Adult Coed Rec League Rules
Upper Main Line YMCA

Adult Coed Hockey Rules

1. This is a Recreational league. The goal is to have fun, not to make a case that you were overlooked for the NHL. Aggressive players are not welcome.

2. ZERO TOLERANCE to Violence, Abuse and Unsportsmanlike Conduct

• Occurrences and reoccurrences of rough play will not be allowed. If any occurs, you will be asked to sit off for a few minutes or the remainder of the game. If this behavior continues you may be suspended or ejected from the league without refund.
• If there is any confrontation then both players should be asked to sit for a shift immediately by their captains. If this continues then players may be asked to leave the game or league. Captains are to take responsibility for their players, please talk to your players if they are becoming too aggressive.
• Disputes must be handled first by the two team captains and the game coordinator. If there has been no solution in 2 minutes the two or more offending players will be asked to leave the game immediately.
• NO ALCOHOL or ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES ON THE EVENT PREMISES AND GROUNDS - A FULL TEAM SUSPENSION IS THE PENALTY

3. Equipment

• Players must provide their own gloves.
• All players must use the DOM plastic sticks supplied by the YMCA. The only exceptions are for players who are 6’3” or taller. They can use a street hockey stick with a plastic blade, approved by the Game Coordinator prior to the game. The YMCA recognizes that the DOM sticks are difficult to use for those of that height. Just so the Game Coordinator does not have to bring out a measuring stick for each game, players of that height need to verify their height with their drivers license to be fair.
• Goalies are permitted to supply their own street hockey goalie sticks (plastic blade).
• NO WOOD anywhere on the court.
• Goalie equipment will be provided by the Upper Main Line YMCA.
• Recommended equipment – soccer shin guards, mouth guard, and sports safety goggles.

4. GAME PLAY RULES

• ALL PLAYERS MUST BE ON YOUR ROSTER
• A team can have a maximum of five players on the floor, one being the goalie.  Two players must be female; a female goalie does not count towards the two female players. 
• Minimum of FIVE players needed to start and continue a game (four players and a goalie).  One must be female (cannot be goalie).  Zero females will be recorded as an automatic default but the YMCA recommends still playing for fun!  A default awards winning team with +3 points for sportsmanship and the losing team with 0 points.
• If a team only has one female available at game time, they must play shorthanded one player (three players and a goalie). The female cannot play goalie in this case.
• Teams will be given a 10-minute grace period to have players showing up before defaulting. However, the game will still end at the scheduled time.
• As a courtesy teams may ask other teams to substitute. You cannot have a full team substitute for your team if you are going to be away. You must have some of the original team members play the game. All substitutes must be an Upper Main Line YMCA member and have an online profile.
• During playoffs you may NOT bring in any player that has not played in your team at least twice during the regular season and/or not signed the league waiver.
• Team Captains must discuss the default situation prior to the start of the game. Both team captains must agree on whether a default will be called or not. Captains may not change their mind at the end of the game.
• Any team defaulting more than 2 games may be asked to leave the league.
• Games begin sharply at the scheduled time. Games are three 13-minute periods with a 3-minute break between periods. Please ensure that your team arrives on time and is ready to play when the game begins.
• Substitution during games is on the fly. Players do not have to check in with the Game Coordinator when substituting in for a player leaving the floor. If the player leaving the floor makes a game move (stick handles puck, passes, and/or shoots) after the replacing substitute has entered the floor, the play will be whistled dead and possession of the ball will go to the other team.
• The game begins with a 1-2-3 tap face-off (alternatively known as N-H-L)
• CENTER LINE RULE:
• After a goal is scored, the scoring team must retreat to their side of half. The scored upon team takes possession of the ball. The scoring team cannot pass over half until one player on the scored upon team passes half (does not have to be the ball carrier). The team with possession of the ball must wait until the scoring team gets back over half.
• Teams should not abuse the above rule by delaying the game in order to waste time off the clock otherwise they will be penalized.
• NO SLAP SHOTS - defined as a shot raised above the knee during windup. Goals in or deflected will not count the player will be warned one time by opposing team captain and enforced by own team captain.
• Sticks must ALWAYS stay below the waist (this includes wind ups and follow throughs).
• STICK CHECKING - although part of any normal game, aggressive stick checking causing injury will not be tolerated and may result in ejection from the game.
• Team captain of the opposing team may call on the offending player to keep the aggression down and offending player's captain must observe and reiterate this.
• Stick check resulting from an aggressive ARC up or down is construed as aggressive and is not necessary.
• Repeat offenders may be ejected from the game. Further offences may be ejected from the league.
• No hand passes.
• Expect REASONABLE resistance if you have your back or your head down to the defender
• REASONABLE resistance - IS NOT Cross Checking, any use of the hockey stick for other than shooting the ball, or a safe and controlled stick check will be grounds for ejection from the league
• Pushing a player, in defense or "rushing" is NOT reasonable resistance
• No players are allowed in the goalie crease (ie. No standing or running through) If there are no definable lines, both teams should determine the crease prior to starting play. Typically this should be considered as the box immediately in front of the goalie net. Both captains should clearly determine what the crease is prior to the beginning of the game.
• For the safety of the goaltender, he/she should not smother the ball outside the crease area, including behind the goal or the corners of the playing surface.
• The goaltender may freeze the ball - during which there will be no further attempt to attack the ball if visible but handled by the goaltender. The goalie may hold onto the ball for a maximum of three seconds before dropping it to a teammate. If the goalie chooses to drop the ball behind the end line to a teammate, the opposition must stand six feet away. If a goalie hold onto the ball for longer than three minutes, possession will go to the opposing team in the corner.
• A goalie cannot be pulled to gain an extra man advantage.
• A one-minute time-out is allowed by each team in each game. Additional courtesy time outs are discussed by team captains before play begins.
• No intentional sliding allowed (except the goalie in crease)
• A player cannot kick a ball into the net. However, if a ball goes off a foot accidentally it counts
• A regular season game can end in a tie. Playoff games cannot end in a tie. At the end of regulation, there will be 5 minutes of sudden death play. If a goal is not scored in the overtime, the game will go to a shoot out. The four players on the floor at the end of regulation will shoot from a stationary spot on the floor (about 15 feet from the goal line) one at a time with teams alternating shots. The goalie at the end of regulation must be in net. If the game is not decided after 4 shooters, then other players from the bench will shoot one at a time. If the game is not decided after each team has shot one additional shot each, another shooter will go for each team. This will continue until a winner is decided. Once all players have shot, then the original shooters will go again.
• Contact with a high stick results in an indirect ball for the opposing team. A goal scored by a high stick does not count.
• The ball is always in play unless it goes out of bounds (e.g. over the fence, etc). If the game ball goes out of bounds, a face-off is held in the circle of the offense zone of the team that did not hit it out. The clock is stopped when the ball goes out of play and is restarted at the face-off.
• If the ball lands on the back netting of a goal, play is stopped and possession goes to the goalie’s team behind the end line.

