1.01 Effective Date. These rules shall be effective immediately upon approval by the Northern California Junior Hockey Association (NORCAL) Board of Directors. Subsequently, no change of rules shall be made except at the NORCAL Summer Meeting (held in June or July at Board discretion), unless such change is approved at a meeting of the Board of Directors by two-thirds of all member clubs.

1.02 Precedence. These rules supplement rules issued by USA Hockey (the national governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States) and rules issued by the California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), the USA Hockey local affiliate organization. These rules place additional requirements, restrictions, and penalties upon clubs, teams, players, officials, and other individuals participating in the NORCAL league. In the event of conflict, the USA Hockey, CAHA rules and NORCAL Bylaws shall take precedence over these rules and regulations.

1.03 NORCAL. Northern California Junior Hockey Association (NORCAL) is the league governing body recognized by the CAHA for teams competing for State or national playoffs at the Tier I ("AAA"), Tier II ("AA"), "A," and "B" levels.

1.04 Applicability of Rules to Teams. NORCAL member clubs agree that all teams competing toward a NORCAL state or national championship, or otherwise playing as a part of the NORCAL schedule, shall be subject to applicable NORCAL rules. Special teams and house teams not playing as a part of the NORCAL schedule and not competing toward a NORCAL, state, or national championship are not governed by these rules, except as follows: NORCAL member clubs and associations are expected to comply with all applicable USA Hockey and CAHA rules with respect to ALL teams and participants. NORCAL may investigate and review any incident or penalty involving a NORCAL member club or any player, coach, or team official registered with USA Hockey through a NORCAL member club. Each member club is responsible for reporting any Match penalty received by any of its players to the NORCAL General Manager as well as for adhering to CAHA reporting requirements.

1.05 Referee and Game Sheet Requirement. Any event in which players from different clubs, or players from the same club playing a NORCAL scheduled game, take the ice as opposing teams to play hockey shall require the supervision of a USA Hockey certified referee and shall require the submission of a properly completed game sheet to the NORCAL statistician. A properly completed game sheet shall list all players in roster (alphabetical) order. For games between NORCAL teams, the home team shall be responsible for submission of the game sheet. For games against non-NORCAL teams, the NORCAL team (whether home or away) shall be responsible for submission of the game sheet. A team traveling outside NORCAL shall have until Wednesday following the last road game played for that trip to submit all game sheets for that trip. Coaches not participating in a game, whether under suspension or for any other reason, should not sign the game sheet. Suspended coaches and players’ names should appear in the appropriate location on the score sheet roster section. The name should be lined through, and beneath the name, put the word "suspension" in the space provided. The name and team of any player or coach serving a game suspension should also be listed in the "notes" section of the score sheet. FAILURE TO NOTE PERSONS SERVING A GAME SUSPENSION MAY RESULT IN FURTHER SUSPENSION FOR THAT PLAYER OR COACH, and may subject the team to forfeiture of the game if a suspended player or coach illegally participated.

Game sheets should be completed in full and mailed (not faxed) to the NORCAL Statistician or other designee. Game sheets must be postmarked by the Wednesday following the game. Late game sheets or games sheets failing to list players in roster (alphabetical) order may result in a $25 fine to offending club. Any game sheet not received by fourteen days after the date of the game shall result in a warning to the offending team’s president. If any subsequent sheets are late, the statistician may request that the NORCAL General Manager take punitive actions.

(Note: The term "coach" as used in these rules shall include both head and assistant coaches.)

1.06 Responsibility for Rules. All players, coaches, parents, team, member club, and NORCAL officials are responsible for knowing and following applicable rules. Each individual participant shall be responsible for his/her behavior and maintenance of eligibility. For matters affecting teams, the Head Coach shall be the team official responsible for team conduct and team eligibility. Each member club shall be responsible for representation at NORCAL board and other meetings and for the dissemination of these Rules and Regulations as well as other NORCAL league information to its members. Any club not sending an appropriately designated representative to two or more consecutive meetings of the NORCAL Board of Directors or fails to provide an appropriate representative at the Team Placement Meeting for any reason barring "acts of God" shall be fined $500.

2.01 CAHA Leagues. NORCAL is one of the leagues recognized by CAHA for conducting youth ice hockey competition at the Tier II, "A," and "B" levels. Top teams from NORCAL and from the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association (SCAHA) meet each spring for state playoffs conducted by CAHA. Independent teams (teams not affiliated with either NORCAL or SCAHA may also be included in the CAHA playoffs).

2.02 NORCAL Governance. NORCAL is a nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the presidents or designated representatives of each member club or association and the elected and appointed officers of the corporation. Voting members of the Board of Directors include the president or designated representative of each member club and the elected officers of the corporation, which are specified in its Bylaws. The Affairs of NORCAL are conducted in accordance with its Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, and policies that may be adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time.

