2017-18 Official Guidebook OF Sled Hockey Photo by Joe Sport Photography
SECTION 1 GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS
Introduction This section covers general rules and regulations of all USA Hockey Sanctioned Sled Hockey Games. Unless covered in other sections of this document or otherwise approved by USA Hockey, all games must follow the rules and regulations within this section. Text that is highlight has been added or otherwise changed from the previous version and approved by the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Section. Sanction Games A USA Hockey sanctioned sled game consists of a sled hockey team versus a sled hockey team playing in sleds. USA Hockey does not permit sled hockey players (playing on sleds) to compete in games against players who are playing hockey standing up (playing on skates). All players, referees, and coaches must be properly registered with USA Hockey. Classifications & Eligibility Youth Sled Division 1. Age Guidelines & Age Waivers The youth division is for players 17 years of age and under as of December 31 of the current playing season. If you are 18 years old on December 31 of the current season, you can play on your youth team if you have NEVER played on any adult team in a USA Hockey sanctioned game. If you are 18 years old on December 31 of the current season and you have never played on an adult team in a USA Hockey sanctioned game, you do not need a waiver to participate in the youth division. Players that older than 17 years of age as of December 31 of the current playing season and have participated in any USA Hockey sanctioned adult sled game and players older than 18 years of age as of December 31 of the current playing season, may be allowed to play in the youth division if a waiver request is submitted and approved by the Waiver Committee. The Age Waiver Form can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. The purpose of this waiver is to allow players with more severe disabilities to play in the youth division where it is less physical and slower paced. The determination on waivers is based first and foremost according to on-ice ability. Other factors are considered, but the on-ice ability is the number one determining factor and therefore a video demonstrating the player s ability is required. Without a recent video of the player s on-ice ability, the waiver will be denied. Without the accompanying form describing the player and their ability and any other factors, the waiver will be denied. The U.S. National Women s Sled Hockey Team is considered an adult team. The U.S. National Women s Sled Hockey Team players who are 17 years or younger as of December 31 of the current season are allowed to play in their local youth division. If the player is 18 years of age as of December 31 of the current season, and they have played on the U.S. National Women s Sled Hockey Team, they are not allowed to play on their youth team in sanctioned games and tournaments. Waivers are reviewed and considered by a two-person committee to maintain consistency in looking at all waivers. A team manager, coach, or player must submit a waiver request each playing season. Waiver requests may be submitted whether the previous season waiver was approved or not. Approved/disapproved waivers are active for the entire playing season. If the waiver request is approved, players will be permitted to play in any USA Hockey sanctioned game or tournament. Players with approved waivers are permitted to be dual rostered on a youth team and an adult team.
Age waiver requests must be submitted by November 15th of the current playing season. Waiver requests must be submitted and approved prior to any competition beginning. The waiver request for older players to participate in the youth division process is as follows: A team manager, coach, or player must fill out a player waiver request form found on the USA Hockey website. The form must be completely filled out with detailed descriptions explaining the player s playing history, disability, on-ice skill, and reason for the waiver request. The form must include the team the player intends to participate with for the season. Video must be obtained and submitted of the player s on-ice ability. Off-ice video is optional. The video does not need to be professionally shot. Submit filled out player Waiver Request Form and supportive documentation along with videos to SledHockeyWaivers@usahockey.org A team manager, coach, or player that submits a waiver request will receive a return email with a determination within 10 days of the waiver request submission and, if approved, an official letter of approval will be included. Team managers/coaches must keep this letter on file and submit to any Tournament Director or League or Registrar along with the official USA Hockey roster demonstrating the player has been approved by USA Hockey to participate in the youth division. If a player waiver request is denied, a player or team manager may appeal by submitting all supporting documentation to the chair of the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Section within seven (7) days of the original denial. A committee of six (6) members (not including the original 2 members) including the disabled section chair will review the appeal. A team manager, coach, or player that submits a waiver request appeal will receive a return email with a determination within ten (10) days of the waiver request submission and if approved an official letter of approval will be included. If still denied this decision is final. If however, such denial is related to the eligibility to participate in the Sled National Championship, Disabled Hockey Festival and Sled Classic or other national championship events conducted by USA Hockey, then an additional appeal may be referred to and decided by the National Championships Appeal Committee as set forth in Bylaw 10.D.