Rules

NBHL Rules for all Hockey Seasons (Fall/Winter & Summer)

http://www.nbhlhockey.com

 

1) All USA Hockey rules for recreational hockey will be strictly adhered to. ANY TEAM FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THESE RULES OR THE RULES SET FORTH BY THE NBHL WILL RISK FORFEITURE OF THE AFFECTED GAMES AND POSSIBLY DISCIPLINARY ACTION FROM THE BOARD.

 

2) Attendance Policy: A player can be removed from the league after 5 unexcused absences. For an absence to be excused, the player must contact his/her team representative or alternate team representative by noon the day of the game. If a team wishes to exercise this option, the team must notify the player in question and call a team meeting. At this meeting, the player in question should be given an opportunity to speak on his/her behalf prior to conducting a vote. The board will make a final ruling.

 

3) Long Term Substitution Policy – Skaters/Goalies (Regular Season): If a player plans to miss four or more consecutive games, the team representative must notify the league board to arrange for a substitute.  The league board will provide the latest sub list and waitlist to assist the captain in selecting an equally rated player to fill the vacancy.  Refunds for any money paid will be the responsibility of the team rep, player, and substitute player to work out.  If necessary, the team rep may ask the board for a judgment if no resolution can be found.

 

4) Short Term Substitution Policy – Skaters (Regular Season): Substitutes may be used when a team has less than Twelve skaters (goalie is NOT included in the count), except for reasons due to suspension (see rule #17 for suspended players guidelines). The sub must be less than or equal to the player they are replacing.   All effort should be made to notify the other team rep prior to game time of any substitutions.

 

5) Short Term Substitution Policy – Goalies (Regular Season): Same rule as for the skaters described in rule #4.  However, due to the lack of goalies on the waitlist or sub list, it may be necessary use a sub goalie that is rated higher than the player they are replacing.  Team reps must exhaust all reasonable effort to find a goalie rated within a ½ point with the understanding by the opposing team rep that sometimes this is not possible.  Any blatant abuses of goalie substitutions can be brought to the board for review.

 

6) Playoff Substitution Policy – Skaters:

a)             You must have less than 12 players to sub in the playoffs (Not including the goalie).

b)            Subs must be EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN the skater they are subbing for.  No exceptions.

c)             No long term replacements will be made after the last regular season game.

d)            Subs CANNOT come from the FHL.  They must be on the approved sub list and/or a skater from another team in the NBHL.

e)           All effort should be made to notify the other team rep prior to game time of any substitutions.

 

7) Playoff Substitution Policy – Goalies:

a)             Subs must be EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN the goalie they are subbing for.  On rare occasions, if a goalie of equal or lesser value cannot be found, it must be brought to the board attention as soon as possible so alternate arrangements can be negotiated between both team reps involved in the game.

 

8) Playoffs & Playoff Overtime Policy:

a)             Playoffs will be single elimination.

b)             All 8 teams qualify for playoffs.

c)             First round schedule is 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5.

d)             In case of a tie at the end of regulation, a 3-person shootout will take place.  If tied after the initial 3-person shootout, a                  sudden death shootout takes place (i.e. one skater at a time until we have a winner).  Note:  No skater may shoot                          twice before everyone has participated in the shootout.                                   

*FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ONLY: A 4-on-4 5 minute extra period is played. If still tied after the extra period the above shootout rules apply.

e)               Except for the 1st round of playoffs, if a game is within 2 goals the last 2 minutes of the game will be played with a stop clock.

 

SUMMER LEAGUEADDENDUM:  Rule #8 applies as follows:

              b)           All teams advance to playoffs

              c)           First round schedule is 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5, 1 vs 2 (scrimmage)

 

9) Payments will be collected in TWO equal installments.  The board will set the league entry fee prior to each season.  The first payment will be due the last Friday in July.  The second payment will be due the last Friday in October.  If the first payment is not received by the first game, that player may NOT participate in any game.  If the player has not made the second payment by Nov 15, they may not participate in any games.   It is the responsibility of the team representative to make sure the player has paid once the season has started. The league board will provide the team representatives with a list of who is unpaid at least a week before the season begins and a week before the November 15 deadline.  If an unpaid player plays in a game, the team will forfeit the game.

 

SUMMER LEAGUEADDENDUM:  Rule #9 applies as follows:

Full Payment is due one week prior to the first game of the season.  This date will be clearly spelled out in the informational note sent out to the league by a member of the board.  The board will set the league entry fee prior to each season.  If the full payment is not received by the first game, that player may NOT participate in any game.  It is the responsibility of the team representative to make sure the player has paid once the season has started. The league board will provide the team representatives with a list of who is unpaid the Monday before the 1st game.  If an unpaid player plays in a game, the team will forfeit the game.

