XHL RULES (2009)
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. If
at the end of 2 periods the score is tied, both teams will get 1 point in the
standings. The 2nd point will
be awarded by way of a shootout at a date and time to be arranged by the
captains and League President.
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 recourse.
The offender must leave the premises immediately or the proper
authorities will be called to have the offender removed for disorderly
conduct. The offender may not be
replaced on the roster by his or her team.
No substitute shall be permitted to take the place of the penalized
player on the court until 10 minutes of actual playing time has elapsed from
the time the penalty was imposed. It
will be the discretion of the Referee and/or the League President as to whom
the initiator of the fight was.
C)
If another player on the penalized team initiates a fight at any time
during the remainder of the season, the offender and his or her team will be
automatically and immediately thrown out of the league for the remainder of the
season, without recourse. The offender
and his or her team must leave the premises immediately or the proper authorities
will be called to have the offender and his or her team removed for disorderly
conduct. It will be the discretion of
the Referee and/or the League President as to whom the initiator of the fight
was. The current game and all remaining
games will be considered a forfeit on the offending team's part.