Fun First, Winning Second.....The UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA Sportsmanship Policy!

ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP
The UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA promotes sportsmanship above all else. The goal is for our players to have FUN, win or lose. All players who choose to play with the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA are asked to bring their good sporting behavior to the games and to promote and abide by the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA sportsmanship policies.

1. Good sporting behavior means treating all opponents with fairness, generosity, courtesy and respect.
2. Good sporting behavior means not retaliating or reacting in a negative way to any situation or player regardless of the circumstance. Any players who are retaliatory or display revengeful types of behaviors will be subject to the same warnings/suspensions/ejections as an instigator.
3. Challenges during the game: DO NOT IGNORE ISSUES -- GIVE YOUR OPPONENT A CHANCE TO MAKE AMENDS. Each player is responsible to address any concerns with their captain DURING the game so the problem can be addressed IMMEDIATELY. Feedback should be given in a constructive way and received with an open mind.

The UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA does not tolerate players who cannot follow the sportsmanship guidelines. These players will be swiftly suspended or ejected from the league so THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!

THE UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

In order to promote a safe and sportsmanlike environment for its players, the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA is clarifying its stance on unsportsmanlike behavior. All coordinators and players must understand the expectations for playing in UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA leagues. Games Coordinators are required by the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA to ask players to leave the gym if they are involved with any of the following acts:

• Challenging the GAME COORDINATOR by Questioning Calls or their ability to call a good game.
• Swearing directly at another player or the GAME COORDINATOR
• Intentionally pushing, shoving or making physical contact with another player or the GAME COORDINATOR
• Making comments to instigate an altercation with another player or the GAME COORDINATOR

In addition to being dismissed from the game, a one-week suspension (or more) may be assigned by the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA to the involved player or team.

Please show respect to your fellow players and the Games Coordinator - you have joined a co-ed, recreational sports league! Foul language or threatening/aggressive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated!!

Challenging the Games Coordinator: The GAME COORDINATORs monitor the games with the objective of making them safe and fun. They are not trained referees - they are sports enthusiasts who are familiar with the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA Floor Hockey Rulebook. ALL PLAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS BY PLAYING WITH FAIRNESS AND CALLING THEMSELVES ON THEIR OWN FOULS. PLAYERS MUST TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE GAME COORDINATOR WITH RESPECT. The GAME COORDINATORs will step-in when they feel players are not following these guidelines. The GAME COORDINATOR's are instructed not to try to justify their decisions to any player and players are asked not to question the GAME COORDINATORs judgement.

