(NORCAL)
Rules and Regulations: 2010-2011
1.0
General
1.1. Effective Date
These rules shall be effective
immediately upon approval by the Northern California Junior Hockey Association
(NORCAL) Board of Directors at the first full NORCAL Board meeting held at the
Board’s discretion after the Annual Meeting. Subsequently, no change of rules
shall be made by the Board during the following playing season except by
unanimous consent of the Board of Directors at two consecutive Board meetings.
1.2. Precedence
Nothing in these rules should be
construed to contradict USA Hockey rules, CAHA rules, or NORCAL Bylaws. In the
event of other conflicts, the USA Hockey, CAHA rules and NORCAL Bylaws shall
take precedence over these rules and regulations.
1.3. NORCAL
NORCAL is recognized by the
California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) as the governing body in
1.4. Applicability
of Rules to Teams
1.4.A. NORCAL
member clubs agree that all teams competing toward a NORCAL, state, or national
championship, or otherwise playing as a part of the NORCAL schedule, shall be
subject to applicable NORCAL rules. Special teams and house teams not playing
as a part of the NORCAL schedule and not competing toward a NORCAL, state, or
national championship are not governed by these rules, except as follows:
NORCAL member clubs and associations are expected to comply with all applicable
USA Hockey and CAHA rules with respect to ALL teams and participants; Special
teams are included in rule 5.2.1.
1.4.B. NORCAL
may investigate and review any incident or penalty involving a NORCAL member
club or any player, coach, team official, or other person registered with USA
Hockey through a NORCAL member club.
1.4.C. In this
and all NORCAL rules, each reference to a “coach” without further qualification
shall refer to every rostered coach without regard to designations such as head
coach or assistant coach.
1.5. Responsibility for Rules
The head coach is responsible for his/her team’s compliance with all rules and regulations. All players, coaches, parents, member clubs, and NORCAL officials are responsible for knowing and following applicable rules and every participant is responsible for his/her behavior and maintenance of eligibility.
2.0 League Organization and Governance
2.1. NORCAL
and CAHA
NORCAL is recognized by CAHA for
conducting youth ice hockey competition at the Tier II, “A,” and “B” levels.
Top teams from NORCAL and from the Southern California Amateur Hockey
Association (SCAHA) meet each spring for state playoffs conducted by CAHA.
2.2. NORCAL Governance
NORCAL is a nonprofit
corporation governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the presidents or
designated representatives of each member club or association and the elected
and appointed officers of the corporation. Voting members of the Board of
Directors include the president or designated representative of each member
club and the elected officers of the corporation, which are specified in its
Bylaws. The affairs of NORCAL are conducted in accordance with its Bylaws,
Rules and Regulations, and policies that may be adopted by the Board of
Directors from time to time.
2.3. Board
Meetings
The time and location of NORCAL
Board of Directors meetings are posted on the NORCAL web site. Regular meetings
of the Board of Directors are open to the public. Issues or questions involving
the operation of the league should be brought to the Board through a club or
association president or representative.
2.4. Board Meeting Attendance
Each member club shall be
responsible for representation at NORCAL Board and other meetings and for the
dissemination to its members of these Rules and Regulations as well as other
NORCAL league information. Any club not sending an appropriately designated
representative to two or more consecutive meetings of the NORCAL Board of
Directors for any reason barring “acts of God,” shall be fined $500 and $500
additional for each consecutive missed meeting thereafter.
2.5. Age
Levels in NORCAL
Regular competitive teams are
classified according to age and competitive levels. USA Hockey age levels are
based on birth year and may be found in the USA Hockey Annual Guide and the
NORCAL web site. Girls playing in the youth division must comply with the
applicable age requirements.
2.6. Competitive
Levels in NORCAL
2.6.A. TIER I – Highest level of youth hockey
recognized by USA Hockey; teams recruited on regional or statewide basis.
Championships are conducted at state, district, and national levels. USA Hockey
does not recognize Tier I at the Mite or Squirt age levels.
2.6.A.i. NORCAL
Clubs offering Tier I (also known as AAA) teams at any level must have had at
least one travel team in three of the following divisions in one of the two
most recent seasons (Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget—16 or 18). Have a team at
each of the above age levels in the current season, and have a feeder program
accepted as applicable to this rule by the NORCAL Board.
2.6.A.ii. Other
teams (AA, A, and B) from clubs offering Tier I (AAA) teams and not meeting
these requirements are ineligible to participate in NORCAL playoffs.
2.6.B. Tier II – Considered highest level of
club-based hockey. CAHA and NORCAL rules require that Tier II (AA) teams meet a
Player Development Requirement to qualify for NORCAL and state playoffs.
Championships are held at NORCAL, state, district, and national level. USA
Hockey does not recognize Tier II at the Mite or Squirt age levels.
2.6.B.i. In
any season NORCAL may offer a Tier II (AA) league at any or all of Pee Wee,
Bantam, Midget 16, or Midget levels if the NORCAL Tier Competition Committee
determines there are enough competitive teams to provide valid and fair
competition. Ordinarily, four Tier II (AA) teams will be required for a league by
either declaration or relegation.
2.6.B.ii. Clubs
intending to field a Tier II team must have had at least three other teams in
the NORCAL schedule for the two most recent seasons and have a feeder program
accepted as applicable to this rule by the NORCAL Board.
2.6.B.iii.Other
teams (A, B) from clubs offering Tier II (AA) teams and not meeting these
requirements are ineligible to participate in NORCAL playoffs.
2.6.B.iv. Two
cooperating clubs may form a joint Tier II (“AA”) team to compete in a NORCAL
Tier League under CAHA Rule 7.15 with the following additional requirements
2.6.B.iv.a.Only
one joint team will compete in any NORCAL Tier league age division per season
2.6.B.iv.b.
Clubs participating in a joint team must
have another team at the age level of the joint team
2.6.B.iv.c. If a
joint team folds or drops out of the NORCAL tier league, players will return to
their home club and are not eligible for a NORCAL competitive advancement
release
2.6.B.iv.d.No
joint teams are allowed in NORCAL A or B leagues.
2.6.C. “A”
Division – Championships held at NORCAL and state levels; teams in all age
divisions. CAHA rules require that teams at the Peewee, Bantam, and Midget
levels maintain a minimum number of returning club players to qualify for state
playoffs. NORCAL rules extend that requirement to the Squirt level. NORCAL does
not recognize A/B distinction at Mite level. Ordinarily, “A” divisions will be
made up of no more than six teams.
2.6.D. “B” Division – Developmental level;
championships held at NORCAL and state levels; teams in Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam
levels. NORCAL rules require that teams at the Squirt, Peewee, and Bantam,
levels maintain a minimum number of returning club players to qualify for state
playoffs.
2.6.D.i. At
the start of any season if the number of B division teams exceeds eight, the
NORCAL General Manager and Placement Committee may divide the B division into
two groups based on competitive level.
2.7. Member Clubs
Only teams fielded by NORCAL
clubs or associations in good standing may participate in the NORCAL game
schedule or playoffs. NORCAL member clubs may be either non-profit or
for-profit organizations. New member organizations may be accepted in
accordance with NORCAL Bylaws. These clubs and teams agree to abide by all
NORCAL Rules and Regulations, NORCAL Bylaws, NORCAL Codes of Conduct and
decisions; to keep their teams, players, and team officials informed of all
NORCAL rules, policies, decisions, and other pertinent information pertaining
to their participation in NORCAL sanctioned events and activities; to pay all
assessments and fines; and to provide all necessary resources as established by
standards, rules and regulations of USA Hockey, CAHA , and NORCAL for the
conduct of their home games. Failure to comply with these conditions may result
if loss of playoff eligibility, fines, or suspension of the club from NORCAL
voting rights. Member Clubs for the 2010-2011 season are:
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Capital Thunder |
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Tri-Valley Blue Devils |
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San Jose Junior Sharks |
Redwood City Black Stars |
3.0
Team Registration
3.1.