2.03 Board Meetings. The time and location of NORCAL Board of Directors meetings are posted on the NORCAL web site. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the public. However, persons having issues or questions involving the operation of the league should normally raise their issues or concerns through their club or association president or representative.

2.04 Age Levels. Regular competitive teams are classified according to age and competition levels. USA Hockey age levels are based on birth year, as follows:

NORCAL currently provides organized league play only in the Youth division. Girls playing in the youth division must comply with the age requirements applicable to that division. NORCAL and CAHA rules place restrictions and special requirements on playing up at an age level above the lowest age level for which the player qualifies.

2.05 Competitive Levels. Competitive levels include:

2.06 Member Clubs. NORCAL member clubs may be either non-profit or for profit organizations. New member organizations may be accepted in accordance with NORCAL Bylaws. Only teams fielded by NORCAL clubs or associations in good standing may participate in the NORCAL game schedule or playoffs. These clubs and teams agree to abide by all NORCAL Rules and Regulations, NORCAL Bylaws, NORCAL Codes of Conduct and decisions; to keep their teams, players, and team officials informed of all NORCAL rules, policies, decisions, and other pertinent information pertaining to their participation in NORCAL sanctioned events and activities; to pay all assessments and fines; and to provide all necessary resources as established by standards, rules and regulations of USA Hockey, CAHA, and NORCAL for the conduct of their home games. Member Clubs for the 2003-2004 playing season include:

Berkeley Bulldogs (rink) Capital Thunder (nonprofit) California Cougars (rink) California Northstars (rink) Fresno Junior Falcons (nonprofit) High Sierra Wild (nonprofit) Oakland Bears (rink)

San Francisco Sabers (rink) San Jose Junior Sharks (rink) Santa Clara Blackhawks (rink) Santa Rosa Flyers (nonprofit) Stockton Colts (nonprofit) Tri-Valley Blue Devils (nonprofit)

3.01 USA Hockey Team Registration. All teams must be registered with USA Hockey prior to participating in any USA Hockey activity.

3.02 Regular Season Teams. Any youth division team formed to play competitive games throughout the course of the regular fall and winter season at the Tier I, Tier II, "A," or "B" levels shall be classified a regular season team regardless of whether that team is playing within the NORCAL schedule. NORCAL shall assess each participating club annual dues in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400) per team for each team listed on the final USA Hockey roster. Mite teams participating in the NORCAL Mite exhibition schedule are assessed two hundred dollars ($200) per team.

3.03 In-House Teams. Instructional or tryout teams formed primarily to play within a single club or association shall not be required to register with NORCAL and shall not be governed by these rules.

3.04 Special Teams and Tournament Teams. Special teams formed to compete in specific tournaments shall not be required to register with NORCAL and shall not be governed by these rules.

3.05 Girls’/Women’s Teams. Teams registered in the USA Hockey Girls’/Women’s Division and not playing in the NORCAL playing schedule shall be treated by NORCAL as special teams even though playing for a state or national championship.

3.06 Preliminary Team Declarations and Ice Slot Designations. All clubs shall make a preliminary declaration of "A," and "B" teams along with designated ice slots for sixteen (16) games per team by August 14^th.

3.07 Initial Team Registration – Tier I and II Teams (August 15th Deadline). All clubs wishing to field Tier I or II teams shall submit an initial properly completed team roster to the NORCAL Roster Manager and, if not previously submitted, a check for two hundred dollars ($200) per team deposit to the NORCAL Treasurer by August 15th. Tier I teams do not play within a NORCAL schedule and, therefore, do not submit ice slots. The number of ice slots to be submitted for Tier II teams will be determined by the NORCAL General Manager following the submission of initial team rosters and team deposits.

3.08 Initial Team Registration – "A" and "B" Teams (September 1^st Deadline). All club teams included within the NORCAL playing schedule must be registered with NORCAL by September 1^st. Initial team registration shall consist of the following:

No team shall be accepted for registration until all three of the above are completed.

3.09 Minimum Team Size. To be included within the NORCAL schedule, a team must meet CAHA requirements for minimum team size at the time of initial team registration.

3.10 Failure to Maintain Required Ice Slots. Any club that fails to provide and maintain the required number of home ice slots for its declared teams shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) per ice slot shorted. Upon recommendation of NORCAL General Manager, the NORCAL Board may disqualify one or more teams from league competition if sufficient ice slots are not provided.

3.11 Late Registration. Teams intending to play within the NORCAL schedule and which miss the initial registration deadline are considered "late." Late teams that complete the above three registration requirements by September 11^th shall have their schedule reduced by two games and shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00). Late teams registering between September 12 and October 4^th shall have their schedule reduced by 4 games and fined three hundred dollars ($300). Late teams registering after October 4^th, but prior to the CAHA deadline shall have their schedule reduced by 8 league games and fined six hundred dollars ($600). Opponents for reduced games shall be determined by a random draw of teams conducted by the NORCAL General Manager.

