Playing Rules and Guidelines

1. The League will operate various series in the House League as decided by the SSGHL Executive. Birth Dates for the season will be designated as of December 31st of that year.
2. Each House League series shall contain a sufficient number of teams as are necessary to accommodate the registered players for each series. Such number of teams to be of a quantity to allow equalized scheduling of games during the playing season. (Minimum of 11 players)
3. No parent or player shall exhibit violent, intimidating, insulting or abusive behaviour towards a referee, coach or any volunteer member of the Scarborough Sharks GHL. Penalty for violation of this rule will be suspension from the league up to and including expulsion from the SSGHL. The League Executive decision will not be subject to appeal.
4. Players shall play in assigned house league age groups and will not be transferred between divisions for convenience (e.g. siblings, car pooling, etc.).
5. Players may request to be placed on the same team as one other player. Corresponding player application forms must cross reference the same player names (i.e. players may not be chained together through applications forms). Requests for placement with more than one other player will NOT be considered. Requests for player placement on teams are not guaranteed and are subject to approval by the Team Draft Committee.
6. Players will not be accepted by the SSGHL while under suspension(s) from any other League(s).
7. This is a non-contact league and contact is prohibited at all levels. Intentional contact will result in a minor or major penalty, at the referee's discretion.
8. Players are eligible to play in one division only, unless otherwise approved by the League.
9. The Novice/Tyke and Atom divisions will consist of three 15 minute running time periods, with each period divided into three minute running time shifts. Stop time will be used in the last minute of play if the goal spread is 3 goals or less. Time will also be stopped in the event of a player injury, or if necessary, by the referee to speak to a coach.
10. The Peewee division will consist of three 15 minute running time periods, with each period divided into three minute running time shifts. Stop time will be used in the last minute of play if the goal spread is 3 goals or less. Time will also be stopped in the event of a player injury, or if necessary, by the referee to speak to a coach. The SSGHL Executive may recommend "change on the fly" for this division in the second half of the season.
11. ROTATION SYSTEM. Players must be listed on the right side of the game sheet according to their sweater numbers. Their numbers will be placed on the left side of the game sheet in the sequence they are to play. At three minute intervals for Novice/Tyke, Atom and Peewee divisions, a buzzer/bell will signal a shift change and players will be rotated in groups of five according to the sequence listed. When short one or more players, they will change in groups of the first five, then the last four plus the first player at the top of the list.
12. Teams must play their players in rotation. For violation of this rule a bench minor penalty will be assessed and the short shifted player placed on the ice.
13. Repeated violation of the "rotation" rule will result in a one game suspension of the coach by the League.
14. The Bantam and Open divisions will play three periods of 10, 10, and 12 minute stop time. The Bantam and Open division teams will play using the "change on the fly" game format. All players must have equal playing time. Equal playing time may be divided within a forward and defensive group, however, the number of players within each of these groups must fall within commonly accepted norms. For example, 10 players may not be divided into a group of 7 forwards and 3 defence. If players are divided into forward and defensive groups, all forwards must rotate equally with each other and all defensive players must rotate equally with each other. Under no circumstances can a player be double shifted. For example, teams may not rotate two centers and three sets of wingers.
15. For violation of the "equal playing time" rule a bench minor penalty will be assessed and the short shifted player placed on the ice.
16. Repeated violation of the "equal playing time" rule will result in a one game suspension of the coach by the League
17. All games must end on time. There are NO exceptions
18. All game sheets shall be filled out properly by filling the division, rink, date, time, your team number/colour and the visiting teams number/colour. Please print clearly the names and numbers of your players. The game sheet will be given to the timekeeper before the start of each game. If the game is delayed due to an improperly completed game sheet, a two minute bench penalty will be assessed. Once the game has started there will be no alterations to the game sheet.
19. To allow the coach time to plan the lineup, players must be in the dressing room and dressed at least fifteen minutes before game time. Please have a parent call the coach well in advance if their daughter will miss a game.
20. Players must remain in the dressing room until the other teams have left the ice and may not step on the ice until the ZAMBONI is off the ice and the doors are CLOSED. At the completion of the game, teams must exit the ice promptly (visitors first)