All teams must be registered
with USA Hockey prior to participating in any NORCAL, CAHA, or USA Hockey
activity.
3.2. Regular
Season Teams
Any youth division team formed to play competitive
games throughout the course of the regular fall and winter season at the Tier
I, Tier II, A or B levels shall be classified a regular season team regardless
of whether that team is playing within the NORCAL schedule. NORCAL shall assess
each participating club annual dues for each team registered. Fees will be
determined annually by the NORCAL Board. Tier I teams and Mite teams
participating in NORCAL are assessed at 50% of other regular season teams.
3.3. Special, Tournament, and House Teams
Special teams formed to compete in special tournaments that disband after said tournament are not required to register with NORCAL and shall not be governed by these rules except as specified in Rule 1.4.
3.3.A. Any special team not registered with NORCAL that is rostered under the USA Hockey Association number assigned to any NORCAL member club must provide a true copy of that team’s roster to the NORCAL Roster Manager at least forty-eight (48) hours before that team competes in any game outside its club.
3.3.B. House
teams are teams playing only within a single club or association. House teams
are not required to register with NORCAL and shall not be governed by these
rules except as specified in Rule 1.4.
3.4. Girls’/Women’s Teams
Girls’/Women’s teams playing in
the NORCAL playing schedule will in all aspects be governed by these rules.
Teams registered in the USA Hockey Girls’/Women’s Division and not playing in
the NORCAL playing schedule shall be treated by NORCAL as special teams even
though playing for a state or national championship.
3.5. Preliminary Team and Ice Slot Declarations A and B Youth Teams
All clubs shall make a
preliminary team declaration with a plan for ice slots to the NORCAL scheduler
by August 24 or another date determined by the Board. The declaration shall consist
of a list of teams the club expects to form with the age division for the teams
and a projection of the competitive levels for each team (AA, A, or B). The
plan for ice slots may be a full submission that meets the requirements under
section 3.7.3 herein: it must at least specify the days and times planned to be
submitted to meet the requirement.
3.5.A. Failure to Maintain Required Ice Slots.
Any club that fails to provide and maintain the required number of home ice
slots for its registered teams shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) per
ice slot shorted. Upon recommendation of NORCAL General Manager, the NORCAL
Board may disqualify one or more teams from league competition if sufficient
ice slots are not provided.
3.6. Initial Team Registration Tier I and II Youth Teams
All clubs fielding Tier I or II
teams shall submit an initial properly completed team roster to the NORCAL
Roster Manager and a check for one-half of the annual fee determined by the
NORCAL Board to the NORCAL Treasurer by August 15 or another date determined by
the Board. Tier I teams do not submit ice slots. The number of ice slots to be
submitted for Tier II teams will be determined by the NORCAL General Manager
following the submission of initial team rosters and team deposits
3.7. Initial
Team Registration A and B Youth Teams
All club teams to be included
within the NORCAL playing schedule must be registered with NORCAL by September
5 or another date determined by the Board. Initial team registration requires
completion of all the following:
3.7.A. Submitting
to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly completed USA Hockey team roster. (This
roster will be designated the team’s initial roster.
3.7.B. Submitting
to the NORCAL Treasurer a deposit for one-half of the team registration fee
determined by the NORCAL board for each team.
3.7.C. Prior
submission to the NORCAL Scheduler of thirteen (13) game ice slots for each
team. Ice slots must be identified by date, start and end times, rink and ice
surface (for multi-surface rinks) and must be within the date and time scheduling
guidelines established by NORCAL. Please see Section 5.3 for length
requirements. All game slots must be for clean ice. Note that provisions in
Section 5. affect requirements for submitted ice. Unused ice slots will be
returned to the member club as the scheduler determines them unnecessary during
October and November. A club with three
or fewer teams must provide an additional eight game slots for Scheduler use.
Any club with Midget 16 and/or Midget 18 teams affected by SAT blackouts must
provide a minimum of two Friday or Sunday slots for each such team after the
Thanksgiving break.
3.8. Final
Team Registration
All teams initially registered
as described above must complete final team registration with NORCAL or be
formally dropped according to the procedure found in section 3.12. Final
registration requires all of the following
3.8.A. Submitting
to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly completed USA Hockey team roster. This
roster will be designated a team’s preliminary roster. A preliminary
roster will not be considered properly completed without original signatures in
blue ink from all players and initials in blue ink from adults entered on the
roster. Players’ signatures are optional on Mite and Squirt team rosters. The
preliminary roster must be received by the Roster Manager by September 30 or
another date determined by the Board.
3.8.B. Submitting
to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly completed USA Hockey full team roster
or supplementary roster detailing changes to the team’s preliminary roster.
This roster (full roster and supplementary roster) is designated a team’s final
roster. A final roster requires original signatures in blue ink from all
players and adults entered on the roster. Players’ signatures are optional on
Mite and Squirt team rosters. In addition, the final roster submission must
include credentials documents (birth certificates or USA Hockey defined
equivalents) for all players on this roster who were not rostered on a NORCAL
travel team during the prior season. The final roster must be received by the
Roster Manager by October 31 or other date determined by the Board.
3.8.C. Submitting
to the NORCAL Treasurer the balance of the team’s registration fee by October
31 or other date determined by the Board.
3.9. Minimum Team size
To be included within the NORCAL schedule, a team must meet CAHA requirements for minimum team size at the time of the final roster submission.
3.10.Late Registration A and B Youth Teams
Teams intending to play within
the NORCAL schedule that miss any deadline in the above sections are considered
late. Late teams that complete the initial registration requirements by
September 30 or other date determined by the Board may have their schedule
reduced by two games and shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200). Late teams
that complete the initial registration requirements between October 1 and
October 31 shall have their schedule reduced by four games and be fined three
hundred dollars ($300). Late teams that complete the initial or final
registration requirements after October 31 but prior to CAHA deadlines shall
have their schedule reduced by eight league games and be fined six hundred
dollars ($600). Opponents for reduced games shall be determined by a random
draw of teams conducted by the NORCAL General Manager. Teams registering late
to the “A” division because of relegation from Tier II shall not be subject to
these late fees.
3.11.Addition and Deletion of Players after Initial Team Registration
No transaction adding or deleting
a player from a team roster is complete without written confirmation from the
NORCAL Roster Manager or the Roster Manager’s designee.
3.12.Dropping Teams
A club or association that drops
a team registered to participate in the NORCAL schedule shall be assessed a
penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for each team dropped after September
30 or other date determined by the Board. Written notice of dropping a team
must be made to the NORCAL General Manager and to the NORCAL Scheduler. In
addition, any applicable penalties for game forfeiture shall be imposed when
the dropping of a team requires cancellation of scheduled games within ten days
of the receipt of the drop by NORCAL.
4.0
Individual Registration, Tryouts, and Player
Movement
4.1. Individual
All Individual players, coaches,
and managers must be registered for the current season with USA Hockey prior to
participating in any USA Hockey activity.
4.2. Player NORCAL Registration
Each player must be properly
registered for the current season with USA Hockey and included on a team roster
submitted to the NORCAL Roster Manager before being permitted to play in any
game.