3.12 Addition and Deletion of Players Following Initial Team Registration. Names of players added to or deleted from a team roster must be submitted to the NORCAL Roster Manager at least 48 hours prior to any added player participating in any USA Hockey game involving that team

3.13 Dropping of Teams. A club or association that drops a team registered for participation in the NORCAL schedule shall be assessed a penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for each team dropped after September 1^st. Written notice of dropping must be made to the NORCAL General Manager and to the NORCAL Scheduler. In addition, any applicable penalties for game forfeiture shall be imposed when the dropping of a team requires cancellation of scheduled games with less than ten (10) days notice to NORCAL.

4.01 Individual USA Hockey Registration. All individual players, coaches and managers must be registered with USA Hockey prior to participating in any USA Hockey activity

4.02 Good Standing. Member clubs and associations are invited to submit names of players not in good standing (i.e., players with outstanding season dues) to the NORCAL Roster Manager by June 1^st following the end of the season. This list will be shared with member clubs. Players not in good standing shall not be permitted to participate in team tryouts or to participate in NORCAL scheduled games until the financial obligation is met. Participation of a player not in good standing may result in game forfeiture.

4.03 Player NORCAL Registration. Each player must be properly registered for USA Hockey and included on a team roster submitted to the NORCAL Roster Manager before being permitted to play in any game. No player may be registered on more than one regular season team at the Tier I, Tier II, "A," or "B" levels at the same time. Players registered on a regular season team may, however, be simultaneously registered on an in-house team, special team, or a team registered within the USA Hockey Girls/Women’s Division.

4.04 Coach NORCAL Registration. Each coach must be properly registered for USA Hockey before participating in any on-ice activity and, before being permitted to serve as a coach or assistant coach in any game, must have either (1) submitted a copy of his/her USA Hockey coaching card at the required level or (2) submitted the date and location at which the required USA Hockey coaching clinic will be attended.

4.05 Playing Within Age Classification. Each player must be registered only on teams at age levels for which he/she qualifies by virtue of age. It shall be the responsibility of each club to verify that each and every one of its players is of the proper age to play in a particular classification and to make sure that the player can properly play pursuant to applicable USA Hockey, CAHA, and NORCAL rules. NORCAL normally requires that, except for in-house teams, each player play only at the lowest age level for which the player qualifies under USA Hockey rules. However NORCAL recognizes that there are individual players who are physically and mentally mature enough and skilled enough to participate competitively at an older age level. Any player who by birth is in the last year of his/her age classification may skate up one age classification following submission of a properly completed NORCAL "Consent to Skate Out of Age Division" form. However, any Mite-aged player may play on a Squirt team for a club that has not declared or registered a Mite team and no consent form shall be required.

4.06 Playing Below Age Classification. Permission to play below age level in the "A" and "B" divisions only may be granted by CAHA. However, even when permission is granted to play down, such players are barred by CAHA rules from participating in State playoffs.

4.07 Penalty for Playing Unregistered or Improperly Registered Player. Any game in which an unregistered or improperly registered player participates shall be declared a forfeit for the offending team. Clubs or coaches who knowingly or negligently utilize such illegal players may be subject to additional discipline.

4.08 Player Movement/Free Agency. During the period from May 1^st until joining a team for the following season as evidenced by participation in a NORCAL-scheduled preseason or regular season game, all players are considered "free agents."

4.09 Tryouts. Each club shall post its tryout schedule for Tier I, Tier II, "A," and "B" at its rink in a manner to give players other than its own members access to dates and times. In addition, each club shall provide notice of tryout schedules and requirements to the NORCAL General Manager at its earliest opportunity so that information can be posted on the NORCAL web site. It is NORCAL’s intent that tryouts for Tier teams be conducted prior to tryouts for "A" and "B" teams and that all tryouts and team assignments be completed prior to September 1^st.

4.10 Player Release. A player wishing to change clubs after joining a team, as by participation in a NORCAL-scheduled preseason or regular season game, must obtain a release from the club with which he/she has initially registered. Players and families undertake a serious obligation in agreeing to play for a particular team. A club shall be under no obligation to approve a release when such movement would adversely affect the club, its teams, or its other players. Exceptions are that, so long as releasing the player does not reduce the size of the affected team below 13 players and so long as the player has met financial responsibilities for the period skated, a club shall release a player from the "A" or "B" level to play at a higher level not available to that player at that club.

4.11 Release Application Fee. A $50 non-refundable application fee shall be charged for consideration of a player release, except that there shall be no fee for a player seeking release to play at a higher level. The fee, if required, must be submitted along with a copy of the release request to the NORCAL Roster Manager prior to NORCAL’s consideration of the release.

