Kildonan Sponge Hockey League Rules
The League reserves the right to suspend any player or team that we feel is detrimental to the game of Sponge Hockey due to verbal abuse of League officials or opposing players or for excessive rough play. If we suspend a team the will be taken off the schedule for the remainder of the season and a pro-rated refund of League fees will be applied.
Most players are excellent so we do not want to ruin the fun of the game with few “bad apples”. Refs are now instructed to crack down on the verbal abuse, which many times leads to chippy play.
Introduction
Entry fee $550.00 per team plus ref fees. Teams are responsible for paying referees before the start of each game (cash only for refs please). Coed & Men’s teams will pay $10.00 each team. Women’s teams will pay $8.00 each team. Budget for a minimum of 17 games and maximum of 22 games (depending on how far you go in the playoffs) Men’s Division One playoffs will have 2 refs at all times with each team paying $20 to a ref, so budget accordingly if you are playing Men’s Division One
Minimum $200.00 deposit required by November 2nd guarantees your spot as long as a total of a minimum of $400.00 deposit is paid by November 23rd, with post-dated check for the balance, dated no later than January 1st. The season will start when the ice is ready (hopefully mid-December) and run until mid-February when our playoff weekend wraps up the season. Teams will play 14 games plus minimum 3 playoff games guaranteed (all teams make playoffs). The playoff weekends will be February 11th- 13th & February 18th- 20th with the snow out date of February 25th – 27th. Please keep these ENTIRE weekends available, as teams will be playing Friday, Saturday & Sunday the first weekend with teams advancing to second weekend.
In the event of bad weather- excessive wind chills, cold weather, or snow team all players can call the league game day conditions line at 654-2255 for updates. If you need to leave a message for the league you may also call 654-2255. The league will not be calling teams to postpone games. The league will notify captains when the makeup games will be played. You may have to play makeup games in an alternate time slot from your regular games. In the unlikely event games are postponed late in the season and can not be made up, team will be refunded $10.00 per game (plus teams save on ref fees from any games not made up) and awarded a win in a standings. Last season was the first time in our 10 year history that some games were not made up.
Women’s games will be played Sundays
Coed games teams have choice of playing Saturdays Only or Mondays and Wednesdays
Men’s have choice of playing a Saturday Division, a Sunday Division, a Monday & Wednesday Division or a Tuesday & Thursday Division
ALL DIVISIONS ARE LIMITED and are a First come basis with deposits secured
Player Eligibility
All players must sign roster. Rosters due on or before December 23rd. The addition/deletion roster with player changes is due in on or before January 15th
To play playoffs player must play in a minimum of 5 regular season games. Players must have picture I.D. (driver's license, etc) with them at all times to show on request. Any team playing with an illegal player or players in regular season will forfeit that game, in playoffs team will be disqualified for remainder of the playoffs. A player may play on up to 3 teams as long as they are on the roster. To play in playoffs you must play at least 5 games for each team to play for them in playoffs. In playoffs, if more than one of your teams is playing at the same time, you must pick a team as we cannot guarantee games won’t conflict. Players may play co-ed and men’s/women’s and in playoffs these games are guaranteed not to conflict.
The Game
Men's- 5 Man plus a goaltender. Women's- 5 Women plus a goaltender,
Co-ed- 3 men, 2 women plus a goaltender (male or female).
