PANDORA WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
Program Policies & Rules
Related documents
USA Hockey Rules
Introduction
Pandora Charter
Pandora Executive
Points of Emphasis
Pandora League Policies
Conduct at the Rink
Minimum Age Limit
Payment of Fees
Pickup Games and Clinics
Refunds
Team Formation
Players in Uniform
Illegal Players
Captains
Substitute Players
Substitute Goalies
Coaches
Scorekeeper
Injury Reporting
Rules
USA Hockey Rules
Zero Tolerance Rules
Players
Coaches and Team Officials
Officials
Rule 203 Players in Uniform
Rule 304 Protective Equipment
Rule 403 Major Penalties
Rule 404 Misconduct Penalties
Rule 405 Match Penalties
Rule 501 Appointment of Officials
Rule 506 Official Scorer
Rule 609 Delay of Game
Rule 613 Fisticuffs (Fighting)
Rule 615 Gross MisConduct
Rule 620 Icing the Puck
Rule 637 Time of Match
Rule 638 Tied Games
Glossary
Pandora Women’s Ice Hockey Charter
Pandora Women’s Ice Hockey organization, is a recreational ice hockey organization formed with the following objectives:
To provide women of all Hockey skills and abilities, a place to play ice hockey with and against other women.
To promote women’s ice hockey in the Greater Sacramento Valley Area.
To promote good sportsmanship and camraderie.
One of Pandora’s main charters is for the game of hockey to be played more for the fun of playing than to emphasize winning. Good sportsmanship is expected at all times. Keep in mind that at all times each player represents Pandora and in that respect they should keep Pandora’s objectives in mind when participating in Pandora events.
Pandora Executive
Any reference to the “Executive” shall mean the Program President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Directors. Executive members must be at least 18 years of age to hold office. The Executive has the authority to set fee structure and approve payment of invoices associated with the rinks, scorekeepers, USA Hockey registration, uniforms, officials, and other organizational expenses.
With a majority approval, the Board may authorize advance payment for merchandise for Pandora to sell, as well as local tournament ice rental reservations. The Board has the final authority to make changes and amendments to all policies in an effort to keep Pandora running efficiently.
Please keep in mind that Pandora is managed and administered by a group of volunteers who dedicate many hours of their time and effort to manage Pandora for the women of the Greater Sacramento area. With this in mind, please remain constructive in your suggestions and criticisms of Pandora, and any issue that you may have with Pandora. Every effort is made to accommodate all issues, and all issues are dealt with in a timely fashion.
In that same vein, feel free to give back to Pandora by volunteering some of your time and energy to keep Pandora running as smoothly as possible.
Points of Emphasis
Pandora is committed to eliminating unnecessary body contact away from the puck, checking from behind, boarding and violent stick infractions.
All on-ice officials are directed to penalize, in all instances, infractions that fall into the injury potential category. These infractions include boarding, charging, checking from behind, cross checking, elbowing/kneeing, high sticking, roughing and slashing. This includes slashing a goalie after she has covered the puck. Special emphasis is also placed on unnecessary body contact to players who are not in possession and control of the puck, and any body contact that results in the opponent being thrown into the boards or to the ice with excessive force.
Pandora encourages clean and fair play at all levels and remains committed to supporting the decisions of the on-ice officials where players are penalized for the infractions noted above. Finally, Pandora is a non-checking, non-fighting hockey league. Fighting while playing for Pandora will result in expulsion from the organization.
Conduct at the Rink
Pandora players are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous manner when dealing with any rink personnel. Players are expected to follow all rink policies including use of locker rooms and cleanliness upon leaving the rink. Remember if you use a dressing room, LEAVE IT CLEAN!
Rink lobbies are to be considered public places, and nudity in rink lobbies is prohibited. Misbehavior at Pandora events reflects on Pandora and may make future ice rentals difficult to obtain. Players acting inappropriately may be asked to leave Pandora.
Minimum Adult Age Limit
All adult women players participating in Pandora Women’s Ice Hockey organization are to be 18 years or older before playing any games or tournaments with Pandora Women's Hockey Club at Skatetown-Roseville. That proof of age may be asked for in the form of birth certificate, driver’s license or passport.
Youth Program
Any young girl who is under the age of 18, is considered a youth player. Please go to calendar of events for information on youth hockey.
Payment of Fees
Registration, costs/player and payment deadlines are established in order to assess ice needs and to sign contracts for ice time. Fees paid to Pandora are obligated in order to provide a solvent, efficiently run hockey program.
All forms of payment accepted and all payments/fees must be pre-paid.
No late payments accepted. No payment, no play.
Players must be registered with USA Hockey to participate in all tournaments and games, except inter-squad games/scrimmages.
Pickup games and Clinics
Pick up games and Pandora sponsored clinics are not included in the regular season fees. Fees to participate in these events will be determined before each season.
