CLEVELAND SUBURBAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
STANDING RULES
Approved May 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I Divisions and Levels of League Play . . . . . . . 3
II CSHL Game Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
III Protests, Forfeits, CSHL Game Changes
and Cancellations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
IV Teams, Players and Coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
V CSHL Game Rules, Suspension and
Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VI Playoffs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
VII Jurisdiction, Best Interest of the League,
and Conduct Unbecoming a Member . . . . . . . . 27
VIII Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
INTRODUCTION
THE CLEVELAND SUBURBAN HOCKEY LEAGUE (CSHL) is a member in good standing of USA HOCKEY. The CSHL subscribes to all USA HOCKEY rules and regulations as presented in the USA HOCKEY Rule Book and in the USA HOCKEY Annual Guide and particularly the following paragraphs from the USA HOCKEY Guide:
"The USA HOCKEY recommended guidelines for youth hockey encourage a non-competitive environment in which children and youth can learn the basic skills without the distractions that are often associated with an over-emphasis on winning. Mastery of the fundamental skills and the fun of playing are essential to the development of a lifelong interest in hockey. Programs must be conducted to accommodate the number of new players who wish to play hockey and to reduce the number who become disenchanted and drop out. These voluntary guidelines are directed at children’s programs, but adults must implement them if they are to influence youth hockey programs. Coaches, parents, administrators and rink operators must all do their part to ensure that the USA HOCKEY philosophy and the CSHL Standing Rules are upheld."
Violation of any of the Standing Rules contained herein may result in discipline to a team, an association, or any individual connected with them. Teams and individuals may be disciplined through the aforesaid system of discipline contained in the Standing Rules. Associations shall be disciplined by a majority of members of the board present at a meeting of said board.
All coaches, team managers, and program heads are required to read, learn and abide by these Standing Rules. These rules shall be enforced by the board of directors of the CSHL (the “Board”). The Board may adopt regulations to enforce these Rules.
ARTICLE I – Divisions and Levels of League Play
A. Divisions. The CSHL shall provide league play in the following divisions:
2009/2010 Season 20010/2011 Season
Division Age Year of Birth Year of Birth
Bantam (14 and under) 1995, 1996 1996, 1997
Squirt (10 and under) 1999, 2000 2000, 2001
Mite (8 and under) 2001 and after 2002 and after
See the Youth Age Classifications contained in the current USA Hockey Annual Guide for more information.
B. Levels. Definition of Levels within Divisions:
1. “AA” level hockey is the highest level of travel/competitive hockey offered by the CSHL; this level will not be subdivided.
2. “A” level hockey is an intermediate travel hockey
level.
3. “B” level hockey is lowest travel hockey
level.
The Board may create sub-levels of the A and B level if the number of teams justifies it (e.g. A1, A2, and A3).
Note: It should be kept in mind that as the levels of play move away from AA, each team should place more and more emphasis on equal playing time.
C. Team Placement. The Board reserves to itself or its delegate the right to decide any question of team placement. Effective with the 2004/2005 season, the Board is placing ALL teams pursuant to a ladder preseason schedule and relative power index rating to rank the teams.
D. The Board shall publish the league calendar at the Annual Meeting in May preceding the regular season. Generally the 5 week (6-8 games) preseason will be from mid-September to late October, the 14 week (14 +/- games) regular season from early November to mid-February with the playoffs in late February. The Board strives to have approximately 8 teams per level with a home and away schedule.
E. Girls playing in the CSHL must play in the same age divisions as boys.
ARTICLE II - CSHL Games and Procedures
A. Definitions:
1. League Games are CSHL regular season games scheduled at the CSHL regular season scheduling meeting against other CSHL Teams (except Select Teams) and all playoff games.
2. Non-League Games are all other games scheduled at the CSHL pre-season or regular season scheduling meetings against other CSHL Teams (including Select Teams). Non-League Games do not count in the CSHL standings.
3. Independent Games are all other games (including tournament games) whether against CSHL Teams or non-CSHL teams. The Board encourages teams to schedule referees for independent games through the league assignor (contact information inside back cover).
4. Programs will be assessed a fee set by the Board for each League Game and Non-League Game.
5. Any reference within these Standing Rules to CSHL Games refers to League Games and Non-League Games (and not to Independent Games).
