coaching any older age level of play.
   
   A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year. Once Level 4 is achieved, coaches will need to complete 5 credit hours of continuing education within each subsequent three-year period [as outlined in Paragraph (c) below].
    
2. In addition to the training in paragraph (a) above, coaches must also complete online age-specific training modules specific to the level of play they are coaching, if they have not already taken that module. This requirement applies to all coaches at all levels, 1 through 5. Coaches may complete more than one age-specific module in any given season.
    
3. Effective in the 2021-22 season, coaching certification at Levels 4 and 5 is valid for three (3) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date. Before the expiration of their level, coaches must accumulate 5 credit hours of continuing education by either taking Level 5, or by attending other USA Hockey continuing education clinics. The USA Hockey clinic listings will indicate all continuing education offerings and the credit value of each. The Coaching Education Program retains the responsibility for defining continuing education credit values, including clinic or online course work.
    
4. Grandfather Clause
   For those coaches who received Level 4 or Level 5 PRIOR TO January 1, 2021, only coaches of Tier I and Tier II teams are required to do continuing education as required in (c) above.
    
5. Previous/Expired Certifications Coaches with any expired certification will retain their previous certification levels provided the certification can be verified. Coaches may re-enter the certification system at that previous level and be subject to the certification guidelines in (a) through (c) above.

In summary, for grandfathered Level 4 and 5 coaches, you could be subjected to the continuing education as explained above. If you coached an approved roster at the Tier I or Tier II classification, for any age level, during the 2020-21 season your CEP expiration has been changed from 12/31/2099 to 12/31/2025.  If changed you are now on the continuing education path needing to earn five credits over the next three seasons. You can view your coaching profile at https://courses.usahockey.com/public/  to see this change.

Currently, courses are being developed that will be available in the 2021-22 season to earn continuing education credits. Credits can be earned by taking specific coaching clinics or learning modules that will be in the e-learning system. Additional information on these courses and how to access will be available in near future.

Yours in hockey,

USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program

Due to the extenuating circumstances that COVID produced this past season, USA Hockey allowed coaches to either participate in online coaching clinics to certify at their next coaching clinic level or apply for a temporary card to coach. As of now, any coach that received a temporary coaching card – in other words, did not attend a clinic for their next level, but opted for the temporary card – needs to be aware that those temporary card designations have been removed from the system.

This means that a coach will need to attend a coaching clinic in order to be eligible to coach this season. For example, if you were a Level 1 coach in 2019-20 and in the 2020-21 season you did not attend a virtual clinic but rather received a temporary card for your Level 2 in order to coach, it is no longer valid. You will have to attend a Level 2 clinic to be roster eligible. The same applies to a Level 2 coach; they must now get their Level 3 certification and Level 3 coaches must get their Level 4.

Effective in the 2021-22 season, coaching certification at Levels 4 and 5 are valid for three (3) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date. Before the expiration of their level, coaches must accumulate 5 credit hours of continuing education by either taking a Level 5 clinic, or by attending other USA Hockey continuing education clinics.

Follow this Link to make payments for the 2021-22 SFHL Season

 https://sahofhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/294377718).

https://sahofhockey.sportngin.com/register/form/749058187

This Link will allow you to view the new district boundaries in Google Maps. 

http://drive.google.com/open?id=1tU70E6AVNBLw9qqGELNaZbm-DSbJEZYS&usp=sharing