Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc.

Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. Parent/Player Handbook www.ryhockey.com Revised: August 2, 2005

ROCHESTER YOUTH HOCKEY LEAGUE, INC... I 1. INTRODUCTION... 1 2. GENERAL INFORMATION... 1 HOCKEY 101... 1 3. A BASIC GUIDE TO HOCKEY TERMINOLOGY... 2 4. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT... 2 FORWARD/DEFENSE:... 2 GOALIES:... 4 5. PLAYER CLASSIFICATION... 5 6. ASSOCIATION INFORMATION... 5 INTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHY... 5 MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION... 6 7. BOARD OF DIRECTORS... 6 BOARD MEETINGS... 6 BOARD MEMBERS & TERM EXPIRATION:... 7 8. RULES AND REGULATIONS... 7 HELMET POLICY:... 7 9. TEAMS... 8 TEAM ROSTER... 8 TEAM UNIFORMS... 9 PRE-TRYOUT SKATES... 9 COACHES... 9 INDIVIDUAL TEAM BUDGETING/FUNDRAISING... 10 SPONSORSHIPS... 10 Coaching Certification Requirements... 11 TEAM MANAGER... 11 TEAM TREASURER... 12 TEAM STATISTICIAN... 12 10. TEAM FORMATION... 12 HOUSE DIVISION... 12 YOUTH TRAVEL... 13 GIRLS TRAVEL... 14 11. PARTICIPATION... 14 PARTICIPATION BY ALTERNATES (YOUTH/GIRLS; HOUSE/TRAVEL):... 14 PARTICIPATION BY PLAYERS OUTSIDE SECTION V... 15 12. PLAYER MOVEMENT... 15 MOVE-UP POLICY (YOUTH/GIRLS; HOUSE/TRAVEL):... 15 MOVEMENT AFTER TEAM FORMATION... 15 13. CODE OF CONDUCT... 16 PLAYER CONDUCT... 16 PARENT CONDUCT... 16 COACHES CONDUCT... 17 INDEX... 18 Page i

1. Introduction Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. When your register with Rochester Youth League (RYHL) you are accepting these rules and regulations, also those established by USA Hockey (USAH) and the New York State Amateur Hockey Association (NYSAHA).Further information on these organizations can be found on their web sites are as follows: USAH - www.usahockey.com ; NYSAHA www.nysaha.com ; and RYHL www.ryhockey.com. If you play for a House Division team, you also accept the rules and regulations of the Empire Amateur Hockey Conference (EAHC). Copies of their rules can be obtained from the appropriate House Division Director If you are chosen to play on a Youth Travel Division team, you also accept the rules and regulations of Empire West Amateur Hockey League (EWAHL) for the Tier 1 teams or Western New York Amateur Hockey League for the Tier 2 teams. Copies of their rules can be found on their website at www.ewahl.com (EWAHL) or www.wnyahl.com (WNYAHL) or by contacting the Travel Division Director. If you are chosen to play for a Girls Travel team, you also accept the rules and regulations of Southwestern Ontario Girls Hockey League (SWGHL). Copies of their rules can be obtained from the Director of Girls Hockey. Every attempt has been made to conform all of our rules and regulations to these governing bodies. Where a conflict exists between a RYHL rule and a higher governing body, the higher governing body rule shall apply. When such conflicts arise, RYHL will amend their rules as necessary. 2. General Information Hockey 101 The game of ice hockey is played on an artificial or natural ice surface known as the rink. As nearly as possible, the dimensions of the rink are 200 feet long by 100 feet wide. The ice on an artificial rink is approximately 1 inch thick. The rink is surrounded by a wooden or fiberglass fence known as the boards. At each end of the rink, between 12 and 15 from the end boards, is the goal line. The goal is 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide measured inside and sits on the goal line. The ice surface between the goals is divided into three zones by lines, blue in color, and 60 feet from the goal line. These are the Blue Lines. The portion of the ice surface that a team is defending (their own goal) is the Defending Zone. The portion of the ice between the Blue Lines is the Neutral Zone and the portion of the ice furthest from the defended goal is the Attacking Zone. The Blue Line is considered part of the zone that the puck is in. There is also a red Center Line that is an equal distance from each goal line. The game is played with a rubber puck, 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick, weighing 6 ounces. Mite skaters use a blue puck weighing 4 ½ ounces. The puck is moved with a stick made of wood or other approved material. A Goal is scored when the puck passes completely over the goal line into the goal. The referee will signal a goal by blowing their whistle and pointing to the goal. A team consists of a maximum of 20 players (18 skaters and 2 goalies). A team must have 6 players to start a game; 3 forwards (1 center, 1 right wing and 1 left wing); 2 defensemen (right and left) and 1 goalie. A team may substitute any position at any time except that a goalie can leave the ice surface and be substituted for another player at any time, but the goalie cannot return to the ice until a stoppage in play. Page 1