6. A CSHL Game that ends prematurely due to non-curfew rink problems such as electrical failure or bad ice is considered complete if at least two full periods have been played; otherwise it shall be replayed in its entirety.
7. Referees in League and Non-League Games are paid by the CSHL. Referees in Independent Games are paid in cash at the game.
B. Ice Time and Curfew Games.
1. Minimum ice time for Mite, Squirt and Peewee games:
1 hour - all levels.
2. Minimum ice time for Bantam games: 1-1/4 hours - all levels.
3. There shall not be an admission fee to any CSHL Game. Any team playing in a rink with such a fee may not play in the CSHL.
4. Curfew Games. A curfew game is one in which a) the home association does not own the ice slot following the game or b) the home team declares it is a curfew game. In any CSHL Game that is a curfew game, the home team must verbally notify the referees and the other team before the game starts: a) that it is a curfew game, and b) when the game slot ends. A team that fails to make such notification in a game that ends prematurely and that is timely protested will have sanctions imposed against it, from the game being partially or entirely replayed to forfeiture, all at the home team’s cost. [Rev. at 2008 Annual Meeting]
Note: Per USA Hockey Playing Rule 637(e) no
timeouts shall be permitted during a curfew game.
C. Off Ice Officials. The home team shall provide two off-ice officials for the scorer's table, a timekeeper and a scorer. Each team must provide an off-ice official for its penalty box. All off-ice officials must be 18 years of age or older.
D. Clock Management Guidelines for CSHL Games shall be as follows:
1. Set clock for three-minute warm-up.
a. Sound horn when ice is ready for warm-up.
b. Except as directed by a referee, start clock to run down the 3 minutes when both teams enter the ice.
c. Sound horn when 30 seconds of warm-up remain.
d. Sound horn when warm-up is over.
e. Referees should then start the game within 1 minute of end of warm-up.
2. Set clock for:
a. Three 14 minute periods for the Bantam division. Three 12 minute periods for Peewee, Squirt and Mite divisions.
b. The first two periods will be standard stop-time. If the game is a curfew game, with proper notification under B-4, the third period shall be stop-time UNTIL purchased time for the game and the game clock time remaining are equal. At that time, the time keeper shall inform both benches and the referees that the clock will go to running time to assure that the game is completed within the required purchased ice time. If proper notification under B-4 was not made, the home team may not change from stop-time to running time. The game shall remain in stop-time until the rink ends the game, at which time the scorer should note the time remaining in the game on the scoresheet. The home team should be prepared to forfeit the game if it is properly protested.
c. Any time in the game that there is a seven (7) goal differential, the remainder of the game will be played in running time. If there is a ten (10) goal differential at the end of the second period or any time during the third period, the game will end at that point. The visiting team shall leave the ice and the home team may stay and use its ice time for practice.
d. In running time, there will be no timeouts and no stoppage for goals, injuries, etc. The clock may be stopped only upon the instructions of a referee or if penalty times cannot be recorded without stopping the clock.
e. Minor penalties in running time shall be 3 minutes, with no change in major or misconduct penalty time.
f. Penalties for players already in the penalty box when running time begins shall not be adjusted.
E. Ice Cuts. An ice cut should be made before a CSHL Game at all levels of all divisions, except with approval of both coaches and referees.
F. Team Representative. It is strongly recommended that a Team Representative be appointed for each team. This representative should attend all CSHL Games and be prepared to report to his Head of Program on any incidents involving a coach, player, manager, official or fan.
G. Scores and Score sheets.
1. The home team is responsible for providing a USA Hockey score sheet before each game and for providing scorekeepers to correctly fill out the score sheet. The scorekeepers must put the game number and name (with correct spelling) and number of each referee on the score sheet before the game and ensure that referees and coaches sign the score sheet. Scorekeepers must also verify that the name and USA Hockey Coaching Education Program number (CEP #) of every coach present (head and assistant) be written or printed legibly on all copies of the score sheet. Scorekeepers should ensure that only players present on the bench at the game are listed. If a player listed on a preprinted form is not at that game, his name should be crossed out.
