USA HOCKEY JUNIOR HOCKEY SUPPLEMENT Junior Rules Supplement 2015-16 Season
Junior Rules Supplement SECTION 1: DANGEROUS PLAY MINOR PENALTIES The following actions shall be subject to suspension as outlined below: A. Head Contact A penalty for head contact shall be assessed anytime a player contacts an opponent in the head, face or neck, including with the stick or any part of the player s body or equipment. The penalty options for head contact include minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. This rule shall also apply when a player conducts a blind side hit to a vulnerable opponent where contact is made to the head or neck area and when a player leaves his feet or jumps to deliver a check to the head or neck area of the opponent. When a player commits an infraction which causes a vulnerable opponent to hit his head on the glass, ice or boards and as a result is injured, the referee shall have no option other than to assess a major penalty plus game misconduct or match penalty for head contact. A player receiving a major penalty for head contact shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for head contact shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. B. Checking From Behind A penalty for checking from behind shall be assessed to any player who body checks or pushes a vulnerable opponent from behind. The penalty options for checking from behind include a minor, minor plus misconduct, double minor plus game ejection, major plus game misconduct or match penalty. When a player commits a checking from behind infraction which causes the opponent to be thrown head first into the boards or goal frame or to be injured, the referee shall have no option other than to assess a major plus game misconduct or match penalty for checking from behind. A player receiving a major penalty for checking from behind shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for checking from behind shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. Repeat Offenders Any player who receives their 3rd minor penalty for any of the infractions in sub-sections 1.A. through 1.B. during the same season shall be assessed the following: A written warning from league. A discretionary informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties Any player who receives their 4th minor penalty for any of the infractions in sub-sections 1.A. through 1.B. during the same season shall be assessed the following: A one game suspension. A discretionary informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties Any player who receives their 6th minor penalty for any of the infractions in sub-sections 1.A. through 1.B. during the same season shall be assessed the following: 1
A two game suspension. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties A $250 team fine. Any player who receives their 8th minor penalty for any of the infractions in sub-sections 1.A. through 1.B. during the same season shall be assessed the following: A four game suspension. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties A $500 team fine. Any player who receives their 10th minor penalty for any of the infractions in sub-sections 1.A. through 1.B. during the same season shall be assessed the following: An indefinite suspension. A mandatory hearing to review further, final discipline. A $1,000 team fine. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the playing rules or under supplementary discipline. SECTION 2: OTHER INFRACTIONS The following actions shall be subject to suspension as outlined below: A. High Sticking A penalty shall be assessed to any player who makes stick contact with their opponent above the height of the shoulders. The penalty options for high sticking include minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. If an injury results from a high sticking infraction, a double minor penalty may be assessed if deemed to be accidental. A player receiving a major penalty for high sticking shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for high sticking shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. B. Slashing A penalty shall be assessed to any player who uses their stick to make contact with the opponent with no attempt to play the puck or if done in an intimidating or careless manner. The penalty options for slashing include a minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. A player receiving a major penalty for slashing shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for slashing shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. C. Cross-Checking A penalty shall be assessed to a player who cross-checks an opponent. The penalty options for cross-checking include a minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. A player receiving a major penalty for cross-checking shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for cross-checking shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. 2
D. Spearing or Butt-Ending A penalty shall be assessed to any player who spears, attempts to spear, butt-ends or attempts to butt-end an opponent. The penalty options for spearing and butt-ending include a minor plus misconduct, double minor plus game ejection, major plus game misconduct or match penalty. A player receiving a double minor or major penalty for spearing or butt-ending shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for spearing or butt-ending shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. E. Clipping/Leg Checking A penalty for tripping shall be assessed to any player who lowers their body to deliver a check at or below the knees of the opponent (clipping) or extends his leg from the front or from behind and makes leg contact (leg checking) with the opponent while in the process of delivering a check. The penalty options under this rule include minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. A player receiving a major penalty for clipping/leg checking shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for clipping/leg checking shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. F. Elbowing/Kneeing