SSWHL Rules

 

 

1.      The SSWHL Rules Committee has oversight and leadership in the development and maintenance of the SSWHL Rules.  The SSWHL will comply with USA Hockey Rules except as modified, amended, or amplified in these rules.

 

2.      The SSWHL Board of Directors is composed of the President, Vice President, Vice President (Note there are two Vice Presidents), Treasurer, and Secretary.  All officers are elected in elections held prior to the start of the season.  Each Team from the previous season possesses one vote. A quorum must be present (50 percent or greater of the teams present at the meeting).  In the event that a quorum is not present, the Board of Directors will appoint a candidate to the position through a Board of Directors vote.  Members of the Board of Directors serve two year terms.  Elections will be staggered to avoid a complete turnover of Board members in a year. The following lists the start of the term for each Board Member:

 

            President                      Odd Year

            Vice President              Even Year

            Vice President Odd Year

            Treasurer                      Even Year

            Secretary                      Even Year

 

 

3.      Proposed new SSWHL rules and rule changes are proposed League by the Rules committee 30 days prior to a scheduled meeting.  Teams may submit proposed rule changes to the President for consideration by the Rules Committee and preparation for League vote.  Teams have the 30 day period to examine the rule and develop modification proposals for discussion at the next meeting.  A quorum of SSWHL teams must be present to vote new rules or rule changes into action.  A quorum is defined as 50 percent of the teams within the SSWHL in attendance at the meeting.  A team representative can only represent one team.  Each team has one vote in the voting process.  If a quorum exists, votes on rules are approved by simple majority of the teams present.   In the event that a scheduled meeting does not have a quorum present for the voting proceedings, the Rules Committee proposal will be enacted and the new rules and rule changes will be set into action.

 

3.      No checking.

 

4.      Periods - Three 12 minute stop time periods:

§         First period - 12 minute stop time.

§         Second period - 12 minute stop time. 

§         Third period - 12 minute stop time if overall game time permits.  If not, refs and scorekeepers will calculate the time allowed for the period.  The last two minutes of the game are always stop time.

§         There will be a 3 minute warm-up before the start of the game.  The time keeper will start the warm-up clock three minutes prior to game time.  If a game will be started late due to delays in ice availability, the three minute warm-up will commence when the Zamboni door is closed.  Once the warm-up clock expires the game will commence.  A maximum delay of 5 minutes will be allowed before the game is forfeited.  The team to which the forfeit is awarded need not replay the game.

§         If both teams agree that they are ready to start play and the ice surface is prepared for the game, the referees will commence the three minute warm-up and the game will commence after the warm-up.

 

5.      Mutual Swap Policy - Teams may make a same day mutual swap if all four teams agree to swap and they notify the league president at least seven days in advance.  Timekeepers at each rink must also be notified.

 

6.      Game Cancellation & Forfeit Policy

§         Forfeit – A forfeit shall be defined as any instance when a team cannot play any scheduled game due to a lack of the required number of players (at least 6 players – either 6 skaters or 5 skaters and one goaltender).  A forfeit shall also be declared when a team does not show for a game or cancels the game with less than 30 days notice to the other team and the league officials.  The SSWHL Board of Directors will review all weather related instances to determine whether or not a forfeit shall be declared.

 

§         Forfeit Penalties

-         1st Forfeit – A warning shall be issued and the forfeiting team is responsible for paying the cost of the game for both teams (cost determined by the SSWHL treasurer).  The opponent will be offered the ice for practice or scrimmage at no charge.

-         2nd Forfeit – The forfeiting team is responsible for paying the cost of the game for both teams (cost determined by the SSWHL treasurer).  The opponent will be offered the ice for practice or scrimmage at no charge.  In addition, the SSWHL Board of Directors will review the circumstances surrounding the team’s two forfeits and may expel the team from the league at the next half.

(NOTE: THE RULE REMOVED THE 25 DOLLAR ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE FORFEITING TEAM.)

  • Payment of Forfeit Fees

-         Forfeiting teams have 30 days from the date of the forfeit to pay the forfeit fee to the league treasurer.  If the fee is not paid within 30 days, the team will receive a warning.