Refunds
Pandora Women’s Ice Hockey organization is under no obligation to provide refunds of any kind. Refund requests will be considered based on, but not limited to, the financial status of Pandora, number of other refunds requested, reason for refund(medical) and proximity to the start of the season. In addition, Pandora can deny playing privileges to players who owe balances for previous seasons.
Team Formation
As Pandora does not have try-outs for any team at this time, registration for teams going to tournaments and games will be by first come first serve basis within the appropriate level of play designated. Payment of fees does not necessarily guarantee a roster position.
Players in Uniform
All players are required to wear Pandora uniforms. Players who have not yet received their jerseys are encouraged to borrow jerseys from other league members. See Rule 203 for more information.
Illegal Players
Any player who is not registered with USA Hockey shall not play in any sanctioned Pandora game or tournament. Any player who is not registered with USA Hockey on a Pandora tournament or game roster as a member of the team playing (except substitute players) shall be deemed an illegal player. Players who arrive after the game commences are required to check-in with the scorekeeper and will be considered illegal players until they do. No illegal players may play in any Pandora game.
Captains
A captain and an assistant captain will be designated at the beginning of each game or tournament. Captains are responsible for conveying information to each team member such as League announcements, rescheduled games, etc. Captains are also responsible for providing the team roster, including substitute players and goalies, to the scorekeeper prior to the start of the game and checking accuracy of score sheets immediately following the game.
The Captain makes the decision regarding substitute skaters.
The Captain may be in charge of collecting substitute fees from the substitute skaters, if required.
The Captain, or the designated alternate in the absence of the Captain, shall be authorized to speak to the referees during the game concerning matters of rule interpretation only.
Substitute Skaters
All substitute skaters must be registered with Pandora in the game or tournament in which they are substituting. Substitute skaters are not required for any game. The Captain has the authority, and may at her discretion, arrange for subs, not including the goalie.
Substitute skaters may come from within the Pandora membership. Individual players serving game misconduct or match penalties may not substitute in any Pandora game until after the duration of their penalty. Substitute skaters must wear a Pandora jersey or same color matching with a printed number on the back.
Substitute Goalies
Only when all known female goalies (or volunteers) from all areas have been exhausted for a game, may a male goalie maybe be utilized. Any male playing goal with Pandora should be a novice goalie.
If a goalie is not found in time for a game or to replace an injured goalie, the team is left with an empty net. The team may have 6 players on the ice and the amongst the bench roster, the Captain will assign a player as a designated goalie as per USA Hockey Rule Book.
All substitute goalies must be USA hockey registered.
Coaches
Pandora provides, to the best of its ability, the teams with a coach. Pandora will provide only fuel expenses at a maximum of $20/session/game/practice to the coach
Coaches are expected to observe league policy, especially regarding good sportsmanship. Pandora reserves the right to dismiss any coach for violating league policy.
Scorekeepers
Depending upon where Pandora is playing, Pandora may or may not provide scorekeepers, for each game. If Pandora does provide scorekeepers, these individuals will only be paid $20 for keeping time, score and penalties for each Pandora game.
Team captains must provide scorekeepers with a team roster including all players in uniform, substitute skaters and goalies.
Scorekeepers provide copies of the completed score sheets to each team captain immediately after the game and give the original to the statistician for the Pandora records. Also see Rule 506 - Official Scorer.
Injury Reporting
Injuries are an unfortunate part of sport. Each player is responsible for carrying their own healthcare insurance for all events.
USA Hockey Rules
Pandora plays ice hockey using the USA Hockey rules for Women/Girls. The following section represents the modifications that Pandora has made to the USA Hockey Rule Book. You are encouraged to review the USA Hockey Rule Book.
Here is a PDF of the USA Hockey Rule Book to be viewed with Acrobat Reader or call 719-576-USAH.
Zero Tolerance
In an effort to make ice hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, USA Hockey has instructed the Officiating Program to adhere to certain points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, and officials, team officials and administrators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during, and after all USA Hockey sanctioned games. Thus, all On-Ice Referees must implement the following points of emphasis.
Players
A minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct [Zero Tolerance] shall be assessed whenever a player:
Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official
Uses obscene or vulgar language at any time, including any swearing, even if it is not directed
at a particular person.
Visually demonstrates any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision.
Any time that a player persists in any of these actions, the player shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. A game misconduct penalty shall result if the player continues such action.
Coaches and Team Officials
A bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct [Zero Tolerance] shall be assessed whenever a coach or team official:
Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official
Uses obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
Visually displays any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision, including standing in
the bench doorway with the intent of inciting the officials, players or spectators.
Any time that a coach or team official persists in any of these actions, a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed.
