23 October 2008

(PLEASE READ CAREFULLY – A NUMBER OF CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE)

1. Unless specify otherwise, all the rules below are applicable to both the regular season and the playoff games.

2. Game and clock will start 5 minutes past the schedule time, at which time the referee will drop the ball. Another 5 minutes of run time will be granted as a grace period. If there are still not enough players the game is then forfeited. In case of a forfeit, a 2-0 score will be marked in the league statistics.

3. A team must have at least 5 players (4 out and 1 goalie), with at least 1 woman out, to start a game. Failure to do so will result in a default. After 2 defaults the league will hold a meeting to determine further action.

4. A minimum of 2 women and 3 men, plus a goalie of either gender, are to be on the ice at all times. The exception being, if a woman has been called for a penalty she must serve it, thus a minimum of one woman must be on the ice for the penalty serving team. A woman in the penalty box counts as being on the ice.

5. All games are “run-time”, with two periods of 22 minutes each. For the last 2 minutes of the game, if there is a 1-goal difference or less, the clock will be stopped at any stoppage of play.

6. All changes will be done on the fly, with the exception when a penalty occurs, a goal, a time-out, and when a stoppage of play occurs as explained in rule #5.

7. There is no overtime in the case of a tie at the end of a game, during the regular season.  In case of a tie, 1 point will be awarded to each team.

8. During the playoff, in case of a tie with 3 minutes or less left in the game, the game is stopped and the overtime will start right away as follows:
    a. Provide 30 second break to the teams.
    b. 5 minutes sudden death
    c. 3 vs 3 (plus the goalie)
    d. 2 males and 1 female must be on the ice plus a goalie of either gender.
    e. If there is a penalty, the team at fault will lose a player on the ice and will have to play 3vs2. If there is another penalty from the same team, the player at fault still goes to the penalty bench, but a player from the oppposite team will be allowed on the ice so that the game is now played 4vs2.

9. If any fights occur, the act will be written up as such on the game sheet and will be dealt with in accordance with the league policy explained below:
   a. FIRST OFFENCE FIGHTING – will result in a $50 fine and a 3-game suspension. The 3-game suspension will start once the fine as been fully paid to the league Treasurer. A receipt will be given to the player once the payment has been received.
   b. SECOND OFFENCE FIGHTING – will result in the automatic expulsion from the league for the remainder of the year and a suspension for the following season. The player must still pay a $100 registration fee to the league for the next season. A receipt will be given to the player once the payment has been received.
   c. Any suspension will carry into league sponsored tournaments.

10. Any actions deemed as a disturbance to the game, such as swearing or any other travesty towards a referee during or following a game, will be reported by the referees and will be dealt with by the league executive committee.

11. No body checking is allowed.

12. Deliberate fall of a player on the ice, head or feet first, whether to reach the ball or not, that resulted in an opponents falling or blocking their way, will be penalize by the referees.

13. Whips (360 degree) will not be allowed. If a whip does occur, it will result in a stoppage of play and a face-off will occur at the same location that it would had been if a penalty would have been called.

14. All players must wear full facemasks or ½ visors. Helmets must be CSA approved, and the certification date on the sticker must not be expired.

15. Goalies may use a baseball glove only. Hockey goalie gloves are not permitted.

16. Any player who does an infraction against the goalie while (s)he is in their crease, will received a 5-minute penalty. If the goalie is outside the crease area, it is left to the discretion of the referee over contact between the player and goalie.

17. There will be no borrowing of players from other teams in the league.

18. Players must play in a minimum of 6 games to be eligible for the playoffs. Any players who could not meet that requirement can make the request to be eligible to the executive committee, explaining why (s)he could not play the minimum games required through their team reps, at the earliest possible. No request will be accepted in the last 2 weeks of the regular season. Team reps shall vote on the players entering the league and who did not play the minimum numbers of games to be eligible for the playoffs.

19. No player will be allowed to change team after playing 3 games with a team. In case a player wants to change team, a request as to be made to the league executive committee

20. Players must be at least 16 years old, in the season year, to play in the league. Players under 18 must have written permission from a parent or guardian.

21. Game sheets must be filled out by each of the team reps, prior to the game starting. Only the players who are playing shall be included on the game sheet. If a player arrives at the game late, (s)he shall proceed to the timekeeper bench, to have their name add to the score sheet.

22. Referees and Timekeepers must print and sign their names on the game sheet in order to receive payment from the league.

23. Alcohol, illegal substances, and smoking, are prohibited in the arena. If someone is found doing so, they will be asked to leave the arena and will be suspended for 3 league games.

24. Any team that fails to have a team rep attend league meetings shall receive a $25 fine.

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REGULAR SEASON POSITION TIE BREAKER

In the event that 2 or more teams are tied for the same position with points at the end of the regular season, the following system will be used to break the ties
.
2 Teams Tied:
(1) number of wins
(2) head-to-head record
(3) penalty minutes (the fewest minutes win)
(4) coin toss

3 Teams Tied:
(1) number of wins
(2) penalty minutes (the fewest minutes win)
(3) coin toss

After each step 1-3, if only 2 teams remain, then the tie-breaker for "2 teams tied" is used.

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PLAY-OFF FORMAT

ROUND 1
Team 1 vs Team 4
Team 2 vs Team 3
Team 5 is eliminated

ROUND 2
Winners play for “A” Championship
Losers play for “B” Championship