4.3. Player Registration
No player may be registered on
more than one USA Hockey Roster at the same time.
4.4. In-House teams
Players registered on a USA
Hockey roster may be simultaneously registered on an in-house team so long as
such dual registration does not cause a player to be registered on two teams
that compete directly against each other in the NORCAL schedule or in any other
games leading toward a NORCAL or CAHA, or USA Hockey Championship.
4.5. College Players
No player on the roster of any
USA Hockey registered college team may be rostered on any other Tier, A, or B
team in NORCAL.
4.6. Girls Roster Questions
Girls are governed by CAHA
registration rules.
4.7. Mite age Players
Mite-age players new to NORCAL must
sign up to play at the rink closest to their primary residence unless approved
by the NORCAL General Manager.
4.8. Coach NORCAL Registration
Each coach must be properly
registered for the current season with USA Hockey before participating in any
on-ice activity.
4.8.A. Before
serving as a coach in any game on or before December 31, except in an emergency
as specified in rule 5.10, a coach must be on the team’s roster. All coaches
must submit to the referee either a copy of his/her USA Hockey coaching education
card at the required level or proof of registration for the USA Hockey coaching
clinic required to achieve the coaching level appropriate for the age and
competitive level of the team.
4.8.B. Except
as specified in Rule 5.10, before serving as a coach in any game after December
31 a coach must be on the team’s roster. All coaches must submit to the referee
a copy of his/her USA Hockey coaching education card at the required level.
4.9. Players
and Teams Playing Within Age and Competitive Classification
4.9.A. Players
are eligible to play only at the lowest age level for which they qualify under
USA Hockey rules with the following two exceptions:
4.9.A.i. A
player who by birth is in the last year of his/her age classification may skate
up one age classification following submission of a properly completed NORCAL
“Consent to Skate Out of Age Division” form.
4.9.A.ii. A
mite-aged player may play on a squirt team without a “Consent to Skate Out of
Age Division” form for a club that has not declared or registered a mite team.
4.9.A.iii. Playing
Below Age Classification. Playing
below the USA Hockey assigned age level is not permitted.
4.9.B. To
be eligible for NORCAL playoffs, a team must play all games and tournaments at
the competitive level at which they compete in the NORCAL schedule, with the
following exceptions:
4.9.B.i. Games
with teams within the same club
4.9.B.ii. Two
games with prior notice to the NORCAL General Manager
4.9.B.iii.Games
or tournaments before September 15 or after January 31 of the current season
with prior notice to the NORCAL General Manager
4.9.B.iv. Upon prior
approval of full NORCAL Board of Directors at regularly scheduled Board
meeting
4.10.Penalty for Playing Unregistered or
Improperly Registered Player
Head coaches are required to
know the status of their players and are subject to suspension of up to two
games for each game played by an unregistered or improperly registered player.
Any game in which an unregistered or improperly registered player participates
shall be forfeited by the offending team.
4.11.Player Movement/Free Agency
All players are free agents
between the end of CAHA Playoffs for “A” and “B” teams or the end of USA Hockey
National Championships for Tier I or Tier II teams until joining a team for the
following season.
4.12.Joining a Team
Either club or player may appeal
to the NORCAL General Manager in case of a dispute as to whether or not a
player has joined a club or team. The General Manager’s determination in the
case of such appeal is final. Generally, a player has joined a team when that
player or player’s family has
4.12.A. Signed
a contract, letter of intent, roster, or any other written agreement with a
club. (A waiver or release from liability or a medical consent-to-treat form
are excluded from this restriction) or
4.12.B. Paid
money other than a separate tryout fee to a club by virtue of which payment the
player is assigned or may be assigned by that club to a specific team or
4.12.C. Played
or participated in a NORCAL-scheduled preseason, tournament, or regular season
game with a team unless specifically noted and otherwise signed by the coach on
the game score sheet properly submitted to NORCAL or
4.12.D. Practiced
twice with a team, not including team tryouts.
4.13.Player Development Requirement
All NORCAL registered Squirt,
Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget 16, and Midget 18 teams in AA, A, and B divisions must
roster a minimum 50% of its players from within its member club.
4.13.A. In
addition to the CAHA definition of players eligible to meet PDR, players who
did not play for any NORCAL Tier, A, or B team during the previous season may
be counted toward the team’s PDR percentage.
4.13.B. To calculate the required number of players to meet PDR requirements, round to the next lower whole number.
4.13.C. A team in violation of the PDR will be included in the NORCAL schedule and their games will count towards final standings but they will be ineligible for post-season playoffs including both NORCAL playoffs and CAHA playoffs.
4.13.C.i.
Any team that falls below the PDR requirement
during the regular season must achieve the minimum level by December 31 and
maintain that level for the remainder of the season to maintain their post-season
eligibility.
4.13.D. A team may petition the NORCAL Board for an
exception to the PDR requirement, which may or may not be granted, to
accommodate the following circumstances:
4.13.D.i.
A or B players displaced from their previous
team by that club not offering a team at
age level
4.13.D.ii.
The previous club was officially merged with a
new club and the new club is formally recognized by a vote of the NORCAL Board
as a successor club
4.13.D.iii.
The previous club has ceased doing business
4.13.D.iv.
At the NORCAL Board of Directors’ discretion
4.14.Tryouts
Each club shall post its tryout
schedule for Tier I, Tier II, “A,” and
“B” at its rink in a manner to give players other than its own members access
to dates and times. In addition, each club shall provide notice of tryout
schedules and requirements to the NORCAL General Manager at its earliest
opportunity so that information can be posted on the NORCAL web site. The
tryout start dates for A and B teams for the next season will be set in the
January NORCAL Board Meeting of the current season. Tryout dates for Tier teams
are governed by CAHA rules. It is NORCAL’s intent that tryouts for Tier teams
be completed prior to the start of tryouts for “A” and “B” teams and that all
tryouts and team selections be completed prior to September 15 or another date
determined by the Board.
4.15.Player Release
Players and their families undertake a serious obligation when they join a club. They must expect NORCAL and all other NORCAL clubs to recognize and honor the agreements they sign or otherwise enter into. A player wishing to change clubs after joining a team must obtain a release from the club which he/she has joined (the “home club”). While nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent a club from granting a release, the home club ordinarily is under no obligation to approve a personal preference release.
4.15.A. Personal
Preference Release: A release at the request of a player or family for any
reason other than competitive advancement is a Personal Preference Release.
4.15.B. Process
for Receiving A Personal Preference Release:
4.15.B.i. A player should request a Personal Preference Release from the home club. If a club and player agree to a Personal Preference release, notification to NORCAL and removal from the releasing club’s roster is sufficient to effect the release.
4.15.B.ii. If the release is not granted, the player may apply for a Personal Preference Release to the NORCAL General Manager by completing the form available on the web site and submitting a non-refundable application fee of fifty dollars ($50).
4.15.B.iii. If the home club fails to respond to an application for a contested Personal Preference Release within five days of being notified by the General Manager, the General Manager may grant or refuse the release without the home club’s approval.
4.15.B.iv.
If the home club responds within five days by
refusing to grant the release, the General Manager shall select and convene a
review committee comprised of three persons: the General Manager, one club
president from neither the home club nor the receiving club, and one other
member of the NORCAL Executive Board. The review committee shall issue its
decision within ten days of the appeal. The decision of the review committee
may be appealed by either the home club or the player to the full Board of
Directors.
