(Note: These rules are also available in PDF and Miscorsoft Word format on the NORCAL Forms page.)
2007-2008 Season Rules and Regulations
(Adopted
I. General
1.01 Effective Date. These rules shall be effective immediately upon
approval by the Northern California Junior Hockey Association (NORCAL) Board of
Directors at the NORCAL Summer Meeting (held in June or July, at Board
discretion). Subsequently, no change of
rules shall be made by the Board during the following playing season except by
unanimous consent of the Board of Directors at two consecutive Board meetings.
1.02 Precedence. These rules supplement rules issued by USA
Hockey (the national governing body for amateur ice hockey in the
1.03 NORCAL. Northern California Junior Hockey Association
(NORCAL) is the league governing body recognized by the CAHA for teams
competing for State or national playoffs at the Tier I (“AAA”), Tier II (“AA”),
“A,” and “B” levels.
1.04 Applicability of Rules to Teams.
NORCAL member clubs agree
that all teams competing toward a NORCAL, state, or national championship, or
otherwise playing as a part of the NORCAL schedule, shall be subject to
applicable NORCAL rules. Special teams
and house teams not playing as a part of the NORCAL schedule and not competing toward a NORCAL, state,
or national championship are not governed by these rules, except as
follows: NORCAL member clubs and associations
are expected to comply with all applicable USA Hockey and CAHA rules with
respect to ALL teams and participants.
NORCAL may investigate and review any incident or penalty involving a
NORCAL member club or any player, coach, or team official registered with USA
Hockey through a NORCAL member club.
Each member club is responsible for reporting any Match penalty received
by any of its players, coaches, or team officials to the NORCAL General Manager
as well as for adhering to CAHA reporting requirements. In this and all NORCAL
rules, each reference to a “coach” without further qualification shall refer to
every rostered coach without regard to designations such as head coach or
assistant coach
1.05 Referee and Game Sheet Requirement. Any
event in which players from different clubs, or players from the same club
playing a NORCAL scheduled game, take the ice as opposing teams to play hockey
shall require the supervision of a USA Hockey certified referee and shall
require the submission of a properly completed game sheet to the NORCAL General
Manager. A properly completed game sheet
shall list all rostered players in alphabetical order with uniform numbers. A properly completed game sheet shall list a
NORCAL Game Number. For games between
NORCAL teams, the home team shall be responsible for submission of the game
sheet. For games against non-NORCAL
teams, the NORCAL team (whether home or away) shall be responsible for
submission of the game sheet. A team
traveling outside NORCAL shall have until the first Wednesday following the
last game played for that trip to submit all game sheets for that trip. Coaches not participating in a game, whether
under suspension or for any other reason, should not sign the game sheet. Suspended
or absent coaches’ and players’ names should appear in the appropriate location
on the score sheet roster section. The name should be lined through and put the
word “suspension” or “absent” in the space provided.
The name and team of any player or coach serving a game suspension should also
be listed in the “notes” section of the score sheet. FAILURE TO NOTE
PERSONS SERVING A GAME SUSPENSION MAY RESULT IN FURTHER SUSPENSION FOR THAT
PLAYER OR COACH, and may subject the team
to forfeiture of the game if a suspended player or coach illegally
participated.
Game sheets should be completed in full and mailed (not faxed) to the
NORCAL General Manager or other designee. Game sheets must be postmarked by the
Wednesday following the game. Late , incomplete, or improperly filled out game
sheets or games sheets failing to list players in roster (alphabetical) order
may result in a $25 fine to offending club. Any game sheet not received by
fourteen days after the date of the game shall result in a warning to the
offending team’s president. If any subsequent sheets are late, the NORCAL
General Manager may take punitive actions which may include not counting that game
for the offending team in determination of standings or player eligibility for
post season play.
1.06 Responsibility for Rules. While all players, coaches,
parents, team, member club, and NORCAL officials are responsible for knowing
and following applicable rules and each participant is responsible for his/her
behavior and maintenance of eligibility, the Head Coach is responsible for his/her
team’s compliance with all rules and regulations.
II. League Organization and Governance
2.01 CAHA Leagues. NORCAL
is one of the leagues recognized by CAHA for conducting youth ice hockey
competition at the Tier II, “A,” and “B” levels. Top teams from NORCAL and from the Southern
California Amateur Hockey Association (SCAHA) meet each spring for state
playoffs conducted by CAHA.
