EAHL USAH RULES

USA HOCKEY RULES

Through the new standard of rules enforcement, our game, much like the National Hockey League, will continue to allow the opportunity for improved skill development and a more positive hockey environment for all participants. The mission of USA Hockey is clear; through this new initiative a greater emphasis will be placed on skating, puck possession and the proper use of the body to establish position and a competitive advantage.

The goal of the enforcement standard is to reduce restraining infractions in the game and not to remove legal body checking or body contact. A hard body check or using body contact/position (non-checking classifications) to gain a competitive advantage over the opponent should not be penalized as long as it is performed within the rules.

The principles of this new enforcement standard include the following:

The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck.
The stick will not be allowed to in any way impede a player’s progress.
The use of a free hand/arm will not be allowed to grab or impede a player’s progress.
Players who use their physical skills and/or anticipation and have a positional advantage shall not lose that advantage as a result of illegal acts by the opponent.
Players will be held accountable for acts of an intimidating or dangerous nature.
Enforcement Standard – These penalties are to be called with very strict enforcement

HOOKING

A player cannot use his/her stick against an opponent’s body (puck carrier or non-puck carrier) to gain a positional advantage. Examples include:

tugs or pulls on the body, arms or hands of the opponent which allows for the space between the players to diminish
placing the stick in front of the opponent’s body and locking on – impeding the opponent’s progress or causing a loss of balance.
stick on the hand/arm that takes away the ability for the opponent to pass or shoot the puck with a normal amount of force
TRIPPING

A player cannot use his/her stick on the legs or feet of an opponent in a manner that would cause a loss of balance or for them to trip or fall. Examples include:

placing the stick in front of the opponent’s legs for the purpose of impeding progress, even if on the ice, with no effort to legally play the puck
placing the stick between the legs of the opponent (can opener/corkscrew) that causes a loss of balance or impedes the progress of the opponent.
HOLDING

A player cannot wrap his/her arms around an opponent or use a free hand to clutch, grab or hold the stick, jersey or body on the opponent in a manner that impedes their progress. Examples include:

wrapping one or both arms around the opponent along the boards in a manner that pins them against the boards and prevents them from playing the puck or skating
grabbing the opponent’s body, stick or sweater with one or both hands

using a free arm/hand to restrain or impede the opponent’s progress

INTERFERENCE

A player cannot use his/her body (“pick” or “block”) to impede the progress of an opponent with no effort to play the puck, maintain normal foot speed or established skating lane. Examples include:

intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have possession or possession and control of the puck.
using the body to establish a ”pick” or “block” that prevents an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier
reducing foot speed or changing an established skating lane for the purpose of impeding an opponent from being able to chase a puck carrier

Allowed Actions

a player is entitled to the ice he/she occupies as long as they are able to maintain their own foot speed and body position between opponent and puck
players are allowed to compete for body position using their strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards
SLASHING

The use of the stick will be limited to only playing the puck. Any stick contact, as a result of a slashing motion, to the hands/ arms or body of the opponent will be strictly penalized. In addition, hard slashes to the upper portion of the stick (just below the hands) of an opponent, with no attempt to legally play the puck, shall also be penalized.
OTHER INFRACTIONS

In addition to the above mentioned enforcement standards, all other infractions, including contact to the head, checking from behind, cross checking, high sticking and roughing (including late avoidable checks) shall be penalized to a strict enforcement standard.

CONCLUSION

All members of USA Hockey share an equal responsibility to ensure the integrity of the game is upheld. The onus to incorporate change is not only on the officials, but also on administrators, coaches, parents and players, as well,

Administrators are expected to hold players, coaches, officials and parents accountable for their actions in an effort to promote a safe and positive environment for all participants.

Coaches are expected to teach proper skills and hold their players accountable for illegal and dangerous actions, regardless as to whether they are properly penalized, or not.

Parents are expected to support the decisions of the officials and support the coaches in teaching the proper skills in a safe and positive environment.

Officials shall enforce a strict penalty standard according to the guidelines that have been established.
Players are expected to compete within the playing rules.

All USA Hockey members must demonstrate awareness and support for the application, spirit and the respect of the rules in order for continued improvement in the game of hockey.

***ADDITIONAL RULES ENFORCED BY THE EVERETT ADULT HOCKEY LEAGUE****

All players, including subs, must be registered with the EAHL. Players & teams that do not comply will forfeit games and/or lose players for games.

All teams must have designated numbers with team jerseys. Players in non-approved jerseys may not be allowed to play.

The scorekeeper carries the authority to add penalties to players out of control or teams not following our agreed rules.

FIGHTING IS NOT TOLERATED IN THIS LEAGUE!! Players involved in a fight run the risk of being not allowed to play in the EAHL.

It was decided that if a suspension was 'earned' in the EAHL, it needs to be 'served' in the EAHL. ...In fact, not only does it need to be 'served' in the EAHL, it needs to be 'served' during the player's next scheduled EAHL game.
(FOR THURSDAY NIGHT LEAGUE:To be eligible to play in the EAHL, a player must be 33 years old PRIOR TO the start of the season. ...For example, for a player to be eligible for the upcoming Summer Season, players must be 33 years old prior to 4-1-2008. ...NOTE--players who are less than 33 years old and who are already on a CURRENT roster, are eligible to play in the EAHL via a 'grandfathered' provision. )
(FOR THURSDAY NIGHT LEAGUE):Beginning with the 2008 Summer Season, the EAHL will wrap up its season with a two week playoff. ...The top four teams will contend for the Championship. ...During the first week of the playoffs, there will be two Semi-Final Games (1st place vs 4th place / 2nd place vs 3rd place) and a non-championship game between 5th place and 6th place. ...The following week will consist of the Championship Game (involving the winners of the Semi-Final games) and non-championship games involving the other four teams. ...Only players from a team's roster can participate in the Playoffs. ...NO SUBS!
If a player is thrown out of a game for fighting, he must sit out the remainder of the game in which the fight occurred, plus one additional game. ...Additional games can be added to the suspension if circumstances warrant doing so (repeat offender, blatant instigator, etc). ...These additional games will be added at the discretion of Barry with the approval of the team captains.

If a player is thrown out of a game for verbal abuse, he must sit out the remainder of the game in which the penalty was earned. ...He is eligible to return for his team's next game, as long as the infraction occurred prior to the ten minute mark of the Third Period. ...If the infraction occurred after the ten minute mark of the Third Period, the player must sit out his team's next game, in addition to the game in which the infraction occurred. ...Having said this, it was recognized that we will need to abide by the USA Hockey guidelines. ...At the time of the meeting, we did not know if USA Hockey requires a one game suspension, in addition to the game during which the abuse occurred , regardless of when it occurred. ...Barry is going to research this matter and let us know what he learns . ...Regardless of the USA Hockey requirements, additional games could be added to the suspension if the conduct warranted such action (threatening a referee, extended arguing, etc).
If something needs to be said to the referees, the team captains should speak to the referees in a civilized manner and without making a scene.
SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS!!! ...It was decided that if a team was short players for a game, they could pick up a MAXIMUM of TWO skaters (goaltenders are not part of this number) from other teams, but only to bring their total number of skaters (including the substitute skaters) to TEN! ...For example, if a team has seven of their own skaters, they could pick up two substitute skaters to bring their total number of skaters to nine, whereas, if a team has nine of their own skaters, they could only pick up one substitute skater to bring their total number of skaters to ten.