Officials
Officials are required to conduct themselves in a professional, sportsmanlike, impartial and constructive manner at all times. The actions of an official must be above reproach. Actions such as “baiting” or inciting players or coaches are strictly prohibited.
On-Ice Officials are ambassadors of the game and must always conduct themselves with this responsibility in mind. For more information, see Rule 601- Abuse of Officials and Other Misconduct in the section on Playing Rules.
Rule 203 - Players in Uniform
In addition to USAH Rule 203(d):
Players who have purchased Pandora jerseys must wear the jersey while on the ice and participating in a game (including warm-ups, intermissions and post-game handshakes).
Rule 304 - Protective Equipment
Elaboration of Rule 304(b):
All players must wear HECC approved hockey helmet, a full facemask or a half visor for all games, warm-ups and practices, including pickups and clinics. The helmet strap must be properly fastened at all times. Shoulder pads are optional for intermediate-advanced level players as per the tournament or game rules set out by the tournament or game co-ordinators. On-ice coaches, clinic leaders and assistants do not need to wear full gear, but are required to wear a helmet, elbow pads and shin guards.
In addition to the above, Pandora takes player safety seriously and expects all players to wear all recommended adult safety equipment, as outlined by USA Hockey.
Goalies must also wear an HECC certified mask with chin strap, in addition to their goalie equipment. Pandora will not enforce the current size guidelines (e.g. 11" pad width) for goalies that are using older goalie pads or gloves.
Rule 403 - Major Penalties
Replaces USAH Rule 403 (a) and (b):
If a player receives a major penalty for fighting, another player shall serve the penalty on their behalf and the offending player shall be expelled from the game and/or tournament.
Rule 404 - Misconduct Penalties
In addition toUSAH Rule 404 and 410(c):
The referee may impose a gross misconduct penalty on any player who displays “gross misconduct” of any kind. Any player incurring a gross misconduct shall be suspended for the balance of the game, as well as receiving a two game suspension. The case shall then be reviewed by the Board for further disciplinary action.
Players incurring any of the above penalties while substituting for another team shall serve any game suspensions at their next scheduled games(s) with their assigned team. Players cannot play in any Pandora game until after the duration of the suspension.
Rule 405 - Match Penalties
Replaces USAH Rule 405(c) and 410(c):
Any player receiving a match penalty for Attempt to Injure, Deliberate Injury to an Opponent, or Head Butting shall be expelled from the game.
A player receiving any other match penalty shall receive a one game suspension and the case will be reviewed by the Board for further disciplinary action.
Players incurring a match penalty while substituting for another team shall serve any game suspensions at their next scheduled game(s) with their assigned team. Players cannot play in any Pandora game until after the duration of their suspension.
Rule 501 - Appointment of Officials
Replaces USAH Rule 501:
Pandora shall appoint officials for each game. There shall be two referees. The standard for officiating in Pandora is the “two-man” referee system. Therefore, each referee assumes the duties of both linesman and referee. Pandora, at its option may use the “three-man” system as prescribed by USA Hockey.
All Pandora on-ice officials shall be currently registered and affiliated with USA Hockey.
Rule 506 - Official Scorer
Replaces USAH Rule 506 and 507:
The game scorekeeper shall be responsible for recording all goals, assists and penalties for a given game. Along with these duties, the scorekeeper shall run the time clock at the game, and check that all penalties are registered correctly as well as informing a penalized player information on time served.
Rule 609 - Delay of Game
In addition to USAH Rule 609:
Line changes that take too long as determined by the Referee are considered a delay of game and will be called. This penalty will result in a 2 minute penalty and a power play for the opposing team.
Rule 613 - Fisticuffs (Fighting)
Replaces USAH Rule 613:
Pandora is a non-fighting hockey organization. Fighting in a Pandora game will result in expulsion from the organization.
Rule 615 - Gross Misconduct
Replaces USAH Rule 615:
Original jurisdiction in any hearing resulting from a gross misconduct penalty assessed underRule 601 - Abuse of Officials and Other Misconductshall reside with the Board.
Rule 620 - Icing the Puck
Modifies USAH Rule 620(a):
Icing will be called from the blue line for all in-house and scrimmage games vs other teams outside of Pandora.
Rule 637 - Time of Match
Replaces USAH Rule 637(a):
The maximum time allowed for a game shall be three 20 minute periods of actual play with a rest intermission between periods of one minute duration. At the referee’s discretion, some or all of the 3rd period may be converted to a running clock in order to ensure completion of the game within the specified time slot.
Rule 638 - Tied Games
Replaces USAH Rule 638(a)
If, at the end of regulation play, the game results in a tie, an overtime period may be played if adequate time remains in the ice time slot. The overtime period shall consist of a 5 minute, running-time sudden death period. If enough time remains and the score remains tied after a sudden death period, a shoot out can be implemented, with visiting team shooting first.