A penalty for elbowing shall be assessed to any player who delivers a check to an opponent using their elbow or extends their elbow to make deliberate contact with the opponent. A penalty for kneeing shall be assessed to any player who delivers a check to an opponent using their knee or extends their knee to make deliberate contact with the opponent. The penalty options for elbowing/ kneeing include a minor, major, major plus game ejection/game misconduct or match penalty. A player receiving a major penalty for elbowing/kneeing shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for elbowing/kneeing shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. G. Charging (Goalkeeper) A penalty for charging shall be assessed anytime a player body checks or makes deliberate physical contact with the goalkeeper while within the goal crease or privileged area. The penalty options for charging include a minor or major penalty. A player receiving a major penalty for charging the goalkeeper shall be suspended for a minimum of 1 (one) game. A player receiving a match penalty for charging the goalkeeper shall be suspended for a minimum of 3 (three) games. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the playing rules or under supplementary discipline. SECTION 3: PROGRESSIVE MAJOR PENALTIES (NON-FIGHTING) In an effort to further hold players accountable for their dangerous actions, the following shall be enforced regarding players who receive multiple (non-fighting) major penalties throughout the course of the season. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the rules or Sections 1 and 2 of this document (all assessed major penalties are counted cumulatively through regular season and playoffs). 3
Any player who receives their 3rd (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A written warning from league. A discretionary informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties Any player who receives their 4th (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A one game suspension. A discretionary informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties Any player who receives their 5th (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A two game suspension. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties and actions. A $250 team fine. Any player who receives their 6th (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A four game suspension. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel to establish possible additional discipline. A $500 team fine. Any player who receives their 7th (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, An eight game suspension. A one game suspension for the coach. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel to establish possible additional discipline. A $1,000 team fine. Any player who receives their 8th (non-fighting) major penalty during the same season shall be assessed, An indefinite suspension. A three game suspension for the coach. A mandatory informal hearing with league personnel to establish possible additional discipline. A $1,500 team fine. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the playing rules or under supplementary discipline. SECTION 4: MISCONDUCT/GAME EJECTIONS Players are expected to be accountable for their actions at all times, including those actions pertaining to respect towards the game, the opponent and the officials. Repeated abuse of officials or other misconduct shall be subject to the following (all assessed misconduct or game ejection penalties are counted cumulatively through regular season and playoffs). Any player who receives their 3rd misconduct and/or game ejection penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A one game suspension. An informal hearing with league personnel and coach to review player s penalties 4
Any player who receives their 6th misconduct and/or game ejection penalty during the same season shall be assessed, A two game suspension. A formal hearing with league personnel to review player s penalties and actions, supplemental discipline. A $250 team fine. Any player who receives 3 additional misconduct and/or game ejection penalty during the same season shall be assessed, An additional one game added to the previous game suspension. A formal hearing with league personnel to review player s penalties and actions, supplemental discipline. An additional $250 added to the previous team fine. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the playing rules or under supplementary discipline. SECTION 5: FIGHTING The following actions pertaining to Rule 614 Fisticuffs will be strictly enforced. A. Instigator Penalties A minor penalty plus an automatic game ejection/game misconduct penalty is assessed to any player who is deemed to be an instigator in a fight. An instigator is defined as being the player responsible for starting the fight by throwing or attempting to throw the first punches. A player accumulating two or more instigator penalties during the same season shall be subject to suspension (these are in addition to any other suspensions received through the playing rules). Upon receiving 2nd instigator penalty 1 game suspension. Upon receiving 4th instigator penalty 2 game suspension and $250 team fine. Upon receiving 5th instigator penalty - 3 game suspension and $500 team fine. Upon receiving 6th instigator penalty 5 game suspension and $750 team fine. Upon receiving 7th (and subsequent) instigator penalties suspended indefinitely (pending a league hearing) and $1,000 team fine. B. Secondary Fights Two or more fights occurring during the same stoppage of play shall be deemed to be a multiple fight situation and is subject to the following disciplinary action (these are in addition to any other suspensions received through the playing rules): Note: Officials will be asked to recognize that two concurrently commencing fights may be coincidental, and will not automatically trigger the provisions of this rule; it may be appropriate under some circumstances to instead treat each fight separately as subject to a major penalty. However, this rule will be imposed if three such concurrent fights occur, or if circumstances dictate even when only two fights occur. Any player deemed to be engaged in a secondary fight (not deemed to be the original altercation) shall automatically be assessed a game misconduct penalty and a two game suspension. If an instigator is established during a secondary fight, he shall receive a minimum 2 game suspension and the non-instigating player is not suspended. If it is clear that multiple fights were instigated by one team, each player involved in fighting from the instigating team shall be suspended for a minimum of 2 games, the coach of the instigating team shall be suspended a minimum of 2 games and the team fined $1,000. In this instance, the players on the opposing team shall not be assessed any additional suspensions. 5
