Policies and Procedures

Sylvan Lake Rec Hockey (SLRHA)functions under the Hockey Alberta Play Hockey Model, which includes code of conduct and insurance.  SLRHA is the governing body of recreation hockey in the town of Sylvan Lake. SLRHA abides by the Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta Rules and Regulations.

 

1. SLRHA Structure and Membership
2. The SLRHA Board structure is laid out in the SLRHAbylaws. The SLRHA President is the Hockey Canada/ Hockey Alberta liaison.
3. SLRHA Membership is also outlined in the bylaws.
4. To help recruit and retain board members, each SLRHA Board of Director is entitled to one free registration on their second year as a board of director, and each consecutive year thereafter.

 

2. Divisions
3. SLRHA is divided up into the following divisions.
4. U8 (ages 5, 6, 7)
5. Recommend playing a ratio of 50:50 practices vs games for skill development.
6. Recommend playing half ice games, as outlined by Hockey Canada.
7. No floods between periods.
8. Recommend games to be officiated by coaches.
9. U11 (ages 8, 9 , 10)
10. Full Ice games.
11. No floods between periods.
12. Games to be officiated by two Hockey Alberta certified referees.
13. U15 (ages 11, 12, 13, 14)
14. Full ice games.
15. Floods recommended every two periods.
16. Games to be officiated by two Hockey Alberta certified referees.
17. U18 (ages 15, 16, 17)
18. Full ice games
19. Floods recommended every two periods.
20. Games to be officiated by either a 2 or 3 referee system.
21. Players registered in SLRHA, may not affiliate with registered minor hockey teams. Players registered with minor hockey, may not affiliate with rec hockey.
22. When a team is short players, it may draw players from SLRHA teams from the same age group or from age groups below.

 

 

 

3. Disciplinary Matters 
4. Disciplinary matters are to be managed by the Director of Off Ice Operations. As required, the Director of Off Ice Operations may form ad hoc committees consisting of at least three impartial members for resolution. Resolution could include:

• Decide that there was no issue requiring resolution.
• Issue a warning.
• Issue Suspensions.
• Revoking SLRHA membership.

1. Issues/ Complaints may be submitted to the Director of Player Advocacy. Complainants are required to wait 24-hours before submitting a written complaint.Complaints should be submitted within 7-days of an issue arising.
2. For on-ice issues, coaches, parents, players or on-ice officials may fill out incident reports and submit to the Director of Off Ice Operations as necessary.
3. Appeals – Any member wishing to appeal a decision made by SLRHA, must submit, in writing to the Board of Directors within 7-days of the decision. The Vice President and Director of Office Operations may form an ad-hoc committee consisting of three impartial members for resolution.

 

4. Game Rules
5. Teams may not enter the ice surface until exact time of ice time with the presence of a coach/ team official.
6. All games to consist of 5-minute warm-ups and straight time periods.
7. When there is more than a 5-goal differential, additional goals will not be posted on the score board.
8. 3 goals per game per player.  Any goals over that are disallowed.
9. 3 penalties max per game per player.  A game ejection will result for drawing a 3rd penalty. Repeat game ejections on a single player should be escalated to the Director of Off Ice Operations.
10. No slap shots. A shot taken by a player with his/her stick lifted above the knee, on the wind up.
11. No fighting.  Punches thrown/intent to injure will result in an immediate removal from the game.  An incident report must follow from the coach and will be sent to the Director of Off Ice Operations for further review.

• 1st offence, suggested game suspension.
• 2nd offence, suggested 3 game suspension
• 3rd offence, suggested removal from SLRHA for remainder of season.

1. No swearing.
2. No abuse towards officials tolerated.
3. No intentional hits or body-checks.
4. Any hit or body contact with intent to injure will require an incident report filed by the coach and submitted to the Director of Off Ice Operations.Suggested suspensions include:

• 1st offence, suggested 1 game suspension.
• 2nd offence, suggested 3 game suspension.
• 3rd offence, suggested removal from SLRHA for remainder of season.

