League Rules for 2010 – 2011 Season

The following rules have been agreed to by the NESHL Board of Governors.  All rules and related articles that outline the league, its mission, and play are administered by the Board of Governors and the League Commissioner. The League will follow the Rules in the IPC Sledge Hockey Rule Book, unless otherwise stipulated in the below list.

I.                   TEAM ROSTERS:

• Team’s can roster up to 20 players per team. Players can only be listed on 1 Team Roster, and can only play for that Team during the entire League Season. Mid-season roster additions may be made upon receiving majority approval from the League Board of Governors, prior to any games being played by the individual.

• Roster Submission---All team rosters must be submitted two weeks before the first game of each new season. Team Rosters will be forwarded to each member of the Board of Governors, prior to the first game of each new NESHL season, for their review and approval. Any roster not submitted and approved will result in that team forfeiting their games until such time as their roster is approved.

• Teams are encouraged to recruit players from their local area, but may recruit players from any of the eligible states within the NESHL geographic area. The NESHL geographic area is defined as the following states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.
• Teams are encouraged to roster and play disabled/mobility impaired players. The NESHL does not discourage able-bodied participation, but there is a limit of 5 able bodied players (includes goalie) per team/roster. All able bodied participants will be identified with the designation “AB” on their respective team roster.

Ø      Exceptions to this rule may be made upon receiving majority approval of the League Board of Governors, prior to any games being played, and where it is in the best interest of the League, and/or the local Sled Hockey team.

• Elite Athletes---An Elite Athlete is defined as any individual currently on the US/Canadian National Team, or one who has played in the prior IPC World Sledge Hockey Championship and/or Paralympics Games, for their respective country. These Elite Athletes will be identified with the designation “EA” on their respective team roster.
• Every player, coach, assistant coach, or other team official, must sign a ‘Player Commitment & Code of Conduct Letter’, prior to the 1^st NESHL game they will be participating in.

II.                TEAM LEVELING:

In the interest of keeping the games equally competitive and fun for all, the following team restrictions have been adopted by the NESHL Board of Governors.

·        If Team A has 0 or 1 Elite Athletes on their roster, and Team B has more than one Elite Athlete, then Team B can only have one Elite Athlete on the ice at all times. (Irrespective of how many EA’s show up for the game.)

·        If Team A and Team B have more than one Elite Athletes on their respective rosters then the following options are available to them: (Irrespective of how many EA’s show up for the game.)

o       Play a matching number of EA player combinations

o       Teams can agree to waive any roster restrictions prior to the start of any game. Said agreement must be communicated to League Commissioner and noted on score sheet. Failure to provide this notification automatically defaults game to Rule 1 or 2A of this section.

·        Able-Bodied players----There is a limit of 2 AB players on the ice at all times, goalie included.

·        Failure to adhere to the rules in this section subjects the team in question to the following penalty structure:

o       1^st Game Offense---Minor penalty assessed to one of the EA or AB players on the ice at time of infraction.

o       2^nd Game Offense---Double Minor assessed to one of the EA or AB players on the ice at the time of infraction.

o       3^rd and subsequent offenses---Major penalty, and game ejection, for one of the EA or AB players on the ice at time of infraction.

III.             CHECKING:

·         IT”S HOCKEY, so checking will be allowed.

·        ORANGE VESTS – A player who is wearing an Orange Vest can not be checked & can not check an opposing player.

·         Players being Pushed can check & can be checked, unless they are wearing an Orange Vest.  Pushers will limit their involvement in dictating the outcome of a play and will assist the player based on the “level of play” at the time they are on the ice.

IV.              GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY:

• A player, who is assessed a ‘Game Misconduct’ Penalty shall be suspended for the remainder of the game, but another player may replace the suspended player immediately.
• If there are any other penalties assessed, the replacement player must serve the penalty(s) & the team will play short handed until the associated penalty(s) have been served.

Ø      First Offense - A player incurring a ‘Game Misconduct’ Penalty shall also be suspended from his/her team’s next regularly scheduled game.  If the ‘Game Misconduct’ Penalty occurs in the team’s last game of the season, the player will be suspended from the team’s 1^st game of the next season.

Ø      Second offense – A player incurring a 2^nd ‘Game Misconduct’ Penalty during the season will be suspended for the remainder of the season & will not be allowed to participate in future NESHL games unless approved by the Board of Governors.

V.                 **FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED**

• 1st Offense  - 5 minute major and a ‘Game Misconduct’.  The player will be ejected from the game and will be banned from playing in the next scheduled game.  The Offending Player’s Team will play 1 player short while the 5 minute major is served by another player from the team.
• 2nd Offense – 5 minute major and a ‘Game Misconduct.  The Offending Player will be Expulsion for the rest of the season. The Offending Player’s Team will play 1 player short while the 5 minute major is served by another player from the team.  The League BOG reserves the right to review that player's future participation in the league.
•  A Team that allows a player, that has been expulsed, to play, will forfeit the game the expulsed player competed in. 