Any player who was not on the ice at the time the original fight started and becomes involved in a secondary fight or is deemed to be the third player in shall receive a minimum 5 game suspension and the team is fined $1,000. C. Staged Fights Staged fights are those where a player or players have left the bench during a stoppage of play and get involved in an altercation before or immediately following the face-off being conducted to start the new play. Players participating in what is deemed to be a staged fight shall be suspended according to the following guidelines (these are in addition to any other suspensions received through the playing rules or this document): If a player is deemed to be an instigator of a staged fight, he shall be suspended a minimum of 3 games and the team fined $500. The non-instigating player shall not be suspended. If no instigator is established and both players are deemed to be equal participants in a staged fight, each player is suspended a minimum of 2 games and each team is fined $250. If a second staged fight occurs during the same game, each participating player shall be suspended a minimum of 3 games and each team is fined $1,000. If one player is deemed to be the instigator of this 2nd staged fight, then that player is suspended a minimum of 5 games, the team is fined $1,000 and the non-instigating player receives no additional suspension. D. Goalkeeper Fights Any fighting that occurs that involves one or both goalkeepers shall incur the following suspensions (these are in addition to any other suspensions received through the playing rules): Any goalkeeper that leaves his crease and is involved in a fight with an opposing player, other than a goalkeeper), he shall be suspended a minimum of two games in addition to suspensions imposed under the playing rules and/or secondary fight language noted in section 5.B. Any goalkeeper who is involved in a fight with an opposing goalkeeper shall be suspended a minimum of 3 games. Any goalkeeper who skates inside the opposing team s blue line to become involved in a fight with the opposing goalkeeper shall be deemed an instigator and suspended for a minimum of 5 games. E. Removing Equipment To Fight Any player who purposely removes playing equipment (other than stick and gloves) prior to or in preparation for a fight shall receive the following suspensions (these are in addition to any other suspensions received through the playing rules or sub-sections 5.A. through 5.D): Other than a helmet, an automatic game ejection or game misconduct penalty. Any player who removes his helmet during an altercation shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. Any player who deliberately removes his opponent s helmet during an altercation shall be assessed a game misconduct or match penalty. Any player who deliberately removes his helmet to fight or challenge an opponent to fight shall be assessed a game misconduct or match penalty. Any player who deliberately removes his opponent s helmet prior to an altercation shall be assessed a match penalty. A game misconduct assessed under this rule shall carry a minimum one game suspension (in addition to any other suspensions imposed). A match penalty assessed under this rule shall carry a minimum three games suspension (in addition to any other suspensions imposed). Any player who receives their 2nd game misconduct or match penalty under this rule during the same season shall receive an additional four game suspension and the team fined $500. 6
Any player who receives their 3rd game misconduct or match penalty under this rule during the same season shall be suspended indefinitely (pending a league hearing) and the team fined $1,000. F. Progressive Major Penalties (Fighting) In an effort to further hold players accountable for their actions, additional suspensions shall be enforced regarding players who receive multiple major penalties under the fighting rule throughout the course of the season. These suspensions are in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the rules or Section 5 of this document. Any player who receives their 5th major penalty for fighting during the same season shall be suspended for a minimum one game and a mandatory informal hearing shall be conducted with league personnel to review penalties Any player who receives their 8th major penalty for fighting during the same season shall be suspended a minimum of two games and team is fined $250. Any player who receives their 10th major penalty for fighting during the same season shall be suspended a minimum of three games and team is fined $500. Any player who receives their 11th (or more) major penalty for fighting during the same season shall be suspended indefinitely and a mandatory hearing is conducted with league personnel to establish supplementary discipline. The team is fined $1,000 for each offense. Note: Instigator fights for the non-instigator are not included in the progressive individual player fighting majors. Any team that is assessed five fighting major penalties during the same game (non-multiple fighting incidents) shall have their player assessed an automatic game misconduct, be suspended for one game and the team shall be fined $250 per occurrence. 7