4.12 Release Approval. Both the home club and NORCAL normally must approve a release before a release is issued by NORCAL. However, the NORCAL Roster Manager may approve a release without the home club’s approval if the home club fails to act within 10 days. A player requiring a release should not participate in practices or games with a new club unless and until a release is granted by NORCAL and transmitted by NORCAL to the new club. Any player who participates in a game without being properly released shall be regarded as an illegal player and the game shall be considered a forfeit.

4.13 Release Appeal. A player denied a release may appeal by submitting a written appeal to the NORCAL President within 5 days of notification of denial of release. The President shall appoint a review committee comprised of three persons including the NORCAL General Manager. The review committee shall issue its decision within 14 days of the appeal.

4.14 Automatic Release. NORCAL shall issue an automatic release to play at a specified age and competition level without fee or approval of the home club for a player whose home club is unable to place a player at the desired age and competition level. No NORCAL member club or association shall charge a player given an automatic release any fees or dues exceeding the reasonable charges for tryouts, ice time used, and merchandise purchased. No player shall be issued an automatic release unless he is in good financial standing with his home club.

4.15 Recruitment Restrictions. No club or team official shall attempt to recruit a player to an "A" or "B" team who played for another club "A" or "B" team in the previous regular season.

Permitted Activities: (1) Mailing of printed material to persons who have participated in summer programs, clinics, tryouts, or other special activities or who are past club members. However, such printed mailings may not include personalized notes or messages. (2) Invitations to individuals to participate in special activities (clinics, summer skates, special teams, pickup) which do not conflict with regular league play. (3) Recruitment of players to a Tier I team when such recruitment is not in violation with CAHA or USA Hockey rules. (4) Advertising unless blatantly targeted at another clubs’ membership.

Activities Not Permitted: (1) Offering sponsorship, reduced dues, or other benefits to a prospective player to join a particular team or club. (2) Mailing printed materials for club tryouts to the mailing list of another club or to a USA Hockey mailing list. (3) Initiating contact with players or family members from another club for the purpose of promoting the club’s program or otherwise enticing a player to change clubs. (4) Advertising directed specifically at the membership of another member club.

Each club shall be responsible for informing its club and team officials of this rule and for adhering to the spirit of this rule by actively dissuading officials and other persons from engaging in prohibited recruitment. Upon filing of a written complaint by a member club, the NORCAL President shall appoint a Review Committee comprised of presidents or designated representatives of three non-affected clubs. The Review Committee shall conduct a hearing to investigate the charges and shall issue a penalty to a club and/or team found to be in violation of this rule. The penalty shall consist of forfeiture of one or more league games and/or payment by the offending club of a fine not to exceed the amount of dues lost for one season as a result of the recruitment. Additionally, an offending team shall forfeit any game in which the Committee determines an illegally recruited player has participated.

Tier recruitment shall be governed solely by CAHA rules. However, no team which has initially recruited as a Tier team shall, while retaining players recruited from another club, be permitted to participate in NORCAL league play as an "A" team or compete for an "A" championship.

"Block recruitment" at Tier II, "A" and "B" is not allowed. Block recruitment is defined as when: a) a club has within its rostered player base 25% or more players who were rostered with another single NORCAL member club during the previous playing season; or b) a team’s roster contains 50% or more of its players who were rostered with another single NORCAL member club during the previous season. Exceptions, which must be approved by the NORCAL board, can be granted when the previous season’s club does not offer a team at a particular age group or level, or in the case of a voluntary merger, or when a club is recognized by NORCAL as a successor club to a club that has ceased doing business. At the minimum, any team or club who is demonstrated to be in violation will not be eligible for NORCAL playoffs nor advancement to states, and the board reserves the right to exclude such teams from the playing schedule.

4.16 Player Financial Standing. Prior to August 1^st, any NORCAL club may submit a list to the NORCAL General Manager and Roster Manager of players not in good financial standing for the prior year’s playing season. Lack of good financial standing shall be based upon failure to pay dues and/or other costs legally owed to any member club. Any player remaining on the list following the beginning of the NORCAL regular season shall be considered an illegal player and such game shall be forfeit by the team with the illegal player. A game forfeited by reason of such an illegal player shall remain a forfeited game regardless of any subsequent finding on the merit of the player’s inclusion on the list. The NORCAL General Manager may remove a player from the list and/or recommend Board action against a club that has failed to provide adequate and timely documentation of player accounts or has failed to make reasonable efforts to resolve a legitimate player account dispute. Any player who disputes a financial claim may appeal directly to the NORCAL General Manager.

4.17 Player Movement Within a Club. A player who has been properly registered on a club’s team may move to another team within that club provided all eligibility requirements are met and the player is properly re-rostered before the move takes place. A player may not, however, play for more than one "A" or "B" team within a club within a 48-hour period. A player violating this rule shall be considered an illegal player for all games in which he or she participated during the 48-hour period in question.