2. Scores of CSHL Games (this includes preseason games) should be input into the League website immediately after the game by the WINNING team (or, in the event of a tie game, by the home team). The original white score sheet for all CSHL Games must be sent to the League Office within 48 hours of the game by the WINNING team (or, in the event of a tie game, by the home team). There are three options for sending in the scoresheet (in order of preference:
A. Scan it and email it to the league office email listed on the back cover.
B. Fax it to the number listed on the back cover.
C. Mail it to the address listed on the back cover.
The original copy of any scoresheet emailed or faxed in should be kept by the team manager. Any score sheet not received at the CSHL office within 48 hours may cause the responsible program to be fined up to $100.
3. Score sheets may not be used to lodge any protests or complaints by coaches or managers; the only persons to use the back of the score sheet will be the referees in order to record any penalties or descriptions of their official duties during a game. Officials are to notify coaches if a player or coach is to miss a game or games due to a penalty assessment. An official’s failure to make such notification shall not excuse a coach from enforcing all game suspensions.
4. Complaints regarding officiating shall be forwarded in writing to the CSHL Secretary and must be signed by the Head of Program making the complaint. Unsigned complaints will be discarded. The name(s) of the person(s) initiating the complaint must be included.
H. All CSHL Games must be officiated by USA Hockey registered referees assigned by the League. There shall be two referees scheduled for each game. A CSHL Game will be considered official if refereed by only one referee. If no referee shows up at a CSHL Game, the game may not be played and must be rescheduled. Teams are not permitted to use the ice time to play a “controlled scrimmage” without referees.
I. Protective Gear and Socks.
1. All CSHL players must wear a colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece, which covers all the remaining teeth of one jaw, customarily the upper, for all on-ice activities.
2. All CSHL players must wear a visible protective throat guard that is manufactured and sold as a throat protector (and cannot be altered from the original manufactured state). Goalkeepers may wear a plastic protective shield in place of a throat guard.
3. All players on a team shall wear the same colored socks on each leg.
4. For the first violation of this rule I, the violating player shall be ruled off the ice and the coach shall be notified that for the next violation of this rule by any player on the team a 10-minute misconduct penalty shall be imposed.
Note. This rule is an extension of Official Rule of Ice Hockey 304(c).
J. Pins in Net. Pins shall be used at all levels except Mite B.
K. Home Ice Sheets. At least 10 days prior to the preseason scheduling meeting, each program shall provide the Board with at least 6 home sheets (5 sheets for Mites) of ice for each team’s preseason schedule. At the regular season scheduling meeting each team shall bring an adequate number of ice sheets to play its home games. Each program shall also provide the Board with a “best faith” estimate of projected level of play for team placement.
ARTICLE III – Protests, Forfeits, CSHL Game Changes and Cancellations
A. Protests.
1. All protests shall be prepared in triplicate: one copy to the CSHL Secretary, one copy to the opposing team, and one to be retained by the protesting team. The Head of Program shall submit the protest to the CSHL Secretary and the opposing team within 48 hours of the incident. This deadline may not be waived. A protest shall include the game number and date, the specific rule that is alleged to have been violated and specific information about the incident complained of.
2. The league will assess each member program a “deposit” of $100. This money will be pledged for any protest submitted by the association’s head of program during the year. If a petition is turned down a $100 protest fee will be charged to the association and the program will be invoiced to replace the “deposit”. No further protest may be submitted until the new deposit is received. The program deposit will carry forward from year to year if unused or until the rule is amended.
3. The Board will notify programs of the time and place of the hearing. A hearing may be deferred until the end of the season. No more than 4 persons per program will be permitted at the hearing. One of those present must be the Head of the protesting program.
4. The Board will not hear protests of referee judgment calls.
B. Forfeits.
1. Any team that fails to show for a CSHL Game will receive a forfeit and be subject to additional costs and disciplinary action, as hereinafter provided.
2. In the event of a forfeit of a CSHL Game a fine of $100, league fees and referee costs for both teams shall be levied against the forfeiting team. The non-forfeiting team shall not be assessed league fees or referee costs.
3. Forfeited CSHL Games shall be recorded as a 1-0 win for the team being forfeited against, and the white copy of the score sheet must be sent to the CSHL Secretary by the winning team.
4. Forfeits of CSHL Games may result in a hearing before the Board and the possible suspension of team management. If the Board determines, in its discretion, that the forfeit was deliberate, the forfeiting team will be ineligible for the playoffs.