-         Should the forfeit fee not be paid by 60 days from the date of the forfeit, the team will be expelled from the league at the next half.

§         Cancellation - Less Than 30-Day Notice – The team that cancels the game is responsible for paying the cost of the game for both teams (cost as determined by the treasurer).  The opponent will be offered the ice for practice or scrimmage at no charge.

§         Cancellation - 30-Day Notice – The team that cancels must provide ice and refs for the make-up game at no charge to the opponent, at an agreed date and time determined prior to cancellation.  Each team will be allowed one 30-day cancellation. 

 (NOTE: THE RULE ELIMINATED THE 25 DOLLAR CANCELLATION FEE AND THE ABILITY OF THE SSWHL TO WAIVE THE CANCELLATION COST IF THE ICE TIME CAN BE SOLD TO A THIRD PARTY.)

§         Weather Related Cancellations - If the rink is open, the game will be played.  If the rink is open and the teams can not travel to the game due to weather, the league will not charge the individual teams if the rink does not charge the league.  If a team is unable to play due to weather and driving conditions, the team must call Laura Bowser (Primary) or Nick Cardinale (Alternate) and also the team representative from the opposing team at least three hours prior to the start of the game.   

 

 

7.      Team Rosters

§         Teams submit to scorekeeper the players’ full names and jersey numbers prior to the start of the game.

§         Late Arrivals - See USA Hockey Rule 203.

§         All rosters must be submitted to the league by the fourth week of the season.

§         Each score sheet will have players’ full names written legibly.  The Coach or designated Team Representative will add any new names or number changes or cross off players not active for this game prior to the start of the game.  It is not the scorekeeper’s responsibility to add number changes or name changes.  It is the Coach’s responsibility to inform the scorekeeper of any changes before each game.  Scorekeepers will also cross off any players who are on the game sheet but are not present during the game at the end of the second period.  Each Team will have one person from the team (coach and/or player) sign the game sheet prior to the start of the game. Failure to sign a game sheet could result in a game not considered for USA Hockey Championship Tournament qualification. 

§         All new rosters submitted to the league must be dated.  A notation of new names and/or numbers must be duly marked on the roster at all sites until the player shows on master sheets.

§         An injured player must be dressed and on the bench if they want to get credit for the game being played by their team.

§         All roster changes will be final as of Dec 31.  A program may add players to its roster after Dec 31 with SSWHL and Massachusetts Hockey approval.

§         Players In Uniform

-         A maximum number of 20 players, including goaltenders, shall be permitted to play in a game.

-         The maximum number of players on a team excluding goaltenders shall not exceed 18.

-         Minimum number of players on a team is 6 players.

-         No more than four team officials on the bench during a game. Every Team Official must be registered with USA Hockey and sign the score sheet.

(NOTE: THIS RULE IS THE SAME LANGUAGE AS USA HOCKEY RULES.)

§         A team may use a goalie that is on another roster, providing that goalie is rostered on a team in the same division or a lower division.  Games using a goalie from another roster will not count towards eligibility for nationals.

  • A program may have the latitude to use players on multiple teams in multiple divisions (as long as all teams involved are in the same program) for the first 4 games of the season only.  Discretion is advised; as this is only to be used for the purpose of ensuring that players end up on the correct team for their ability.  After the first 4 games of the season all players must be on only 1 roster.  However, players may play on teams that are within their program and in a higher division for the purpose of player development only.  Players may play for a team in a higher division within their program for a maximum of 5 games.  If the same player plays in a sixth game at the higher division, that player becomes a member of the higher division’s team and may not play in SSWHL games for the lower division team.  This does not effect the roster assignment of the player regarding USA Hockey roster and registration.  Players may not play on another team in the same division (with the exception of goalies) or on a team in a lower division.