You can start a game with a minimum of 4 players plus a goaltender. In co-ed maximum 3 male players plus goaltender on the ice at any one time, you may, however play with more female players than male players if desired (maximum 5 players plus goaltender)
If team hasn't enough players at scheduled game time, 1 goal for every 2 minutes will be awarded, and that time will be deducted from the game. If team still can't ice a team after 10 minutes it is considered a defaulted game. If your goaltender isn’t ready at game time, you can wait for him/her to get there, taking the goals against penalty/s as stated above or designates a goalie. If your goaltender isn't coming, and you have no equipment, have a player act as the goaltender. The acting goalie must remain the same player for the entire game, or until a goaltender with equipment shows up. If goaltender shows up late, NO WARM UPS allowed. (See other rules for goaltenders rules) You must have an acting goaltender for the entire game (except the final 5 minutes of the second half)
Game Duration
All games 2-20 minute periods, running time. The final 2 minutes of the second half will be stop time. All ties remain a tie in regular season. In playoffs, a 5minute sudden death period, if still tied, a shootout, using the current NHL rules with 3 shooters (in coed- male, female, male). In regular season team get 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss,
Mercy Rule- if a team is leading by 7 or more goals with 5 or less minutes left, the time will be reduced to 2 minutes running time. Once mercy rule is enforced, it will stay in effect for remainder of the game, even if the losing team scores to make it less than a 7-goal margin.
For Men’s and Coed- no line changes on whistles, except when penalties are called or goals are scored. Teams must “change on the fly” This helps keep the flow of the game going, since it is running time. Women’s may make line changes on any whistle or on the fly.
Defaulted Games
Will count as a 7-0 loss. Team that defaults must pay BOTH teams portion of ref fees.
Uniforms
Teams must have one set of matching jerseys (same colour, doesn't have to be same style, example a blue team can wear Toronto or Edmonton away colours, as long as they are the same colour) with numbers on the back (use tape if jersey has no number). If two teams wear same colours the away team must wear alternate colours (we will list the teams with their colours with the schedules so you have plenty of time to arrange for spare jerseys, in this situation, if one team is all blue, the conflicting team, if they have to can wear every colour but blue, but try your best to get the same colours for all your team.)
Sportsmanship
Although probably 95% of the players in our League show good sportsmanship, there are a few “bad apples” that make games less pleasant (with verbal abuse or “dirty play”) for other players as well as officials.
Reffing Spongee can be very hard, especially if the players are playing “dirty” or verbally abusive. The refs are doing their best out there but some players make it VERY difficult for them. The League supports our officials and their decisions 100%.
Refs have been instructed to call EVERYTHING. No one is wearing full equipment so it can be very dangerous on the ice. Even the slightest “hack” on the shins can hurt, which may lead to retaliation. Please tell your players to play clean and this will make games a lot more smooth and enjoyable for all.
Verbal abuse toward other players and Officials WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
Referees have been given full authority to give out unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at ANY time verbal abuse takes place. The refs also have full authority to give a player a Game Ejection for verbal abuse or if 2 players APPEAR to want to get too physical with each other.
Any player/s given a game ejection (not 3 penalty game misconduct) in the final 5 minutes of a game off the rinks not during a game will be automatically be suspended from the League for minimum of one game. Players can be written up for ejection in club house or anywhere on premises, even if players are not playing, by ANY ref or League Official (so please play of the game on the rink, and once game is over, “leave it on the rink”)
Any player suspended from one team (that does, or wants to play on another team) cannot play on any other team in the league while suspension is on. The league will contact team captain with severity of the suspension. Any player suspended may be banned from community center premises, including parking lot, 1/2 hour before, during, and 1/2 hour after all league events while suspended. The league will provide suspended player with all dates and times of league functions upon request.
The refs also have full authority to call a game AT ANY TIME if he feels it is about to get out of hand
Penalties-All basic hockey penalties as per the CAHA rulebook will apply, with the following exceptions:
Penalties- if a team scores during a “Delayed penalty” the penalized team will still take a penalty after the goal is scored
PENALTY SHOT AWARD
If a team is assessed 5 penalties in a game (including coincidental minors) Penalty shots will be awarded IN ADDITION to each penalty assessed (excluding coincidental penalties) from the 6th penalty on. Any player may take the penalty shot. After the penalty shot, whether a goal was scored or not, the face off will be in the offending teams zone and the penalty will then start at the drop of the puck.
3 Penalties by a player in a game is an automatic game misconduct (not ejection which warrants suspension)
Coincidental penalties- teams will play with the same number of players before penalties occurred Players serving coincidental will do so in their own player’s boxes.