C. Rescheduled Games.
1. 10 Day Grace Period (2 coaches must agree). Upon the agreement of both coaches, preseason CSHL Games may be rescheduled or cancelled without charge in the first 10 calendar days after the preseason scheduling meeting. Upon the agreement of both coaches, regular season CSHL Games may be rescheduled without charge in the first 10 calendar days after the regular season scheduling meeting.
2. Before December 1 (2 coaches and 2 heads of programs must agree). After the 10 day grace period referred to in rule C-1, the League strongly discourages rescheduling CSHL Games. A team wishing to reschedule a CSHL Game after the 10 day grace period must obtain the permission of the opposing team, its own head of program and the opposing team's head of program. The program initiating the change will be assessed $100 plus all costs. The Head of Program of the team wishing to reschedule a CSHL Game is the only person authorized to submit a game reschedule form. The League will disregard any attempt to reschedule a CSHL Game by any other person.
3. On or After December 1 (2 coaches, 2 heads of programs and the CHSL Board must agree). No CSHL Game may be rescheduled on or after December 1st. Any request for a waiver of this rule may be submitted only by the Head of Program of the requesting team to the CSHL Secretary and will be approved only in the rarest circumstances. A request from any other party will be disregarded and will subject the team to disciplinary action by the Board. The request for waiver must be in writing on a form provided by the CSHL. The CSHL will only accept requests for waivers that include the agreement of the Heads of Programs of both teams. The program that initiates any reschedule will be assessed $100 plus all costs if its request is approved.
4. 5 Day Rule. The game reschedule form for any CSHL Game rescheduled under this rule must be submitted at least 5 days before the originally scheduled game date in order to give the League time to reschedule referees.
D. Game Cancellations.
1. League Games. No League Game may be cancelled. This rule will be waived only in the rarest circumstances.
2. Non-League Games. The CSHL will accept game cancellations of Non-League games from the head of program of the team canceling the game ONLY after both heads of program have agreed to cancel such game. An attempt at cancellation by any other party will be disregarded and will subject the team to disciplinary action. The cancellation must be submitted on the official CSHL form and emailed to the Referee Assigner. The program that initiates any cancellation will be assessed $100 plus all costs.
E. Weather Conditions/Clerical Error.
1. Any CSHL Game cancelled due to any weather or ice conditions or clerical error by the League must be rescheduled within 10 days for play at a later date. There will be no fee levied for a CSHL Game cancelled under this rule if it is rescheduled within 10 days.
2. Deliberate refusal to reschedule will result in disciplinary action by the Board, including the assessment of all costs involved to the refusing team.
Note: please call the League Office and the Referee Assigner (phone numbers inside back cover) as soon as it is determined to cancel a game due to weather.
F. Substitution of Games. Once a CSHL Game is scheduled, no team may substitute for the originally scheduled teams without the permission of the Referee Assignor.
ARTICLE IV – Rules Governing Rosters, Teams, Players and Coaches
A. Rosters and Exclusivity
1. At least 5 days before the regular season scheduling meeting, all CSHL Teams must submit to the League Secretary a copy of its Team Roster Registration Form (1-T) approved by the USA Hockey District Registrar or, if requested by the League Secretary, a list in an approved format (e.g. an excel spreadsheet)(“Official CSHL Team Roster”). Such list shall include player’s jersey numbers and such list may be posted on the League website. Any amendment to this form must be submitted with reasons for the change to the League Secretary for approval before any players added may play in a League Game.
2. Only players listed on the Official CSHL Team Roster may play in League Games. If a team violates this Rule by playing a player not listed on the team’s Official CSHL Team Roster in a League Game, it shall forfeit that game and shall be ineligible for the playoffs. The coach may be penalized further by the Board.
3. A player on an Official CSHL Team Roster may not play for any other USA Hockey registered team during the regular season without the written permission of the League Secretary. A CSHL player who wishes to play for another USA Hockey registered team during the regular season must send an email request to the League Secretary detailing the name of the other team, its head coach’s contact information, how may games he expects to play for the other team and the reason for the dual rostering. The League Secretary shall promptly respond with a decision. If a CSHL player plays for a non-CSHL team during the regular season without obtaining such permission from the League Secretary, then any subsequent CSHL games in which he plays shall be forfeited by his team.
