Greater Boston Youth Hockey League Inc.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

SECTION I: ELIGIBILITY

As members of MASS HOCKEY and USA Hockey, the Greater Boston Youth Hockey League Inc. teams will adhere to all eligibility rules of those two organizations and any eligibility question will be referred to the proper USA Hockey level for adjudication.

SECTION II: REGISTRATION

A.     A Teams

On or before November 1, each team representative shall submit a roster ( excel spreadsheet or word document) of at least fourteen (14) players, including one goaltender, but not more than (20) players to the League Secretary. The roster shall include the player's name, date of birth, and home city or town. This roster form can be a photo of the official USA Hockey Player Roster form. As of November 15, any team which does not have a player roster form submitted to the League Secretary, will automatically forfeit any games from that date forward.

B. B (and below) Teams

On or before December 1, each team representative shall submit a roster (excel spreadsheet or word document)of at least eleven (11) players, of which ten (10) must be skaters, but not more than twenty (20) players, to the League Secretary. The roster shall include the player's name, date of birth, and home city or town. This roster form can be a photo of the official USA Hockey Player Roster form. As of December 1, any team which does not have a player roster form submitted to the League Secretary, will automatically forfeit any games from that date forward.

C. General

1.            The A team roster may include a maximum of six (6) players who are also members of a B or C team

2.            A B and below player who plays three (3) or more consecutive A league games, after rosters have been submitted, shall be classed a A player for the balance of that season.

3.            A B and below player who plays five (5) or more A league games, shall be classed a A player for the balance of that season.

4.            Players from an older age bracket or from a higher tiered team within an age bracket are ineligible to play for a lower tiered team. Players are only eligible to play for teams that appear directly ABOVE or to the LEFT of their rostered team on the chart below. Ex. A Bantam South player can only play for teams in the Bantam North, Midget South & Midget North. He is not eligible to play for a Midget East team.

                                                ç====== LEFT ç=========

The offending coach shall be suspended for two GBL games and this offense shall count as one offense toward the coaches game misconduct rule Section III rule #4.

For Violation of this rule the offending teams score shall be reduced to 0 and the non offending team credited with a win. 

5.            The League President or Secretary shall be advised of a roster change in players status by the program concerned. This must be approved by the board at its next meeting.

6.            All rosters stay as submitted, there will be no movement of players and players can only appear on one roster. A roster change can be made by following Mass Hockey procedures and forms with the appropriate Registrar and submitted to the GBYHL President and Secretary. The intent of this rule is to insure a level playing field for all teams and encourage as many players as possible to skate in the Greater Boston Youth Hockey League.

7.            Beginning with the 2002-2003 playing season all GBYHL Coaches must sign the USA Hockey Coaches Code of Ethics

SECTION III: PLAYING RULES

A. The League will operate under USA Hockey rules, except as modified below.

1.      Two or three officials, assigned by the Referee-In-Chief, will have full authority on the ice and their decisions will be final.

2.      Each team must dress a minimum of fourteen (14) players for each game, with the exception of B and below teams, including one or two goaltenders. All players must play at least once each period except goaltenders who must play at least one-half (1/2) period during the game. If a team fails to dress at least fourteen (14) players, with the exception of B and below teams, such games are subject to protest by the opposing coach. Such protest must be made prior to the opening face-off of the second period and referees will, at that time make an official count of players and have the results recorded on the game sheet. Such protest will be acted upon by the Board of Directors at their next meeting.

3.      Game Misconduct Penalties:

         Referees will report such information to the League Secretary in writing and make a note on the official score sheet citing the player's name, number, and team.

a.        First game misconduct by a player will result in (1) League game suspension. The infraction will also trigger a written notice from the President of the League to the hometown program President and League Representative of the infraction. The notice will outline the infraction(s) and it may be an electronic mail or otherwise.

b.      Second game misconduct penalty by a player: two (2) League game suspensions mandatory. The home-town program is also required to hold a hearing with the violator and will send a full reporting of said hearing to the  President of the League before the final League game suspension is served (failure to complete this step in a timely manner will further jeopardize violator eligibility). An appeal hearing may be requested with the League upon a “super majority vote” of the hometown program Board of Directors, recommending appeal. (The appeal hearing may result in a more sever penalty, depending on the quality of facts and rational of the said appeal).

c.      Third game misconduct penalty by a player: Violator shall automatically be suspended from all League games for a period of not less than one (1) year (365 days). Violator may petition the League in writing with in one (1) week of the third infraction. The appeal must be in writing and have a “super majority vote” of approval from the hometown program Board of Directors. The appeal hearing will be scheduled at the discretion of the League  President and the Disciplinary Review Board.

4. Team Official Conduct & Penalties:

                        A Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer or other qualified rostered Team Officials shall be held to higher standards than the teams under their control. Albeit winning is a consideration it is not the only one, nor the most important. What is important is being a positive role model to our players, in so doing, displaying proper judgment and emotional maturity. In recent times Team Officials have become vocal and abusively critical of On-Ice Officials, opposing team members and coaches. In an effort to keep the GBYHL above reproach for such behaviors we have instituted these new rules/procedures:

                        A: Any Team Official receiving any type of Game Misconduct including rule 404 (D) as it applies:

                                                1^st Offense – 2 GBYHL Game suspensions

                                                2^nd Offense - 30 days of GBYHL suspension

                                                3^rd Offense – 1 year (360 days) suspension

                        It is expected that the respective Hometown programs will become active in monitoring the behaviors of their Team Officials before issues arise, but more importantly to be supportive of this procedure. In so doing, imposing rules/procedures of their own to keep these types of problems from becoming material issues.