4.18 Player Movement Between Divisions. A player may move down a division (e.g., from "A" to "B," from Tier II to "A") until October 17^th. A player may move up to a higher division until December 1^st. Players who move between divisions after the deadlines must receive permission of the NORCAL General Manager and are ineligible to participate in NORCAL or CAHA post season play (playoffs and preliminary playoffs).

4.19 Hardship Goaltender Moves. Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, if none of the rostered goaltenders for a team are able to play in one or more games during the season, the NORCAL General Manager may authorize use of a substitute goaltender from another team or club provided there is a hardship determination by the General Manager. The General Manager has final authority in determining if a substitution shall be permitted and has final authority in choice of an available substitute goaltender best matched to the age and playing division of the team. Goaltender substitution shall not be permitted for Mite teams. All hardship goaltender moves must be approved by the General Manager prior to the game in which the substitution is to be made and must be reported by the team in writing to the NORCAL Roster Manager within two days after the date such game is played. Any non-rostered goaltender who plays in violation of this rule shall be considered an illegal player.

5.01 Game Scheduling and Supervision. All games between teams competing as a part of the NORCAL league schedule shall be scheduled by the NORCAL scheduler and be under the direction of the NORCAL General Manager and on-ice supervision of a certified and registered USA Hockey official.

5.02 Standard League Game. Standard league games shall be conducted as follows:

5.03 Scheduling of Games. All games played within Northern California by teams registered to NORCAL member clubs shall be scheduled by and referees arranged by the NORCAL Scheduler or the scheduler’s representative. Teams that play most of their games outside the NORCAL schedule may request the Scheduler to designate a team official to schedule games with non-NORCAL teams directly.

5.04 League Scheduled Divisions. NORCAL shall schedule league games for the "A" and "B" Divisions for the Squirt through Midget age levels. Mite teams may be scheduled as a single playing division within NORCAL regardless of registration at the "A" or "B" level. A limited Tier II schedule will be established if two or more Tier II teams are registered at any given age level.

5.05 Pre-season. The NORCAL pre-season begins the second weekend in September and shall consist of six to ten exhibition games scheduled for "A" and "B" teams. The purpose of the pre-season is to provide a tune-up period for players and to allow league and club officials an opportunity to assess the competitive levels of the teams. During the preseason, all teams will be declared "B" until final team placement.

5.06 Final Team Placement. Following the second-to-last weekend of pre-season play,the General Manager will present a slate of placement recommendations to the full NORCAL board. The placements will be discussed and approved at a full NORCAL Board meeting. There shall be no late registration penalty for a team re-registering as a result of final team placement.

5.07 Regular Season Games. The NORCAL regular season shall consist of those games following the pre-season and designated by the NORCAL Scheduler to be Regular Season Games counting for playoffs.

5.08 Exhibition Games. Occasionally, the NORCAL Scheduler may schedule exhibition games for the purpose of providing extra games in playing divisions with a short schedule or at the request of the involved clubs. Exhibition games initiated by clubs must have ice slots provided outside the NORCAL-required ice slots. Games designated in the schedule as exhibition games will under no circumstances count towards final league standings.

5.09 League Standings. League standing shall be based upon points earned by play or forfeit (2 points for wins, 1 point for ties, and no points for losses) during regular season games which will normally include an equal number of games played among all teams in a playing division. In the event that there have not been an equal number of games played by each team (i.e., cancellation of game due to reasons beyond the control of the affected teams), standing shall be determined by each team’s percentage of possible points earned (total points earned divided by two points for each game played or forfeited.)

5.10 Considerations for Scheduling of Pre-Season and Regular Season Games. The following considerations shall be followed by the NORCAL scheduler in scheduling pre-season and regular season games:

Ice slots provided to the league for scheduling of games have some additional restrictions. A club with 3 or fewer teams must provide an additional 8 game slots for scheduler use. Any club with teams affected by SAT blackouts must provide a minimum of 2 Friday or Sunday slots for games for each such team, after the Thanksgiving break.

5.11 Protective Equipment. Each player must wear approved protective equipment as specified by all applicable rules for the duration of each game while on the ice, players’ bench, or penalty box. Referees will check out every player prior to each game. Players who report to their team after the referee’s checkout may not go on the ice until a supplemental check has been completed. It is the responsibility of the team coach to make certain that players comply with this rule.