All minor penalties 3 minutes in duration from the drop of the puck after the penalty is called, with penalty being served in its entirety no matter how many goals opposing team scores.
Minor penalties- tripping, hooking, interference, unsportmanlike conduct, minor slashing, minor cross-checking, minor roughing, minor body contact, intentionally moving your net to stop a scoring chance or instigating rough play
Delay of game-this includes shooting the puck directly over the fencing or over (not in) the player's box (intentionally or not) anywhere between the defensive zone face-off circles. Any rinks with no fencing around boards, there is no penalty for unintentionally shooting puck over boards only. Intentionally knocking net out of position is a penalty and a goal may be awarded if referee feels intentionally moving the net prevented a goal (then no penalty is called only a goal is awarded)
High sticking- each team allowed one warning, then if player's stick comes in contact with the puck over the height of the crossbar, or player swings or carries stick recklessly (including attempting to knock down a puck higher than the crossbar with your stick and no contact is made) a minor penalty is called.
GRABBING THE JERSEY- 3 minute minor penalty
Anyone caught grabbing an opponent’s jersey/jacket even for the slightest moment will be assessed a 3-minute minor penalty
There is absolutely no reason to grab an opponent’s jersey/jacket as this is done to usually to throw a player slightly off balance without drawing a penalty. Well now it will be a penalty
Diving- any player that leaves their feet deliberately (in referee’s judgement), and in an attempt to play the puck, whether offending player has contact with the puck or not, and trips opposing player. He/she will be assessed a minor penalty if referee feels it was accidental, and a major penalty if deliberate. A player may dive to block passes & shots if no one is tripped.
Major Penalties- are 6 minutes in duration with from drop of the puck after penalty is called, with penalty being served in its entirety no matter how many goals are scored. Players receiving major penalties will automatically be ejected from game and suspended (see suspensions) a player on the ice at the time of penalty must serve penalty. Exception- coincidental penalties- the players are ejected and no one has to serve the penalties. Anyone ejected from a game has 2 minutes to leave rink area or face the possibility of a lifetime ban from the league a team defaulting the game.
Major Penalties can be given out for excessive slashing, crosschecking, roughing, body contact, boarding, or hitting from behind. Also deliberately attempting to take out one or both of a player’s feet (slew footing) will be a major penalty.
Fighting- ZERO TOLERENCE
Anyone throwing a punch at an opponent. will be assessed an automatic major and game misconduct for fighting. Teams, not the refs, must pull their own player/s apart from fight.
Player/s involved have 3 minutes to leave community centre after leaving the ice. First the visiting team's player/s will be escorted off the ice to they can get their personal belongings if from their dressing room, if necessary, then once they leave the community centre, the home team's player/s will do the same. Remember, the game clock is still running, so the quicker you have your players leave, the less it will cut into your playing time. Any player/s not abiding by these procedures will face possible lifetime ban from league and community centre, and/or criminal charges if the situation warrants
Defination of a fight- Person throwing a punch ….or a person willing to throw a punch (if a player attempts or challenges a player to a fight but gets “loses the fight” without throwing a punch this is still considered a fight) If a player is “sucker punched” and made no attempt to initially fight, or fight after the sucker punch, that is NOT consider a fight
Suspensions- All Suspensions can carry over from season to season- First game ejection 1 game suspension. Second Ejection same season- 3 game suspension. Third ejection same season- 5 game suspension- NO APPEALS
FIGHTING- ZERO TOLERENCE- First fight 5 game suspension, second fight (anytime with 5 years of first fight), suspended for 20 games, which can carry over to following season, third fight (anytime in player’s lifetime), lifetime ban from league (no appeal).
Instigating a fight will be an automatic additional 8 games suspension. Instigating including coaxing a player into fighting or throwing punches at a player who is just defending his/herself. This will be a decision rendered by the referee.