5.      Match Penalties:

            The President and Disciplinary Review Board will review all Match penalties for further League action or possible suspension. Match penalties   will be equal to one offense in the game misconduct procedure cited in Section III (3) (b)            Game Misconduct Penalties.

         The disciplinary review board will review all match penalties for further League action or possible suspension.  Match penalties will be equal to one offense in the game misconduct procedure.

6.      Player Penalties:

a       Any player receiving any combination of four (4) penalties in one (1) game shall be disqualified for the remainder of that game. (Note: This will not result in a game misconduct penalty. Timekeeper shall keep record and notify referee.)

b.      Any player receiving a GAME MISCONDUCT for FIGHTING or Hit from Behind it from Behind will be suspended for two (2) GBYHL games. Any player receiving a second GAME MISCONDUCT for FIGHTING or HIT from BEHIND or any combination involving both actions will be suspended from further participation in any Greater Boston Youth Hockey League activity for a minimum of one (1) month (30 days) from the date of the second infraction. The same procedure will be followed as in Section III (3) Game Misconduct Penalties

c          Appeals for rules infractions, inquiries and or suspensions are not encouraged.  However if appeal is the route a player chooses to follow one must have:

1.      Documented evidence of the hometown programs “super majority vote” of approval to mount the appeal

2.      A written request of such appeal, including rational for same

3.      Any evidence as proof (photos, video, etc) is helpful in presenting the case

4.      Any and all communication shall be made to the League President via the hometown program Representative

5.      Preparation of all documentation is the burden of the hometown program.

7.      Penalty Times:

         Minor Penalties            -           1:00 minute  Mite / Squirt

                                                            1:30 minutes PeeWee / Bantam / Midget

         Major Penalties            -           3:00 minutes Mite / Squirt

                                                            4:00 minutes PeeWee / Bantam / Midget

         Misconduct                   -           6:00 minutes

8.      Neck Guards:   It is strongly recommended that Neck Guards be worn at all times.

9.         All teams must be equipped with individual numbered jerseys.

10.  Game Reschedule Policy : 

a. All League games must be played as scheduled.

1. The President has the authority to postpone games due to inclement weather at least two (2) hours prior to game time.

2. Should rink conditions prohibit the playing of a game the President should be contacted immediately at the following number. 774-279-1296

3. Teams who have scheduled trips or are playing in USA Hockey Tournament or Holiday Tournament games, and who desire to play League games at another date, provided their opponents agree, must play the League game before the regularly scheduled date or, at least make arrangements for the make-up before the schedule date of the game. 

b..     The team that is requesting a date change must be responsible for ice costs, League referees and timekeeper and reporting the results. All postponements must be initiated by the requesting team via the GBYHL website not less than 15 days in advance of the game date.. The non-canceling team owns ice, officials, etc. on scheduled date of game.

c.      Whether the non-canceling team decides to use the ice or not, they must notify the Scheduler, and the Referee-in-Chief by responding to the email initiated by the GBYHL website. Please respond to these notifications immediately so if required the ice can be rescheduled.

d.      When a date for playing the game has been determined a reschedule form must be submitted advising the League of the schedule change. The form is available in the On-Line Forms tab of the website.  These forms must be submitted to the League office before 15 days of any cancelled or re-scheduled game.

e.      Both the home and visitor coaches are required to submit these forms. Forfeits and credits will be awarded only if these forms are received prior to the aforementioned deadline.
Canceling team will be responsible for all cost incurred with re-scheduled game, Ice, referees and timekeeper

Note: 

(a)     Opponents requesting rescheduling of games must make arrangements with opponent and submit a league score sheet within 15 days of the originally scheduled game date

(b)     All game sheets for rescheduled games must be received on or before the last scheduled regular season game in that respective division.

(c)     Any makeup games score sheet received after the aforementioned deadline will not be accepted and a forfeit will be awarded.

(d)     The canceling team will be charged TRIPLE game fees.  IF the game is NOT rescheduled. The non-canceling team will be awarded a forfeit and two points.

Approved USA Hockey Officials must officiate and sign the game sheet. 

The above is required in order for any makeup game to count toward league standings.  

If both team cannot come to an agreed time and location for rescheduling the game within the time frame above.  The canceling team’s GBL rep must notify the GBL scheduler in writing.  The scheduler will reschedule the game and it MUST be played on this league rescheduled date.  Either team not showing up for this rescheduled game will forfeit the game and the program will be assessed a 3 game fees for the game.

If the game is not played, (note: (d) above)

Any team that No Shows any game will be assessed a triple game fees.

The League is not responsible for any costs incurred as a result of a postponed and rescheduled game, unless such a postponement is initiated by the league.

11.   The Web Site, will maintain standings and all scores MUST be electronically posted by either the winning or losing coach within seven (7) days of a game.  No scores (results) will be accepted by the GBYHL after the seven day period.  Thus, the winning team will earn no points in the standings.

12.  If a goal differential of 10 goals is reached and the 2^nd period has been completed the game will be terminated unless the losing coach agrees to continue play. If the game is continued the game will be played at running time. If the game is terminated, the winning team must leave the ice and any remaining ice can be utilized at the discretion of the losing coach for practice purposes.

13.  The winner of regulation play in each division is the official League Champion and shall receive medals.

14.  McLaughlin Tournament