2.02 NORCAL Governance. NORCAL
is a nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the
presidents or designated representatives of each member club or association and
the elected and appointed officers of the corporation. Voting members of the Board of Directors
include the president or designated representative of each member club and the
elected officers of the corporation, which are specified in its Bylaws. The Affairs of NORCAL are conducted in
accordance with its Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and policies that may be
adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time.
2.03 Board Meetings. The
time and location of NORCAL Board of Directors meetings are posted on the
NORCAL web site. Regular meetings of the
Board of Directors are open to the public.
However, persons having issues or questions involving the operation of
the league should normally raise their issues or concerns through their club or
association president or representative.
2.03.1 Each member club shall be
responsible for representation at NORCAL board and other meetings and for the
dissemination of these Rules and Regulations as well as other NORCAL league
information to its members. Any club not
sending an appropriately designated representative to two or more consecutive
meetings of the NORCAL Board of Directors or fails to provide an appropriate
representative at the Team Placement Meeting for any reason barring “acts of
God” shall be fined $500 for the second missed meeting and $500 for each consecutive
missed meeting thereafter.
2.04 Age Levels.
Regular competitive teams
are classified according to age and competition levels. USA Hockey age levels are based on birth
year, as follows:
Youth
(boys and girls) Girls/Women
Mite (1999 and younger) 10
or under (1997 and younger)
Squirt (1997-98) 12
or under (1995 and younger)
Peewee (1995-96) 14
or under (1993 and younger)
Bantam (1993-94) 16
or under (1991 and younger)
Midget16 (1991-92) 19
or under (1989 and younger)
Midget18 (1989-90) Senior
(18 or older)
Juniors
(20 or under)
Seniors
(18 or older)
NORCAL currently provides organized league play
only in the Youth division. Girls playing in the youth division must comply with the age
requirements applicable to that division. NORCAL and CAHA rules place
restrictions and special requirements on playing up at an age level above the
lowest age level for which the player qualifies.
2.05 Competitive
Levels. Competitive levels include:
Tier I Division – Highest
level of youth hockey recognized by USA Hockey; teams recruited on regional or
statewide basis. Championships are
conducted at state, district and national levels. USA Hockey does not recognize Tier I at the
Mite or Squirt age levels.
Tier II Division – Considered highest level of
club-based hockey. CAHA rules require that teams maintain a minimum core of
returning club players to qualify for state playoffs. Championships are held at NORCAL, state,
district, and national level. USA Hockey does not recognize Tier II at the Mite
or Squirt age levels.
“A” Division – Championships held at NORCAL and
state levels; teams in all age divisions. CAHA rules require that teams at the
Peewee, Bantam, and Midget levels maintain a minimum core of returning club
players to qualify for state playoffs.
“B” Division – Developmental level;
championships held at NORCAL and state levels; teams in all age divisions.
2.06 Member Clubs. Only teams fielded by NORCAL clubs or associations in good standing may participate in the NORCAL game schedule or playoffs. NORCAL member clubs may be either non-profit or for profit organizations. New member organizations may be accepted in accordance with NORCAL Bylaws. These clubs and teams agree to abide by all NORCAL Rules and Regulations, NORCAL Bylaws, NORCAL Codes of Conduct and decisions; to keep their teams, players, and team officials informed of all NORCAL rules, policies, decisions, and other pertinent information pertaining to their participation in NORCAL sanctioned events and activities; to pay all assessments and fines; and to provide all necessary resources as established by standards, rules and regulations of USA Hockey, CAHA, and NORCAL for the conduct of their home games. Member Clubs for the 2007-2008 playing season include
Capital Thunder
San Jose Junior Sharks
Tri-Valley Blue Devils
III. Team
Registration and Fees
3.01
3.02 Regular Season Teams. Any youth
division team formed to play competitive games throughout the course of the
regular fall and winter season at the Tier I, Tier II, A or B levels shall be
classified a regular season team regardless of whether that team is playing
within the NORCAL schedule. NORCAL shall assess each participating club annual
dues in the amount of six hundred dollars ($600) per team for each team
registered. Tier I teams and Mite teams participating in the NORCAL Mite
exhibition schedule are assessed three hundred dollars ($300).
3.03 In-House Teams.
Instructional or tryout teams that only play within a single club or
association shall not be required to register with NORCAL and shall not be
governed by these rules except as specified in Rule 1.04.
3.04 Special Teams and
Tournament Teams.