3. A Basic Guide To Hockey Terminology Assist: Point awarded to a player or players for helping set up a goal; usually the last two offensive players to handle the puck prior to a goal being scored are credited for assists. Boards: The wooden and glass walls that surround the rink. Body Check: Using the hip or shoulder to impede the progress of an opponent who has the puck. Breakaway: A scoring opportunity that occurs when there are no defending players between the puck carrier and the opposing goaltender. Changing On The Fly: Substitution of players without a stoppage in play. Face-Off: To initiate play, the puck is dropped between two opposing players who face each other. Forechecking: Pressuring the opposition when they control the puck in the neutral or defensive zone. Hat Trick: Three goals scored by one player in a single game. Power Play: When a team has more players on the ice because of a penalty (or penalties) called against the opposing team. Pull The Goalie: In an attempt to tie the score, a team trailing by one or two goals may take its goalie off the ice and send out an extra skater. This usually occurs in the closing minute(s) of a game. Shorthanded: When a team is forced to play with fewer than six players because one or more have been sent to the penalty box. Slap Shot: A sweeping motion with an accentuated back swing to shoot the puck (similar to a drive in golf). Wrist Shot: The motion of shooting with the puck directly against the blade of the stick. 4. Required Equipment RYHL requires the following equipment for all players: Helmet with a full face shield and ear pieces, mouth guard, neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, shin guards, athletic supporter/cup and skates. Equipment should be sized to fit the player. Avoid buying larger equipment in hopes of the player growing into it. Use the following guidelines when purchasing equipment: Forward/Defense: Skates: Skates normally fit 1 to 1-1/2 sizes smaller than your street shoes. While wearing the sock that will be worn when skating, slip your foot into the skate, pressing the ends of the toes against the front of the skate. In this position, you should be able to place one finger between the inside of the boot and the heel of your foot. Walk 10 to 15 minutes in the skates checking for comfort. An ideal fit for an adult would have the heel at the rear of boot and have the big or second toe lightly feather the toe cap while standing. For a player that is still growing, have the large or second toe feather the toe cap. Look behind the heel for any room. No more than 1/2" should be allowed. Lacing- the crisscross or X method is considered the most comfortable, the bottom 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow blood to circulate to the toes, the middle 3 eyelets should be semi- tight to allow an up and down movement of the top part of the foot when starting and stopping, the top 3 eyelets should be tight to keep the ankle in an upright position and prevent the child from bending inside or outside over his/her ankles. There are no weak ankles! Do not wrap the laces around the ankle to tie then as this hinders the forward flex of the foot and ankle and will impair your child s Page 2

skating speed and turns. Just tie them in a bow knot at the front of the skate like you tie shoes. If the laces are too long get shorter ones. Shoulder Pads should It is very important that the center of the player s shoulder lines up directly with the center of the shoulder caps. Good shoulder pads will provide protection for the collar bone, chest, ribs, back and upper arms. Using a tape measure, measure the chest while the player is standing. Do not inhale, measure while relaxed. Elbow Pads The players elbow should fit comfortable into the center of the elbow pad cup. Also, a good elbow pad will provide forearm protection which extends down to bear the cuff of the player's hockey glove. Shin Pads A player's kneecap should fit directly into the center of the kneecap cup of the shin pad. The shin pad should then extend down the full length of the lower leg. It's important to make sure the shin pad isn't too long. If so, the skate would push it up out of position. Helmet The areas to consider when choosing a helmet are protection, comfort and fit. You should always look for equipment that feels comfortable. Although most helmets are lined with a protective foam, some do feel better than others. The helmet should be adjusted to fit snug to prevent any shifting and maximize protection. Make sure the chinstrap is adjusted so it gently makes contact under the chin when fastened. It is recommended that the player wear CSA and HECC certified helmets. All CSA and HECC certified helmets have a sticker indicating their certification. Open your helmet to it's largest setting and on the head so that the rim is one finger width above the eyebrow. Gradually begin to downsize the helmet until a comfortably snug fit is achieved. STANDARDS: Adult and Over: 14 years: 6 7/8" to 7 ¾"; Intermediate: 8 to 14 years: 6 3/8" to 7 ¼"; Junior: 5 to 8 years: 6 ¼" to 7 7/8"; Youth: 2 to 5 years: 6" to 7 ½" Face Guard The face guard can be either a wire cage or plastic shield and should be sized to fit helmet. Gloves The main concern with the fit of a glove is making sure the gap between the glove and the elbow pad is minimal. The tightness or looseness of a glove is an individual preference. The tip of the fingers should not go completely to the end of the glove. STANDARDS: Junior: 9"-11"; Intermediate: 12"-13"; Senior: 14"-15" Pants - While the fit should be loose and comfortable the pants should have the ability to be secured firmly by a belt around the waist. Approximately 90% of all players will be able to use their waist size as their guide for choosing the correct size pant. The bottom of the pants need to overlap the top of the shin pad kneecaps by 1 or 2 inches. Mouth Guard A good quality mouth guard is important to protect against concussion and damage to the teeth and mouth. Follow the directions on how to fit the mouth piece to the player s mouth. Neck Guard A good quality Kevlar or ballistic nylon neck guard should be purchased. The neck guard is intended to protect against cuts from sticks and skates. Some neck guards contain a hard plastic insert to help protect against impact injuries as well. Athletic Supporter/Cup Size to fit properly and to not interfere with skating movements. Stick A good way to measure your stick is to stand, without skates in your stocking feet, on a flat surface. Place the toe of your stick on the ground between your feet. Lean the stick straight up-and-down so the handle of the stick touches the tip of your nose. A general rule is to mark and cut the handle of your stick where it touches the tip of your nose. Then when standing on your skates, the stick should come up to your chin or just below it. LIE- is the angle between the stick s shaft and blade. The higher the angle 135% the further the puck is away from your feet. The lower the angle 110% the closer the puck is to your feet, it s trial and error to see which lie is best for your child based on the way they skate, either bent over like Wayne Gretzky did or up right like Mario Lemieux does, as no stick manufacturer puts the lie angle on the stick. Once you find the right stick model keep buying it as no 2 models are exactly alike Youth size hockey sticks are now available which are lighter, shorter in length and blade size and have a smaller shaft radius for a better grip by young children. CURVE- sticks are made for Left or Right handed shots. The lower hand on the stick when shooting determines whether you shoot Left or Right. A slight curve of about ¼ inch is ok. A big curve is not recommended. Hockey Bag- A hockey bag large enough to carry all of your equipment is suggested. Several pockets are on the out side to carry your skates and wet/dry underwear. Keep an extra pair of skate laces, proper length in the bag for emergency and a small towel to dry your skate blades after the game or practice to prevent rusting. Page 3