 

10) A $35.00 fee will be charged for all bounced checks.

 

11) General Rules:

 

a)  The red line (center ice) is not used during NBHL games.

b)  Full slap shots are allowed.

c)  No checking allowed – follow USA Hockey rules.

 

12) Three penalties in one-game suspension rule:

a)       If a player receives 3 penalties in one game, he is suspended immediately from that game. The Board will review the incident and determine if an additional game is necessary. See part "d" below. It is the responsibility of the referees to enforce this rule. Failure by the referees to enforce the rule will be discussed with the referees to prevent future occurrences, but no forfeitures will result.

1)     Double-minors count as 1 penalty.

2)     Two or more penalties occurring at same time each count as 1. (e.g. Roughing & unsportsmanlike would equal 2 penalties)

3)     Penalties all count as 1, regardless of severity.

b)      USA Hockey rules still apply.

c)       If the 3rd penalty is a Game Misconduct, the player would automatically have to sit the next game, and it will be determined by Board review whether the player sits an additional game.

d)      Board review is done by following method:

1)     NBHL statistician notifies the Board that a 3 penalty infraction has occurred.

2)     The Board contacts the team reps of the two teams that played to get the details of the event.  If one of the team reps is unavailable, the highest rated player available will be consulted for input.

3)      The Board then determines if an additional game is required.

                e)      Repeat Offenders Rule:

                                1)      Second time with 3 penalties in one game:  Automatically suspended the following game

                                2)      Third time with 3 penalties in one game:  Automatically suspended the following 3 games

                                3)      Fourth time with 3 penalties in one game:  Expulsion from the league.  Your status will be

                                          reviewed by the board to determine if you will be allowed back in the league the following

                                          year.

 

13) Team Representative complaint about opposing player conduct policy: Any team representative has the right and responsibility to file a complaint about an opposing player if he deems that that opposing player's conduct is injurious, reckless, or acting in a manner not in line with the goals of the NBHL. The Board will review any complaints filed, and will take appropriate action, including warnings, suspensions, and/or expulsion from the league. Repeated complaints against individual players will be taken into consideration in these actions, including complaints from previous seasons.

 

14) If a player leaves the league due to work, injury, or for family reasons, he/she will be given priority (over people on the waiting list) during registration for the following two seasons. The player who becomes the permanent substitution for the person that leaves the league will have priority (over people on the waiting list) during registration the following season. If a player leaves the league for any other reason, they will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist, if they so choose.

 

15) If a person on the waiting list is offered a spot on the active roster at the beginning of the season and for whatever reason declines to play, he/she will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list

 

16) Regular season tie-breakers for seeding in the playoffs.

a)       1st tie-breaker is total wins.

b)       2nd tie-breaker is head-to-head record

c)       3rd tie-breaker is most goals scored in head-to-head match-ups

d)       4th tie-breaker is overall GF/GA ratio.

 

17) If a player is suspended, either by referees or by the league board for a period exceeding 4 games (including

expulsion), the player will not be allowed to be subbed for until after the 4 games. After the 4 games, temporary subs will be allowed if the player's suspension has 3 or less games remaining. If there are 4 or more games remaining or the player has been expelled, a permanent replacement sub will be given. The exception to this rule is that the player's 4 game suspension must be over at least ONE full game before the playoffs (i.e. suspension must start at least 5 weeks before the end of season, or no replacement will be given). The player will be allowed to return during the playoffs if his suspension is fully served.

 

18) The league board reserves the right to act accordingly for any incidents not specifically addressed by the

aforementioned rules.   A Voting Panel will be used to address most issues.  The Voting Panel consists of:

President:          1 Vote

Vice-President: 1 Vote

Treasurer:          1 Vote

Team Reps:       2 Votes (based on their majority vote).  If the vote is tied between the captains, the decision reverts to being made solely by the board)

In this system, there is a total of 5 votes.  The majority vote will decide the outcome of the issue.  All decisions are FINAL.

 

19)  Note:  Even though they share most of the same rules, the fall/winter and summer seasons are separate entities.  Stats, penalties, suspensions, etc do not carryover from one season to the next.  Rosters and waitlists are maintained separately for each league.  However, if any player is expelled from one league, it will be considered final expulsion from any NBHL season.

 

20) All player must be at least 25 years of age.