MAJOR STICK VIOLATIONS -Anyone assessed a major for spearing, slashing, cross-checking or high sticking will receive an automatic 10 game suspension. If the player is ever assessed a second major for the above they will be banned for life from the Kildonan Spongee League
All other major penalties- minimum 1 game suspension, second offense -minimum 5 games, third offence- lifetime ban from league.
Any player suspended from one team (that does, or wants to play on another team) cannot play on any other team in the league while suspension is on. The league will contact team captain with severity of the suspension. Any player suspended may be banned from community center premises, including parking lot, 1/2 hour before, during, and 1/2 hour after all league events while suspended. The league will provide suspended player with all dates and times of league functions upon request.
“Ragging The Puck”- There is a “zone” behind the net that extends 7 feet on either side of the net (it is and extension of the “key” right to the back boards) If a defending player is in the “zone” uncontested the player has 10 seconds to move the puck a minimum of 5 feet OUT of the “zone” Uncontested means no opponent comes within the 5 foot barrier of the “zone”
Effect- First offense PER TEAM per game- faceoff in Defensive zone, then delay of game penalties will be assessed
If Player IS contested- opponent comes within 5 feet of Zone, the 10 second count is stopped. It may be restarted at zero if opponent backs away from the 5 foot barrier of the zone.
Please remember- the “zone” is painted in the ice but the 5 foot barrier in NOT so it is a judgement call by the refs as to vacating to entering that barrier, so please respect their judgement
Altered Footwear
Nothing can be sprayed on the bottom of your shoes (ex. WD 40) or tacks, staples, etc inserted into footwear. Referees or any league officials are entitled to check any player’s shoes, bench-area, or dressing room, before, during, or after a game. Possession of substances will consider you guilty as well. Any team caught with altered footwear or in possession or substances for the use of altering will be suspended as a team for 2 games and subject to loss of points, for first offence, and remainder and the season for second offence. We may do random checks at any time.
Key Violations
Any player that goes into the opposing team's key for more than 3 seconds while the puck is not in the key area (and puck is in the offending team’s side of centre ice) will be assessed a key violation. Being “in the key” includes any body part touching the ice on or inside the key line. Sticks are not included and may be inside the key line. Our keys are bigger than other leagues (20’ x 20’) so we are allowing sticks to be inside as this makes it much easier for the referees to call. Possession of the puck is required. Possession of the puck includes when team is passing puck around (tape to tape). Possession does NOT include players battling for puck or players chasing a puck
Result will be a face-off at offending teams blue line.
Other Rules
No icing in the last five minutes of the second half by leading team if leading by 4 or less goals (unless shorthanded) First icing is a face-off in offending teams zone, second icing- offending team will be assessed a delay of game penalty. There will be no icing infractions called during any other part of the game.
There will be no offside or two line pass infractions called.
Passing the puck to a teammate with an open hand is illegal. The play is whistled dead, with a face-off at the closest face-off circle. Closing hand on puck (in referee’s judgement) to pass puck to yourself or another player is whistle down with a faceoff at the closest faceoff circle.
Goaltender cannot intentionally handle or play the puck over centre ice. Teams may "pull" goaltender on delayed penalty or only in the last 5 minutes of the game in an effort to score goals. When goaltender is pulled no player on the team with the extra attacker can cover the puck in his or her own crease or a goal is awarded. In Co-ed the extra attacker may be male or female.
CO-ED LEAGUE is 3 men, 2 women plus a goaltender (male or female) on ice. (You may play with 2 males, 3 female or 4 females & 1 male.) You must always have 2 females on the ice (unless you are playing short)! If a female is penalized, she must serve penalty, but team must play short a male for duration of penalty. MALE player must serve any penalties by goaltender.
No slapshots allowed by male players in co-ed games only. They may draw their sticks back as far as their knees for a “snap shot”. First offence per team per game- warning, and face off in offending team’s zone. All other offences- minor penalty.
The Final Rule- Have Fun and Play Safe!