(3)(i). 2. Rosters Players must be rostered and play with the sled team/program closest to them and have their primary current residence within a geographical area of a 100 miles driving distance of their sled team s main practice facility (home rink). The player s closest sled team/program is determined by the distance in driving miles from the player s primary residence to the sled team s main practice facility (home rink). Players cannot be dual rostered on two youth teams, but are permitted to be dual rostered on a youth team and adult team. However, players are only allowed to play and be rostered on one team at the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival. Team rosters need to be set by November 30th of the current playing season. Players who wish to be dual rostered on two youth teams (i.e. league team and tournament team), may submit a waiver request. The waiver form can be found online at www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Any deviation from the team roster, including players who do not reside within 100 miles driving distance, must have waiver request submitted and be approved by the Waiver Committee. The Roster Change Waiver Request Form and 100 Mile Waiver Request form can be found can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Past and present U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and U.S. National Development Sled Hockey Team members are not allowed to play in the Youth Division. Able-bodies are not allowed in the youth division for any sled team versus sled team games. For participants in the youth sled division with disabilities that may not meet the disabled hockey criteria, a Minimum Disability Form is required. If a player s disability is in question, the player, the player s family, or team coach/manager must provide a doctor s signed documentation along with their Minimum Disability Form completed. These must be
provided at any time during competition. The Minimum Disability Form can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. In order to meet the minimum disability requirement, an athlete must have a lasting disability that consistently prohibits that individual from playing typical stand up hockey as quantified by standard medical examination and/ or testing. A doctor s signed diagnoses and support of play in sled hockey is required. Sled hockey is played by a wide range of players with a variety of mobility and cognitive limitations which include, but are not limited to: amputees, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, cerebral palsy along with anyone who has a permanent disability that limits participation in stand up hockey. Cognitive limitations are permitted and meet the minimum disability requirement as long as the disability prohibits participation in typical stand up hockey. In the event that the minimum disability requirement of any player is in question, even with a provided signed doctor s support, the player s disability info must be sent to the USA Hockey Minimum Disability Requirement Committee. The Minimum Disability Requirement Committee will evaluate all information and may coordinate an in-person manual evaluation of the player. The Committee will determine whether the player meets the minimum disability requirement. If a player receives a denial indicating the player does not meet the minimum disability requirement by the Minimum Disability Requirement Committee, the player has the ability to appeal the decision to the chair of the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Section within 10 days. The chair of the Disabled Hockey Section will evaluate all information along with anyone the chair deems necessary to assist in the evaluation. The determination delivered by the Chair of the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Section is final. Able bodies are permitted to practice with a youth sled team and are permitted to participate in sled team versus able-bodied team games as long as the able bodied players all are playing in sleds. Pushed players may play in the youth division and must follow the pusher rules as found in the Official Rules of Sled Hockey, which can be found online at www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Adult Sled Division 1. Rosters Players must be rostered and play with the sled team/program closest to them and have their primary current residence within a geographical area of a 100 miles driving distance of their sled team s main practice facility (home rink). The player s closest sled team/program is determined by the distance in driving miles from the player s primary residence to the sled team s main practice facility (home rink). Players cannot be dual rostered on two adult teams, but are permitted to be dual rostered on a youth team and adult team. However, players are only allowed to play and be rostered on one team at the USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival. Team rosters need to be set by November 30th of the current playing season. Players who wish to be dual rostered on two adult teams (i.e. league team and tournament team), may submit a waiver request. The waiver form can be found online at www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Any deviation from the team roster, including players who do not reside within 100 miles driving distance, must have waiver request submitted and be approved by the Waiver Committee. The Roster Change Waiver Request Form and 100 Mile Waiver Request Form can be found can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Teams are allowed three (3) able bodies and must be marked on the scoresheet with an AB. Able body players may not play the goalie position. Players under the age of 17 may play in the Adult Division however significant consideration should be given whether a younger player is ready and able to play in the adult division.
