Playing Rules and Regulations

TCAHL will follow the rules outlined in the 2014-2017 USA Hockey Rulebook except for those noted in League Modification

Through the standard of play and rules enforcement, all games will continue to allow the opportunity for improved skill development and a more positive hockey environment for all participants.

The goal of the enforcement standard is to create an environment that enhances player skill development and recreational hockey play for fun.

Standard of Play and Rule Emphasis

[Excerpts taken from 2014-17 USA Hockey Rulebook]

Enforcement Standard – These penalties are to be called with very strict enforcement.

BODY CHECKING (Non-Checking Classifications)
A player cannot deliver a body check to any player

BOARDING
A player cannot commit any infraction, including body checking, for the purpose

    Examples include:

  • Any infraction (tripping, cross-checking, charging etc.) that causes the opponent to go violently and excessively into the boards.

CHARGING
A player cannot take more than two fast strides or travel an excessive distance to body check. There are no body checks to any player.

    Examples include:

  • Running or jumping into the opponent to deliver a check.
  • Skating a great distance for the purpose of delivering a check with excessive force.

CHECKING FROM BEHIND
A player cannot deliver a body check to an opponent directly from behind, or diagonally from behind. The onus is on the player delivering the check to not hit from behind.

    Examples include:

  • Body checking or pushing an opponent from behind directly into the boards or goal frame or in open ice.

HEAD CONTACT
A player cannot contact an opponent in the head, face or neck, including with the stick or any part of the players body or equipment. The onus is on the player delivering the check, regardless as to size differential, to not make contact in the head/neck area of the opponent.

    Examples include:

  • A body check delivered with any part of the body that makes direct contact with the head or neck area.
  • The use of the fore arm or hands to deliver a check to the head or neck area of the opponent.

ROUGHING
A player cannot use the hands, stick or extension of the arms to body check an opponent or deliver an avoidable body check to a player who is not in possession and control of the puck.

    Examples include:

  • Intentionally playing the body of an opponent who does not have possession and control of the puck.
  • Any avoidable contact after the whistle shall be penalized strictly, including scrum situations around the goal or along the boards. Officials are instructed to assess an additional penalty to those players acting as the aggressor or who instigates any contact after the whistle.

SUMMAY- Body Checking

    While this is a non-checking league it is important to remember that:

  • A player is entitled to use proper body position in order to gain a competitive advantage.
  • Players are allowed to compete for body position using their strength and balance in front of the goal or along the boards.

Restraining Fouls

    The principles of the continued 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.

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.

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.

CONCLUSION

    Body checking and restraining fouls will be strictly enforced, however it is important to remember that:

  • 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.

Officials shall enforce a strict penalty standard according to the guidelines that have been established.

Players are expected to compete within the playing rules.

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.

League Modifications

Team Jerseys: All players on the same team must have similarly colored jerseys. The number should correspond to the number for that player or goalie on the team roster.

Rule 201 Compositions of Teams

  • A team must start a game with a minimum of 4 players. Any time that a team has been reduced to less than four players, the game shall be declared a forfeit.

Each team is not allowed to have more players then the number drafted to that team without prior approval from TCAHL Executive Board.

Rule (a)202 Captain of Team
Prior to the start of the game, each team shall designate one Captain and not more than two Alternates. The Captain and Alternate(s) do not have to have “C” or “A” on jersey.

Rule 304a – Equipment: All players are required to wear hockey equipment (facemasks are strongly recommended). Players not wearing the required equipment will be assessed a minor penalty and will not be allowed to play until the proper equipment is in place.
Required Equipment:

  • Helmet
  • Ice skates (obviously)

Strongly recommended, but optional equipment

  • o Mouth guard
  • o Full or partial face protection
  • o Elbow Pads
  • o Gloves
  • o Knee/shin protectors
  • o Shoulder/chest protector
  • o Mid-section protection – hockey pants or girdle/shell

Rule 401b – Penalties: Any player receiving 3 penalties shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty Any player receiving 3 penalties in the same game shall be immediately ejected for the remainder of the game, further suspension will be determined by TCAHL Executive Board.