In order to protect the GAME COORDINATOR and maintain a fun spirit in the gym, certain actions will lead to an automatic game ejection and probably to a further suspension:

1. Challenging the GAME COORDINATOR by questioning the call or their ability to call a good game
2. Sswearing or showing an outburst of anger after receiving a penalty
3. Yyelling at the GAME COORDINATOR from the bench to call a penalty or questioning a recent call
4. Ddiscussing the (poor) performance of the GAME COORDINATOR to a teammate in the gym or in the facility during or after the game-if the GAME COORDINATOR hears any comments the player will be penalized.
5. Lastly, we ask that you refer to the GAME COORDINATOR by their first name - do not call them "ref". Thank you!

If a player is ejected from a game due to unsportsmanlike play, they must leave the gym immediately. If they are suspended by the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA for additional games, they may not watch the game from inside the outdoor rink.

If a Team Captain from either team sees any unsporting behavior from a player, the captain of this player should ask him/her to sit off for 5 minutes (their team is not short-handed) or this player may be ejected from the game by the GAME COORDINATOR. If that player continues exhibiting unsporting behaviors in subsequent games, they will be ejected from the league.

After each game, team captains are required to submit a sportsmanship rating for their opponent to the Games Coordinator. These ratings will affect a team's playoff standings; any team averaging less than 0 over the course of the 7-game regular season will be bumped down by ONE PLAYOFF GROUPING (OF 8) in the standings.

SPORTSMANSHIP RATINGS

Rating Sportsmanship: Each team will be given 3 sportsmanship ratings per game, one rating from the opponent and two ratings from the GAME COORDINATOR. The ratings are added together and become your rating for the game. The best rating you can receive per game is +3, the worst is –3. If a GAME COORDINATOR is not present to monitor your game, your opponent rating is doubled. The rating judges Spirit of the Game as well as Accountability for calling your own Infractions and Penalties. The GAME COORDINATOR will rate each of these areas as separate scores while the opponent will rate them together. The ratings work as follows:

"Accountability" Rating
This part of the rating is based solely on how you felt your opponent took responsibility for calling their own fouls. A team that does well on Accountability either: committed few or no fouls so it was not an issue, or committed several fouls and made a genuine attempt to call most of them.

"Spirit of the Game" Rating
This part of the rating is based solely on how Fun your opponent was. A high rating would be for a team that: appeared to put winning second and fun first, encouraged themselves or their opponent in a positive way.

Rating Explanation

The Sportsmanship Ratings that you receive from the GAME COORDINATOR and your opponent will affect your ratings and status in the league:

- In any game, should you receive a -1 rating from BOTH the GAME COORDINATOR and your opponent, your team will automatically lose 1 point in the standings.
- If the above happens a second time, you will lose another point in the standings AND automatically default/forfeit your next game. Your team will not be allowed to play and we will find a replacement team for your opponent.
- If it happens a third time, your team will be ejected from the league. There are no refunds for teams who are ejected from the league.
- At any time the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA may penalize or suspend a team or player for unsporting actions regardless of the ratings given by your opponents or the GAME COORDINATOR.

The Sportsmanship Rating systems affect on the League Standings:

EC Divisions: Sportsmanship ratings will be combined with the game result for total points in the standings. The sportsmanship ratings you receive from the GAME COORDINATOR and your opponent will be added to the points your team was awarded for the win, tie or loss.
For example: a team who wins the game and gets three +1 ratings will receive a total of 5 points. Another example would be a team who tied the game and got one 0 rating and one +1 rating. This team would get a total of 2 points. The lowest score a team could receive would be a -4. This would occur when a team loses the game, gets three -1 ratings and also loses a point for getting two or more -1 ratings in one game.

Reporting Sportsmanship Concerns:

If a team, at the end of the game, has an unresolved concern with respect to the other team’s sportsmanship please inform the GAME COORDINATOR at the game AND the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA sports office. PLEASE NOTE: If rate your opponent a ‘-1’ YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A FORMAL COMPLAINT ONLINE by 5 PM the day after your game. You can submit this online complaint by going to the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA website and going to your sports page. Once at the page, click on the “Scores” tab at the top of the page and choose ‘sportsmanship’ from the drop down box, an automatic form to be filled out will come up. If you choose not to submit a report, the rating will be changed to a ‘0’. No team or player will be allowed to continue in the league that does not meet the expected level of fair play.

The following is an outline of how the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA handles complaints:

The captain of the team who was issued the complaint will receive feedback from the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA based on comments from the GAME COORDINATOR and/or the opponent. This will be kept on file to compare any future complaints against the same team or player. At the UPPER MAIN LINE YMCA's sole discretion, the player or team may receive either:

- a warning;
- a game misconduct;
- a league ejection

Teams who have been issued a complaint are always welcome to provide their own feedback on the game in relation to the GAME COORDINATOR or their opponent.

No refunds are issued to players or teams that have been ejected from the league.

SPORTSMANSHIP/SPIRIT POINTS RATING SYSTEM -
Teams are awarded 3 points in each game, the totals below are a reflection the accumulated points at the end of the regular season and playoffs