Special teams formed to compete in specific tournaments are not required
to register with NORCAL and shall not be governed by these rules except as
specified in Rule 1.04. Any special team not registered with NORCAL that is
rostered under the USA Hockey Association number assigned to any NORCAL member
club must provide a true copy of that team’s roster to the NORCAL Roster
Manager at least forty-eight (48) hours before that team competes in any game
outside its club.
3.05 Girls’/Women’s Teams Teams
registered in the USA Hockey Girls’/Women’s Division and not playing in the
NORCAL playing schedule shall be treated by NORCAL as special teams even though
playing for a state or national championship. Girls’/Women’s teams playing in
the NORCAL playing schedule will in all aspects be governed by these rules.
3.06 Preliminary Team and Ice Slot Declarations A
and B Youth Teams. All clubs shall make a preliminary team declaration
with a plan for ice slots to the NORCAL Scheduler by
3.07 Initial Team Registration Tier I and II Youth Teams All
clubs fielding Tier I or II teams shall submit an initial properly completed
team roster to the NORCAL Roster Manager and a check for three hundred dollars
($300) per Tier II team or one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per Tier I team
deposit to the NORCAL Treasurer by August 15. Tier I teams do not play within a
NORCAL schedule and, therefore, do not submit ice slots. The number of ice
slots to be submitted for Tier II teams will be determined by the NORCAL
General Manager following the submission of initial team rosters and team
deposits.
3.08 Team Registration A and B Youth Teams
3.08.1 Initial Team Registration All club teams to be included within the
NORCAL playing schedule must be registered with NORCAL by
(1) Submitting to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly
completed USA Hockey team roster.
(2) Submitting to the NORCAL Treasurer a deposit of three
hundred dollars ($300) for each team except one hundred fifty dollars ($150)
per Mite team.
(3) Submitting to the NORCAL Scheduler Thirteen (13) game
ice slots for each team except only ten (10) game ice slots are required for each
Mite team. Ice slots must be identified by date, start and end times, rink, and
ice surface (for multi-surface rinks) and must be within the date and time
scheduling guidelines established by NORCAL. Please see Section 5.02 part 1 for
length requirements. All game slots must be for clean ice. Note that provisions
in Section 5.10 affect requirements for submitted ice. Unused ice slots will be
returned to the member club as the scheduler determines them unnecessary during
October and November.
No team shall be accepted as declared until all three of
the above are completed.
3.08.2 Final Team Registration All teams initially registered as
described above must complete final team registration with NORCAL or be
formally dropped according to the procedure found in Section 3.13. Final
registrations shall consist of the following:
(1) Submitting to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly
completed USA Hockey team roster. This roster will be designated a team’s
preliminary roster. A preliminary roster will not be considered properly
completed without original signatures in blue ink from all players and initials
in blue ink from adults entered on the roster. Players’ signatures are optional
on Mite and Squirt team rosters. The preliminary roster must be received by the
Roster Manager by September 30.
(2) Submitting to the NORCAL Roster Manager a properly
completed USA Hockey full team roster or supplementary roster detailing changes
to the team’s preliminary roster. This roster (full roster and supplementary
rosters if used) is designated a team’s final roster. A final roster will not
be considered properly completed without original signatures in blue ink from
all players and adults entered on the roster. Players’ signatures are optional
on Mite and Squirt team rosters. In addition, the final roster submission must
include credentials documents (birth certificate or USA Hockey defined
equivalents) for all players on this roster who were not rostered on some
NORCAL travel team during the prior season. The final roster must be received
by the Roster Manager by October 31.
3.09 Minimum Team Size To be
included within the NORCAL schedule, a team must meet CAHA requirements for
minimum team size at the time of final team roster submission.
3.10 Failure to Maintain Required Ice Slots. Any
club that fails to provide and maintain the required number of home ice slots
for its registered teams shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) per ice
slot shorted. Upon recommendation of
NORCAL General Manager, the NORCAL Board may disqualify one or more teams from
league competition if sufficient ice slots are not provided.
3.11 Late Registration A and B Youth Teams Teams
intending to play within the NORCAL schedule that miss any deadline in Section
3.08 are considered late. Late teams that complete the initial registration requirements
by September 30 may have their schedule reduced by two (2) games and shall be
fined two hundred dollars ($200.00). Late teams that complete the initial
registration requirements between October 1 and October 31 shall have their
schedule reduced by four (4) games and be fined three hundred dollars ($300).
Late teams that complete the initial or final registration requirements after
October 31, but prior to CAHA deadlines shall have their schedule reduced by
eight (8) league games and be fined six hundred dollars ($600). Opponents for
reduced games shall be determined by a random draw of teams conducted by the
NORCAL General Manager.
