XHL RULES (2008)
League participants must have attained their 16th
birthday by the start of the season.
Teams will consist of a maximum of 7
players.
The format of the league will be: 3 on 3, plus a goalie.
The court-playing surface is 116’ long by 52’
wide. It is considered a small court.
Both in-line and quad skates are
acceptable.
HELMETS, SHIN GUARDS, and HOCKEY GLOVES are REQUIRED
safety equipment that MUST be worn at all times during the course of
play.
The use of mouthpieces, elbow pads, kneepads,
throat guards, and other safety equipment is optional, but their use is
strongly encouraged.
Alteration of the XHL Jersey (with
the exception of re-sizing) is strictly PROHIBITED, unless otherwise given permission
by the league. Participants will not be
allowed to play with an altered jersey.
Only an official XHL team jersey is permitted
to be worn in a game during the course of the season. The jersey can be a current year’s jersey or a prior year’s jersey
as long as everyone on the team is wearing the same colored jersey.
Every player in the XHL is required to pay an
entrance fee. THE
ENTRANCE FEE IS NOT REFUNDABLE.
The official XHL jersey(s) provided to the
participants by the league will remain the property of the
registered player in all circumstances.
No players may be added to a roster once the season begins.
If a team loses a player during the course of the season, they will have
to continue to play with a reduced roster for the remainder of the season. THE PLAYER MAY NOT BE REPLACED. An exception to this rule may be made if the lost
player is a goalie.
The applications of persons who are submitting
applications as INDIVIDUALS (not as members of a team), will be
accepted contingent upon the ability of the League to place them on a team that
does not have the maximum number of players on their roster, and with the
approval of the team being asked to add that individual to their roster.
All applicants must submit a signed Xtreme
Hockey League Release, a signed Player Application, and the required entrance
fee to the League by the posted due date in order to be considered for
admission into the League.
The League reserves the right to accept or deny any
and all applications without explanation. In such cases, the entrance fee will be returned to all rejected
applicants.
No applicant will be permitted to play in the
league until both the Application Fee and the Referee Fee have been paid in
full.
Games will consist of three 15-minute periods
and two 3-minute intermissions.
If at the end of regulation play, a tie occurs, then there will be a
shoot out.
The shoot out will be run in the following
manner:
-
The captain of each team shall be allotted 1 minute to
choose 3 players to shoot on the opponent’s goaltender.
-
The home team will choose whether they will shoot first or
second.
-
If at the end of these 3 rounds the score remains tied,
each team captain will choose another shooter until a winner is
determined. If all players have shot,
the same order will be repeated until a winner is determined.
-
Each breakaway will begin with the blow of a whistle. The goalie must begin in his crease, but can
skate out after the whistle.
If a shoot out is needed, the teams will continue to
defend the goals they are defending at the end of regulation play.
All games will start at their appointed
start time; otherwise the game is considered a forfeit. A game will be considered a forfeit if,
at the appointed start time of the game, either one of the 2 teams scheduled to
play cannot field 1 goalie and 3 skaters.
A loss will be awarded to the team that cannot field the appropriate
number of players and a win will be awarded to their opponent. The game cannot be rescheduled as a make-up
game. THIS RULE SHALL
BE STRICTLY INTERPRETED. IT IS THE
PLAYERS RESPONSIBLITY TO BE AT THE COURTS AND READY TO GO AT THE APPOINTED
START TIME ON THE SCHEDULED DAY.
Games will be cancelled and rescheduled due to
inclement weather. Only
the League President shall be permitted make this determination.
If a game has been started and suspended due
to inclement weather, it shall be rescheduled and picked up from
the point where it left off, provided it has not met the criteria for an
officially completed game.
An officially completed game for
the purposes of calling a game due to inclement weather shall be 2 completed
periods. However, if one
of the teams holds a 10-point lead at the time the game is suspended, it will
be considered a completed game and will not be rescheduled.
No games shall be started during a lightning
storm. If a lightning storm, or
any storm moves in while a game is in progress, the clock shall be stopped, and
the game suspended until such time that the lightning has stopped and the storm
has passed and the conditions on the court are suitable for playing. A League Officer shall make this
determination.
The printed schedule that is handed out to all
players at the beginning of the season shall be the official schedule. The league shall not be held responsible for
any typographical errors made to the schedule posted on the website.