Pushed players may play in the adult division and must follow the pusher rules as found in the Official Rules of Sled Hockey, which can be found online at www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Teams intending to participate in the Adult National Sled Championship must follow the Adult National Sled Championship roster rules. Game Format Youth Sled Division Checking is not allowed and will result in a penalty consistent with USA Hockey rules. Body contact is allowed. However, players with specially marked helmets (sprayed fluorescent orange/red/ pink/yellow), different colored jerseys or pinnies (orange/red/pink/yellow) are deemed non-contact and cannot receive ANY body contact and cannot deliver body contact on an opposing player. The youth games shall be three 11-14 minute stop time periods. Length of penalties: 1.5-minute Minor; 4-minute Major and 8-minute Misconduct. Teams shall be allowed one 60-second time-out during each game. Games may go into overtime, go to a shootout, or end in a tie. Adult Sled Division Checking is allowed. However, players with specially marked helmets (sprayed fluorescent orange/red/ pink/yellow), different colored jerseys or pinnies (orange/red/pink/yellow) are deemed non-contact and cannot be checked or receive body contact and cannot check or deliver body contact on an opposing player. Pushed players can only receive or deliver light body contact. The adult games shall be three 14-20 minute stop time periods. Length of penalties: 2-minute Minor; 5-minute Major and 10-minute Misconduct. Teams shall be allowed one 60-second time-out during each game. Games may go into overtime, go to a shootout, or end in a tie. Shootout Rules A shootout will be conducted as follows: The home team shall have the choice whether his/her team will shoot first or second. Any player whose penalty had not been completed at the end of regulation play or who receives a penalty during a shootout procedure is not eligible to be one of the players selected to participate in any portion of the shootout procedure(s). The shootout procedure shall begin with three different individual shooters from each team taking alternate shots. The players do not need to be named beforehand. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot. The players of both teams will take the shots alternately until a decisive goal is scored. The remaining shots will not be taken. The official scorekeeper shall record all shots taken indicating the players, goalkeepers and goals scored. Regardless of the number of goals scored during the shootout portion of overtime, the final score recorded for the game will give the winning team one more goal than its opponent, based on the score at the end of regulation time. If after the shootout, the shootout score is still tied, there will be a sudden death shootout. The sudden death shootout will be conducted as follows: A sudden death shootout is defined as each team attempting a shot. Should one team be successful and the other team not, the successful team shall win the shootout.
Teams will select their shooters to participate in sudden death shootout, whether or not they shot in the previous round. Any player whose penalty had not been completed at the end of regulation play or who receives a penalty during a shootout procedure is not eligible to be one of the players selected to participate in any portion of the shootout procedure(s). No player may shoot twice until everyone who is eligible from that team has shot. If, however, because of injury, penalty or roster size, one team has fewer players eligible for the shootout than its opponent, both teams may select from among the players who have already shot once all of the eligible players from the team with the fewest players taken their shot. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot. The official scorekeeper shall record all shots taken indicating the players, goalkeepers and goals scored. Regardless of the number of goals scored during the shootout portion of overtime, the final score recorded for the game will give the winning team one more goal than its opponent, based on the score at the end of regulation time.
SECTION 2 SLED CLASSIC RULES & REGULATIONS
Eligibility Rules Sled Teams participating must be affiliated with a respective NHL team and wear their NHL Team s jerseys. The jerseys are permitted to be replicas. Sled Teams participating must acquire and provide a letter from a respective NHL team on the NHL team s letterhead from the NHL team community outreach staff member indicating the NHL team s approval of the corresponding Sled Teams participation. All participating teams must be properly registered with USA Hockey or Hockey Canada. All players from each team must have their primary current residence within a geographical area of a 100 miles driving distance of their sled team s main practice facility (home rink). Players are eligible to compete with a team if the sled team s main practice facility (home rink) is outside of the 100 mile driving distance, as long as the player s primary current residence is within the same state as the sled team s main practice facility (home rink). Players that do not reside within 100 miles driving distance of a sled team s main practice facility (home rink) or reside within the same state of a sled team s main practice facility (home rink), may still participate in the Sled Classic, but must do so with the NHL team that is closest to their primary current residence. When determining which NHL team is closest, the address of the actual NHL team s game day stadium will be used (driving distance). Players that reside in the U.S. are permitted to play with the NHL team in the U.S. that is closest, and players that reside Canada are permitted to play with the Canadian NHL team that is closest. If there are no teams participating in the Sled Classic that represents that NHL team, such player would not be eligible to participate. In the event a player s primary current residence is within a 100 mile driving distance of their sled team s main practice facility (home rink) and resides within the same state of a different sled team s main practice facility (home rink), the player must play with the team within 100 mile driving distance of their primary current residence. The Sled Classic Committee may allow players with extenuating circumstances to play on an alternate team as long as they feel doing so is fair and would still maintain a competitive environment. Teams can and must submit a waiver to request players to be allowed to participate for extenuating circumstances outside the above roster rules. Waivers must submitted by October 1 of the current playing season and decided upon on a case-by-case basis. The Roster Change Waiver Request Form can be found can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Any attempt to adjust rosters by providing false information to circumvent the roster rules will result in your team s forfeit from participation in the tournament for the current year as well as the next year and the team fee will not be returned. This is a competitive adult tournament (no age limit). The roster limit is a maximum of eighteen (18) players. Three (3) able-bodied players will be allowed per team. Able bodies are not allowed to play the goalie position. Players only may only roster and play with one Team. Rosters must be submitted by October 31 of the current playing season and no additions are permitted after that date. Multiple teams representing NHL teams are permitted. Game Format The games shall be three 15-minute stop time periods. Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game. Length of penalties shall be 2-minute Minor, 5-minute Major, and 10-minute Misconduct. In the event a game is delayed for any reason, a time adjustment must take place. In the 3rd period, at the first stoppage of play, with roughly five (5)-minutes left in the allotted ice time, if the game time is not less than 3:00 minutes, the referee shall have the scorekeeper reduce the game clock to 2:00 minutes plus whatever seconds are remaining and continue the game with stop-time.
