FARMINGTON HILLS ADULT HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

LEAGUE RULES

 

REVISED    NOVEMBER, 2008

 

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY PLAYER AND COACH TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE

 

1.       All players must follow the rules of the USA Hockey Association (USA), the Arenas and the Farmington Hills Adult Hockey Association (FHAHA) as listed in this document for a non-checking recreational league. 

2.       A player may not skate in any game prior to completing and submitting the proper registration form with waiver and release to the FHAHA registrar with the required dues.  Any coach that allows a player to skate prior to being registered and accepted by the league will receive a one game suspension and the game is subject to forfeit for using an ineligible player.  If this occurs a second time, the coach will receive a three game suspension and the Board of Directors will review the issue.  (This also applies to subs in any division.)

3.       At the time of registration, all new players at the request of the FHAHA shall provide a photocopy of their driver’s license or State ID card.  It shall be used by the Association exclusively to verify player status.  Any Board member may request identification from any player either before or after any game to verify eligibility.  Coaches may request identification if they are filing an official protest based on the use of an illegal player by the opposing team.  The official must note the reason for the protest on the score sheet and the game will be subject to a forfeit if the player used was ineligible.

4.       All players, excluding goalies, must play within their age division or a younger division.  Goalies must be 18 or older to play in any division.  The cutoff date for determining age is December 31st of that year.

5.       Payment for the season will be made as follows: All players will pay a fee set by the Board at the time of registration.  The next payment which includes a $ 40.00 jersey deposit will be required by September 1 or first scheduled game. The remaining payment will be due November 1st.  The amount goalies pay each year will be set annually by the Board.  Any player that does not have his ice fees paid within 7 days of the published due date will be in default and may be declared ineligible to play.  If a coach uses a player that is ineligible, the game will result in a game forfeit plus a game suspension for the coach. (This will also be subject to review by the Penalty Review Committee.)

6.       If hockey jerseys are provided by the Association, they shall remain the property of the Association and must be returned within 10 days of the last scheduled game to receive the full refund.  Late returns will receive a reduced refund.  While reasonable wear is expected, any player that destroys the jersey will forfeit his deposit.

7.       There shall be no refunds unless a player is out for extended period of time due to illness or injury or has moved out of the area.  To qualify for consideration the player must miss a minimum of 10 games for the winter season or ¼ of the spring season.  The player must present his request in writing to the Board of Directors to be considered for a refund.  Refunds shall be at the Board’s discretion and be in part based upon the availability of funds.  There shall be absolutely no refunds for suspended players.  The amount per game of the refund shall be determined annually by the Board.

8.       The 30 and over division is formed using either a modified draft system, or team entry.  The 40 and over division is formed on a draft basis.

9.       Upon the close of registration, the Board shall facilitate the team drafts.  The dates, times and locations of the drafts shall be made available.  Each coach shall be provided with a complete list of the registered players within their division.  Such list shall be arranged by rating and playing position.  Coaches shall not be permitted to protect any players unless a variance is authorized by the board, and all Coaches in that division.  However during the actual draft, coaches are allowed to make their preferences known, and therefore negotiate to a limited extent.

10.    All draft players shall be rated by the league and given a 1 to 5 rating, (1 highest, 5 lowest). Any new player unable to skate at the scheduled rate skate will be assigned to a team based on a self rating and re-rated after skating in league play. This may result in a reassignment to another team based on a revised rating.  All draft teams shall be made up of rated players drafted by coaches prior to the start of the season and should consist of equally rated players.

11.    Each player shall be required to notify his coach of a planned absence so as to allow adequate time to obtain a substitute of the same rating if applicable for that Division.

12.    If a player is unable to play a particular game, a substitute player of the same or lower rating may be used provided subs are approved for that Division.  The player must be obtained from the official league substitution list and must be listed on the game score sheet as a sub.   If a sub cannot be obtained from the sub list, any player in that division is eligible to sub providing they are of the same or lower rating.  Use of a sub that is of a higher rating can result in a forfeit.    The use of subs during the season and the playoffs will be determined by the coaches in each division.  All substitutes obtained from the sub list shall pay $ 15.00 for each game played.  Players obtained from other teams in any division shall pay $10.00 for each game played. The coach will be responsible to collect all sub fees and forward them to the treasurer.  It is recommended the player pay before the game.  Substitute goaltenders may be obtained from the sub list or another team with no sub fees required.

