SFAHL Playing Rules and Procedures

 

The Skate Frederick Adult Hockey League (SFAHL) is a USA Hockey Program. All games are played under USA Hockey Rules except as strengthened in the SFAHL addendum below. The SFAHL supports and enforces the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy.

 

Skate Frederick Adult Hockey League
SFAHL League Rules

 

1.  Philosophy of the SFAHL.
    a.  Have fun.
    b.  Be competitive.
    c.  SFAHL teams and players are part of a big family – act appropriately on the ice.
    d.  Play safe.

 

2.  Up to 21 players are allowed per team roster.  Typically, this is up to 21 skaters and 1 goalie, but any number of players of each type can be rostered, as long as there is at least 1 goalie and no more than 21 names on the roster.

    a. A player may only play one division beloew the highest division they are rostered on.

    b. A player may only be rostered on one team per division. 

    

3.  In order for players to participate, the players MUST be on your roster.
    a.  A submitted roster prior to the start of league play must be obtained by the League Commissioner.
    b.  Only players on your roster can play for your team.
    c.  For any players that play in a game and are not on your roster, your team will forfeit that game.
    d.  If subs are needed (less than 7 players attending), the League Officials will have a list of equally skilled players for fill-ins.  You MUST call or e-mail a League Official before the game, so that he/she knows that you are in need of subs and so that he/she can properly arrange subs for your team.
    e.  If any team plays with illegal players the captain must serve a 2 game suspension.

    f.   If a player is injured and can not finish the season you may replace them. The injured player will then be removed from the roster and can not be placed back on the roster for the remainder of that season.
    g. A player may only play one level below the highest level they are rostered for. 

-If your in Gold you may play in Silver, not Intermediate or Bronze

-If your in Silver you may play in Intermediate, Not Bronze

-If your in Intermediate you may play in Bronze

 

4.  Team Standings Calculations
    a.  Teams are awarded 2 points for a win.
    b.  Teams are awarded 0 points for a loss.
    c.  In the event two teams are tied at the end of regulation, each team will be awarded 1 point.
    d.  If a game is tied at the end of regulation, a 5 minute, five-on-five, sudden death overtime is played.
        --In the case that one team wins during sudden death OT, that team is awarded an additional point (two total).
        --In the case that OT ends in a tie, neither team is awarded an additional point.
    e.  Tie-Breakers for Team Standings
        --The tie-breakers are as follows: Head-to-Head / Total Wins / Goal Differential

 

5.  Players must play in at least 4 regular seasons games to be eligible to play in playoffs.

 

6.  All payments must be paid in full in order to participate, unless other arrangements are made with League Officials.

 

7.  All players must be 18 years of age or older in order to participate.

 

8.  All players must be USA Hockey registered for the current season. If no USA Hockey registration is obtained, the player will not be allowed to play until the registration is received. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

9.  Fighting.
    a.  If any player is assessed a fighting penalty, he/she will automatically receive a six (6) game suspension.
    b.  The 2nd offense will result in a full season suspension with no refund.

 

10. Abuse of Officials.
    a.  If any player uses obscene or abusive language and/or assaults an official, he/she will automatically receive a three (3) game suspension in addition to any penalty/suspension that is given to the player by SHOA.

 

11. 3 Penalties in a Game.
    a.  If a player takes three (3) penalties in a game, he/she is will be ejected from that game.

 

12. Suspensions.
    a.  Supplementary Discipline: League Management, at their discretion, will investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game and will assess additional suspensions for offenses that may occur before, during the game, or after the game, whether or not the offense has been penalized by the referee.
    b.  The suspended player list will be posted on the league web site and on the league bulletin board.  Suspensions will be posted on the day after the game in which the infraction occurs.
    c.  If a hearing is required, League Management will make every effort to ensure the hearing is held within 14 days of the offense.
    d.  Suspended players may attend games as a spectator but may not be in or near the player's bench, penalty boxes, or scorekeeper's bench area.
    e.  Carry-Over Suspensions: Game suspensions assessed, but not served, before the end of a season will be served at the beginning of the next season in which the player participates.

 

13. Blue Line Icing.
    a.  The puck can be dumped into your offensive zone from your defensive blue line and no icing will be called.

 

14. Beer/Liquor Policy.
    a.  No open beer containers are allowed inside of the rink.
    b.  If referees see open containers on the bench, the referees are to call the game as a forfeit.
    c.  The offending team is to leave the ice and the opposing team may use the ice as a practice.
    d.  If teams are caught with beer inside of the rink before or after the game, the team’s next game will be forfeited and the captain will be suspended for the 2 games.

15. Mercy Rule.
    a.  If a team is ahead by seven or more goals in the third period, the timekeeper shall not stop the clock unless further play results in the teams being separated by 6 goals or less.

 

16. Optional Hat Trick Rule.
    a.  Some divisions may choose to enforce a rule where a single player is limited to 3 goals in a single game.
    b.  If this rule is in effect and a single player scores 4 or more goals in a game, all goals by that player after the 4th goal will be disallowed and the captain will serve a 2 minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after every subsequent goal by that player.
    c.  This rule is applied via a vote of the captains in a division and it is up to the captains to ensure that their teams and the referees are aware of this rule where applicable.

 

17. Player Watch- If a team feels a player is too good for there division they can put a player on player watch. If the majority of captains in that division agree that player will not be permitted to play in that division the following season.

 

Please communicate these rules to your players, as they will be strictly enforced during the season.  The league is for fun and everyone has to work in the morning, so please consider your words and actions when you are on the ice.

 

Sincerely,
Will Scheetz
SFAHL Director/Commissioner