If the game is tied following regulation play there shall be a shootout per the official Shootout Rules as listed in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. Tie Breaking Rules to Determine Standings Position The points received per game are as follows; three (3) points for a regular time win, two (2) points for a shootout win, one (1) point for a shootout loss, zero (0) points for a loss. If two or more teams have an equal number of points, their position in the standings shall be determined by the following tie-breaking format. If one tie-breaker establishes a position for one or more teams, each team is placed in the applicable position. Once a team is placed, the remaining tied teams shall start the tie-breaking process over again at step 1. If all tied teams have not played each other, then proceed to step 2. Note: a team may go into the tie-breaking process having defeated another of the tied teams and still not advance. The tie-breaker formulas are as follows: 1. The results of the head-to-head games played between the tied teams in the following order: a. Total Points b. Head to Head Competition c. Fewest Goals Allowed d. Quickest First Goal Scored 2. If after applying the formulas of 1 a, b, c, and d the tie still exists, the results of all the games played by the teams tied in the following order. a. Fewest Goals Allowed b. Quickest First Goal Scored 3. If the above procedure does not break the tie, the teams shall use a shootout procedure as previously described. Note: Forfeits - If a team forfeits any of its games, and becomes involved in any tie-breaking formula to determine its eligibility to advance to the next level of play, the team forfeits all games in the round robin play and the games are recorded as 1-0 victories for the non-offending team. Discipline & Resolution Committee Any issues (discipline, protests, special considerations, request for deviation from any rule, reports of a broken rule) that arise during the USA Hockey Sled Classic should immediately be brought to the attention of the head tournament area/table. The issue will then be turned over to the Discipline and Resolution Committee (D&R). The D&R Committee shall be composed of four (4) people and be appointed prior to the first game by the Tournament Director. The D&R Committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise, to be taken against a player or team official receiving a game misconduct or match penalty. The committee shall have full power to waive or increase the one (1) or two (2) game suspension imposed in Rule 404(b), Game Misconduct. The committee shall have authority to initiate action involving supplementary discipline against a player or team official whether or not it involves the playing rules; provided, however, that no suspension shall occur without first giving notice of the intended action and providing the opportunity for a hearing. The D&R Committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise, to be taken against a team and/or player for a violation of any of the rules. For any other decision including playing rules interpretation, with regard to the operation of the tournament (including conduct not in the best interest of hockey), the D&R shall have the final authority to make the appropriate decision. In the event there is a tie vote among the four committee members, the Tournament Director shall make the final decision.