Points will be
awarded in the following manner: Win = 2 points, Shoot Out Loss = 1 point, Loss
= 0 points.
Stoppage of the game clock will occur during the following situations:
-When there has been
a serious injury on the court.
-When the Referee
has called a penalty.
-When the ball
has been shot out of play and no immediate replacement is
available.
-When a situation
arises that the Referee deems it necessary to do so.
-When a time-out is called.
-When a goal is knocked off its
moorings.
-When
the ball becomes lodged in the fence.
-During the last
2 minutes of the 3rd period when:
*
the ball is covered by the goalie
*
the ball is shot out of play
* a goal
has been scored.
Only the penalty clock shall be stopped during whistles on a penalty. The penalty clock shall be re-started as soon as the ball
is dropped at the face-off point.
Play shall be whistled stopped when the ball hits the
netting above the fence line.
Each team shall be allotted (1) 1-minute time-out
during the course of a game.
Face-offs will occur at center court after every goal.
Off sides will be center court.
There will be no "icing" called.
When the goalie covers the ball and the
Referee blows the whistle to stop play, a face-off will occur in
the zone in which the ball was covered up.
When a ball is shot out of play,
a face-off will occur in the zone in which the ball was shot out
of play. If the attacking team shoots
the ball out of play, without the interference of the defending team, the
face-off will occur at center court.
For instances that are undeterminable, the face-off shall be at center
court.
When the ball becomes lodged in the net
on the outside of either goal so as to make it unplayable, or if it is
"frozen" between opposing players intentionally or otherwise, the
Referee shall stop the play and face-off the ball at the closest
face-off circle in that zone. If, in
the opinion of the Referee, the attacking team caused the stoppage, the
face-off shall occur at center court.
If the ball comes to rest on top of
the boards surrounding the playing area, it shall be considered to be
in play and may be played legally by hand or stick.
For the health and safety of all participants, any player
who is bleeding must exit the court immediately and may not return
until the bleeding has stopped or is bandaged.
The Away team will be required to provide two of its members, and the
Home team will be required to provide one of its members to the League on the night that they are scheduled to
provide, scoreboard operators, and statisticians. These members must be ready
the appointed start time of their game.
Failure to do so will result in the team forfeiting their next regularly
scheduled game. It will be left up to
the individual teams to determine which members will provide these services.
At no time during the season are teams permitted
to “request” specific referees.
The schedule to provide services will be
determined in the following manner:
6:15 – The teams playing the
8:35 game will cover this time slot.
7:25 – The teams playing the
9:45 game will cover this time slot.
8:35 – The teams playing the 6:15 game will cover this time slot.
9:45 – The teams playing the
7:25 game will cover this time slot.
Whenever a team has attained a 15-goal
lead over an opponent, they shall be declared the winner of that
game. The game will continue to play
out as normal, with the exception that the score will not be altered nor
official statistics kept for any subsequent goals or assists.
It is the
responsibility of the individual teams to schedule make-up games on the dates provided by the league.
When make-up games are rescheduled, it is the responsibility of those
teams playing to provide referees, statisticians, and a scoreboard operator for
that game. No make-up games will be
scheduled on an evening if there are not at least 2 games scheduled for that
night. The league will provide adequate
opportunities to reschedule games.
If a tie should occur
in the point totals for two or more teams in the standings at the end of the regular season, the four
playoff seeds shall be determined by following the subsequent tie-breaking formula:
·
1) The team that has
won their respective season series during the regular season will be awarded
the higher seed. If that doesn’t apply
then go to the next step.
·
2) The team with the
most ‘Goals For’ during the regular season will be awarded the higher
seed. If the team(s) are tied, then
proceed to the next step.
·
3) The team with the
least ‘Goals Against’ during the regular season will be awarded the higher
seed. If the team(s) are tied, then
proceed to the next step.
·
4) If a tie still
exists between any of the 1-3 seeds, a coin flip will determine the
seeding. If the tie will determine the
4th seed, a do-or-die game will determine the seeding.
During a game, goalies can only be replaced
with an extra skater in the following circumstances:
A. Their
team is losing and there is less than two minutes to play in the game.
B. There is
a delayed penalty.
The intentional destruction of another
player's equipment by the participants of the League is not permitted. Any player found to be in violation of this
rule shall be responsible for replacing the item or items broken or destroyed
by them.