5.12 Team Book. Each head coach or other designated team official shall be responsible for having available at all games a team book. The required contents of the team book are dictated by USA Hockey, CAHA, and the NORCAL Registrar. It normally consists of the following items:

• A photocopy of each player’s birth certificate
• A notarized "AKA Form" for any player who goes by a name other than that shown on the birth certificate
• Proof of legal residency for any player born outside the U. S.
• A properly executed "Playing Up" form for any player playing out of age category
• Consent to treat / health history for each player, coach and manager
• Waiver of liability for each player, coach and manager
• Signed USA Hockey Code of Conduct for each player, coach and manager
• USA Hockey certified coaches card for each coach (note that other than Advanced or Master level, must be recertified every three years)
• Official Team Application, which must be signed by the USA Hockey registrar after November
• Official Team Roster, which must be signed by the USA Hockey registrar once final roster certification takes place
• Release forms for any player who moved from a different club this season
• Game sheets for all completed games

The NORCAL President, NORCAL General Manager or Roster Manager may inspect team books at any game. Any deficiency shall be reported to the NORCAL General Manager who, in turn, shall notify the affected club president. Deficiencies must be corrected, or a written plan of correction approved by the appropriate General Manager, within seven days of notification. Failure to make the team book available at the game or failure to comply with this rule by correcting deficiencies within the seven-day correction period will result in forfeiture of games played while not in compliance.

To avoid forfeiture of games and prevent loss of original documents, teams are advised to carry a working game book with copies of all documents to games and maintain an original game book to be used for credentials check prior to post season play.

5.13 Game Forfeit for No Show/Refusing to Play. All teams are required to be present for all regularly scheduled NORCAL games (including exhibition games). Games not played will result in forfeiture by the team(s) responsible for canceling. Teams that incur forfeits must:

However, if the team’s absence was due to an "act of God," as determined by the General Manager, the forfeiture penalties shall not apply and the game may be rescheduled by the General Manager.

Any team that refuses to play, or refuses to continue play during a game (unless circumstances show the refusal to be appropriate), may be subject to the same penalties as a No Show. Disagreement with on-ice or off-ice officials will never be accepted as a valid reason for refusal to continue play.

5.14 Non-NORCAL Game Notices. At least 7 days before a game is played against any team not registered with NORCAL, the team must file a Non-NORCAL Game Notice with the General Manager and League Statistician. An online form will be available on the NORCAL web site, and will include the sponsoring organization, contact information for the sponsoring organization’s tournament director, and a schedule of games to be played. A Non-NORCAL Game Notice must be filed for any team who hosts a team from outside the league as well. The penalty for failure to submit a proper and timely Non-NORCAL Game Notice shall be $100.

5.15 CAHA Travel Permit. Before a team may travel outside of the State of California for the purposes of playing games or a tournament, the CAHA Member Services Director must issue a travel permit according to the policies contained in the CAHA Rules.

6.01 Minor, Major, and Misconduct Penalties. Minor, major, and misconduct penalties called by on ice officials are not subject to further review.

6.02 Game Misconduct Penalties. Game misconduct penalties called by on ice officials are not subject to review except for procedural errors. There shall be no review of the official’s judgment in issuing a game misconduct penalty. The club president may make any request for review to the NORCAL General Manager. In making such a request, the club president must provide a copy of the game score sheet containing the game misconduct penalty in question.

6.03 Serving Game Misconduct Penalties. USA Hockey rules require that a player or coach receiving a game misconduct penalty serve a suspension during the next game played by the team for which the player was playing when the penalty was incurred. NORCAL requires that a player or coach receiving a game misconduct during a league or playoff game be suspended for the next league or playoff game of that team. (Note that in some instances a player or coach may be required to sit two games to meet both USA Hockey and NORCAL requirements.) If a player or coach receives a game misconduct penalty during a team’s last regular game (league or playoff) of the season, any unserved suspensions shall be served by that player or coach during the first league game(s) of the following year, even if that person changes teams or clubs. A player or coach receiving a game misconduct penalty during a regular season game while playing or coaching for a team to which he/she is not normally assigned shall serve the suspension during the next regular season game of the team on which he/she is a member. A player or coach serving a suspension must comply with the game sheet requirements specified in Section 1.05. A player or coach serving a game misconduct may, but is not required to, attend the game as a spectator. A coach serving a game misconduct may not be on or near the players’ bench, may not serve as a minor official, and may not in any way give direction to his team even from the stands or through a third party. Violation of this rule may result in forfeiture of the game and supplementary discipline. A player or coach serving a game misconduct shall not engage in any disruptive behavior before, during, or after the game while attending as a spectator.

Any team that is found to have the wrong coach serve a suspension will be subject to supplementary discipline, potential game forfeit, and a minimum 3-game suspension for the coach who should have served the suspension.

6.04 Match Penalties. Any match penalty shall be reported to the NORCAL General Manager within 48 hours. Additionally, USA Hockey requires that any penalty called for physical abuse of an official be reported to CAHA within forty-eight (48) hours. The Head Coach of the team that incurs a reportable penalty is responsible for making the required reports to NORCAL and to CAHA. Failure to report an occurrence of such a penalty may result in additional penalties for the coach and/or team. Under USA Hockey rules, a player or coach receiving a match penalty may not participate in any USA Hockey activity (practice or game) for 30 days or until a hearing has been held. The hearing body may impose suspension or probation up to one year or may impose other conditions. Each member club shall be responsible for notifying the NORCAL General Manager within forty-eight (48) hours of any match penalty. This is in addition to any required USA Hockey or CAHA notification.