Rule 404d – Misconduct Penalties (Excessive Penalties):

  • 1. The first time a player receives 3 penalties in a game, he/she will receive a game misconduct and a one game suspension.
  • 2. Second time a player receives 3 penalties in a game, he/she will receive a game misconduct and two game suspension as determined by TCAHL Executive Board
  • 3. Third time a player receives 3 penalties in a game, he/s she will receive a game misconduct and the number of games suspended will be determined by TCAHL Executive Board.
  • 4. If any player in the league continually receives games misconducts due to excessive penalties Suspension from all league play for a period to be determined by TCAHL Executive Board.

Rule 410 – 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 the game, during the game, or after the game, whether or not the offense has been penalized by the officials.

Rule 601h – Physical abuse of referees: Any player who physically abuses the officials will be permanently expelled from the game. Further suspension from all league play for a period to be determined by TCAHL Executive Board will be determined at a special board meeting to review occurrence.

Rule 610 Delaying the Game

  • A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player or goalkeeper
    who deliberately freezes the puck along the boards or goal frame for the purpose of delaying the game.
  • A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player or goalkeeper
    who delays the game by shooting or batting the puck outside the playing area, including after a stoppage of play.
  • A minor penalty shall be assessed to a goalkeeper who shoots the puck directly (non-deflected) outside of the playing area.

Rule 613a – Fighting or fisticuffs: Any player given a fighting penalty will be suspended from the remainder of the game and the season. Further suspension from all league play for a period to be determined by TCAHL Executive Board will be determined at a special board meeting to review occurrence.
Fighting, for the purposes of TCAHL includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 1. Punching, or attempting to punch another player. Physically hitting or striking the player is not a requirement.
  • 2. Touching the head of another player in any way with a closed fist or open hand.
  • 3. Any altercation between players that requires stoppage of play or disruption in the game to resolve or break up.

Rule 613d: Any intervention in an altercation by another player will result in a game misconduct penalty to that player under Rule 613d (Third Man In). Further suspension from all league play for a period to be determined by TCAHL Executive Board will be determined at a special board meeting to review occurrence.
Action of players not directly involved in the altercation:

  • 1. Stay away from the altercation.
  • 2. Go to your bench.
  • 3. Goalies stay in your crease (unless the altercation is in the vicinity of your crease).
  • 4. DO NOT TRY TO INTERVENE IN THE ALTERCATION. It’s not your job as a player to try and break up the altercation. It’s the official’s responsibility. Let them do their job.

Rule 613f: A game misconduct will be awarded to any player who drops the stick and gloves in preparation to fight. Further suspension from all league play for a period to be determined by TCAHL Executive Board will be determined at a special board meeting to review occurrence.

Rule 636 – Start of Game and Periods:

  • a) All games consist of three running clock periods. The ice will not be resurfaced between periods. All games must be completed in one hour game curfew time. Once there is 2 minutes left in the third period, the clock will stop with each stoppage in play
  • b) Three minutes prior to the start of the game each team shall be notified so they can be on the ice in time to start the game promptly. Intermissions between periods will take place on ice. It is recommended that the intermission time be placed on the game clock in an effort to keep teams and spectators informed.

If the start of a game is delayed by events that are not the responsibility of the teams participating in the game, e.g., the ice is not resurfaced on time, an earlier game runs over the allotted time slot, etc., then the game curfew time shall be adjusted so that the full one hour and fifteen minutes is allowed.

If the start of a game is delayed by a team failing to appear on the ice promptly, the team shall, after a warning by the Official, be assessed a bench minor penalty for delay of game.

Rule 638 Tied Games:

  • a) During regular season games, if the score is tied after 3 periods the game will be recorded as a tie. No tiebreakers will be used.
  • b) During the End of Season Tournament; it may be decided that if the game ends in a tie a 4 player shootout will continue until a winner is determined. The Shootout will consist of One Level 4, One Level 3, One Level 2 and One Level 1/Beginner Skater in successive order. Ideally each skater will be a member of that team, not a sub.

TCAHL Slap Shot Rule: A shot that is taken by lifting the stick from the ice and pulling it backwards, winding up and then bringing the stick forwards rapidly to shoot the puck. When shot is pulled backwards and winding up, the blade of stick may not be brought higher than player’s waist.

If a player’s stick is above waist on wind up for slap shot, it will not be considered a penalty. Instead the play will be whistled dead and face off moved to opposite end of ice.

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