(NOTE: THIS RULE CHANGES THE NUMBER OF GAME THAT A PLAYER CAN PLAY AT A HIGHER LEVEL WITHIN THE SSWHL TO 5 VICE 4.  IT IS NOTED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER DEC 31 WHEN A USA HOCKEY PLAYER IS REGISTERED WITH THEIR TEAM.  THE REQUIREMENT TO PLAY ALL GAMES AT A HIGHER LEVEL IS A SSWHL REQUIREMENT AND DOES NOT AFFECT THE USA HOCKEY REGISTRATION ROSTER FOR USA HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY.)

 

8.      New Teams

§         Entrance must be approved by a majority vote of the quorum.

§         Level of the new team must be approved by a majority vote of the quorum.

§         Must pay a one time $200 buy-in fee.

§         Team jersey color must not conflict with any existing team’s jersey color in that division.

 

9.      Teams begin a new season in the same level as they ended the previous season unless they have had significant player changes.  In that case, a level change must be requested by the SSWHL Team and approved by a majority vote of the quorum prior to the new season’s scheduling.  Team may request to make a division change at the mid-season meeting for a division change in the second half of the season.  The Board of Directors will approve or disapprove this request based on the input of the team desiring the move and the input of the current and future divisions.

 

10.  Prior to the midseason meeting, the SSWHL Board of Directors will review each division and the competitive balance of the teams within a division.  If a team within a division is performing in a manner that is not consistent with the competitive balance of their division, the Board of Directors may propose a division change for the second half of the season at the SSWHL mid-season meeting.  The Board will consider input from the team identified to change and the other teams within the current division prior to rendering a decision.  

 

11.  Prior to the game, the home team will have their choice of jersey color and make their selection known to the opposing team.  The visiting team must wear a color that contrasts with the home team’s jerseys.  If a team possesses only one color of jersey, the opposing team will wear a contrasting color.

 

12.  Payments of the league dues are to be made to the treasurer monthly per the contracts signed by each team.  League dues must be paid in full to the treasurer by December 15 of the current season.  Failure to pay the full league dues to the treasurer by January 15 of the current season will result in that team’s suspension from the league until the dues are paid in full.  In addition, the league will notify the state USA Hockey registrar of said team’s failure to pay which could result in that team being barred from state and/or national tournaments.

 

13.  The SSWHL Scheduler will be paid a $500 stipend.

 

14.  Penalties

§         Minor Penalties - 1:30

§         Major Penalties - 4:00

§         Attempt To Injure - 6:00

§         Misconduct Penalty - 6:00

§         Game Misconduct - Suspension for balance of game plus next league game.

§         Second major in the same game - Suspension for next two scheduled league games.

§         Fighting - See USA Hockey Rule 613.

-         First fight in one season - Suspension for balance of game plus the next scheduled league game, and also league review.

-         Second fight in one season - Suspension for balance of game plus the next two scheduled league games.  You will also come under league review for possible season suspension.

§         Any player shall be limited to a total of 4 penalties per game. 

-         First offense in one season - Upon commission of the 4th penalty, that player must leave the game and will also be assessed a game misconduct penalty.  That player will not be allowed to play the next regularly scheduled league game.

-         Second offense in one season – Upon commission of the 4th penalty, that player must leave the game and will also be assessed two game misconduct penalties.  That player will not be allowed to play the next two regularly scheduled league games.  In addition, the disciplinary committee will review the number and type of penalties committed by that player and may further suspend said player or expel her from the league.

-         Third (or more) offense in one season - Upon commission of the 4th penalty, that player must leave the game and will also be assessed game misconduct penalties to match the number of times said player has had 4 penalties in one game in the current season.  That player will not be allowed to play that number of the next regularly scheduled league games.  In addition, the disciplinary committee will review the number and type of penalties committed by that player and may further suspend said player or expel her from the league.

-         Game misconducts received at the end of a season must be served in the following season.

§         Maximum number of penalties per team per game is 15 – See USA Hockey Rule 404.

-         The coach of a team receiving 15 penalties in one game will be suspended from the next regularly scheduled league game.

 

***The Disciplinary Committee will review the number and type of penalties accumulated by a player and may, in the interest of sportsmanship and safety, take action necessary to eliminate sportsmanship and safety related issues.