Disciplinary Policy

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Spring-Ford Ice Hockey Club
P.O. Box 1132
Oaks, PA 19456-1132

 
Because of a variety of factors, including officiating and player control, the SFIHC may encounter situations involving unsportsmanlike behavior. The expectation of the Club is that USA Hockey and League rules will govern on-ice conduct. However, there may be situations that require SFIHC Board of Directors to impose disciplinary penalties. To administer this process, a set of action guidelines has been established. The SFIHC believe that the program given below will prevent or control difficult situations arising at games or practices.

Definitions of Unsportsmanlike Behavior

Unsportsmanlike behavior consists of any one or any combination of the following acts:
  1. Deliberate injury or attempt to injure an official, coach, or player.
  2. Fighting or attempting to fight, including dropping or removing gloves.
  3. Leaving players’ bench, or goaltender leaving goalie crease, to join or attempt to join an altercation.
  4. Verbal or physical abuse of an official, coach or spectator, and/or teammate or opposing player.
  5. Incorrigible behavior, including refusal to obey coaches; refusal to comply with a referee’s decision.
  6. No swearing or abusive language on the bench, in the rink, or at any team function.
  7. There will be no drinking, smoking, chewing of tobacco or use of illegal substance at any team function.
  8. Taunting or threatening any player, coach, official, league representative, arena personnel, or spectator.
  9. The throwing of any object onto the ice, into the player area, or at another individual.
  10. Theft, defacement or damage of property, including but not limited to that of other players, or the property of hotels/motels, restaurants, dressing/locker rooms, and rink facilities.
  11. Other examples of behaviors that, if reported, will constitute disciplinary action, but are not limited to the following:
  • Being involved in any activity that would warrant the summoning of law enforcement officials.
  • Any other conduct that is not in compliance with the beliefs of the SFIHC Code of Conduct, and/or the USA Hockey Code of Conduct.
    • Most of the above are considered match gross misconduct, game misconduct or major penalties by USA Hockey. There may be others not mentioned which fit such categories. Moreover, any act of unsportsmanlike behavior may call for the imposition of a SFIHC penalty.

    Penalties for Unsportsmanlike Behavior

    It is the responsibility of all Spring-Ford coaches, players and spectators to report any case of unsportsmanlike behavior that occurs in practice and/or in games as defined above to the Spring-Ford Ice Hockey President.

    The initial report may be oral but shall be made within 48 hours of the incident. If an oral report is given, a written report should be provided within 5 days of the incident naming the player(s) involved, the infraction, and related circumstances. The Board will conduct a review of each case. Spring-Ford Club penalties may be imposed in accordance with provisions of the section below. These Club penalties may be either concurrent or in addition to any penalties resulting from violation of League or USA Hockey rules.

    1. First infraction: suspension from remainder of game/practice and from one additional game.
    2. Second infraction: expulsion from remainder of game/practice and from two additional games.
    3. Third infraction: expulsion from Spring-Ford Ice Hockey Club.


    Infractions that involve deliberate injury or attempt to injure an official, coach, or other player may result in expulsion from the remainder of the game or practice and possible suspension from the Club for the remainder of the season.

    Late season infractions incurred, and not served, will carry over into the following season.

    The SFIHC will also support any suspension levied by rink management against a SFIHC member. If an individual is suspended from a rink, SFIHC games will not be rescheduled to accommodate the player or SFIHC member, nor will the suspended or expelled person receive any compensatory monies from SFIHC.

    Coaching issues shall not be addressed 12 hours prior to, or until 24 hours after a game or practice. Failure to comply with the above stated policies will result in disciplinary action.