Goalies: Leg Pads - Instep to knee: Measure from center of knee cap to floor. Then measure from center of knee cap to player s thighs, approximately 4" above the knee. This measurement will be affected by player s preference. When you have these two measurements, add 6" to their total to get final pad length. Senior Sizes: 36", 34", 33", 32", 31"; Junior Sizes: 31", 29", 28", 27", 25. Important: Make sure the pads are relative to your style of play. Pads are cut differently for butterfly style and stand-up style goalies. Talk to a knowledgeable sales person if you are unsure. Always fit goal pads while wearing skates. Kneel down and make sure that your knee is in the middle of the knee roll. The top of the knee pad should extend above the knee by about 4 inches Ensure the pad has effective protection on the inside of the knee and leg. Some goalie pads have built-in removable knee guards. Make sure they are durable and cover the unprotected area. How to tie a toe bridge lace: Lay pad face down in front of you. Crisscross strings through front of skate. Cross again through middle of skate. Pull lace tight keeping toe of pad just on top of skate blade. Tie bow on top of skate. If string is still loose rotate pad until any slack is gone. Catcher (Trapper) Glove If the trapper is too loose, it could cause control and stick-handling problems. Have a very snug trapper when first buying it -- eventually the trapper will break in, causing a good fit. Remember, you also need to use the trapper hand when stick-handling the puck! The hand should fit snugly into the palm of the glove. Properly tighten all straps. The "blocker" part of the trapper, the part that extends over the wrist, should extend to cover the bottom part of the sleeve of your chest protector. No gaps! Cuff cannot be larger than 8½ inches wide and the glove no more than 48 inches in circumference. Blocker Glove - There are many different styles of blockers, most importantly make sure the palm is durable yet comfortable, and has excellent hand and wrist protection as well as a good sized blocker surface. The blocker should fit loosely. Some have straps to tighten around the wrist to ensure it doesn't fall off during play. The tightness of the strap is up to you. The palm should allow you to grip the goalie stick properly. The blocker should extend past the bottom of the sleeve of your chest protector. No gaps! There should be durable protection on the thumb-side of the blocker. The blocker pad cannot be larger than 8 inches by 16 inches. Helmet A goalie mask has to fit snugly. This allows the shape and composition of the shell to equally distribute shot pressure, while minimizing the risk of injury. An improperly fit mask will cause poor visibility and increase the risk of injury. Snugly wrap a measuring tape around the head approximately one inch above the eyebrows (middle of forehead.) Face Guard Goalie helmets use a wire cage. Size to fit helmet. No cat s eye cages are allowed. Chest Protector The chest protector should have protection for the shoulders, elbows and top of the arms as well as protection for the chest and stomach area. Weak protection in these other areas, it will result in (more) bruises and numbing pain while playing -- which is not a good thing when you have to be ready for another shot! Measure the chest just below the arm pits. You should have a good range of motion. To test, lift your arms above shoulder height -- ensure the pads do not dig into the neck. The sleeves should reach down to the wrist. It is acceptable for the sleeves to slide up a bit, the blocker and trapper should extend far enough to cover a slight gap. Pants Goalie pants should fit much the same as regular player pants, but goalie pants have much more protection on the inner and outer thighs. Some styles also have a lower waist to allow for better movement with the chest protector. Add approximately 6" to your actual waist size to come up with a pant size. If you like a big fitting pant, add 8". The bottom of the pants should rest just above the knee. When you drop to your knees, the pants will rise up, leaving the part above your knee unprotected (this is where knee-guards are useful). Try to minimize this area while still having a good fit. Skates Normally fit 1 to 1-1/2 sizes smaller than your street shoes. While wearing the sock that will be worn when skating, slip your foot into the skate, pressing the ends of the toes against the front of the skate. In this position, you should be able to place one finger between the inside of the boot and the heel of your foot. Walk 10 to 15 minutes in the skates checking for comfort. An ideal fit for an adult would have the heel at the rear of boot and have the big or second toe lightly feather the toe cap while standing. For a player that is still growing, have the large or second toe feather the toe cap. Look behind the heel for any room. No more than 1/2" should be allowed. Stick Page 4

Proper stick size is extremely important. The length of the paddle, lie of the stick, curve of the blade and length of the shaft are all paramount to proper sizing. Beginning goalies should start off with a relatively straight stick. The bigger the curve, tougher it is to poke check, stop the puck, control rebounds and stick-handle the puck. In your stance (with skates on) rest the stick blade flat on the floor. The end of the shaft should not be higher than your shoulder. (Important: Never cut a goalie stick -- they are designed to be balanced, cutting the stick will throw it off.). In your stance (with skates on) rest the stick blade flat on the floor. Your blocker should be positioned between the waist and the bottom knee roll on the pad. The lie signifies the angle the blade is on. The higher the lie number, the closer the blocker hand is to the body and further from the ice. Use what is comfortable for you, with proper positioning. Neck Guard Size to fit comfortably. Goalie neck guards also have a flap to help protect to top of the chest and to keep the neck guard in place. Goalies are particularly vulnerable in this area as they are frequently on the ice making saves. Mouth Guard A good quality mouth guard is important to protect against concussion and damage to the teeth and mouth. Follow the directions on how to fit the mouth piece to the player s mouth. Athletic Supporter/Cup - Size to fit properly. A supporter/cup made specifically for a goalie is recommended as it will provide additional protection that Forward/Defense equipment will not. 5. Player Classification USAH defines the age classifications as follows: In addition, RYHL offers a Pony division, which is a bridge between the Initiation Program and Mites for 7 years and under skaters. This program is part of the initiation/cross Ice program and emphasizes player skills development. This division plays a limited number of games against local organizations and usually plays in one tournament at the end of the season in Buffalo. 6. Association Information Age Category Age Division 2004/05 Season Birthdates Youth/Men Classifications 18 years 18 & Under Midget 1987 1988 16 years 16 & Under Midget 1989 1990 15 years 16 & Under Midget 1991 14 years 14 & Under Bantam 1992 13 years 14 & Under Bantam 1993 12 years 12 & Under Peewee 1994 11 years 12 & Under Peewee 1995 10 years 10 & Under Squirt 1996 9 years 10 & Under Squirt 1997 8 years 8 & Under Mite 1998 & Younger Girl/Women Classifications 19 and under U-19 1986 through 1988 16 and under U-16 1989 & 1990 14 and under U-14 1991 & 1992 12 and under U-12 1993 & 1994 10 and under U-10 1995 & Younger Introduction and Philosophy Rochester Youth Hockey is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with USA Hockey and New York State Amateur Hockey Association. The purpose for which this corporation has been organized are as follows: Page 5

To promote and encourage athletics, physical exercise, and sportsmanship, in particular the sport of ice hockey, as well as to enhance the moral character and physical health of young Youth and girls through organized athletic instruction and competition. To promote and direct a hockey association for instructional and competitive development of amateur youth hockey according to current USAH rules, regulations, recommended philosophies and/or the bylaws promulgated herein. To foster among its members, supporters and teams, fair play and sportsmanship, a general community spirit, and to maintain and promote interest in the sport of amateur youth hockey in the greater Rochester area. To provide all duly registered players equal opportunity to participate in the activities of their teams and the activities of this organization. To assess and/or raise, on a not-for-profit basis, all necessary funds to successfully operate and maintain the organization. Management of the Corporation The Rochester Youth Hockey League is managed and governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors have the power to: Establish and adopt policies and standing rules for the governance and operation of this organization. Approve and act upon all appointments to all positions of leadership as defined in the current operational table of organization. The Board Member under whose jurisdiction such appointment shall fall shall recommend these appointments. Fill all officer and director vacancies. Interpret or amend the By-Laws. Approve an annual budget. Act upon expenditures, which may require modification of the annual budget. Adopt an agenda for each meeting. 7. Board of Directors Board Meetings Board Meeting are held monthly at a time and place as shown on the RYHL website, usually the last Monday of the month at 7 pm in the small conference room at ESL Sports Centre, subject to change. The Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time in the month of June each year as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors for the purposed of receiving the Annual Report, installation of new Board members and Officers and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The Board of Directors shall direct the President and the Treasurer to present at the Annual Meeting of the Board an Annual Report verified by the President and Treasurer showing in appropriate detail the following: The assets and liabilities, including the trust funds of the Corporation as of the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the Report. The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds, during the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the Report. Page 6

The revenue or receipts of the Corporation, both restricted and unrestricted to particular purposes, for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the Report. The expenses and disbursements of the Corporation, both for general and restricted purposes, during the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the Report. This Report shall be filed with the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Board. Board Members & Term Expiration: Position Expiration Date Current Member Voting/Non Voting President June 2006 Bill Maslach Voting Vice President of Operations June 2008 Dave Cosman Voting Vice President of Administration June 2007 Tom Brink Voting Secretary June 2007 Cindy Galiotti Voting Treasurer June 2008 Mike Flaherty Voting Registrar June 2006 Doug Berry Voting Director of Girls Hockey June 2008 Ray Cardella Voting Director of Youth Travel June 2006 Greg Fisher Voting Director of House Mite & Squirt June 2007 Mike Smith Voting Director of House Peewee, Bantam & Midget June 2006 Don Ziemniak Voting ACE Coordinator June 2006 Mike Shane Voting Director of Publicity June 2008 Joe Dugan Voting Director of Support Services June 2008 Jeanne Barreca Voting Legal Council June 2006 Gary Abelson Voting Director of Initiation & Pony June 2008 Open Voting EWAHL Representative Each Year Jodi Grimshaw Non-Voting Goalie Equipment Coordinator Each Year Rick Haverty Non-Voting Used Equipment Coordinator Each Year Open Non-Voting Assistant Registrar June 2006 Open Non-Voting Assistant Director Of Girls Hockey June 2005 Lori Ritzel Non-Voting Assistant Director House Mite & Squirt June 2004 Mark Angelo Non-Voting Assistant Dir. House Peewee, Bantam & Midget June 2006 Open Non-Voting Assistant Director Youth Travel June 2006 Open Non-Voting Empire House Representative Each Year Steve Langdon Non-Voting Honorary Director Steve Simmons Non Voting Honorary Director Steve Langdon Non-Voting Web Master Tim Brei Non-Voting If you are interested in applying for an expiring or open position, you can obtain an application at www.ryhockey.com or by calling the hotline 225-0870. 8. Rules and Regulations Helmet Policy: Every child, under the age of eighteen years, must wear an AHAUS approved helmet, when participating with a Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. Hockey team on ice, game or practice, on the bench, or acting in the capacity of an off-ice official. This applies to both home and away situations. ALL Rochester Youth Hockey coaches and on ice helpers must wear an AHAUS approved helmet whenever participating on ice during any event, including but not limited to practices, scrimmages, etc. Violators will not be allowed to participate with Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. Page 7

9. Teams Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. Team Roster Every team will submit to the Association Registrar, as soon as possible but not later than September 15 th, an alphabetical listing of all players and team officials (including Coaching Level obtained and CAP Card number for Head and Assistant Coaches and Manager (if applicable) assigned to their team. The Association Registrar will then print official USA Hockey rosters from these lists and distribute them to the teams for signatures as soon as practical after September 15 th, but not later than September 30 th. For House Teams, the Division Director shall provide this listing. Only team officials who have submitted the required information will be placed on the roster. Every team will have their player and team officials verify their information on the roster, sign the official USA roster and return the completed roster to the Association Registrar no later than October 21 st. It will be each team s responsibility to report any required changes back to the Association Registrar in a timely manner to ensure that the deadline is met. No manual corrections will be allowed on any rosters. Only the roster provided by the Association Registrar will be accepted. The Association Registrar will mail the completed official rosters to the District Registrar for validation and will return 3 copies of the validated roster to the team. In general, a team must allow two weeks turn around time for a roster to be returned. If a team needs a validated roster for an early bird tournament, it is their responsibility to inform the Association Registrar and submit their proposed roster as early as possible to allow for a reasonable amount of turn around time. If a team requires more than three copies of their validated roster, they may make copies from those provided. Additions or deletions, required after the roster has been submitted for validation to the District Registrar, will be accomplished through a supplemental roster. Prior to requesting a Supplemental Roster, the requesting team will complete a RYHL Roster Change Form, with signatures. Upon receipt of the roster change form, the Association Registrar will produce a Supplemental Roster and distribute it to the team in a timely manner. The team will obtain the required signatures on the Supplemental Roster and return it to the Association Registrar in a timely manner. The Association Registrar will submit the Supplemental Roster to the District Registrar for validation and return 3 copies of the validated roster to the team. No additions or deletions will be allowed on any roster after November 30 th except with a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Directors (as described in the RYHL Rules and By-Laws) at a regularly scheduled meeting. Tournament Bound teams may only request changes until December 31 st, and must obtain Board approval. Requests for approval will be made sufficiently in advance and not later than 48 hours prior to the meeting to allow the item to be added to the agenda. See the Rochester Youth Hockey web page of a listing of the regularly scheduled meetings. In emergencies, as determined by the Association President, a special meeting may be called to consider a roster addition/deletion. Any team that does not comply with the above rules and deadlines will not be allowed to use assigned practice hours until they are in compliance and shall forfeit those hours not used. It shall be the responsibility of the Association Registrar to inform the Division Director and the Association Scheduler of any teams that are in non-compliance. It shall be the Division Director s responsibility to inform the team coach and/or manager of non-compliance. From September 15 th to November 30 th, the Association Registrar shall produce a weekly tabulation of the status of each team s roster for the use of the Division Director in identifying teams that are in jeopardy of non-compliance. This tabulation will be transmitted to the Division Direction in a form acceptable to both parties. House Select teams shall comply with these rules except that the deadline for submitting an alphabetical listing of players and officials by the Division Director will be as soon as possible after the Select tryouts and the deadline for submitting the signed roster to the Association Registrar shall be November 30 th. The Head Coach of any team found to be using illegal (un-rostered) players shall be brought before the Rochester Youth Hockey Discipline Board for a hearing. Punishment for using illegal players shall be (but not limited to) suspension from all RYHL activities for a period of at least 6 months. Page 8

Team Uniforms ALL Rochester Youth Hockey league teams shall wear only Board approved uniforms for games. A team may use a third Tournament Jersey only with the written approval of the Board of Directors. The proposed jersey shall be presented to the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting for consideration. The Tournament jersey may not be worn during any League games. Any team found to be in violation of this rule shall forfeit 1 practice for the first offense and 3 practices for the second offense. Upon the third offense, the Head Coach will be called before the Board for further disciplinary action. In the event that a team has used all their allotted practice slots, a fine equal to 1 hour of ice shall be assessed to the team for the first offense and three hours of ice for the second offense. Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. Pre-Tryout Skates RYHL teams are prohibited from conducting pre-tryout skates that include players from other teams or other organizations, until after the completion of the National Tournaments. Teams may hold conditioning clinics for players that are currently rostered on their team or another RYHL team only. Teams may hire outside consultants to conduct these clinics. Any coach or team found to be in violation of this rule will be called before the RYHL Discipline Board. Coaches Persons interested in applying for a Head Coach or Assistant Coach position must fill out an application and submit it to the Division Director before the published deadline. Applications will be made available not later than January 1st. Coaching candidates will be interviewed by the Division Director along with the Vice President of Operations and/or the Director of Player and Coach Development. This committee shall make Head Coach recommendations. The Division Director shall present the slate of proposed Head Coaches and known Assistant Coaches to the Board of Directors at the February meeting for approval. Each team will be allowed to designate two Assistant Coaches. This is not intended to discourage parent involvement, but will clarify who is in charge when the Head Coach is not available. All coaches, managers and on-ice helpers must submit a completed Coach Screening form. House Division coaching candidates will be interviewed in the presence of both House Directors and the Director of Initiation & Pony. All coaching appointments are for one season only. All coaches will, upon appointment, sign an agreement of appointment. This agreement will recognize the right of the Board of Directors, or their designee, to review all matters concerning the RYHL team. It will also inform the coach of their responsibility to their players, parents and to RYHL. All Coaches and Assistant Coaches for all teams must have completed the Program Level of the USAH Coaching Education Program for their respective age classification by December 31st of each year if not previously obtained. Page 9

Individual Team Budgeting/Fundraising Each team is required to appoint an individual as the Team Treasurer, a position separate from Head Coach and Team Manager. Each team treasurer is required to submit a Team Budget to the Rochester Youth Hockey League Treasurer prior to September 1 st. Team budget will include projected income and expenses for the entire year. Projected end-of-year balance must be $0.00. Income will include, but is not limited to parent assessments, fundraising activities, sponsorships, and donations. Expenses will include, but are not limited to tournament fees, team parties, team attire, and other miscellaneous expenses The Team Treasurer must post the pre-season team budget in the documents section of the team s RYH website. Budget documents are password protected. The team budget will be available for review by team parents and RYH Board of Directors. The Team Budget must be approved by the RYH treasurer, or someone appointed to act on behalf of the RYH treasurer, prior to a team receiving their ice schedule. The Team Treasurer for all travel teams must open a separate team bank checking account at a local banking institution. Any team with projected spending greater than $1000.00 must also open a bank account. All team income and expenses must be deposited and disbursed from the team account. The team checking account cannot include Rochester Youth Hockey in the account name. The name on the bank account should be formatted as the team name on line one and the team treasurer s name on line two. Example: Squirt Major AA 95 Jerry Maguire, Treasurer The Team Treasurer will create and maintain an up-to-date Team Financial Statement that records each financial transaction including all income deposits and expenses paid. The up- to- date Team Financial Statement will be posted in the documents section of the team RYH website. The Team Treasurer must present, upon request by the RYH Treasurer, a recent bank statement matching the updated activity reported on the Team Balance Sheet. A final team financial report must be submitted to and approved by the RYH Treasurer no later than March 15 for Mites and Squirts and by April 1 for all other teams. It is expected that any team budget surpluses/(shortages) at year-end must be divided equally amongst all team families. Financial questions or complaints must be made in writing (email: treasurer@ryhockey.com) to the RYH Treasurer. Grievances will be investigated immediately by the RYH Treasurer and presented to the Board of Directors for resolution. Sponsorships The RYH Board of Directors strongly encourages the solicitation of team sponsorships to help offset the high cost of playing hockey. Rochester Youth Hockey is a 501c not-for-profit organization and is therefore required to implement effective policies governing the solicitation, distribution, and accounting of funds received. The RYH policies and procedures regarding sponsorships are follows: All sponsorship solicitation materials including flyers, letters, and handouts must be submitted to and approved by the RYH Treasurer. Page 10

All sponsorship checks are to be made out payable to Rochester Youth Hockey League and submitted directly to the RYH Treasurer. Sponsorship funds cannot be received directly by a team and under no circumstances deposited in the team s account.. Sponsorship checks received by RYH will be credited against the soliciting team s team fee due in October. The RYH Treasurer will issue a check to the team for sponsorship funds received in excess of the team fee. This money can be used to cover additional qualified expenses such as additional ice, tournaments, instruction, referees and uniforms/accessories. Sponsorships cannot be used to offset an individual s team dues even though they were the solicitor, as RYH sponsorships are intended to equally benefit an entire team. Under no circumstances will sponsorship funds be returned to an individual. The RYH Treasurer will provide our Federal Tax-Exempt ID number directly to sponsors/donors requesting it. Teams are not a legal entity and therefore are not permitted to provide this number or utilize the RYH tax exempt status. Financial questions or complaints must be made in writing (email: treasurer@ryhockey.com) to the RYH Treasurer. Grievances will be investigated immediately by the RYH Treasurer and presented to the Board of Directors for resolution. The Coaching Certification requirements are as follows: Coaching Certification Requirements Age Classification Head Coach Assistant Coach Initiation/Cross Ice Initiation (Level 1) Initiation (Level 1) Pony Initiation (Level 1) Initiation (Level 1) Mite Initiation (Level 1) Initiation (Level 1) Squirt Associate (Level 2) Associate (Level 2) Peewee Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Bantam Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Midget Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Midget (Tournament Bound) Advanced (Level 4) Advanced (Level 4) Girls 10 & Under Initiation (Level 1) Initiation (Level 1) Girls 12 & Under Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Girls 14 & Under Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Girls 16 & Under Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Girls 19 & Under Intermediate (Level 3) Intermediate (Level 3) Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. Team Manager Every Team must have a person to act as the Team Manager. Any person interested in becoming a Team Manager must submit, in writing, their request to the Division Director and Head Coach. Selection of the Team Manager will be made by the Division Director and Head Coach. Team Managers will not be chosen until after team formation. The Team Manager or their representative will be required to attend regularly scheduled Manager Meetings and at the beginning of the season, a Manager training session. Page 11

Each Manager will keep a Team Binder to include the Official Team Roster, Team Membership Application, Travel Permit, Team Budget accounting, copies of games sheets, and for each player: Consent to Treat form, Medical History form and any other information as necessary. This binder will be made available, upon request, for review by the Division Director or their appointee. It is required that the Team Manager have internet access, as most communications between the League and the Team will take place through e-mail and the RYHL web page. Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. Team Treasurer The Head Coach shall appoint a Team Treasurer. This person will be separate from the Team Manager and shall be responsible for the collection, distribution and reporting of the team monies. Team Statistician Every coach shall appoint a Team Statistician. This person can be the Team Manager. This person shall be responsible to report all games to the Division Director and be responsible for turning in all game sheets, regardless of the type of game played. During the season, Team Statistics will be tuned into the Division Director at an interval to be determined by the Director but not less than one every other month. At the end of the season, the Team Statistician will be responsible for submitting final Team Statistics Summary to the Division Director on the Team Statistics Reporting Form, See Appendix A. The Team Statistician will be responsible to ensure that alternates do not exceed the 10 game rule. The Team Statistician shall be responsible to ensure that all players are listed on their Official USA Hockey Roster. Any team found not turning in game sheets shall forfeit 1 practice for the first offense and 3 practices for the second offense. Upon the third offense, the Head Coach and Statistician will be called before the Board for further disciplinary action. In the event that a team has used all their allotted practice slots, a fine equal to 1 hour of ice shall be assessed to the team for the first offense and three hours of ice for the second offense. The Head Coach and Team Statistician of any team found to be using illegal (un-rostered) players shall be brought before the Rochester Youth Hockey Discipline Board for a hearing. Punishment for using illegal players shall be (but not limited to) suspension from all RYHL activities for a period of at least 6 months. Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. 10. Team Formation House Division House Division teams are formed in August from the pool of players registered in the House Program. Teams are chosen by a committee consisting of the Division Director, Registrar, VP Operations and one other individual chosen by the Division Director. Players are rated by their evaluation scores and coaches rating. Players are distributed among teams as evenly as possible, based on these scores. Page 12

Coaches are allowed to protect 3 players each season. Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. After forwards and defensemen have been distributed among the teams, the aggregate scores of players on each team determine the placement of goalies, so that a team with the highest aggregate forwards/defense score get the lowest rated goalie In the case where a goalie is a protected player, the team formation will conform to the team formation rules, and forward/defense will be placed so that the goalie will be on the appropriate team. Evaluations will take place in the Spring as close to the end of the House season as possible and in August, prior to team formation to allow for late registrants and those that missed the spring evaluations. Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. Youth Travel Tryouts will be conducted at times as determined by the Division Director, but no sooner than the end of the State Tournament for Mites & Squirts and the end of the National Tournament for Peewee through Midget. On ice drills will be run by persons and/or organizations as appointed by the Board of Directors. These persons or organizations shall be independent of RYHL and have no vested interest in the team formation. Head Coaches may evaluate the players on ice or off ice. In addition a committee consisting of the Division Director (or their appointee) and/or the Director of Player and Coach Development and one other party as appointed by the Head Coach will evaluate the players off ice. This committee will pick the team in collaboration with the Head Coach. The Head Coach may protect three players. No cuts will be made on the first night of tryouts. First cuts will be made by the Head Coach after the second session. Players will be informed of their status with the team within 48 hours of the completion of the last tryout session. The Head Coach may elect to post the final roster at the last tryout session or hand out letters to all participants or call each participant. RYHL will provide form letters that can be utilized for this purpose. Any skater accepting a roster position on a RYHL travel team is expected to play for that team for the entire season (practices and games). Skaters placed on the travel rosters will sign a Letter of Commitment and Code of Conduct prior to being placed on the team roster. A parent s signature is also required. All skaters choosing to play both high school hockey and for the RYHL should be encouraged to contact the high school coach to see if this is permissible before signing a commitment letter for the RYHL team. If a skater makes a commitment to a travel team and then fails to fulfill his/her commitment, his/her player status and fees will be forfeited. Each team will consist of at least 15 players (13 forward/defense + 2 goalies). Any exceptions to this must be approved by the Division Director and the Executive Board. Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. Page 13