SECTION 3 DISABLED HOCKEY FESTIVAL RULES & REGULATIONS
General Information The USA Disabled Hockey Festival will include several Sled Hockey Division Champions, which includes the Adult Sled Hockey National Championship. Each year the exact number of divisions and teams within each division will be decided by the Disabled Hockey Festival Committee based on the request of each team, roster strength, previous year finish, and current season performance. The typical Divisions will be as follows: National Championship Division USA Open Adult A USA Open Adult B USA Open Adult National C USA Open Adult American C USA Open Adult Liberty C Youth Division A Youth Division B Youth Division National C Youth Division American C Youth Division Liberty C Rules That Apply to All Sled Divisions The Disabled Hockey Festival will use the Official Playing Rules of USA Hockey and the Official Sled Hockey Rules of USA Hockey. All players, referees, coaches and pushers are required to be properly registered with USA Hockey for the current membership season. Players may only play for one team during the USA Disabled Hockey Festival regardless of the division. A player must declare what team he/she is playing with at the beginning of the Festival and may not change teams once the Festival has started for any reason. The roster limit is a maximum of eighteen (18) players. Rosters must be submitted by December 31 of the current playing season and no additions are permitted after that date. Pusher rules, as outlined in the Official Sled Hockey Rules of USA Hockey, shall apply to all divisions. Discipline & Resolution Committee Any issues (discipline, protests, special considerations, request for deviation from any rule, reports of a broken rule) that arise during the Festival should immediately be brought to the attention of the head tournament area/table. The issue will then be turned over to the Discipline and Resolution Committee (D&R). The D&R Committee shall be composed of four (4) people and be appointed prior to the first game by the Tournament Director. The D&R Committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise, to be taken against a player or team official receiving a game misconduct or match penalty. The committee shall have full power to waive or increase the one-or two-game suspension imposed in Rule 404(b), Game Misconduct. The committee shall have authority to initiate action involving supplementary discipline against a player or team official whether or not it involves the playing rules; provided, however, that no suspension shall occur without first giving notice of the intended action and providing the opportunity for a hearing.
The D&R Committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise, to be taken against a team and/or player for any violation of any of the rules. For any other decision including playing rules interpretation, with regard to the operation of the tournament (including conduct not in the best interest of hockey), the D&R shall have the final authority to make the appropriate decision. In the event there is a tie vote among the 4 committee members, the Tournament Director shall make the final decision. Tie Breaking Rules to Determine Standings Position The points received per game are as follows; three (3) points for a regular time win, two (2) points for an overtime/ shootout win, one (1) point for a overtime/shootout loss, zero (0) points for a loss. If two or more teams have an equal number of points, their position in the standings shall be determined by the following tie-breaking format. If one tie-breaker establishes a position for one or more teams, each team is placed in the applicable position. Once a team is placed, the remaining tied teams shall start the tie-breaking process over again at step 1. (If all tied teams have not played each other, then proceed to step 2. Note: a team may go into the tie-breaking process having defeated another of the tied teams and still not advance). The tie-breaker formulas are as follows: 1. The results of the head-to-head games played between the tied teams in the following order: a. Total Points b. Head to Head Competition c. Fewest Goals Allowed d. Quickest First Goal Scored 2. If after applying the formulas of 1 a, b, c, and d the tie still exists, the results of all the games played by the teams tied in the following order. a. Fewest Goals Allowed b. Quickest First Goal Scored 3. If the above procedure does not break the tie, the teams shall use a shootout procedure as previously described. Note: Forfeits - If a team forfeits any of its games, and becomes involved in any tie-breaking formula to determine its eligibility to advance to the next level of play, the team forfeits all games in the round robin play and the games are recorded as 1-0 victories for the non-offending team. National Championship Division There will be one (1) National Championship Division consisting of the top four (4) to ten (10) teams that meet the National Championship Team requirements. The top two (2) teams from each of the two (2) sled hockey leagues are awarded a position in the National Championship division (unless they chose not to participate in this division or did not meet the team requirements). Those two leagues identified are the Northeast Sled Hockey League top division and the Midwest Sled Hockey League. The additional two (2) to four (4) at-large teams will be chosen by the Adult Sled National Championship Committee from the remaining U.S. teams. The at-large teams must also meet the National Championship requirements. In the event one or more of the top two (2) teams from any league chooses not to participate in the National Championship, the Adult Sled National Championship Committee will choose additional at-large team(s). The teams are determined by their respective league play during the current playing season and their team ranking profile. At-Large teams are ranked according to team ranking profile and any other USA Hockey sanctioned games played throughout the current playing season.