4.15.C. Competitive
Advancement Release. A player meeting the following conditions
shall be granted a Competitive Advancement Release:
4.15.C.i.
The released player moves directly to the roster
of a receiving team at a higher competitive level not available to that player
at the home club.
4.15.C.ii.
The release does not put the home team in
non-compliance with CAHA or NORCAL minimum roster size nor reduce the home team
to less than one goaltender.
4.15.C.iii.
The player is in good financial standing with
the home team. No NORCAL member club or association shall charge a player receiving
a Competitive Advancement release any fees or dues exceeding the reasonable
charges for tryouts, ice time used, and merchandise purchased.
4.15.C.iv.
The coach and club president of the receiving
team have signed the release application.
4.15.C.v.
The receiving team and the player recognize and
confirm that the player must remain on the roster of the receiving team through
the remainder to the NORCAL season and playoffs.
4.15.C.vi.
Players on a disbanded Tier team formed jointly
between two clubs are not eligible for a Competitive Advancement Release.
4.15.D. Definition
of Completed Release
4.15.D.i.
The General Manager notifies the player, the
home club, and the receiving club (if any) that a release is complete when all
of the following conditions are met:
4.15.D.ii.
The appropriate release application is complete
and the fee (if required) is paid.
4.15.D.iii.
The player has been legally and completely
dropped from the home club roster.
4.15.D.iv.
The release is approved by the NORCAL General
Manager
4.15.E. Penalties
for Illegal Release
4.15.E.i.
Any player who participates in a game or
practice for a receiving team without a completed release in accordance with
these rules is an ineligible player.
4.15.E.ii.
Head coaches are required to know the status of
any player they allow to attend a practice or play in a game and are subject to
suspension of up to two games for each practice attended or game played by a
player without a completed release.
4.15.E.iii.
Any club allowing a player to play in any game
before that player has a completed release will forfeit all games in which that
player participates.
4.15.E.iv.
A player who intentionally misrepresents his/her
status to a receiving club will be suspended for no less than thirty days.
Regardless of any misrepresentation by a player or family the receiving team is
still subject to game forfeitures and head coach’s suspensions for employing an
ineligible player.
4.15.F. No
player shall be granted more than one release within a season.
4.16.Recruitment
No club or team official shall
attempt to recruit a player to an “A,” “B,” or Tier II team who is playing for
another “A,” “B” or Tier II team. Each club shall be responsible for informing all
club and team officials of this rule and for adhering to the spirit of this
rule by actively dissuading officials and other persons from engaging in
prohibited activities.
4.16.A. Upon
receipt of a written complaint from a member club, the NORCAL President shall
appoint a Review Committee comprised of presidents or designated
representatives of three non-affected clubs. The Review Committee shall conduct
a hearing to investigate the charges and shall issue a penalty to a club and/or
team found to be in violation of this rule. The penalty shall consist of
forfeiture of one or more league games and/or payment by the offending club of
a fine not to exceed the amount of dues and other reasonable fees lost for one
season as a result of the recruitment. Additionally, an offending team shall
forfeit any game in which the Committee determines an illegally recruited
player has participated.
4.16.B. No
team which was created initially as a Tier team shall be permitted to
participate in NORCAL league play competing for a NORCAL championship as an “A”
or “B” team while retaining players recruited from other NORCAL clubs without
express approval of the NORCAL Board.
4.17.Permitted Recruiting Activities
4.17.A. Mailing
of printed material to persons who have previously participated in summer
programs, clinics, other special activities, or former club members. Such mailings
may not include personalized notes or messages.
4.17.B. Inviting individuals to participate in special activities (clinics, summer skates, special teams, pickup) which do not occur during the regular season.
4.17.C. Advertising
not otherwise prohibited by NORCAL, CAHA or USA Hockey.
4.18.Recruiting Activities not permitted
4.18.A. Offering
any financial benefit to a prospective player to entice that player to leave
another club.
4.18.B. Mailing
printed materials to the mailing list of another club without prior consent
from the club owning the mailing list.
4.18.C. Initiating
contact with players or family members from another club for the purpose of
promoting the club’s program or enticing a player to change clubs.
4.18.D. Advertising
directed specifically at the membership of another member club.
4.18.E. Allowing
members of a club to contact or continue contact with members or relatives of
members of another NORCAL club when that contact is intended to solicit, has
the effect of solicitation, or arrange for a position on a team.
4.18.F. Allowing
players, parents or any person acting in place of a player or parent to
initiate or continue contact with a player or player’s family when the purpose
of the contact is to solicit or arrange for a position on a team other than
from the player’s current club.
4.19.Block Recruitment
Block recruitment is not allowed
at Tier II, “A,” or “B” levels. Block recruitment has occurred when A) a club
has within its rostered player base 25% or more players who were rostered with
another single NORCAL member club during the previous playing season; or B) a
team’s roster contains 50% or more players who were rostered with another
single NORCAL member club during the previous season.
4.19.A. A
team or club in violation of the block recruitment rule will be included in the
NORCAL schedule and their games will count towards final standings but they
will be ineligible for post-season playoffs including both NORCAL playoffs and
CAHA playoffs.
4.19.B. Exceptions,
which must be approved by the NORCAL board, may be granted when the previous
season’s club does not offer a team at a particular age group, or in the case
of a voluntary merger, or when a club is recognized by NORCAL as successor to a
club that has ceased doing business, or at its discretion.
4.20.Player Financial Standing
Prior to tryout start date set by NORCAL for A and B teams, any NORCAL club may submit to the NORCAL General Manager and Roster Manager a list of players deemed not in good financial standing for the prior year’s playing season. Lack of good financial standing shall be based on failure to pay dues and/or other costs associated with playing on a regular season team. Players not in good standing shall not be permitted to participate in team tryouts or to participate in NORCAL scheduled games until they are determined to be in good financial standing. Any player remaining on the list following the beginning of the NORCAL regular season shall be considered an ineligible player and any game in which such a player participates will be forfeit by his/her team. A game forfeited by reason of such a financially ineligible player shall remain forfeited regardless of any subsequent finding on the merit of the player’s inclusion on the list.
4.20.A. The
NORCAL General Manager may remove a player from the list and/or recommend Board
action against a club that has failed to make reasonable efforts to resolve
legitimate player account disputes. Any player who disputes a financial claim
may appeal directly to the NORCAL General Manager who may allow the player to
participate in tryouts and practices while the dispute is being resolved.
4.20.B. Only
players in good financial standing may participate in the NORCAL Pre-Select
Tryout Camp or in the NORCAL Playoffs. Players are considered in good financial
standing unless the NORCAL General Manager is informed in writing ten days
before the above listed events occur.
4.20.C. Players
who appeared in NORCAL or CAHA playoffs are assumed by NORCAL to be in good
financial standing for the previous season and may not be placed on the list
described in this rule.
4.21.Player Movement within a Club
A player who has been properly
registered on a club’s team may move to another team within that club provided
all eligibility requirements are met and the player is properly re-rostered
before the move takes place.
4.21.A. A
player may not play for more than one team within a club within a 48-hour
period. A player violating this rule shall be considered an illegal player for
all games in which he or she participated during the 48-hour period in
question.
4.21.B. During
the regular season, clubs with more than one team competing for the same NORCAL
championship must release any player before moving that player from one such
team to another.
4.22.Player Movement Between Divisions
Player movement between
divisions is governed by CAHA rules. Ordinarily, a player may move down a
division (e.g., from “A” to “B,” from Tier II to “A,” From Tier I to Tier II) on
or before October 31. A player may move up to a higher division on or before
December 31. Players who move between Divisions after these deadlines must
receive permission from the NORCAL General Manager and are ineligible to
participate in NORCAL or CAHA playoffs.
