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Arizona High School Hockey Association
Disciplinary Committee Points of Emphasis for the 2010 –2011 Season
To AHSHA Coaches, Managers, Players, Parents:
The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee hereby notifies all AHSHA Coaches, Managers, Players, and Parents of several Points of Emphasis (POE’s) that will be enforced for the 2009 – 2010 season. Be advised of the following issues that the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee has determined it will continue to address strictly from a discipline perspective, supplementing the suspensions assessed by the game officials as allowed by USA Hockey Rule 410 and AHSHA Policy Article XI, Section 11.1.4.
I. USA Hockey Rule 601 Infractions
The first POE is found in the USA Hockey Annual Guide, which states in part:
Thus, the following points of emphasis must be implemented by all referees and linesmen:
Players
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (zero tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a player:
1 Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official.
2 Uses obscene or vulgar language at any time, including any swearing, even if it is not directed at a particular person.
3 Visually demonstrates any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision.
Any time that a player persists in any of these actions, they shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. A game misconduct shall result if the player continues such action.
Coaches
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct (zero tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a coach:
1 Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official.
2 Uses obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
3 Visually displays any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision including standing on the boards or standing in the bench doorway with the intent of inciting the officials, players or spectators.
Any time that a coach persists in any of these actions, he/she shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee intends to support and enforce this USA Hockey POE, including supplementing game misconduct penalties that have been assessed by the game officials for Rule 601 infractions with additional suspensions for these behavior issues. The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will supplement such infractions as it deems appropriate in order to curb these penalties.
II. USA Hockey Rule 613 and 625 Infractions
The second POE that the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee has adopted for this season will be to strictly enforce and supplement Fighting, 3rd Man In, and Leaving the Players’ Bench or Penalty Bench suspensions. The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will not tolerate Fighting, 3rd Man In, or Leaving the Players’ Bench or Penalty Bench infractions. The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will supplement such infractions as it deems appropriate, including multiple game suspensions, in order to curb these penalties.
It is especially important that players are aware that 3rd Man In penalties do not require engagement in an existing altercation. Simply skating to an altercation warrants a 3rd Man In penalty. As stated in the USA Hockey Case Book for Rule 613(d):
A player is the first to enter an altercation, acting only as a peacemaker. Shall he be subject to the rules that govern the first to intervene?
Yes. Rule Reference 613(d).
Regardless of the reason, the first player to enter any altercation shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
If there is an altercation on the ice, all other skaters (not goalies) should proceed immediately to their respective benches to allow the officials to handle the situation. Also, be aware of Rule 613(f) when the Referee signals that players shall proceed to their respective bench:
When an altercation occurs on the ice, at the signal of the Referee, all players (nonparticipant), excluding goalkeepers, must proceed immediately and directly to their respective players’ bench. Goalkeepers must remain in the immediate vicinity of their goal crease. See Rule 407(d) (Goalkeeper’s Penalties). A minor penalty shall be assessed to any player, excluding goalkeepers, who fails to move to the players’ bench when so instructed by the Referee.
This rule should be followed without the need for the Referee to signal and instruct players to proceed to the bench. Players need to vacate the area of any altercation.
III. Intent to Injure Penalties
The third POE that the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee has adopted for this season will be to strictly enforce and supplement game misconduct suspensions that result in an injury or from an attempt to injure, such as under Rules 603(a) – (d), 604(b), 606(a), 607(a) & (b), 608(b) & (c), 610(b), 616(b), 617(b), 619(b), 633(b) & (c), 634(a), 639(a), 640(b) & (c). The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will not tolerate actions that injure or attempt to injure others. The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will supplement such infractions as it deems appropriate in order to curb these penalties.
IV. Fines in Addition to Suspensions
The AHSHA Disciplinary Committee has determined that in addition to any suspensions that may result from a game misconduct (GM), a 15 penalty game coaching suspension, and/or a Match penalty, the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee will impose a monetary fine. For the 2009 – 2010 season, the fine for each GM, 15 penalty game coaching suspension, or Match penalty shall be $20.00.
The AHSHA Treasurer shall deduct the fines from the appropriate team account. It will be up to each team to decide if and how it will collect the fine(s) from the player and/or coach who was assessed the fine(s).
In the event that the team account has an insufficient balance to pay the assessed fine(s), the team will be suspended from the league until such fine(s) is/are paid in full.
The money collected from the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee imposed fines shall be placed in the AHSHA scholarship fund to help pay for those players who desire to play hockey but have financial hardship.
Should you have any questions regarding these POE’s do not hesitate to contact the AHSHA Disciplinary Committee. Ensure you are aware of these POE’s as ignorance will not be an excuse.
AHSHA Disciplinary Committee | 