6.05 Violation of Suspension. In the event that any player or coach in violation of NORCAL, CAHA or USA Hockey rules illegally participates in a game while suspended, the General Manager shall suspend the offending individual for the next two scheduled games following discovery of the illegal participation. (If the team does not have additional scheduled games, the General Manager shall designate the additional games to be served.) The game in which the suspended player or coach participated shall be ruled a forfeit. The General Manager shall investigate the violation, and, in flagrant cases, instruct the Penalty Review Committee to hold a hearing to consider supplementary discipline.

6.06 Causing a Disturbance When Removed or While Suspended. Upon written complaint to the General Manager, any player or coach who creates a disturbance during a game for which he/she has been removed or is suspended shall be referred to the Penalty Review Panel for supplementary discipline.

6.07 Exceeding Three Game Misconducts. If the number of accumulated game misconducts for a player or coach exceeds three (3) within a season on any NORCAL team or teams, the player or coach shall be automatically subject to Supplementary Discipline under rule 6.12.

6.08 Penalty Review Committee Hearings. The NORCAL Penalty Review Committee shall consist of the Penalty Review Chair appointed by the President (normally the first Vice President), the NORCAL General Manager, Vice Presidents and at least two other members appointed by the President or by the Penalty Review Chair. The Committee shall meet monthly at a regular time and place to be set by the Chair at the beginning of the regular season. Unless otherwise determined by the Chair, all penalties requiring review will be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee following the penalty. Any penalties pending review prior to NORCAL or CAHA playoffs shall be held prior to playoffs.

6.09 Conduct of Penalty Reviews. Penalty review hearings shall be conducted in a closed and informal setting. Persons coming before the penalty review committee shall have the right to be accompanied by representative(s) of choice, except that the number of such representatives may be limited to parents/guardians, coach, club representative, and one other person. Persons under review may submit written material and/or call witnesses in their support. Videotapes may be submitted for review by the Penalty Review Chair and, with the prior approval of the Chair, may be shown at the hearing; however, responsibility for providing viewing equipment shall rest with the person submitting the videotape. The Penalty Review Chair shall provide each person under review with a clear statement of the specific behavior being reviewed, the rule under which the behavior is being reviewed, and the range of penalties under consideration. The Penalty Review Chair shall issue a written decision within five days of the review hearing. In the event that a player and/or coach fails to attend a scheduled review, the Penalty Review Committee may conduct its review and issue a decision in their absence(s).

6.10 Appeals. Penalty Review Chair may, at his/her sole discretion, open a case for reconsideration if new information or documentation becomes available which might benefit the player or coach disciplined. Otherwise, appeal may be made directly to CAHA for dispute resolution. The NORCAL Board has final authority to uphold or modify any penalty issued by the NORCAL Penalty Review Committee; however, any NORCAL Board review shall be conducted in closed session and will be limited to consideration of information placed before the Penalty Review Committee.

6.11 Game Protests. Game protests must be presented to the General Manager by Tuesday 9pm for games played during the immediately preceding seven-day period (Monday through Sunday). A non-refundable fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) must accompany any such protest. Only protests for games that count toward final rankings will be allowed. Protests based on disagreement with a referee’s judgment will not be accepted. Only protests filed in writing by the protesting club president or designated NORCAL representative (or alternate NORCAL representative if the club president is unavailable) shall be considered. Upon due consideration, the General Manager’s decision shall be either "the game stands as played" or "the game will be replayed."

6.12 Supplementary Discipline. In addition to the suspension imposed under these rules, the NORCAL General Manager may, at the conclusion of the game, at his/her discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game and may assess additional suspensions for any offense committed before, during the course of a game, or any aftermath thereof by a player or Team Official, whether or not such offense has been penalized by the referee or not. See Section 6.13 to understand how any suspensions or sanctions issued by NORCAL may be appealed.

7.01 Post Game Altercations. Any post game altercation or disturbance, on or off the ice, shall be investigated by the cognizant Clubs President and a written report shall be submitted to the NORCAL President and General Manager within 48 hours of the incident. This report shall include the names of all persons, players, coaches and spectators involved and the steps taken to prevent further incidents of this nature.

Penalties for participants in post game altercations or disturbances will be severe.

Instigators (May be from both teams): 5 game suspension

All participants 3 game suspension

Coaches 2 game suspension

The teams may be put on probation and a second incident will result in the suspension of the team for the remainder of the playing season. It is the responsibility of the home team to ensure the safety of the players, coaches, spectators and officials before, during and following the game. A police report will be made on any spectator who physically interferes with a player or coach, on or off the ice.