3.12 Addition and Deletion of Players Following Initial Team
Registration. Names of players added to or deleted from
a team roster must be received by the NORCAL Roster Manager at least
forty-eight (48) hours prior to any added player participating in any USA
Hockey game involving that team.
3.13 Dropping of Teams. A club or
association that drops a team registered for participation in the NORCAL
schedule shall be assessed a penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for each
team dropped after September 30. Written notice of dropping a team must be made
to the NORCAL General Manager and to the NORCAL Scheduler. In addition, any
applicable penalties for game forfeiture shall be imposed when the dropping of
a team requires cancellation of scheduled games within ten (10) days of the
receipt of the drop notice by NORCAL.
IV. Individual
Registration, Tryouts, and Player Movement
4.00 Individual
4.01 Player NORCAL Registration. Each player must be properly registered for the
current season with USA Hockey and included on a team roster submitted to the
NORCAL Roster Manager before being permitted to play in any game. No player may be registered on more than one
USA Hockey Roster at the Junior, Tier I, Tier II, “A,” or “B” levels at the
same time. Additionally, no player may
be rostered on more than one team that is state and/or national championship
eligible. This rule specifically
prohibits the rostering of a player on a USA Hockey registered college team and
any other A, B or Tier team in the state.
Players registered on a USA Hockey Roster may, however, be
simultaneously registered on an in-house team, , or a team registered within
the USA Hockey Girls/Women’s Division so long as such dual registration does
not cause a player to be registered on two teams competing for the same
championship.
4.01.1 New mite-age players must
sign up to play at a rink no further than thirty (30) miles from their primary
residence unless approved by NORCAL. If there is no rink within 30 miles of the
player’s primary residence, the player must sign up to play at the rink closest
to their primary residence.
4.02 Coach NORCAL Registration. Each
coach must be properly registered for the current season with USA Hockey before
participating in any on-ice activity and, before being permitted to serve as a
coach or assistant coach in any game, must have either (1) submitted a copy of
his/her USA Hockey coaching card at the required level or (2) submitted the date
and location at which the required USA Hockey coaching clinic will be attended.
4.03 Playing Within Age Classification. Each
player must be registered only on teams at age levels for which he/she
qualifies by virtue of USA Hockey birth year requirements. It shall be the responsibility of each club
to verify that each player is of the proper age to play in a particular
classification and to make sure that the player can properly play pursuant to
applicable USA Hockey, CAHA, and NORCAL rules.
4.03.1 Playing Above Age Classification. NORCAL normally requires that, except for
in-house teams, each player play only at the lowest age level for which the
player qualifies under USA Hockey rules. However, NORCAL recognizes that there
are individual players who are physically and mentally mature enough and
skilled enough to participate competitively at an older age level. Any player
who by birth is in the last year of his/her age classification may skate up one
age classification following submission of a properly completed NORCAL “Consent
to Skate Out of Age Division” form. However, any Mite-aged player may play on a
squirt team for a club that has not declared or registered a Mite team and no
consent form shall be required.
4.03.2 Playing Below Age
Classification. Playing below the USA Hockey assigned age level
is not allowed.
4.04 Penalty for Playing Unregistered or
Improperly Registered Player. Any game in which
an unregistered or improperly registered player
participates shall be forfeited by the offending team. Coaches are required to know the status of
their players and are subject to suspension of up to 2 games for each game
played by an unregistered or improperly registered player.
4.05 Joining A Team. A player has joined a team when that player or player’s family has done
one or more of the following:
·
Signed a
letter of intent, contract, roster, or other written agreement with a club, or
paid money other than a separate tryout fee to a club by virtue of which the
player is assigned or may be assigned by that club to a specific team. Either
club or player may appeal to the NORCAL General Manager in case of a dispute as
to whether or not a player joined a club or team.
·
Played or participated in a NORCAL-scheduled
preseason, tournament, or regular season game with a team, unless specifically
noted and otherwise signed by the coach on the game score sheet.
·
Practiced twice with
a team, not including separate sessions designated as try outs.
4.06 Player Movement/Free Agency. During
the period from the end of CAHA Playoff for “A” and “B” teams or the end of USA
Hockey National Championships for Tier I or II teams until joining a team for
the following season as evidenced by Rule 4.07,
all players are considered “free agents.”
4.06.1
Player Development Requirement.