4.23.Hardship Goaltender Moves
Notwithstanding any other provision
of these rules, if no rostered goaltender for a team is able to play in one or
more games during the season, the NORCAL General Manager may, upon written
request, authorize the use of a substitute goaltender. The General Manager has
final authority in determining if a substitution shall be permitted and has
final authority in choice of the substitute.
4.23.A. All
goaltender substitutions approved under this rule must be approved prior to the
game in which the substitution is made. Such substitution should be noted on
the score sheet submitted by the team to NORCAL. Copy of the authorization for
use of a substitute goaltender must be kept in the team book with the copy of
the score sheet.
4.23.B. Goaltender
substitution by non-Mite players shall not be permitted for Mite teams.
4.23.C. Goaltender
substitutions generally follow this sequence: Choice 1-- from same club at
lower competitive level; Choice 2-- from same club lower age division; Choice
3--from other club lower competitive level; Choice 4--from other club lower age
division
5.0
League Games and Schedule
5.1. NORCAL League Games
A NORCAL League game is a game
arranged by the NORCAL Scheduler that is played in a club’s required ice slot,
or extra ice slot required by NORCAL, between teams of two different NORCAL
clubs or two teams from the same NORCAL club playing for the same NORCAL
championship.
5.1.A. Regular Season Games. The NORCAL
regular season shall consist of those games following the preseason and
designated by the NORCAL Scheduler to be regular season games counting for
playoffs.
5.1.B. Preseason Games. The NORCAL pre-season
begins as determined by the NORCAL calendar and shall consist of exhibition
games as scheduled for Tier II, “A” and “B” teams by the league. The purpose of
the pre-season is to provide a tune-up period for players and to allow league
and club officials an opportunity to assess the competitive levels of the
teams. Team declarations are regarded as recommendations during pre-season
until final team placement by the NORCAL Placement Committee.
5.1.C. Exhibition Games. Occasionally, the
NORCAL Scheduler may schedule exhibition games for the purpose of providing
extra games in playing divisions with a short schedule or at the request of the
involved clubs. Exhibition games initiated by clubs must have ice slots provided
outside the NORCAL required ice slots. Games designated in the schedule as
exhibition games will not count towards final league standings.
5.1.D. Unfinished Games. No game shall count
as a game unless at least two full periods of stop time are played or unless the
game is forfeited under the playing rules.
5.1.E. Forfeit Games. The score of a forfeit
game shall be recorded as 1-0.
5.2. Game Scheduling and Supervision
All games between teams
competing as part of the NORCAL league schedule shall be scheduled by the
NORCAL scheduler and be under the direction of the NORCAL General Manager and
on-ice supervision of a certified and registered USA Hockey official. Teams
that play most of their games outside the NORCAL schedule may request the
Scheduler to designate a team official to schedule games with non-NORCAL teams
directly.
5.2.A. No
team registered by a NORCAL Club made up predominantly of players rostered on
NORCAL A or B teams will be allowed to participate in another organized league
without formal approval of the full NORCAL Board before the team commits to
participate in the other league. This restriction is intended to include
special teams.
5.3. Standard
League Game Conduct (X, P, G designated games)
In all NORCAL games, all teams
shall comply with all USA Hockey, CAHA, and NORCAL rules. Under no
circumstances will any rule be waived by consent of any participants or game
official. Failure to comply with all
rules subjects teams to possible game forfeits and coaches to suspensions.
5.3.A. A
ninety minute time slot for Peewee and older (seventy-five minutes for Mites
and Squirts) on clean ice shall be scheduled for games. No ice cuts are
required between periods. (Note that a 75-minute slot may be used for Peewee
games at the scheduler’s discretion.) No more than five minutes shall be placed
on the clock prior to the first period for warm-ups. One minute shall be placed
on the clock between each period. No more than one 30-second timeout per team
per game will be allowed. Periods shall not be lengthened to take advantage of
additional time that may be available.
5.3.B. For Peewee and above, games shall be scheduled for three periods of 15 minutes stop time each.
5.3.B.i. For Squirt and Mite games, the first two periods shall be fifteen minutes each. The third period shall be either fifteen minutes or half of the time remaining in the game slot, whichever is shorter.
5.3.C. At the
beginning of the third period, if fewer than 30 minutes are left before the
game curfew, the referee shall direct the timekeeper to place one-half of the
remaining available minutes on the clock.
5.3.C.i. If
at any time during the third period, the amount of time remaining prior to
curfew is less than the time on the clock, following a stoppage of play the
referee shall direct the timekeeper to place the number of minutes remaining
for the slot on the clock and go to running time.
5.4. Score Sheets.
5.4.A. A
score sheet shall be provided by the home team.
5.4.B. All
coaches shall sign the score sheet and provide their coaching level, card
number, and effective date. Coaches must have valid USA Hockey CEP card in their
possession and show the card to the game referee when asked to do so.
5.4.C. The score
sheet shall list the NORCAL game number, date, time, location, curfew time, and
names of minor officials. The score sheet must list all players.
5.4.D. Names of
players absent or suspended should be lined out and noted as “injured,” “absent,”
or “suspended” on all copies of the score sheet. The names of suspended coaches
and numbers of suspended players should be written in the “notes” section of
the score sheet. FAILURE TO NOTE PERSONS SERVING A GAME SUSPENSION MAY RESULT
IN FURTHER SUSPENSION FOR THAT PLAYER OR COACH IN ADDITION TO SUBJECTING THE
TEAM TO PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION OF A SUSPENDED PLAYER OR COACH.
5.4.E. After
the game, the home team is responsible for mailing the completed original score
sheet (top white copy with original signatures of coaches and game officials)
to the NORCAL General Manager postmarked no later than Wednesday following the
game. FAX or electronic copies are NOT normally acceptable as official game
records. Incomplete or improperly filled out score sheets may result in a $25
fine assessed against the offending team and may not be accepted as game
records.
5.4.F. Score
sheets more than fourteen days late, in addition to any fine assessed, shall
result in a warning to the president of the offending club. Late score sheets
after a warning may not be accepted. Only games for which a properly completed
score sheet has been received and recorded by the General Manager may be used
for standings, to meet game requirements for team or individual playoff
eligibility, or for statistical rankings.
5.4.G. “T” or “S”
or Non-NORCAL Games: NORCAL teams
playing non-NORCAL teams shall be responsible for submitting a properly
completed score sheet to the General Manager no later than the first Wednesday
following the last game played for that trip.
5.5. Off-ice
Officials
The home team shall provide qualified
minor officials including scorekeeper, timekeeper, penalty box attendants and
shot counters.
5.6. Insufficient
Players to Begin Play
Games not played for lack of
players to begin the game shall be referred to the NORCAL General Manager as a
possible forfeit.
5.7. Teams
Require Adult Coach
All NORCAL games require a
minimum of one adult coach on each team’s bench. If a coach fails to appear or
appears and is unable to continue for any reason, the team must provide a USA
Hockey registered adult with credentials appropriate to the teams involved to
serve as a temporary coach. Officials should provide a reasonable period of
time to find a replacement. If no replacement can be found, the team without a
coach will forfeit the game. The ice slot length may not be extended due to a
delay resulting from a coaching change. Any properly credentialed coach may
serve as an emergency temporary coach.