VI.              THE FINAL SCORE OF THE GAME WILL REFLECT NO MORE THAN A 5 GOAL DIFFERENCE:

• The Ending Score (reflecting no more than a 5 Goal difference), will be the score used, if needed in section 2 and 3 of Rule VII.

VII.           FORFEITURES:

• A forfeit will be awarded to the opposing Team if any Team is unable to put a minimum of 5 players on the ice, including the goalie.
• Games will be rescheduled if a Team is unable to attend a Game Day due to hazardous weather or other unforeseen circumstances that make travel impossible. The Teams attending the Game Day will adjust the schedule for that day to insure that the ice time is utilized. Final determination of forfeit, if contested, will be by a vote of the Board of Governors.
• In the event of any forfeit, including forfeits as a result of Rules IV or V, the opposing Team will be awarded a 3-0 victory with 2 Points. Team and Player stats are not recorded for any Forfeited game.

VIII.        FINAL STANDINGS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:

• Team with best Won/Loss/Tie Record, based on ‘Total Points’ accumulated, having the Higher Standing.
  • Points will be awarded for:

1)      2 Points for a Win.

2)      1 Point for a Tie.

3)      0 Points for a Loss

• If 2 or more Teams have the same Won/Loss Tie Record, then the ‘Standings’ will be decided by the Team that has the best ‘Head to Head’ record.
• If there is still a Tie, ‘Goal Differential’ in “Head to Head” games (goals scored subtracted by goals allowed).
• If there is still a Tie, ‘Fewest Goals Against’ in “Head to Head” games.
• If there is still a Ties, ‘Most Goals Scored’ in “Head to Head” games.
• If there is still a Tie, ‘Fewest Penalty Minutes’ in “ Head to Head” games.
• If there is still a Tie, Winner will be decided by a ‘Coin Toss’.

IX.              RED LINE:

• There will be no ’Red Line’ for 2 line ’Off Side’ Passes.
• The ’Red Line will be in effect for ’Icing’

X.                 DELAYED OFF SIDE OR TAG UP OFF SIDE:

• No ‘Off Side’ Whistle will be blown if all opposing players exit zone without touching puck.
• Players may re-enter zone once it has been cleared.

XI.              DURATION OF GAMES:

• Games will be 1 hour of on ice time.
• 3 – fifteen minute ‘Running Time’ Periods.
• Last 2 minutes of 3rd Period will be ‘Stop Clock’.
• Breaks between Periods will be 2 minutes or less if agreed to by coaches.
• Face-Offs will be done as soon as the Referee is ready – NO WAITING, so as to prevent the winning team from KILLING THE CLOCK.
• On Ice Times include time allowed to get on and off ice.
• Teams are allowed one 30 second timeout per game.

***The On Ice Times must be adhered to, to keep everything on Schedule.  The Faster Teams get on the Ice the more ‘Game Time’ they will have.***

XII.           SLED HOCKEY SPECIFIC RULES:

• T-Boning – Intentionally Ramming into an opposing player’s sled at an angle, so as to form a ‘T’. 
• Ramming from Behind – Intentionally Ramming an opposing player’s sled from behind.
•  Lifting the Front End of Sled -  Intentionally Lifting the Front End of the Sled, while skating at an opposing player or when an opposing player is approaching.
• Sliding Blades First – Sliding into an opponent with the Blades making contact with the opponent or the opponent’s sled.
• Spearing – Intentionally Jabbing or Slashing an Opponent with the Pick End of the stick.
• Tripping – Pulling a player over in their Sled or using the stick to tip Opponent’s Sled over.
• Puck Handling – Puck may be pushed along ice using the Hand or any part of the Stick, except the Pick End.  Player can not Trap or Hold the Puck on the ice with any part of the player’s hand or stick.
• Passing or Scoring Using Hands – Same Rules apply as in ‘Able Body Hockey’ for passing the puck to a team mate or pushing the puck into the Goal.

XIII.        TEAM BENCH AREA:

• Players on the bench creating an unfair advantage - Player sitting along boards intentionally passes, pushes, or otherwise directs the puck to a team mate, creating an unfair advantage: 
  • The Referee will call a ‘Face-Off’ at the ‘Face-Off Circle’ on the offending team’s side of the Red Line.
• Puck Trapped in Bench Area – When a puck becomes trapped in the Bench Area, a Face-Off will be called at the closest Face-Off Circle.

XIV.        GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:

The Coach or Team Representative on the NESHL Board of Governors or designee may file a Grievance for:

1)      Improper Equipment as specified in the IPC or NESHL Rules.

a.       Before the game starts or as soon as the improper equipment is observed, the League Commissioner or his designee, will be notified.

b.      The Commissioner or his designee will examine the equipment in question & if found improper, will notify the opposing coach to remove equipment.

2)      Violation of the Team Leveling Rule.

a.       The Coach will notify the Referee of the violation & resulting penalty.

b.      The Coach, Team Representative or designee will immediately notify the Commissioner or his designee of the violation & the Name(s) & Number(s) of the players involved.