The Adult Sled National Championship Committee makes the final determination on the teams entering the National Championship division. The Adult Sled National Championship Committee also makes the final determination on whether waivers were accepted or denied. Eligibility Team must have completed a minimum of ten (10) USA Hockey sanctioned games. All players must have played in a minimum of six (6) games with that team (unless player waiver was received and approved). The Roster Change Waiver Request Form can be found can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. All players from each team must have their primary current residence within a geographical area of a 100 miles driving distance of their sled team s main practice facility (home rink). The Disabled Hockey Festival Committee may allow players with extenuating circumstances to play on an alternate team as long as they feel doing so is fair and would still maintain a competitive environment. Teams can and must submit a waiver to request players to be allowed to participate for extenuating circumstances outside the above roster rules. Waivers must be submitted by December 1 of the current playing season and decided upon on a case-by-case basis. The 100 Mile Waiver Request Form can be found can be found at: www.usahockey.com/sledrules. Teams are allowed 3 able-bodies, but must follow same guidelines above and be marked on scoresheet with an AB. Able bodies may not play the goalie position. Game Format The games shall be three 15-minute stop time periods. Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game. Length of penalties shall be 2-minute Minor, 5-minute Major, and 10-minute Misconduct. In Round robin games, if the game is tied at the end of regulation time, there shall be a shootout per the official Shootout Rules as listed in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. In playoff games, if game is tied at the end of regulation time, there will be one 5-minute, stopped time, sudden death overtime period. If the game is still tied after the sudden death overtime, there shall be a shootout per the official Shootout Rules as listed in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. After Pool Play, teams were will be seeded per the official Tie Breaking Rules to Determine Standings Position as listed in this section of this document. Youth Sled Division Typically there will be four separate Youth Sled Divisions (A, B, and two C ). The A Division is the higher skill level. The teams are placed in these divisions per the team s request and based on this season s performance, last year s performance, and player performance. Each division will have a round robin and a playoff to determine the champions. Checking is not allowed and will result in a penalty consistent with USA Hockey rules. Body contact is allowed. Eligibility The youth division is for players 17 years of age and under as of December 31st of the current playing season and will follow all of the Age Guidelines & Age Wavier rules as listed in the Youth Sled Division subsection under the Classification & Eligibility heading as list in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. There are no able bodies allowed in the youth division. For participants in the youth sled division, those with disabilities that may not meet the disabled hockey criteria, a minimum disability form is required. If a player s disability is in question, the player, the player s family, or team coach/manager must provide a doctor s signed documentation along with their minimum disability form completed. These must be provided during Festival at any time. Players deemed
able bodied at the Festival or those with questionable disabilities (and no approved form with doctor s note) will be disqualified from play at the Festival. The team the able-bodied player participated with will forfeit all of their games for the entire Festival. Teams/Players are strongly encouraged to play with teams in the close geographic region of their primary residence. Combined teams or adding outside players must be approved by the Disabled Hockey Festival Committee. Individual players from around the country looking to participate will be placed on a team by the Disabled Hockey Festival Committee. Past and present U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and U.S. National Development Sled Hockey Team members are not allowed to play in the Youth Division. Game Format The games shall be three 13-minute stop time periods. Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game. Length of penalties shall be 1.5- minute Minor, 4-minute Major, and 8-minute Misconduct. In the event a game is delayed for any reason, a time adjustment must take place. In the 3rd period, at the first stoppage of play, with roughly five (5)-minutes left in the allotted ice time, if the game time is not less than 3:00 minutes, the referee shall have the scorekeeper reduce the game clock to 2:00 minutes plus whatever seconds are remaining and continue the game with stop-time. If the game is tied following regulation play there shall be a shootout per the official Shootout Rules as listed in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. After Pool Play, teams will be seeded per the official Tie Breaking Rules to Determine Standings Position as listed in this section of this document. USA Open Adult Sled Division Typically there will be five separate Adult Sled Divisions (A, B and three C). The A Division is the higher skill level. The teams are placed in these divisions per the team s request and based on this season s performance, last year s performance, and player performance. Each division will have a round robin and a playoff to determine the champions. Eligibility Teams are allowed 3 able-bodies, but must follow same guidelines above and be marked on scoresheet with an AB. Able bodies may not play the goalie position. Teams/Players are strongly encouraged to play with teams in the close geographic region of their primary residence. Combined teams or adding outside players must be approved by the Disabled Hockey Festival Committee. Game Format The games shall be three 15-minute stop time periods. Each team is allowed one 60-second timeout per game. Length of penalties shall be 2-minute Minor, 5-minute Major, and 10-minute Misconduct. In the event a game is delayed for any reason, a time adjustment must take place. In the 3rd period, at the first stoppage of play, with roughly five (5)-minutes left in the allotted ice time, if the game time is not less than 3:00 minutes, the referee shall have the scorekeeper reduce the game clock to 2:00 minutes plus whatever seconds are remaining and continue the game with stop-time. If the game is tied following regulation play there shall be a shootout per the official Shootout Rules as listed in the GENERAL SLED HOCKEY RULES AND REGULATIONS section of this document. After Pool Play, teams will be seeded per the official Tie Breaking Rules to Determine Standings Position as listed in this section of this document.