13.    All players must wear all required protective equipment, including helmet, while on the ice or the player’s bench.  Other than a non-playing coach, no one else is allowed in the players’ bench area.  Additional recommended equipment includes facial protection such as mask, eye shield or cage.

 

PENALITIES AND PENALTY REVIEW

 

14.    Referees issuing a game misconduct must note the reason for the penalty on the game sheet and initial it. In addition to USA guidelines, the following suspensions shall apply:

 

Fighting, Intent to Injure or Game Misconduct – Minimum Suspension                                                                                                                              

 

First Offense:                        Suspended from that game (must leave the ice area) plus suspended from                                                                                                            the next game.

Second Offense:                  Suspended from that game plus suspended from the next three games and                                                                                                          actions reviewed by the penalty review committee.

Third Offense:                      Suspended from all future games during the season and actions reviewed                                                                                                             by the penalty review committee to determine future eligibility.

                               

15.    Gross misconduct or match penalty will be a minimum of ten games plus a review before the Board of Directors.         

16.    Any player receiving four penalties or two major penalties in the same game will receive a game misconduct and suspended from the next game.

17.    If any player gets a game misconduct he will not be able to play until he “sits out” his game with his assigned team regardless if he gets the misconduct playing for his team or subbing for another team.  A player cannot sub for any other team in the FHAHA until he serves his game suspension with his assigned team.  The Coach of the player should notify the League Director of the infraction to assist in its enforcement.  The team will be able to replace the missing player with a sub to fill out the roster. 

18.    If a player is a “sub only” and receives a game misconduct they will be dropped from the sub list until the penalty is reviewed by the Penalty Review Committee or the Board of Directors.  This committee or the Board will determine if the player will remain on the sub list and how long of a suspension they shall serve.

19.    The coach shall be responsible for the behavior of the team members in the locker room and during the games.

20.    If a coach wishes to protest a game, he must advise the Official to note it on the copies of the game score sheet with the reason for the protest.  The penalty review committee will review the protest to determine the validity and advise the league director and coaches of their findings.  If this is not satisfactory to any of the parties affected, they may present their position to the Board of Directors for reconsideration.  The decision of the Board of Directors is final.

21.     If a player wishes to protest a game misconduct he must immediately notify his coach who must notify the League Director within 24 hours of the game.  The director should notify the members of the Penalty Review Committee within 24 hours to review the request as quickly as possible.  If the League Director is not notified within 24 hours the protest is invalid.  No game misconduct penalty will be reviewed without notification and input from the issuing official.

22.    The decision of the penalty review committee to suspend any player for any infraction will be in effect unless appealed to the Board of Directors. This status cannot be modified by any single member of the Board of Directors, the director of that division or the coach, but can only be modified by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  If this ineligible player is used while suspended the coach will receive a one game suspension and the game will be a forfeit.  The Board of Directors will also review this action. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

                  

23.    If a team goalie is not on the ice six minutes after the scheduled start of the game (the 40 minute mark of the curfew clock) the team will forfeit the game.

24.    The center red line shall not be used to determine off sides or icing.

25.    All games will be completed within the allotted 50 minutes running time.  Games are expected to start with 46 minutes remaining on the curfew clock.  There may be one continuous period or the first period will be set with 22 minutes and the second period the remaining time on the curfew clock (22 minutes).  The last two minutes of the games will be stop time if the goal differential is two goals or less.  The board may alter the time format for any game.

26.    The Board of Directors shall determine the playoff format for each division for that season.

27.    The Board reserves the right, at their discretion, to review and act upon any issues, problems, or concerns not specifically addressed in these rules.

28.    The Board may choose to modify these rules at any regularly scheduled meeting.  The new rules will be posted at the Farmington Hills Arena, Suburban Ice Arena or the FHAHA Web Site and all coaches shall be notified of the changes.