21. Goalies cannot be removed before the last three minutes in Novice/Tyke, Atom or Peewee division game unless there is a penalty being called on the opposing team. Any player substituted for the goalie is to be considered as a sixth attacker and does not have the privileges of the goaltender. Any player on the bench may be substituted for the goal tender but must return to the bench when the goaltender returns.
22. If a goaltender gets sick or injured during the game and is unable to continue, the team has five minutes to dress another player to resume the game. When a goalie is unable to play due to illness or injury, and no other player on said team will play net, the coach must notify a member of the Executive to arrange to borrow a goalie from the next division down. The only exception being an Executive decision when the said situation occurs during the playoffs.
23. Teams will change ends between periods, except in the Novice/Tyke Division.
24. All players must participate in at least 75% of their House League games to be eligible for the play offs (including Round Robin games). Injury or illness being the only exception and will be reviewed by the Executive.
25. Full equipment is mandatory while on the ice. The player must have a CSA approved helmet, full facial protector and BNQ throat protector. A player lacking this equipment is not allowed on the ice until they obtain such equipment.
26. The League will supply Goaltenders equipment, on a loan basis, including a chest protector, pads, gloves and a goalie stick. Each coach will fill out the 'Equipment Release Form' upon accepting the equipment. The goaltender must supply their own helmet and face mask. In case of NO FULL TIME GOALTENDER, the coach is responsible for the equipment.
27. Equipment on loan must be kept in good working order and not be marked or defaced in anyway.
28. The coaching staff is responsible for the care, reasonable maintenance and return of any equipment lent out. The equipment is to be returned to the Director of Equipment or designate immediately upon completion of the current season.
29. All registered players must have paid their fees fully by November 1st. Any player who has not paid their registration fees by November 1st will not be allowed to play until all outstanding fees are paid.
30. Any players arriving late for their game will be allowed to play. They will be added to the end of the rotation and only play when their rotation comes up.
31. The referees are in charge of the game and persistent questioning of their decisions or harassment during a game will not be tolerated. Justifiable complaints may be made in writing to the League Executive. The League Executives' decision shall NOT be subjected to an appeal.
32. Any protest by a Coach, Manager or Trainer shall be made, in writing to the League Executive within 48 hours of the incident.
33. Any goals scored by a team having an ineligible player on the ice will be disallowed.
34. A Captain or Alternate, who is on the ice at the time of an infraction, shall be allowed to speak with the referee in a proper manner.
35. No team official shall go onto the ice unless requested by the referee. Any team official entering the ice without permission may be subjected to a misconduct penalty (referees' discretion).
36. In case of an injury to a player, the last player from the previous shift will replace her. Should the injured player not be able to play her next shift, then the team will follow regular rotation rules.
37. Should adjustment or repair of equipment be necessary, the player must go on the bench and be replaced with the last player listed from the previous shift.
38. Should a player attempt to adjust or repair equipment on the ice, by that delaying the game, she will be subjected to a two minute delay of game penalty.
39. Inebriation or drinking while in charge of a team or participating in a game will not be tolerated. Drugs and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the arena and any player or team official violating this rule will be immediately suspended until his/her case has been reviewed by the Executive.
40. Only League approved, coaches may be on the bench and no more than three team officials on the bench any time. Any person on the bench who is eighteen (18) years of age or under must wear an approved helmet with proper face mask.
41. Interpretations of the rules must be obtained from the Executive Committee or from the Referee-In-Chief.
42. All CHA rules concerning equipment measurement will apply. Any illegal equipment found, will be removed from the game.
43. Any Coach, Manager, Trainer or Player receiving a game misconduct penalty must proceed immediately to the dressing room.
44. Any Coach, Manager, Trainer or Player not adhering to regulation 43 will be put on report and must appear before the Executive Committee.
45. Any Coach, Manager or Trainer refusing to finish a game, or leaving the bench in protest may receive a suspension of up to one calendar year.
46. Any player receiving a major penalty that carries an automatic game misconduct, shall proceed to the dressing room immediately. The major penalty must be served by a player on the ice at the time of the infraction. The last player from the last shift may be placed on the ice to substitute for the player serving the penalty.