It is expected that all participants of the
league will be treated respectfully and fairly by their Captains and fellow
teammates, and that an equitable system will be devised by every
team that will allow every player an equal chance to participate as a skating
member of the team during all games.
However, the management practices of each individual team
is not controllable or the responsibility of the League or it's officials.
Players are expected
to act
professionally on and off the court. Any incident occurring in the bench or
spectator areas will be dealt with appropriately by the President and/or the
Disciplinary Board. This includes
interactions with fellow participants and/or spectators.
It is the intention of the founders and organizers of this
League for all of the League's participants to enjoy themselves in this sport
because of the love that they have for the game of hockey. While winning is fun, and is an important
goal, it is not intended to be the only objective of this League or it's
participants. A "win at all
costs" mentality is not acceptable in this League.
The Xtreme Hockey League
is a privately organized recreational hockey league that was created by the
League officials for the purpose of providing an opportunity for its
participants a forum for playing organized hockey.
The Xtreme Hockey League
has the permission of the Brockway Recreation Board to use the facilities that
it plays on. The League is not managed,
funded, or controlled by the Brockway Recreation Board or the Borough of
Brockway with regards to the rules and regulations that have been set forth
hereto with.
The President of the League is
reserved the right to deal with any situation (as he sees fit) that
arises during the course of the season, which may not have been anticipated by
any of the rules set forth during the current season. The rules may be modified at any
time during the season to address unanticipated situations.
Minor Penalty:
Any player, other than the goalkeeper, shall be
ruled off the court for 2 minutes during which time no substitute shall
be permitted.
When coincidental
minor penalties of equal duration are imposed against players of both
teams, the penalized players shall take their places on the penalty benches
until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their respective
penalties. Immediate substitution shall
be made for an equal number of minor penalties OR coincidental minor penalties
of equal duration to each team penalized and the penalties of the players for
which substitutions have been made shall not be taken into account for the
purpose of the Delayed Penalty Rule.
Should an infraction of the rules occur
to a player on a team that is already short-handed occur, the Referee will call
the penalty but the penalty will not begin until the current penalty has been
completed.
Double-Minor Penalty:
Any player, other than the goalkeeper,
shall be ruled off the court for 4 minutes during which time no
substitute shall be permitted.
Major Penalty:
The offender, except the goaltender, shall be ruled
off the court for 5 minutes during which time no substitute shall be
permitted.
Misconduct Penalty:
Penalties to all players, except the goalkeeper,
involve removal from the game for a period of 10 minutes each. A substitute player is permitted to replace
the penalized player immediately.
Game
Misconduct Penalty:
Penalty involves the suspension of a player
for the balance of the game. A substitute player is permitted to replace the
penalized player immediately.
Match
Penalty:
Penalty involves the suspension of a player
for the balance of the game, and the offender shall be ordered to leave the
premises immediately. No substitute is
permitted to replace the penalized player until after 10 minutes playing time
has elapsed.
If the situation should arise that a player is
assessed a GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY or a MATCH PENALTY in the last 5 minutes of
a game, their suspension from their
next regularly scheduled game is automatic.
Penalty Shots:
The Referee may call a penalty shot for
any of the following infractions:
1) If a player has a clear breakaway opportunity, had control of the
ball, and is fouled from behind.
2) If a player other than the goalkeeper falls on, holds, or gathers
the ball into his body while in the goal crease.
3) If a player throws a stick or any other object as to interfere with
the ability of a player to stickhandle, pass, or shoot.
If by reason of injury the player
designated by the Referee to take the penalty shot is unavailable to shoot in a
reasonable time, the shot may be taken by an alternate player who was on the
court when the foul was committed.
Disciplinary Board
Whenever a situation arises that needs to be dealt
with that is grievous enough to warrant further disciplinary measures, the
DICIPLINARY BOARD (composed of all the team captains & the League Officers)
will meet to determine what additional actions need to be taken. If the matter involves a suspension of a
player, the DICIPLINARY BOARD must meet and make a decision prior to the
"player in question’s” next scheduled game. A quorum of a simple majority +1 of Board members
must be present in order to make a decision.
If the "player in question" is the captain, the alternate will
take his seat on the Board. Only a League
Officer may call a DICIPLINARY BOARD meeting.