7.02 Leaving the Penalty Bench or Players’ Bench. Any player leaving the penalty bench or players bench during an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty. In addition to the automatic game suspension, the first player off the bench shall receive an additional four game suspension. All other players leaving the penalty bench or players bench shall receive an additional two game suspension. This suspension is in addition to any penalty assessed as a result of the altercation. Each player shall be put on probation and further incidents will result in suspension for the remainder of the playing season. The coach of the offending team shall be suspended for two games. It is the responsibility of the coach to maintain team discipline on and off the ice. The on-ice officials may consult with the off-ice officials to determine the order of players leaving the bench.

7.03 Spectator Decorum. Any person in the stands during a NORCAL game is expected to display civil behavior. Anyone causing an unreasonable disturbance in the stands may be asked to desist or leave the arena by the on-ice officials. The home team club officials may be called on to help control the situation, and are expected to cooperate fully with the on-ice officials. If the situation cannot be dealt with in a timely and civil manner, the on-ice officials may, at their sole discretion, direct the players to the player bench and suspend the game until the matter is resolved. Further, the rink personnel may be asked to call the local police to help control the situation.

7.04 Noise Makers. No spectator may use a noise maker that utilizes a significant mechanical advantage (air horns, long plastic horns, drums, cowbells, etc.), during a NORCAL game. If the on-ice officials deem a noise maker to be disruptive, they may direct the home team officials to assist in informing the spectators to desist or leave the arena, and are expected to cooperate fully with the on-ice officials.

8.01 Tier II. For any age division in which more than one team is declared, each team shall be required to play each other team at least two times between December 1^st and February 15^th. These games shall be used to determine seeding, if necessary, for state playoffs with team rankings determined by the number of game points earned by play or forfeiture (2 points for win, 1 point for tie, no points for loss). If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the series, then the General Manager shall structure a playoff with each tied team playing each other tied team once to determine relative seeding. If only two teams are declared in a division, they will play a "best of two out of three" series, meaning that if one team wins the first two games, the third game shall not be required to be played.

Once team declarations have been made, the General Manager shall advise the clubs of how many ice slots must be made available to play these games. The clubs involved must then provide the times and dates of available slots to the General Manager by no later than October 15^th so the required games can be scheduled.

If any team in a Tier division with two or more registered teams elects not to compete toward state or regional playoffs, such team must provide the General Manager with written notice of such election by no later than October 15^th. Any team so electing shall not be included in the games for seeding and will not be eligible to compete in state or regional championships.

8.02 "A" and "B" Playoffs. Playoffs at the "A" and "B" levels shall be conducted to determine the first and second place teams from among the four top ranked teams at the Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, and Midget levels at the end of regular season play. The format of each playoff shall be a round robin followed by a championship game. The General Manager shall determine seeding for the round robin based upon final season standings. The General Manager shall issue rules governing each playoff and the playoff schedule of games prior to the playoff.

8.03 Team Eligibility for Playoffs. From among all duly registered "A" and "B" teams having played at least 17 games (not less than 10 of which must be played within the NORCAL season playing schedule), the top four ranked teams in each division shall advance to participate in playoffs. Team rankings shall be determined as specified in Rule 5.10 above.

In the event that two or more teams are tied for end of season standings, ties will be broken in accordance with the USA Hockey Annual Guide, with the further provision that in cases involving unbalanced schedules, winning percentage will be used rather than total points. The tiebreaker process to be followed can be found in the USA Hockey Annual Guide for the current playing season (see Subsection O. Method of Determining Champion under the section on Regional/National Champs –Operating Procedures, Paragraph (4) Semi-Finalists).

Teams registered to a club not in good standing or a team ineligible to participate in CAHA playoffs shall be removed from consideration in determining standings for playoffs. However, the foregoing notwithstanding, a team based outside California but participating in a NORCAL regular season division and with USA Hockey registration and in good standing shall NOT be excluded from NORCAL playoffs solely by reason of non-membership in CAHA.

8.04 Player Eligibility for Playoffs. A player must be duly registered and have participated in at least 7 games of that team (not less than 6 of which must have been played within the NORCAL regular season schedule) to be eligible to participate in NORCAL playoffs. Any player who is ineligible for participation in CAHA playoffs shall also be ineligible for participation in NORCAL playoffs.

8.05 Obligation to Participate in Playoffs. All teams eligible for participation in NORCAL and CAHA playoffs are required to participate in all playoff games. Failure of a team to participate in playoffs may result in disciplinary action against the offending club and/or its members including barring the offending club’s teams from participation in future playoffs.

8.06 CAHA Championships. State playoffs are conducted by CAHA and are governed by separate rules. The essential features of those rules for eligibility are as follows: