Golden Skate Hockey League Rules, Code of Conduct, and Waiver and Release of Liability July 28, 2011 The Golden Skate Hockey League is a Community Service Program for the youth of our Community. It is sponsored by The Golden Skate, but it is run by parents whose children enroll in our hockey program. The teams are set up by its volunteer Director. Parents help by contributing their time in coaching, assisting with the registration, setting up the times, operating the scoreboard, etc. Without these contributions, there could be no hockey program. Each team practices one day a week and plays one game on Tuesdays; however, this schedule may be altered based on the business needs of The Golden Skate. HOCKEY LEAGUE RULES & CODE OF CONDUCT 1. Rules of play. Golden Skate Hockey League has adopted USA Hockey's Rules and Standard of Play. The Standard of Play emphasizes skating, ball possession, and the proper use of the body to establish position and competitive advantage. The standard is based upon the following principles: - In general, use of the stick is limited to playing the ball;- A player can't use the stick to impede another player's progress; - A player can't use a hand or arm to grab or impede another player's progress; - Players who use their physical skills and/or anticipation and have positional advantage shall not lose that advantage as a result of illegal acts by the opponent. The Standard of Play is aimed at reducing restraining infractions, such as holding, hooking, and impeding a player's progress. However, using body contact/position to gain a competitive advantage is not generally penalized under these rules. In implementing the USA Hockey Rules and Standard of Play, the GSHL referees emphasize the following rules: - No Checking. The GSHL is a non-checking league. "Checking" is intentionally colliding with another player in a forceful manner. - No Hooking. A player cannot use his/her stick against an opponent's body (ball carrier or non-ball carrier) to gain a positional advantage. Examples include: - Tugs or pulls on the body, arms or hands of the opponent which causes the space between the players to diminish; - Placing the stick in front of the opponent's body and locking or impeding the opponent's progress, or causing loss of balance; and - Placing the stick on the hand/arm that takes away the ability for the opponent to pass or shoot the ball with a normal amount of force. c. Tripping. A player cannot use his/her stick on the legs or feet of an opponent in a manner that would cause a loss of balance or for them to trip or fall. Examples include: - Placing the stick in front of the opponent's legs for the Purpose of impeding progress (even if the stick is in contact with the rink surface), with no effort to legally play the ball; - Placing the stick between the legs of the opponent (the "can opener" or "corkscrew') that causes a loss of balance or impedes the progress of the opponent. Page 1 of 6
d. Holding. A player cannot wrap his/her arms around the opponent or use a free and to clutch, grab, or hold the stick, jersey or body on the opponent in a manner that impedes their progress. Examples include: - Wrapping one or both arms around the opponent along the boards in a manner that pins them against the boards and prevents them from playing the ball or skating; - Grabbing the opponent's body, stick or jersey with one or both hands; and using a free arm/hand to restrain or impede the opponent's progress. e. Interference. A player cannot use his/her body to impede the progress of an opponent with no effort to play the ball, maintain normal foot speed or travel the established skating lane. Players are allowed to compete for body position using their strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards. Examples of interference include: - Intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have possession, or possession and control of the ball; - Using the body to establish a "pick" or "block" that prevents an opponent from being able to chase the ball carrier; - Reducing foot speed or changing an established skating line for the purpose of impeding an opponent from being able to chase a ball carrier. f. Slashing. The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the ball. Any stick contact, as a result of a slashing motion, to the hands, arms or body of the opponent will be strictly penalized (two-minute penalty). In addition, hard slashes to the upper portion of the stick (just below the hands) of an opponent, with no attempt to legally play the ball, shall also be penalized as a major five-minute penalty. g. Other Infractions. Other infractions include - Rough play (e.g., pushing and shoving short of actual fisticuffs) - Contact to the head - Checking from behind - Boarding (a check that throws an opponent forcefully into the boards) - Cross-checking (a cross-check is a check rendered with both hands on the stick with the arms extended); - High sticking (striking an opponent with the stick above shoulder level) - Roughing (including late avoidable checks). h. Penalty Box. A penalty box will be set up between the two benches. A penalized player will immediately take a seat in the penalty box and remain there for the duration of the penalty. 2. Player Conduct. a. Fighting. Fighting is not tolerated, no matter the circumstances. The following penalties for fighting are mandatory: For the fight instigator: automatic game ejection and game misconduct (5 minutes) to be served in the penalty box by another member of the team; the instigator's team will also receive a 2-minute roughing minor. Total penalty time for instigator's team: 7 minutes. Fight instigator automatically receives a next-game suspension. Additional suspension up to expulsion will be levied at the discretion of the referee and league director. There will be no refunds or credit for games missed due to suspension or expulsion. Expulsions are permanent. For any player who, having been struck, retaliates with a blow or an attempted blow: game ejection and game misconduct (5 minutes). For any "third man in" (that is, one who intervenes in an altercation already in progress), a penalty ranging from a minor (2 minutes), double minor (4 minutes), or game misconduct (5 minutes), based on the player's intention and Page 2 of 6
severity of their actions. This will allow a referee to distinguish between a player going into a fight to "pull someone out" versus someone going in to join the melee. b. Cussing and Unsportsmanlike Conduct. Players may not "talk smack," use profane language, or exhibit unsportsmanlike conduct. Referees will assess appropriate penalties. Coaches will counsel players to avoid inappropriate conduct and playing too rough. Repeat offenders will be issued a game misconduct (5 minutes) and ejected from the game and/or the team. c. Throwing Equipment. - Players who throw their stick, helmet or gloves when exiting the rink will be issued a game misconduct (5 minutes) and ejected from the game. d. Game Control. If player or overall team conduct during a game threatens to get out of control, it is the responsibility of the coaches and the refs to call a time out, discuss the situation, and take remedial action, up to and including calling the game and entering the final score as it stands at that point in the game. 3. Other Rules Relating to Players. a. Mandatory Equipment. All players must be in full equipment for games and practices: helmet, mouthguard, knee/shin guards, elbow pads, gloves and skates. Cups for male players are optional, but recommended. No hockey player may enter the rink area without the above-listed gear. Players skating without the mandatory gear will bring a 2-minute bench minor penalty upon their team, and may not return to the floor until they re properly attired. The coaches are responsible for enforcing this rule. Repeated violation of this rule may result in expelling the violator from the team. Golden Skate Specific Rules With Regards To Hockey 1. No Skating Outside Building. Players may not enter or exit the building with skates on. Shoes must be worn to enter and exit the building (no bare feet). Skating is not allowed outside the building or in the parking lot. 2. Entering and Exiting the Rink. Players may not exit the rink via the gate next to the DJ booth. Everyone will enter and exit the rink surface from the three openings on the west side of the rink. 3. No Sitting on Walls. Players, coaches and refs must not sit on or jump over the carpeted walls; 4. No hockey Play Outside of Rink. Stick-handling, passing, shooting or any other hockey activity is not allowed anywhere but on the skating floor. 5. No pucks. The Golden Skate expressly forbids the use of hockey pucks anywhere on the premises. This is a safety rule, as the facility has not been built to contain or protect spectators from hockey pucks. 6. No tag or Other Games. Playing tag or other games on skates is not allowed in the lobby, corridors or the snack bar area. 7. Hitting Balls at Walls Prohibited. Players may not hit balls at the walls or the acoustic ceiling. 8. No Pounding of Sticks. Players may not "pound" their hockey sticks in celebration or anger. They may use their sticks to tap the floor to signal their position to another player. Violation of this rule will result in a five minute game misconduct penalty, and the player will be replaced by another player. 9. Players or Parents may not go behind the Snack Bar. 10. Pick Up Your Gear. Players must remove their belongings from the player bench after a game and the coach must make a "final sweep" to ensure that the area is ready for the next team or for closing of the rink. Page 3 of 6
11. Changing. Players should use the hall area near the rental skate booth and the player bench area to change into and out of their hockey gear. The snack bar area is reserved for spectators. Hockey bags are NOT allowed in the snack lounge area. 12. Hockey Setup and Take Down. Set up and take down of the rink for hockey practices (rink board entry/exit dividers and goals) will be handled by coaches and players first to arrive and last to leave. Set up and take down for game days will be handled by first to arrive, and loser of the last game. 13. Transitions Between Games. Players must exit the rink immediately following the handshake at the end of each game. The teams entering the rink for their game will be given approximately 5 minutes for warm up and the game will start promptly after the warm up. 14. A coach must be present at all times during practices and games. Players may not enter the rink surface unless a coach is present. General Use of The Golden Skate Facility 1. No outside food or beverages may be brought into The Golden Skate, with the exception of baby food for infants and toddlers. 2. All food, snacks and drinks must be consumed in the snack bar area. Players may bring a water bottle to the player bench area as long as the bottle contains only water, and has a lid. No open containers are allowed. No gum chewing is allowed within the building. 3. The Golden Skate maintains an "extra equipment" bin containing hockey gear that may be used by our players. A second "lost and found" bin contains hockey gear left behind by our players. Please keep the equipment in the two bins separate. Rules of Conduct for Parents and Spectators. 1. Spectator Misbehavior. If a spectator yells at and criticizes an official, the official may at his discretion call a twominute penalty on the offending spectator s team. The penalty will be announced on the public address system. If the misconduct continues, the referee at his discretion may assess additional penalties, and/or eject the offending parent from the rink for the remainder of the game or the entire season. 2. No Spectators in the Bench Area. Family, friends or other spectators are not allowed in the player bench area during practices or games. No exceptions. 3. Supervision of Children. All children and siblings must be kept with an adult at all times for safety reasons. Parents must supervise their small children at all times. Running, horseplay, playing tag, screaming or yelling, and climbing on the tables, chairs, walls or machines is strictly prohibited. 4. Siblings and friends may not bring their skates and skate in The Golden Skate facility while practices or games are being conducted. 5. Picking Up Children. Parents who drop off their children must only do so when their coach is present. Children must be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of their practice or game. USA Hockey Inline's Sportsmanship Policy The Golden Skate Hockey League endorses USA Hockey Inline's Sportsmanship Policy regarding parents and spectators: "At the discretion of the Referees, the League Director or the rink Manager, the game may be stopped when the parents/spectators display inappropriate and disruptive behavior that interferes with other spectators or participants of the game. The Referees or the League Director may identify violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing parents/spectators from the spectators viewing and game area. The proprietor of the facility has the final authority in this matter. Page 4 of 6
Violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local governing body and/or the facility. This inappropriate and disruptive behavior shall include: Throwing any object in the spectators viewing area, players bench, penalty box or the playing surface that in any manner creates a safety hazard. - Taunting players, coaches, officials or other spectators by means of baiting, ridiculing, threatening physical violence, or physical violence. - Using obscene or vulgar language to anyone at any time. Support the referees and coaches by trusting their judgment and integrity. Respect players, coaches and officials. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, WAIVER AND RELEASE IF LIABILITY I, the undersigned, do affirm the registration information submitted is correct and truthful and hereby make application to GSHL for playing roller hockey with GSHL. I further agree to abide by the rules and regulations of GSHL any time I am at The Golden Skate, in spirit, as well as in letter, upholding the high ethics of GSHL. I understand dangers may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in these activities. I understand the nature of GSHL's activities and believe that I (or my minor child) am/are qualified and physically fit to participate in competitions and practices. I further acknowledge that I am aware that the activity will be conducted in facilities open to the public. As a skater, parent or legal guardian, I further agree and warrant that prior to participating in any event I will inspect the facilities to be used and if believing conditions to be unsafe, I will immediately advise my coach or the Rink staff of this condition and refuse to participate unless corrected. I fully understand that GSHL's activities involve risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis and death, and economic losses which might result not only from a skater s actions, inactions or negligence, but the action, inaction, or negligence of others, the rules of competition, or the condition of the premises or any equipment in use. I fully accept and assume all such risks and responsibilities for losses and costs and damages incurred as a result of my participation in GSHL activities or arising out of my traveling to or returning from such activities or practice sessions. I hereby release, discharge, covenant not to sue, and agree to hold harmless The Golden Skate, GSHL, their administrators, directors, agents, officers, volunteers and employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and where applicable, owners and lessors of premises and their employees on which the activity takes place (collectively Releasees ), from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the Releasees. I further agree that if a claim is made against any of the Releasees that arises out of or in any way relates to my participation or involvement in a GSHL activity or event, I, AND THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNING ON BEHALF OF A MINOR, AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH OF THE RELEASEES FROM ANY LITIGATION EXPENSES, ATTORNEY S FEES, LOSS, LIABILITY, DAMAGE, OR ANY COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF ANY SUCH CLAIM. Page 5 of 6
I have read this agreement and fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by the law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid that the balance, not withstanding, shall continue in full force and effect. I have read the Hockey League Rules and Code of Conduct, The Golden Skate Hockey Rink Rules, and USA Hockey Inline's Sportsmanship Policy above. I agree to conduct myself within the Golden Skate Hockey League rules, and the rules set by The Golden Skate, and to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. PLAYER NAME Signed by PLAYER DATE PARENT NAME Signed by PARENT DATE PARENT TELEPHONE NUMBER Page 6 of 6