 

5. Coach Policy
6. Must have criminal record check and vulnerable sector check completed and handed in.
7. Each coach and team officials must complete Hockey Canada ‘Respect in Sport’. At least one coach/ team official must complete online “Hockey Canada Safety Program Certification”. SLRHA will cover ‘Respect in Sport’ costs for maximum 3 officials per team.
8. SLRHA will cover the Hockey Alberta/ Canada insurance costs for 3 team officials.
9. Must follow Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta and SLRHA bylaws and policies.
10. Must follow fair play code of equal ice time.
11. Must report all game ejections, fighting penalties or major penalties to the Director of Off Ice Operations 
12. Has authority to sit any player during the game.
13. Has authority to stop a game if players are at risk for either team.

 

6. Player Policy
7. Player must follow rules of Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta and SLRHA.
8. Player must abide by Hockey Alberta Recreational Hockey Code of Conduct.
9. Player must wear required equipment.  All required equipment must always be worn on the ice and/or bench by all players.  This includes CSA approved helmet with face mask, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey pants, shin pads, gloves and approved neck guard.  

 

 

7. Referee Policy
8. Referees must be Hockey Canada certified. The Schedule and Referee Director will provide teams with a list of Hockey Canada certified referees.
9. It is recommended that referees are at minimum older than the age group they are refereeing. Some exceptions may apply in the U15 and U18 age groups based on referee availability.
10. All refs to sign off on SLRHA rules and to enforce them during a game.
11. Refs have the right to remove any player or coach from the bench/ice due to verbal abuse.
12. Requirements for the different age groups are listed below along with rates.

• U8 – Hockey Alberta Refs are not required. Utilize coaches (no payment for 5-7 refs)
• U11 – Minimum 1 Hockey Alberta Certified Ref(40$ total – 20$ each if 2 refs used)
• U15 – Minimum 2 Hockey Alberta Certified Refs (40$ per ref: 80$ total)
• U18 – minimum 2 Hockey Alberta Certified Refs (50$ per ref: 100$ total)
• U18 – 3 referee system:  Head Referee – 60$, Assistant Referee’s – 40$

1. Coaches or Managers are responsible to pay ref’s and utilize the SLRHA referee reimbursement form, which is submitted to the SLRHA treasurer. 

 

8. Tournament/ Invitational Policy
9. SLRHA Home tournaments are coordinated/ organized under the direction of the Director of Tournament and Events.
10. The Director of Tournament and Events will develop a tournament planning committee to aid with tournament organization, including fundraising, volunteers, sponsorship, rules and all other aspects of the tournament.
11. SLRHA home tournaments should strive to include all SLRHA division teams.
12. SLRHA will not pay for SLRHA teams to attend away tournaments. Teams will need to fundraise/ pay for their own entry fees. 
13. SLRHA teams should aim to attend only 1 away tournament to ensure other SLRHA teams have tournament opportunities.

 

9. Year End Wrap-up Policy
10. Teams may be entitled to a budget of $20/ per player on a give team for wrap up parties.
11. SLRHA Board may revoke the year end party budget, based on SLRHA’s financial status.

 

10. Volunteer Policy
11. Each family shall be responsible to complete 4 hours of volunteer time per skater, per season.
12. To ensure volunteer hours are completed, a $200 post dated cheque shall be required from each player. This volunteer cheque shall also serve as a jersey deposit. Players will not receive their jersey at the start of the season until this deposit is received. The deposit will be collected by the team manager and will be held by the SLRHA treasurer.
13. Volunteer hours will consist of running the time clock, fundraising activities for SLRHA, tournament planning or volunteering at the tournament.
14. Team Managers will track volunteer hours for team related activities. The Tournament Director will track volunteer hours for tournament related activities.
15. Post dated cheques will be returned to families at the end of the season, as long as volunteer requirements have been fulfilled and once jerseys have been returned.