47. Any penalty received in the last three shifts, which cannot be served in its entirety, must be served by a player listed for the last shift.
48. When the buzzer/bell system is in effect, the coincidental penalty rule does not apply.
49. A player who, of her own volition, makes contact with the goaltender in the crease or any contact with the goal crease after the whistle has been blown, will cause the face-off to be taken in the nearest neutral zone.
50. Any player or team official who continually displays unsportsmanlike conduct may receive an immediate game ejection, at the discretion of the referee, and must proceed directly to the dressing room, leaving the ice or bench area.
51. Any Coach, Manager, Trainer or Player using obscene or abusive language or gestures, before, during or after a game will be given a game or gross misconduct penalty and be ejected from the game. The referee will immediately finish a report, in writing, to the Executive for further action.
52. A penalized player will serve her penalty only when it is her turn to be on the ice.
53. All minor penalties in the Novice/Tyke, Atom and Peewee divisions will be three minutes running time, except if a goal is scored by the non penalized team, in which event the penalized player may return to the ice or bench if not due out for the specific shift.
54. All penalties are timed from the drop of the puck. If a player gets a penalty in any shift, the time of her penalty will start from the drop of the puck. If a player has a penalty in the middle of her shift, it will start from the drop of the puck and not at the beginning of the shift. If a player does not complete serving her penalty in the shift she received the penalty in, it will carry over into her next shift and the balance of the penalty time left, will then be served.
55. Any goaltender who is assessed a major penalty will be allowed to finish the game being played but will receive a minimum automatic two game suspension. Any major/minor penalties assessed to a goaltender must be served by a player on the ice at the time.
56. Any player who accumulates three penalties or more in any one game, shall be ejected for the remainder of the game. In addition, the second offence will result in a one game suspension without subsequent offenses resulting in a review by the Disciplinary Committee.
57. MINIMUM suspensions will be determined in accordance with the OWHA rule book. These are MINIMUM suspensions. Additional suspensions will be imposed wherever conditions and circumstances warrant.
58. Any player who intentionally knocks or shoots the puck out of reach of an official who is retrieving it, shoots the puck after the whistle, bangs the boards or ice surface with their stick or any other object, is subject to a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, which carries a two minute penalty or misconduct.
59. While under House League suspension, a player or coaching staff may not participate in any other hockey games until the suspension is served in the House League.
60. Any suspension and/or major penalty received by a Player, Coach, Manager or Trainer during a Tournament, Exhibition Game or out of town trip, shall be reviewed by the Executive for further suspension in the House League.
61. Any Player, Coach, Manager or Trainer attending a game while under suspension may not go near the team dressing room or players' bench. They must remain in the stands at all times and conduct themselves in a proper manner. If this rule is not obeyed, the suspension may be increased at the discretion of the Executive.
62. The referee on duty, the Referee-in-Chief, the Convener or any SSGHL Executive Member, may put any Player, Coach, Manager or Trainer on report for his/her conduct off the ice in the arena. The suspension given shall be determined by the Executive.
63. A misconduct penalty shall be assessed any player who does not proceed immediately and directly to the penalty bench when they are penalized.
64. All major and misconduct penalties may be reviewed by the Executive and further action taken if deemed necessary.
    
    

Rules to determine team standings

The following rules will be used to determine play-off standings in the event of a tie:

1. Number of wins;
2. Record against other tied teams;
3. goals scored minus goals against;
4. Fewest goals allowed.

These rules are in accordance with OWHA tie breaking standards.

The following method will be used to break a tie at the end of regulation play during Championship Day:

Tie breakers will be determined by shoot-out rather than overtime. Prior to the game each coach is to mark three players on the game sheet that are designated to be the shooters for their team. Players that are in the penalty box at the end of the game are NOT eligible for ANY of the shootout. In this case, coaches should be prepared to pick a substitute player.

All three shooters for both teams get a chance to shoot. If the shootout is tied, then a sudden-death shootout commences with each team getting a chance to shoot. Different girls from the original three shooters must be used until every girl on the team has had a shot. Only then do any of the original three shooters get a chance to shoot again.