Note: The intent of this rule is to keep “ringers” off CSHL Teams, not to keep CSHL players from playing on tournament teams.
B. Team Rules. A CSHL Team is one that either participates in the CSHL regular season or is a Select Team (as defined in rule IV-G). All CSHL Teams must register a minimum of ten (10) team members by December 31st, and must have a minimum of six (6) players in uniform for all League Games. A maximum of twenty (20) players may be on one team. [Rev. 2009]
1. Prior to a CSHL Team playing any CSHL Game it must have in its possession a certified Team Application Form (2-T) and Official CSHL Team Roster (1-T). Before any CSHL Game, a coach may review his opponent’s Official CSHL Team Roster.
2. An official birth certificate must be secured from all CSHL players by the Team Manager before playing any CSHL Game.
3. Teams are required to wear distinguishing colors. The home team will wear its lighter colored jerseys. Where colors conflict, it is the responsibility of the home team to make the necessary changes.
4. All CSHL Teams must participate in pre-season play in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
C. Releases.
1. A "Release" is a declaration of completed financial and equipment responsibility and is issued by the Head of the releasing program. A release shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
2. A player must be free of all financial, equipment and records responsibility owed the releasing organization before he can be placed on the team roster of another CSHL Member or Associate Member program.
3. Failure to comply with this rule will be reviewed by the Board and may result in discipline.
4. The CSHL Review Committee will resolve all disputes.
D. Head Coaches/Assistant Coaches.
1. Head coaches and Assistant coaches of CSHL Teams must complete the appropriate level of coach’s training as required by USA Hockey and Mid-Am District.
Division of Play Coaching Education Program Level
Mites Level 2 (Associate)
Squirts Level 2 (Associate)
Peewees Level 3 (Intermediate)
Bantams Level 3 (Intermediate)
2. The Board may require head coaches to attend training meetings.
E. Player Movement within Member Programs.
1. No player may play any CSHL Game for a CSHL Team unless he is on that team’s Official CSHL Team Roster at the time of the game.
2. Except as permitted below, no player may be on the Official CSHL Team Roster of more than one CSHL Team at one time.
3. A player who is moved from one team’s Official CSHL Team Roster to another team’s Official Team Roster (for the same Member Program) for a League Game must be permanently moved (i.e. such player may not play again for his original team in League Games) subject to the following exception. A team may play a substitute player from within its own Program in a League Game if, and only if, the team has LESS THAN 10 SKATERS PRESENT (excluding goalkeepers). Such substitute player must come from a lower level team within the division or from any team in a younger age division except a AA team. Rule E1 still applies and requires the player to be added to the Official CSHL Team Roster of the new team. He does not have to be removed from his original team’s Official CSHL Team Roster unless he is being permanently moved. Such substitute player may play in a maximum of 3 League Games for any one team before he must be permanently moved.
Example: This rule allows a peewee A-1 team with 9 or less skaters to pull up a substitute player from a peewee A-2, A-3, B-1 or B-2 team, or any squirt team except squirt AA.
4. Any team violating this rule in a League Game will forfeit such game. If the Board determines that the violation was deliberate, the forfeiting team will be ineligible for the playoffs.
F. Dual Rostering of Goalkeepers within a Member Program.
1. Goalkeepers may be dual rostered within a Member Program for a team as an emergency backup only. Any such goalkeeper must be designated on the Official CSHL Team Roster (and all score sheets for that team) as the backup goalkeeper with an asterisk (*) next to his name and may play for that team only in emergency situations as a goalkeeper. The backup goalie for a AA level team may come from any other team in its age division or a younger age division. The backup goalie for a non-AA level team must come from an equal or lesser level team within its age division or from any team in a younger age division except a AA level team. A goalie can be an emergency backup goalie on more than one team within his program.
Note: For competitive reasons, a goalie on a AA-level team can only be a backup goalie on another AA-level team in an older age division.
2. Any team violating this rule in a League Game will forfeit such game. If the Board determines that the violation was deliberate, the forfeiting team will be ineligible for the playoffs.