5.8. League
Standings
League standing shall be based
on points earned by play or forfeit (2 points for wins, 1 point for ties, 0
points for losses) during regular season games which will normally include an
equal number of games played among all teams in a playing division. In the
event that there have not been an equal number of games played by each team,
standing shall be determined by each team’s percentage of possible points
earned (total points earned divided by two points for each game played or
forfeited).
5.9. Considerations
for Scheduling Pre-Season and Regular Season Games
5.9.A. Games
shall normally be scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday games may be
scheduled subject to the agreement of the affected club presidents or
representatives.
5.9.B. “P”
and “G” Games shall not be scheduled to start before
5.9.C. Whenever
possible, younger teams shall be scheduled for earlier time slots and older
teams for later time slots.
5.9.D. Although
ice slots submitted by a club will normally be used for that club’s teams,
slots submitted to NORCAL may be used by the Scheduler for any teams as
necessary, subject to the approval of the designated home team club and the
club whose ice slot is used. Home games may be played at rinks other than the
home rink. An equal number of home and away games is not a scheduling
requirement, but will be achieved whenever feasible.
5.9.E. If
two games are scheduled for the same day, there must be at least four hours
separation and there must not be more than one hour normal driving time between
the rinks at which the games are scheduled.
5.9.F. Blackouts: No games may be scheduled
after
5.9.G. No Midget
18 or Midget 16 games may be scheduled on designated SAT Saturdays prior to
5.9.H. No Bantam
A, Midget 16A, or Midget 18A games may be scheduled during NORCAL or CAHA
Select Team Tryouts.
5.9.I. No
games shall be scheduled to create a playing conflict for players participating
in a NORCAL sponsored special tournament team.
5.9.J. Consideration
should be given to scheduling at least two games (e.g., Saturday afternoon or
evening and Sunday morning) when travel distances necessitate an overnight
stay.
5.9.K. No
schedule change shall be made in regular season games without the approval of
the NORCAL General Manager.
5.9.L.
No scheduling consideration shall be made for
any NORCAL team or individual player for participation in any non-NORCAL league
or event not already described in this rule.
5.9.M. Teams
playing in NORCAL league schedules but not competing for NORCAL Championships
will normally play each team in their division twice: home and home. Clubs
fielding such teams are responsible for providing sufficient ice allocations.
5.10.Protective Equipment
Each player must properly wear
USA Hockey approved protective equipment as specified by all applicable rules
for the duration of each game while on the ice, players’ bench, or penalty box.
Referees will check out every player prior to each game. Players reporting to
their team after the referee’s checkout may not go on the ice until a
supplemental check has been completed.
Each team shall be responsible for having an
accurate and complete team book available at every game the team plays. The
contents and organization of the team book shall be in governed by CAHA Rule
22.2. This NORCAL rule supplements the CAHA rule.
5.11.A. All
materials must be in a three ring binder with plastic cover on the front cover
and along the spine. The team’s name shall be displayed both on the front cover
and the spine. A divider tab should identify each section with the title of the
section. Each item should be placed inside a sheet protector. Each person
appearing on the roster should have an individual name tab by last name (and in
the case of two individuals with the same last name, the first initial).
5.11.B. The
following lists the required contents and required organization of all team
books:
5.11.B.i.
TAB I: Team Information:
5.11.B.i.a.
Certified Team Roster (1-T)
5.11.B.i.b.
Sanctioned game score sheets, arranged
chronologically from the most recent
5.11.B.ii.
TAB II: Coaches’ Information
5.11.B.ii.a. Signed USA Hockey Consent to Treat forms
5.11.B.ii.b.
Signed USA Hockey Code of Conduct forms
5.11.B.ii.c.
Copy of front and back of USA Hockey
Coaching Education Card with legible signature
5.11.B.iii.
TAB III: Managers’ Information:
5.11.B.iii.a.
Signed USA Hockey Consent to Treat forms
5.11.B.iii.b.
Signed USA Hockey Waiver of Liability forms
(not required for on-line registrants)
5.11.B.iii.c.
Signed USA Hockey Code of Conduct forms
5.11.B.iv.
TAB IV: Players’ Information (a tab for each
player with each player’s information maintained separately)
5.11.B.iv.a.
Signed USA Hockey Consent to Treat form
5.11.B.iv.b.
Signed USA Hockey Code of Conduct form
5.11.B.iv.c.
Appropriate documentation for any player not
born in the
5.11.B.v.
Tab V: Additional NORCAL Required Material
5.11.B.v.a.
Notarized AKA form for any player who goes
by a name other than that shown of the birth certificate
5.11.B.v.b.
Completed consent to skate out of age
division form
5.11.B.v.c.
Properly completed release form for any
player who moved from a different club during current season
5.11.B.v.d.
Other documents that from time to time may
be required by the General Manager or Roster Manager
5.11.C. Access
to Team Book. The NORCAL President, NORCAL General Manager, Roster Manager may
inspect team books at any game. Any deficiency shall be reported to the NORCAL
General Manager who, in turn, shall notify the affected club president.
Deficiencies must be corrected or a written plan of correction approved by the
General Manager, within seven days of notification. Failure to comply with this
rule will result in forfeiture of games played with a non-compliant team book.
5.11.C.i.
Opposing coaches or team managers may inspect
score sheets at any game to verify scores and served suspensions.
5.11.C.ii.
Teams are advised to carry a copy of the team
book to games and to maintain the originals to be used only for credentials
check prior to tournaments or playoffs.
5.12.Game Forfeit for No Show/ Refusing to Play
All teams are required to be
present for all regularly scheduled NORCAL games (including exhibition games).
Games not played may result in forfeiture by the team(s) responsible for
canceling. Teams that incur forfeits must
5.12.A. Pay
ice costs for the full ice slot and allow non-offending team to occupy the ice
(if available)
5.12.B. Pay
for any actual referee costs
5.12.C. Pay
a $200 penalty assessed by NORCAL
5.12.D. If
a team’s absence was unavoidable as determined by the General Manager, the
forfeiture penalties shall not apply and the game may be rescheduled.
5.12.E. Any
team that refuses to start play or to continue play will be subject to the same
penalties as a No Show, in addition to penalties provided by playing rules.
Disagreement with on-ice or off-ice officials is never a valid reason for
refusal to continue play.
5.13.Non-NORCAL Game Notices
At least seven days before a
game is played against a non-NORCAL team, the NORCAL team must file a
Non-NORCAL Game Notice with the General Manager. An online form is available on
the NORCAL web site. All information on the form must be completed. The
Non-NORCAL Game Notice must also be submitted by a NORCAL team hosting a game
or tournament including non-NORCAL teams. Failure to comply with this rule will
result in a $100 fine.
5.13.A. NORCAL
Game numbers must be acquired from the NORCAL scheduler for all games with
non-NORCAL teams.
5.13.B. CAHA
Travel Permit. Before a NORCAL team may travel outside the State of
6.0
Penalties, Suspensions, Appeals, Protests
6.1. Minor, Major, Misconduct Penalties
Penalties called by on-ice
officials are not subject to further review.
6.2. Game
Misconduct Penalties
Game misconduct penalties called
by on-ice officials are not subject to review except for procedural errors. The
affected team’s club president may make a request for review by the NORCAL
General Manager. The club president must provide a copy of the game score sheet
containing the game misconduct penalty in question. Request for review must be
made within 24 hours of the end of the game in question.
6.3. Serving
Suspensions
USA Hockey requires a player or
coach receiving a game misconduct penalty to serve a suspension during the next
game already scheduled. NORCAL requires a player or coach receiving a game
misconduct penalty in a NORCAL game to serve their suspension in a NORCAL game.