Girls Travel Rochester Youth Hockey League, Inc. Tryouts will be conducted at times as determined by the Division Director, but no sooner than the end of the State Tournament and/or the National Tournament. Head Coaches may evaluate the players on ice or off ice. In addition a committee consisting of the Division Director (or their appointee) and/or the Director of Player and Coach Development one other party as appointed by the Head Coach will evaluate the players off ice. This committee will pick the team in collaboration with the Head Coach. No cuts will be made on the first night of tryouts. Players will be informed of their status with the team within 48 hours of the completion of the last tryout session. The Head Coach may elect to post the final roster at the last tryout session or hand out letters to all participants or call each participant. RYHL will provide form letters that can be utilized for this purpose. Any skater accepting a roster position on a RYHL travel team is expected to play for that team for the entire season (practices and games). Skaters placed on the travel rosters will sign a Letter of Commitment and Code of Conduct prior to being placed on the team roster. A parent s signature is also required. All skaters choosing to play both high school hockey and for the RYHL should be encouraged to contact the high school coach to see if this is permissible before signing a commitment letter for the RYHL team. If a skater makes a commitment to a travel team and then fails to fulfill his/her commitment, his/her player status and fees may be forfeited. Each team will consist of at least 16 players with the exception of the U-12 Tier 1 and any Tier 2 team which must consist of at least 14 players Final interpretation of these procedures rests with the Division Director and approval of the Board of Directors. 11. Participation Participation by Alternates (Youth/Girls; House/Travel): It is the intent of Rochester Youth Hockey to promote players from lower divisions to play in upper divisions, and thus give them the opportunity for improvement and advancement. A player may participate as an alternate on an upper division team only, i.e. a House player may participate in Tier 1 or Tier 2 Travel; a Tier 2 player in Tier 1 Travel; a House B player in House A. The alternate must play in an age appropriate bracket. No move up will be allowed. A team may add alternates at tryouts or then only when team membership drops below 13 (12 or less), except when only one goalie is rostered an alternate goalie may be added anytime. Team membership is defined as the number of available players for any given game. The maximum number of alternates a team may have on their roster is two. An alternate may only participate in a maximum of 10 games of any type, exhibition, league or tournament. Upon playing the 11th game, that player shall be permanently rostered and the full team fee assessed minus any payments made for the original team fee. There is no restriction on the number of practices and alternate may participate in except that the original team must always be given priority for games and practices. It is the responsibility of the alternate team to submit the alternate request form to the requesting team s Division Director for approval. A copy of the approved form will be given the Original Team Coach and Division Director. Page 14

Participation by Players Outside Section V A team must have at least 11 players from within New York State High School Section V (two lines and one goalie) 12. Player Movement Move-Up Policy (Youth/Girls; House/Travel): It is the intent of Rochester Youth Hockey to allow exceptionally skilled players to play at a level that is appropriate to their skill level. No player may play in, or tryout for, an age bracket above their age appropriate bracket with out permission from the Division Director. Any player requesting permission must make a written request to the Division Director, by filling out and submitting the RYHL Move Up Request form, at least 1 week prior to the start of try-out or evaluations for their age appropriate group. The Move-Up request form can be found at www.ryhockey.com. If permission is granted, the player must tryout for or be evaluated for both teams. A position will be held on the age appropriate team until after the move-up tryouts and placement on the move-up team. Permission to move up is not a guarantee of a spot on the move-up team. The Division Director, in collaboration with the Director of Player Development and Vice President of Operations and one other non-interested person chosen by the Division Director will evaluate the player. This panel shall observe the player requesting the move up during evaluations or tryouts for both teams and make recommendations to the Executive Committee. This panel shall also meet with the player and parents to discuss the ramifications of a moveup. No player can be dropped to make room for a qualified under aged player. No team may have more than two under aged players. RYHL also recognizes that there are special circumstances that require siblings to play together in the House Division. These requests must be made in writing to the Division Director, by filling out the RYHL Move Up Request form, at least 1 week prior to tryouts or evaluations. A player requesting this type of move up must be at a skill level commiserate with the older age group, as evaluated by the committee defined in f) above, but does not have to be a significantly contributing player. Under no circumstances will this move be allowed in a Travel Division. All recommendations must be reviewed and voted on by the Executive Committee of Rochester Youth Hockey League. Any player requesting permission to move up after tryouts/evaluations must make a written request to the Board of Directors including an explanation why the request was not made prior to tryouts/evaluations. Only special circumstances will be considered, i.e. new to the community. Movement After Team Formation After House team formation and prior to the Sept 30th, House player movement will be allowed in cases where skill levels are obviously disproportionate. A player becomes ineligible for movement after participating in 10 games with any one team. Upon participating in the 11th game, that player is permanently rostered with that team. Page 15