Note: A player, including a goalkeeper, should not be on the rosters of two tier II USA Hockey Tournament Bound teams. See the USA Hockey Annual Guide for more information
G. Limits on Player Movement Between Programs. After the first day of the preseason, a player that has signed an Official CSHL Team Roster that has been submitted to the League may not play for another CSHL Program without the written permission of the head of program of his original team. A denial of permission may be appealed to the Board only on the grounds that the head of program failed to follow these Standing Rules.
Note: this rule is intended to prevent the disruption caused by players moving between programs once they have signed a roster.
[Select Team Rule deleted and this clause added 2009]
ARTICLE V – Game Rules, Suspension and Conduct
A. The CSHL adheres strictly to the playing rules of USA Hockey, which also allow the CSHL to impose further penalties or suspensions. The following automatic suspensions will be imposed by the CSHL. It is the responsibility of the coaches to make sure that these rules are fully understood. All members must also comply with USA Hockey requirements with respect to game misconduct penalties.
1. League Game Misconducts Must be Served in League Games. When a player, coach, manager or trainer receives a game misconduct in a CSHL League Game for any reason, that game misconduct shall be served in the next scheduled CSHL League Game at the time of the infraction - the team CANNOT schedule additional games in order for the penalized person to serve his suspension. USA Hockey rules regarding game misconducts must also be followed in addition to this rule.
2. Limit on Game Misconducts. Any player, coach, manager or trainer who receives three (for coaches the number is two) game misconduct penalties in the course of one season (in ANY USA Hockey sanctioned game) shall be suspended from CSHL Games until he appears before the Board for further action. For purposes of this rule, a season starts April 1st and ends March 30th. Programs and coaches have an affirmative duty to keep track of all of its player’s game misconducts and inform the Board immediately when this rule applies.
Note: Because of the definition of a season, any game misconduct penalty received in any spring league game, any tournament game or any other USA Hockey sanctioned game while playing for any team or teams on or after April 1st will count towards the total number of game misconduct penalties for the following winter season.
3. Any coach who pulls his team off the ice in protest of a referee's decision will receive an automatic 3-game suspension and his team will forfeit the game which carries a $100 fine and no replay of the game.
4. Any player, coach, manager or trainer entering a Referee dressing room at any time without permission will be assessed a Match Penalty with immediate suspension from all hockey related activities until a hearing is held before the Board or the Mid-Am District Representative.
5. Only Program Heads may call the CSHL Secretary to request a hearing regarding a suspension. Only one call for this purpose will be permitted. NO coach, player, or parent may call for this purpose. Non-compliance with this rule will result in the hearing being denied and the suspension will stand.
6. Rule 410 (Supplementary Discipline) of the USA Hockey Official Playing Rules empowers the Board to impose disciplinary action whether or not the referee has penalized such offense.
B. Fan Abuse.
1. If an official determines during a CSHL Game that any fan is continually abusive to a player, an official, or to other fans, that fan may be ejected. The officials are responsible for the enforcement of this rule when informed by minor officials. If that particular fan refuses to leave, the team with which he is affiliated will forfeit the game.
2. If an official determines during a CSHL Game that fan abuse is excessive, he has the authority to remove both teams from the ice (excepting minor officials) until all of the spectators clear the arena. If the fans refuse to leave, the game is terminated and the matter will be referred to the Board.
3. It is the responsibility of the home team coach to protect all officials from irate and/or abusive fans, and to assure their safety out of the rink. Neglect to do so will result in censure or suspension by the Board.
C. Use of Noisemakers at games:
1. Those that are permitted: Bells, popcorn kernels, etc. in plastic bottles - where permitted by rink management.
2. Those that are not permitted: Whistles (interfere with officials' whistles), air horns, or any other extremely disruptive noisemakers.
D. The customary handshake between teams will take place after the game in all Divisions. The handshake will be with the right hand with the glove off. The visiting team will leave the ice surface first.
1. At the conclusion of the game, both teams will return to their respective benches and wait for the referees’ signal to return to the ice for the handshake. At the discretion of the referee, where he senses a potential problem following a game, he may not signal for the handshake. The Board will deal with any team starting trouble or fighting during the handshake immediately upon notification.