All NORCAL registered
Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget 16, and Midget 18 teams in both A and B
divisions must meet the following minimum Player Development Requirement:
Each Team
must roster a minimum of 50% of its players from within its member club. A team in violation of the Player Development Requirement will be
included in the NORCAL schedule and their games will count towards final
standings but they will be ineligible for post-season playoffs including both
NORCAL playoffs and CAHA playoffs.
Any team
that falls below the PDR requirement during the regular season must achieve the
minimum level by December 31 and maintain that level for the remainder of the
season to maintain their post season eligibility.
In
addition to the CAHA definition of players eligible to meet PDR, players who
did not play for any NORCAL Tier, A, B, or House team during the previous
season may be counted toward the team’s PDR percentage.
A team may petition the NORCAL Board for an
exception to the PDR to accommodate players who have been displaced from their
previous team by a club not offering a team at the appropriate age or level or
if the previous club is merged with the new club and the new club is recognized
by NORCAL as a successor club.
To calculate
the required number of players to meet PDR requirements, round to the nearest
whole number.
4.07 Tryouts.
Each club shall post its
tryout schedule for Tier I, Tier II, “A,” and “B” at its rink in a manner to
give players other than its own members access to dates and times. In addition, each club shall provide notice
of tryout schedules and requirements to the NORCAL General Manager at its
earliest opportunity so that information can be posted on the NORCAL web
site. The tryout start dates for Tier II,
A and B teams for the next season will be set in the January NORCAL Board
Meeting of the current season. Tryout dates for Tier I teams are governed by
CAHA rules. It is NORCAL’s intent that tryouts for Tier teams be completed
prior to the start of tryouts for “A” and “B” teams and that all tryouts and
team assignments be completed prior to September 15.
4.08 Player Release. Players and
their family undertake a serious obligation when they join a particular club by
signing an agreement or letter of intent, playing in a league game, or
practicing repeatedly with a team. A player wishing to change clubs after
joining a team must obtain a release from the club, which he/she has joined
(the “home club”). While nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent a
club from granting a release, the home club ordinarily is under no obligation
to approve a personal preference release.
4.08.1 Personal Preference Release. A release at the request of a
player or family for any reason other than competitive advancement is a
Personal Preference Release. The home club and NORCAL must both approve a
personal preference release. A $50 non-refundable application fee shall be paid
by the player at the time of application to NORCAL for a personal preference
release. The NORCAL General Manager may approve a release without the home
club’s approval if the home club fails to act within 5 days of receipt of a
player’s completed form.
4.08.1.1 Personal Preference Release Appeal. A player denied
a personal preference release by the home club may appeal in writing to the
NORCAL General Manager within five days of the denial of release. The General
Manager shall convene a review committee comprised of three persons, including
the General Manager, one club president, and one other member of the NORCAL
Executive Board. The review committee shall issue its decision within ten days
of the appeal.
4.08.2 Competitive Advancement
Release. Upon
proper completion of an application, an “A” or “B” or Tier II level player
shall be granted a competitive advancement release if the player meets all of
the following conditions:
1.
The player is in good financial
standing with home team; the release does not reduce the size of the affected
home team to below thirteen players or below one goaltender;
2.
The released player moves directly to
the roster of a receiving team at a higher competitive level not available to
that player at the home club
3.
The coach and club president of the
receiving team have signed the release application.
Players granted a competitive advancement
release must remain on the roster of the receiving team through the remainder
of the NORCAL season and playoffs. There is no fee for a competitive
advancement release.
4.08.3 Home Club Financial Guidelines for Competitive
Advancement Releases. No NORCAL member club or
association shall charge a player receiving a Competitive Advancement release
any fees or dues exceeding the reasonable charges for tryouts, ice time used,
and merchandise purchased.
4.09 Definition of Completed Release. The NORCAL
General Manager will notify the player, the home club, and receiving club (if
any) that a release is complete when all of the following conditions are met:
1. The appropriate
release application is complete and fee (if required) is paid;
2. The player has
been legally and completely dropped from the home club roster;
3. The release is
approved by the NORCAL General Manager.
4.10 Penalties
for Illegal Release. Any player who participates in a game or practice for a
receiving team without a completed release in accordance with these rules is an
ineligible player. It is the receiving team’s responsibility to insure that any
player is eligible to be added to its roster.
4.10.1 Any club allowing a player to play in any
game before that player has a completed release will forfeit all games in which
that player participates.
4.10.2 Coaches are required to know the status of any player they allow to
attend a practice or to play in a game and are subject to suspension of up to 2
games for each practice attended or game played by an unregistered or
improperly registered player.