If a player feels that the Board should meet on a particular situation,
they must have the captain of their team bring the suggestion to the attention
of the League Officers.
Specific Penalties
UNSPORTSMANLIKE
CONDUCT
A) A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be
assessed to any player other than the Captain who disputes the ruling of an
official. If the captain has a dispute,
he may, if the referee allows, question the call. However, the referee may determine at his own discretion whether
the call warrants a discussion.
B) A MINOR PENALTY (2 MINUTES) shall be imposed on any
player blatantly “dives” or embellishes a fall or reaction, or who feigns an
injury.
C) A DOUBLE-MINOR PENALTY (4
Minutes) may be assessed to any player who persists in such a challenge.
D) A GAME-MISCONDUCT PENALTY
(Suspension) may be assessed if any further challenge persists.
E) A GAME-MISCONDUCT PENALTY (Suspension)
shall be imposed on a player who throws their stick on or off the court in a
fit of rage. This penalty shall be called
by the Referee due to the fact that it endangers other players and spectators
and could cause serious injury.
OBSCENE
OR PROFANE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES
A)
A player shall be given one WARNING by the Referee
when obscene or profane language is used.
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be
assessed to any player who uses obscene gestures or profane language on the
courts or in the bench area, before, during, or after the game anytime after
the initial warning has been given, and the Referee shall report the
circumstances to a League Officer for further disciplinary action.
ATTEMPT
TO INJURE
A)
A MATCH PENALTY (Suspension) shall be
imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure an opponent or
deliberately injures an opponent in any manner.
B) In addition to the MATCH PENALTY, the player shall automatically be
suspended from further competition until the DICIPLINARY BOARD has ruled on the
issue.
ELBOWING, KNEEING, AND HEAD-BUTTING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY
(2 Minutes) shall be imposed on any
player who uses his or her elbow, knee, or head in such a manner as to any way
foul an opponent.
B)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be imposed
if the foul is deemed severe.
BOARDING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY
(2 Minutes) shall be imposed on any
player who body-checks, crosschecks, elbows, charges, or trips an opponent in
such a manner that causes the opponent to be thrown violently into the
boards. This includes pushing a player
from behind into the boards when that player is unable to defend themselves.
B)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be imposed
if the foul is deemed severe. A major
penalty shall automatically be assessed to any player who draws blood as a
result of boarding another player.
CHARGING
A) A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall
be imposed on a player who runs or jumps into or charges an opponent. When more than two steps or strides are
taken, it shall be considered a charge.
A goalkeeper is NOT "fair game" just
because they are outside the goal crease area.
A penalty for interference or charging should be called in every case
when an opposing player makes unnecessary contact with the
goalkeeper.
B) A MAJOR
PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be imposed if the call is deemed severe. A major penalty shall automatically be
assessed to any player who draws blood as a result of charging another player.
CROSS-CHECKING
A) A MINOR
PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed on a player who
"cross-checks" an opponent. A
crosscheck is a check delivered with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the court.
B)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes)
shall be imposed if the call is deemed severe.
A major penalty shall automatically be assessed to any player who draws
blood as a result of cross-checking another player.
KICKING
A PLAYER
A GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY
(Suspension) shall be imposed on any player who kicks or attempts to
kick another player.
HIGH
STICKS
A) The play shall be whistled dead if a player plays the ball
while carrying his stick above the normal height of the shoulder. If the opposing team
touches the ball before the offending team does, the high-sticking violation
shall be waved-off.
B) A goal scored from a stick so carried shall not be allowed,
except by a player of the defending team.
C) A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed on
any player who strikes a player with such a stick.
D) A DOUBLE-MINOR PENALTY (4 Minutes) shall automatically be
assessed to any player who draws blood as a result of high sticking another
player.
BUTT-ENDING
A)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) and a GAME
MISCONDUCT PENALTY (SUSPENSION) shall be imposed on any player who
"butt-ends" an opponent.
Attempts to "butt-end" shall include all cases where a
"butt-end" gesture is made with the "butt-end" of the
stick, or with the blade of the stick, regardless of whether body contact is
made or not.
SPEARING
A) A MAJOR PENALTY
(5 Minutes) and a GAME MISCONDUCT PENALTY (SUSPENSION) shall be
imposed on a player who spears an opponent.
Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick
blade while the stick is being carried with one hand or both hands.
SLASHING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on any player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by
"slashing" with their stick.
B)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes)
shall be imposed if the call is deemed severe.
A major penalty shall automatically be assessed to any player who draws
blood as a result of cross-checking another player.
Referees should penalize as
"slashing" any player who swings his or her stick at any opposing
player (whether in or out of range) without actually striking them or where a
player, on the pretext of playing the ball, makes a wild swing at the ball with
the object of intimidating the opponent.
DELAY OF
GAME
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on any player, including the goalkeeper, who holds or freezes the ball with
their stick, skates, or body in such a manner as to deliberately cause stoppage
of play. With regard to the goalkeeper,
this rule applies outside of his or her goal crease area. Any player who drops to their knees to block
a shot should not be penalized if the ball is shot under them or becomes lodged
in their clothing or equipment. But any
use of the hands to make the ball unplayable shall be penalized promptly.
B)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes)
shall be imposed on any player, except a goalkeeper, who closes his hand on the
puck. A player shall be permitted to
catch the puck out of the air but must immediately place it or knock it down to
the court.
C) Play
shall not be stopped nor the game delayed by reasons of adjustments to
clothing, equipment, skates, or sticks, unless the player is
the goalkeeper. The onus
of maintaining clothing and equipment in proper condition shall be upon the
player. If adjustments are required,
the player shall leave the court and play shall continue with a substitute.
D) A hand-pass shall not
be permitted unless it is done in the defensive zone. If one occurs, the Referee will whistle the play dead and call
for a face-off in the appropriate zone.
A hand-pass can be waved-off if it is first touched by the opposing
team.
HOLDING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on a player who holds an opponent with their hands or their stick in any other
way.
HOOKING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on a player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by
"hooking" with their stick.
B)
A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be imposed
on any player who injures an opponent by "hooking".
INTERFERENCE
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on a player who interferes with or impedes progress of an opponent who is not
in possession of the ball.
B) A MINOR PENALTY (2
Minutes) shall be imposed on a player who restrains an opponent who is
attempting to "fore check."
C) A MINOR PENALTY (2
Minutes) shall be imposed on an attacking player who deliberately checks a
defensive player who is not in possession of the ball.
D) A MINOR PENALTY (2
Minutes) shall be imposed on a player who deliberately knocks a stick out
of an opponent's hand, or who prevents a player who has dropped his stick or
any other piece of equipment from regaining possession of it.
E) A MINOR PENALTY (2
Minutes) shall be imposed on any player on the players' bench who, by means
of his stick or his body, interferes with the movements of the ball or any
opponent on the court during the progress of the play.
F)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed on an attacking
player who, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper's
ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.
TRIPPING
A)
A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed
on any player who shall place their stick, knee, foot, arm, hand, or elbow in
such a manner that it shall cause their opponent to trip or fall.
ROUGHING
A) A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed on any
player who unnecessarily contacts or strikes a player during the game.
B) A MAJOR PENALTY (5 Minutes) shall be imposed if the
call is deemed severe. A major penalty
shall automatically be assessed to any player who draws blood as a result of
charging another player.
TOO-MANY MEN
A) A MINOR PENALTY (2 Minutes) shall be imposed on a
team that prematurely substitutes and has too many men on the court at a given
point during the game. The Referee
shall allow a small window for changing but it will be left to his discretion
as to what is fair for both teams.
COOLING-OFF
RULE
Play
will be stopped when a player is deemed guilty of endangering other players on
the court, or deemed in violation of playing at a "win at all costs"
mentality. This player will be
immediately given a warning by the referee, no questions asked. The league officers will also have the
authority to judge if a player is guilty of violating these rules. The warning will also constitute a
"cooling-off" time, where the player or players will be required to
sit on the bench for 5 minutes in order to regain their composure. This 5 minute cooling-off time is not
a penalty as the player can be replaced by a substitute. This will be the only warning for that
player. The next violation will be an
automatic game misconduct penalty, and the player will be reported to the
league officers for further disciplinary measures if necessary.
FIGHTING
A) FIGHTING IS ABSOLUTELY NOT PERMITTED.
B) Any player who initiates a fight will be automatically and immediately thrown out of the league for the remainder of the season, without<