2. Any game misconduct penalty called after the conclusion of play of a CSHL League will incur a two (2) game suspension. This suspension shall be served in the next two (2) CSHL League Games. If the next game of that team is not a CSHL League Game, USA Hockey requires that player still sit out the following game after the infraction. It is possible to have a three game suspension imposed against the player if the game misconduct was imposed after the game had ended and the next game of that team is not a regularly scheduled CSHL Game.
3. If a referee determines that a coach contributed in any fashion to a player receiving a game misconduct penalty during or after the handshake, that coach may also be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
E. Game Ejection. A referee may eject any player, coach or manager from any game for any reason. This game ejection is not a game misconduct and does not carry a 1 game suspension. The score sheet must indicate this by using the phrase “game ejection” in the penalty area of the score sheet.
F. Referee Rating System. The Board may from year to year adopt a referee rating system to reward good referees with recognition.
G. The League may publish the names of players who have received game misconducts and match penalties.
ARTICLE VI - Playoffs
A. Banners and individual trophies will be awarded to all division level winners and all playoff champions. If teams are tied in point for first place, the procedures described below will be used to determine the champion. Team and individual trophies will be awarded to all playoff runner-ups.
B. Number of Teams and Eligibility for CSHL Playoffs and Regular Season Champion Banner.
1. For every level, there shall be a single elimination playoff with the following number of teams.
a. In levels with 9 or fewer non-Select teams, the top 4 eligible teams.
b. In levels with 10 or more non-Select teams, the top 6 eligible teams, with the top two teams receiving a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
2 The following teams will not be eligible for the CSHL playoffs or the Regular Season Champion Banner:
a. A Select Team as defined above.
b. A team guilty of deliberately forfeiting a CSHL Game, as determined by the Board.
c. A team that did not participate in preseason play.
d. A team that played a non-rostered player in violation of Rule IV-A.
e. A team from a program whose League Fees have not been paid.
C Player Eligibility for CSHL Playoffs. A player is ineligible to participate in his team’s playoff games unless he was present on the bench for at least 50% of his team’s League Games. Within 3 days of the end of the regular season each playoff team shall submit to the CSHL Secretary a certification by the coach (see CSHL form in appendix 1) indicating which players on that team’s Official CSHL Team Roster meet this 50% rule and which do not. Such form will include a statement by the coach that he will not dress in any playoff game any player that does not meet this 50% rule. A player who does not meet this rule because of injury may request a waiver from the Board. An emergency back up goalkeeper from the same program on a Roster under Rule IV-F-1 is not subject to this Rule.
D. Tiebreakers. Teams earn 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie in League Games (regular season games). If two or more teams have an equal number of points (and have played an equal number of League Games), their positions in the standings shall be determined by the following tie-breaking formula. In order to break the tie, if one tie-breaker establishes a position for one or more teams, each team is placed in the applicable position. Once a team/teams is/are placed, the remaining tied teams shall start the tie-breaking process over again at step 1.a. The tie-breaking formulas are as follows:
1. The results of the games played between the teams tied in the following order (this formula D-1 can be applied when three or more teams are tied only if the teams have played each other an equal number of times, otherwise see D-3):
a. The points acquired in these games.
b. Subtracting goals scored against from goals scored in these games, the positions being determined in order of the greatest surplus.
c. Dividing the goals scored in these games by the goals scored against, the positions being determined in order of the greatest quotient. If goals scored against are 0, the denominator shall be 0.5.
2. If after applying the formulas of 1 a, b, and c, the tie still exists, 1b and c shall be applied using all of the League Games played by the teams tied. Note: The formulas shall be applied in order 1a, b, c and 2.
Example: A beats B 5-2, B beats C 4-0, C beats A 4-2
Team GF GA G Differential G Quotient
A 7 6 +1 1.17
B 6 5 +1 1.20
C 4 6 -2 0.67
Under D-1-a, each team has 2 points in the games among the tied teams; under D-1-b, goal differential is +1, +1 and -2, so C is placed 3rd and teams A and B go back to rule D-1-a. Under D-1-a, in the games between the tied teams A and B, A has 2 points and B has 0 (A beat B 5-2). Therefore A gets 1st place and B gets 2nd place. C is 3rd.
3. In a level in which all teams have NOT played an equal number of League Games, then the standings shall be determined by percentage, with ties counting as ½ win and ½ loss (e.g. a record of 6-3-1 would have a percentage of 0.650, while a record of 6-2-2 would have a percentage of 0.700).
4. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in rule D-1 and D-2, if tiebreakers D-1-a (points obtained in head to head games) and D-1-b (goal differential in head to head games) do not break a tie for first place, a preliminary playoff game or games shall take place at a time and place and in a manner determined by the Board. The cost of any such game or games (including ice and officials) will be split between the teams. If all the above tiebreaking procedures do not break a tie for any place except first place, then the standings shall be determined by a coin toss.
E. Playoff Games.
1. The Board shall determine the time and place of all playoff games.
2. The higher seeded team shall be the home team, and shall wear its light colored jerseys.
3. All playoff games shall be played in Cleveland. No playoff game may start before 8:00am.
4. The playoffs shall use traditional seeding (i.e. winner of 1v8 plays winner of 4v5, etc.). In a 6 team bracket, the first and second place teams will receive byes in the first round.
5. Any playoff game tied at the end of 3 periods shall, after a 1 minute rest period, be continued in sudden death overtime until a winner is determined. Overtime periods shall be 6 minutes in length with a 1 minute rest period. There shall be no timeouts in overtime. Teams shall not change ends in overtime. The referees shall decide whether ice cuts are necessary for safety in overtime.
Article VII – Jurisdiction, Best Interest of the League and Conduct Unbecoming a Member.
A. Jurisdiction. By participating in the CSHL, member organizations, teams, players, coaches and parents submit to the jurisdiction of the Board over all matters pertaining to the League, games and disciplinary matters regardless of actions taken or determinations made by any other body (e.g. Mid-Am Hockey, USA Hockey, etc).
B. Best Interest of the League. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in these Standing Rules, the Board may take any action or make any determination it deems necessary in the best interest of the League, provided that if the Board takes any action or makes any determination based on this Article, it shall set forth its reasons therefore in writing and promptly distribute such to the heads of programs.
C. Conduct Unbecoming a Member. Any member organization, team, player, coach or parent who engages in conduct unbecoming a member of the CSHL or detrimental to the League as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, shall be punished as the Board may direct.
D. Responsibility. Each program head is responsible for compliance with these Rules and decisions of the Board by all teams, coaches, parents and players in his program.
Article VIII - Miscellaneous.
A. Amendment. All proposed amendments to these Standing Rules must be submitted in writing to the Board for review, and shall then be placed before the membership for discussion and balloting. All proposed amendments shall be distributed to the membership at least 30 days before the meeting at which such amendments are to be voted on. Amendments may be passed by a majority vote of the voting members present at the Annual Meeting or by a 2/3rds vote of the voting members present at any other meeting of the membership.
B. Waiver. The Board may, upon receipt of a written request, waive any Standing Rule for good cause. The Board must issue its waiver in writing setting forth its reasons therefore. If the request is granted in whole or in part, the Board shall promptly distribute the request for waiver and the Board’s decision regarding the request to the heads of programs
C. Self-Reporting of Violations. Each member association (including all individual members thereof) is required to promptly inform the CSHL Secretary whenever it discovers that a player, coach, manager or team belonging to that association violated any of these Standing Rules. If the Board discovers in the course of an investigation of a potential rules violation that a member association knew about a violation but did not report it, the disciplinary consequences will be higher.
D. Referee Conflict of Interest. No referee shall officiate in a game in which his father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, husband or wife is a coach, manager or player on one of the participating teams. If a scheduling mistake is made and this occurs, the referee must notify the coach of the opposing team of this relationship and obtain his agreement in writing on the scoresheet to play the game prior to the start of the game. Failure to obtain such agreement will cause such game to be forfeited.
E. Use of Gender. Within these Standing Rules, the words "he," "him" and "his" are used to include both male and female participants.
2009-2010 CSHL Referee Fees
Mite Squirt and Peewee: three 12-minute periods.
Bantam: three 14-minute periods.
CSHL Games:
Mite (2 officials) - $21 each, three 12-minute periods
Squirt (2 officials) - $23 each, three 12-minute periods
Peewee (2 officials) - $28 each, three 12-minute periods
Bantam (2 officials) - $39 each, three 14-minute periods
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Main Standings & Schedule