For Tier teams, games played in CAHA Tier Weekends may be used to serve
suspensions received in NORCAL games.
Note that a player or coach may be required to sit two games to meet
both USA Hockey and NORCAL requirements. NORCAL suspensions may not be served
in games between teams from the same club unless both teams are playing toward
the same NORCAL, CAHA, or USA Hockey championship and the game was scheduled
before the suspension was incurred.
6.3.A. Suspensions
received in a player’s, coach’s, or team’s last game of the NORCAL regular
season shall be doubled unless the regular suspension is fully served in the
NORCAL or CAHA playoffs. Players, coaches, or teams receiving multiple
suspensions in the last game of the season may be subject and may subject the
club to further sanctions through Supplementary Discipline. Any unserved
suspensions shall be served by that player or coach during the first league
game(s) (pre-season or regular season) of the following season, even if that
person changes teams or clubs. A player or coach receiving a game misconduct
penalty during a regular season game while playing or coaching for a team to
which he/she is not normally assigned shall serve the suspension during the
next regular season game of the team on which he/she is a member.
6.3.B. A
player or coach serving a suspension must comply with the game sheet
requirements specified in Rule 5.3.e above. A player or coach serving a game
misconduct may, but is not required to, attend the game as a spectator. A coach
or player serving a game misconduct may not be on or near the players’ bench,
may not serve as a minor official, and may not in any way give direction to his
team from the stands or through a third party. Violation of this rule may
result in supplementary discipline. A player or coach serving a game misconduct
shall not engage in any disruptive behavior before, during, or after the game
while attending as a spectator.
6.3.C. Any coach found to have the wrong player or
coach serve a suspension will be subject to supplementary discipline, game
forfeiture, and a minimum 3-game suspension.
6.3.D. If a
player plays in a game for which he/she was suspended, that game shall be
forfeited by the offending player’s team. Additional games played following the
game in which the imposed suspension was not served may also be forfeited
following a hearing conducted under NORCAL procedures. Whether or not the
additional played games are forfeited by the team, no games participated in
improperly by the player owing the suspension may count toward that player’s
post-season eligibility.
6.3.E. In
the event that any coach participates in a game while suspended, the NORCAL
General Manager shall suspend the offending coach for the next two scheduled
games following discovery of the illegal participation. (If the team does not
have additional scheduled games, the General Manager shall designate the
additional games to be served.) The games in which the suspended coach
participated may be ruled a forfeit. The General Manager shall investigate the
violation and may consider Supplementary Discipline.
6.4. Match
Penalties
Match penalties shall be
reported to the NORCAL General Manager within 48 hours of the end of the game.
The head coach of the team that incurs a match penalty is responsible for
making the required reports to NORCAL and any other entity required.
6.5. Causing
A Disturbance When Removed or While Suspended
Upon written complaint to the
General Manager, any player or coach who is found to have created a disturbance
during a game for which he/she has been removed or is suspended shall be
subject to Supplementary Discipline.
6.6. Exceeding Three Game Misconducts in a Season
If the number of accumulated
game misconduct penalties and match penalties for a player or coach exceeds
three within one season on any NORCAL team or teams, the player or coach shall
be automatically subject to Supplementary Discipline.
6.7. Penalty
Review Committee
6.7.A. The
NORCAL Penalty Review Committee shall consist of a Chair appointed by the
President (normally the NORCAL Vice President), the NORCAL General Manager, and
at least two other members appointed by the President or the Committee Chair
for a specific meeting. One of the other members must be president of a club
not directly involved in the business of the Committee.
6.7.B. The
Committee shall meet as needed at a time and place to be set by the Chair. Any
penalties or discipline pending review shall be held prior to NORCAL or CAHA
Playoffs.
6.8. Conduct
of Penalty Reviews
6.8.A. The
hearings are closed and informal.
6.8.B. Persons
appearing before the Committee may be accompanied by parents/guardians, one
coach, club president or representative, and one other person.
6.8.C. Persons appearing
before the Committee may submit written material and request witnesses in their
support to submit written materials.
6.8.D. At the
discretion of the Chair, video evidence may be submitted in advance of the
hearing for review and, with prior approval of the Chair, may be shown at the
hearing. The person requesting the video is responsible for providing viewing
equipment.
6.8.E. The
Committee shall provide the person under review with a clear statement of the
specific behavior being reviewed, the rule under which the behavior is being
reviewed, and the possible outcomes of the hearing.
6.8.F. The
Chair shall issue a written decision within five days of the hearing and shall
send a copy of that written decision using email addresses provided by the
recipients to the following persons: the person under review, the club
president of the person under review, and the parents/guardian of a player
under review. After sending such email notice all players, coaches, clubs, or
other persons involved in the decision are considered notified and the terms of
the decision are immediately in effect. If the person under review does not
provide a valid email address at or before the hearing, notification of the
hearing result sent to the club president will be considered formal notification.
Nothing in this rule alters in any way club responsibility for communication
with its membership set out in rule 2.7.
6.8.G. In the
event a properly notified player or coach fails to attend a scheduled review,
the Committee may conduct its review and issue a decision in his/her absence.
6.9. Game
Protests
Game protests must be presented
to the General Manager by Tuesday
6.9.A. Upon
due consideration, the General Manager’s decision shall be either “the game
stands as played” or “the game will be replayed in its entirety or from the
point of protest if practicable.”
6.10.Supplementary Discipline
In addition to the suspension
imposed under these rules, the NORCAL General Manager may, at his/her
discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game
and may assess additional suspensions for any offense committed before, during
the course of a game, or any aftermath thereof by a player, team official, or
spectator whether or not such offense was penalized by the referee.
Supplementary Discipline that is not the result of a Penalty Review Committee
hearing must be initiated within fourteen days of the incident.
6.11.NORCAL Right of Appeal
6.11.A.
USA Hockey members (players and immediate families,
coaches, team and league officials) have recourse to the NORCAL, CAHA, and USA
Hockey dispute resolution procedures. The full dispute resolution procedures
are set out in the NORCAL Bylaws, CAHA rules, and Bylaw 10 of the USA Hockey
Annual Guide.
6.11.B. Suspension
or sanction issued by the NORCAL General Manager (except for suspensions for
violations of playing rules or other specific areas designated under USA Hockey
rules) or by the Penalty Review Committee may be appealed to the NORCAL Board
as the first step of that dispute resolution procedure.
7.0
Player and Spectator Decorum
7.1. Pre-
and Post-Game Incidents
It is the responsibility of the
home team to ensure the safety of the players, coaches, spectators, and
officials before, during, and after games. Incidents occurring from the time
the On-ice officials signal the players to begin pre-game warm-ups until the
score sheet has been signed by the On-ice officials are governed by the USA
Hockey Playing Rules. Altercations outside those boundaries may also be
penalized by this rule.
7.1.A. Such
incidents include but are not necessarily limited to: confrontations (verbal or
physical) involving coaches, players, and/or spectators of opposing teams;
confrontations (verbal or physical) involving coaches, players, and/or
spectators with on-ice or off-ice officials
7.1.B. Any
pre or post game altercation or disturbance, on or off the ice, shall be
investigated, at the direction of the NORCAL General Manager, by the involved
Clubs’ Presidents and a written report shall be submitted to the NORCAL
President and General Manager within 48 hours of the incident. This report
shall include the names of all persons, players, coaches, and spectators
involved or in the immediate area of the incident and steps taken by the Clubs
to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
7.1.C. A police
report will be made on any spectator who physically interferes with a player,
coach, team or league official on or off the ice.
7.1.D. Penalties
for Pre and Post Game Incidents
7.1.D.i. Anyone
determined by the NORCAL General Manager to be an instigator in addition to any
applicable USA Hockey sanctions will be suspended from all NORCAL activities
(including games and practices) for 5 (five) games;
7.1.D.ii. The Head
Coach of any team found to be involved will be suspended for two NORCAL games
in addition to any applicable USA Hockey sanction. (Coaches may be sanctioned
as a participant or instigator as well);
7.1.D.iii.
All other participants will be suspended for
three NORCAL games.
7.1.D.iv.Involved
teams may be put on probation by the NORCAL General Manager. Any team on such
probation, if found to be involved in a subsequent pre- or post-game incident,
will be suspended from participation in the NORCAL schedule for the remainder
of the season and not eligible for any playoffs or NORCAL sponsored tournament.
7.2. Leaving
Penalty Bench or Players’ Bench
Any player penalized under
playing rule 625(a) (Leaving bench to join altercation) is automatically
subject to supplementary discipline.
Any person in the stands during a NORCAL game is
expected to display civil behavior. Anyone causing an unreasonable disturbance
in the stands may be asked to desist or leave the arena by on-ice officials.
The home team club officials may be called on to help control the situation and
are expected to cooperate fully with the on-ice officials. If the situation
cannot be dealt with in a timely and civil manner, the on-ice officials may, at
their sole discretion, direct the players to the player benches and suspend the
game until the matter is resolved. Further, the rink personnel may be asked to
call local police to help control the situation. Any offending spectator will
be subject to supplementary discipline under rule 6.10.
7.3.A. Any
spectator ejected from a NORCAL game by the game referee must leave the rink
immediately. With the aid of the score keeper, coaches of both teams, and
managers of both teams, who all shall be required to cooperate with the
referee, the referee shall note the incident, time and ejected person’s identity
on the score sheet and submit a report on the incident after the game. Any
person so ejected will be suspended from all NORCAL games until a penalty
review hearing is held or until thirty days have elapsed, whichever comes
first. The Penalty Review Committee may impose additional suspension and/or a
fine up to $100 levied against the club associated with the ejected person.
This rule will be enforced against NORCAL spectators ejected by other leagues
when such ejection is similarly recorded and reported.
7.4. Noisemakers
No spectator may use a
noisemaker of any sort at any NORCAL game. Repeated offense during a game will
result in the offender being asked to leave the game.
8.0
NORCAL Playoffs
8.1. Tier
II Playoffs
Team eligibility for CAHA Tier
II playoffs will be determined by CAHA Youth Council
8.2. NORCAL
Playoffs
Tier II (AA), “A,” and “B”
playoffs shall be conducted to determine the first and second place teams from
among the four top ranked teams at the Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget 16 (“AA”
and “A” only), and Midget (“AA” and “A” only) levels at the end of regular
season play. The General Manager shall issue rules governing each playoff format
and the playoff schedule of games prior to the playoff.
8.3. Team
Eligibility for Playoffs
From among all duly registered
Tier II (AA), “A,” and “B” teams having played at least seventeen (17) games
(not less than 10 of which must be played within the NORCAL regular season
playing schedule as evidenced by the proper submission of completed score
sheets), the top four ranked teams in each division shall advance to the
playoffs. Team rankings shall be determined as specified in rule 5.13 above.
8.3.A. If
two or more teams are tied for end of season standings, ties will be broken in
accordance with the USA Hockey Annual Guide, with the further provision that in
cases involving unbalanced schedules, winning percentage will be used rather
than total points.
8.3.B. Teams
registered to a club not in good standing or any team not eligible to
participate in CAHA playoffs will not participate in NORCAL Playoffs. However,
the foregoing notwithstanding, a team based outside California but
participating in a NORCAL regular season division and with USA Hockey
registration and in good standing shall NOT be excluded from NORCAL playoffs
solely by reason of non-membership in CAHA.
8.3.C. In the
case of ineligible teams for NORCAL or CAHA playoffs, the eligible team with
the next best record will advance.
8.4. Player
Eligibility for Playoffs
A player must be duly registered
and have participated in at least seven (7) games of that team (not less than
six of which must have been played within the NORCAL regular season schedule as
evidenced by the proper submission of completed score sheets) and be in good
financial standing to be eligible to participate in NORCAL playoffs.
8.4.A. Any
player who is ineligible for participation in CAHA playoffs shall also be
ineligible for participation in NORCAL playoffs.
8.5. Obligation
to Participate in Playoffs
All teams eligible for participation
in NORCAL and CAHA playoffs are required to participate in all playoff games.
Failure of a team to participate in playoffs may result in disciplinary action
against the offending club and/or its members including barring the offending
club’s teams from participation in future playoffs.
8.6. CAHA
Championships
State playoffs are conducted by
CAHA and are governed by separate rules.
9.0
NORCAL Competitive Governance
9.1. NORCAL
Team Placement
At a date determined by the
NORCAL Board at the Annual Meeting, the General Manager will present the final
team placements to the full NORCAL board. There shall be no late registration
penalty for a team re-registering as a result of final team placement.
9.2. Placement
Committee
The NORCAL Placement Committee is made up of the General Manager (chair), Coaching Director, Executive Committee Member at Large, and two other persons elected by the Board one of whom may not be either a club president or a head coach in either NORCAL travel or tier leagues during the current or previous season. The Placement Committee shall be responsible for assisting the General Manager in making all final placement decisions, including relegation, of teams into Tier II (AA), A, or B/BB leagues. Criteria for placement should include team declaration, performance of team in pre-season games, and league competitive balance.
9.3. Relegation
Definition: Relegation is placement of a team into a competitive division
other than the team’s original declaration
9.3.A. Options
for Teams declared A or B and relegated to Tier II (AA):
9.3.A.i. Play
NORCAL Tier League and CAHA Tier Weekends and be eligible for NORCAL, CAHA, and
National Championships, where applicable
9.3.A.ii. Play
NORCAL Tier league and decline participation in CAHA Tier weekends and be
eligible only for NORCAL Tier League championship
9.3.A.iii. Decline
relegation and remain in NORCAL A or B schedule, be subject to all restrictions
on A teams and be ineligible for both NORCAL and CAHA playoffs
9.3.B. Options
for Teams declared Tier II (AA) and being relegated to A or B:
9.3.B.i. Accept
relegation to NORCAL A or B and be eligible for NORCAL and CAHA championships,
where applicable
9.3.B.ii. Decline
relegation. Teams declining relegation are not eligible to participate in any
NORCAL league and are not eligible for any NORCAL playoffs. Teams in NORCAL
Tier league are restricted by Rule 4.9 from playing any team declaring tier
that NORCAL Placement Committee has relegated to A/B.
9.3.B.iii.Clubs remain responsible for all fees for clubs refusing relegation
9.4. NORCAL
Tier Committee
9.4.A. Composition. The NORCAL Tier Committee
is made up of the General Manager (chair), Coaching Director, and three other
persons representing at least two different clubs including one club president,
one current Tier II (AA) head coach, and a person who is neither a club
president nor a current Tier II (AA) head coach.
9.4.B. Function: The function of the NORCAL
Tier Committee is to govern NORCAL Tier hockey
competition within CAHA rules and rules which the NORCAL Board may pass from
time to time.
9.4.C. Original
jurisdiction for Tier II (AA) discipline remains with the NORCAL Penalty Review
Committee