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South Shore Conference

Policies, Procedures, and Rules

Procedures, Policies, Rules and Guidelines

I. OBJECTIVES OF HINGHAM YOUTH HOCKEY

The objectives of Hingham Youth Hockey are stated clearly in our organization's By-Laws: (1) to provide an opportunity for youth of the Town of Hingham to skate and obtain hockey instruction with the principal objective of meeting the physical, social and psychological needs of the participants by promoting their health, security, happiness and sense of self-worth; (2) to develop character, sportsmanship and physical fitness among the youth of the Town of Hingham; (3) to promote, encourage and improve the standard of amateur ice hockey; and (4) to conduct an amateur hockey program consistent with the rules and regulations of USA Hockey, the Massachusetts Amateur Hockey Association and the various leagues in which our players participate.

II. ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION.

  1. Affiliated Organizations. Hingham Youth Hockey is a member of District 4 of the Massachusetts Amateur Hockey Association (MassHockey) and USA Hockey, the national governing body of amateur hockey in the United States.
    1. MassHockey. District 4 of MassHockey is operated by a District Director, elected by representatives of each constituent association, an executive committee, and a Board of Directors (representatives) from each community.

      MassHockey is an affiliate association of USA Hockey to govern and administer amateur hockey in this territory in accordance with USA Hockey regulations. MassHockey is operated and governed by a Board of Directors elected by the various Districts within Massachusetts or appointed by the executive committee.
    2. USA Hockey. USA Hockey is operated and governed by a Board of Directors from 11 geographical districts across the country. Massachusetts constitutes District 4 of USA Hockey. 

      It shall be the policy of Hingham Youth Hockey to abide by the rules and regulations of both USA Hockey and Mass Hockey and to participate fully in the administration of both organizations. The rules and regulations of both USA Hockey and Mass Hockey are attached to this document as Exhibits A and B.
  2. League Affiliations and Other Programs. Hingham Youth Hockey is affiliated with two conferences which administer youth hockey programs on the South Shore of Massachusetts.
    1. Metro South Hockey League. The Metro South Hockey League is designed to provide USA Hockey registered C or House Level programs for instructional through bantam players. The Metro South Hockey League programs are designed to give players an opportunity to have fun playing hockey while competing against equal competition. The Metro South Hockey League also administers a Midget level program as an open category, with separate eligibility rules. Hingham Youth Hockey is obligated to abide by the rules and regulations of the Metro South Hockey League, which are attached to this document as Exhibit C.
    2. South Shore Conference. The South Shore Conference is designed to provide USA Hockey registered A and B level programs for mite through bantam players. The South Shore Conference programs are designed to be more competitive than the Metro South Hockey League programs, and are not therefore designed to provide "equal competition" for all participants. Hingham Youth Hockey selects the players that will participate on its South Shore Conference teams through an open tryout system described in Section III of these Rules and Regulations. Hingham Youth Hockey is obligated to abide by the rules and regulations of the South Shore Conference, which are attached to this document as Exhibit D.
    3. Additional Programs: Hingham Youth Hockey players, especially those who compete at a high level, participate in other programs, some of which are not sanctioned by Hingham Youth Hockey or the conferences or organizations with which we are affiliated. For example, if the South Shore Conference administers a "Select Program" for the most competitive of the Conference's players. The Select Program is specifically designed to accommodate all regular South Shore Conference games, and the rules of the South Shore Conference provide that these regular Conference games shall take precedence over the games of the Select Programs. However, other programs, including, but not limited to, the Metro League and the New England College Development League, do not coordinate their schedules with either the Metro South or South Shore Conference. Participation by Hingham Youth Hockey players in these "uncoordinated" programs sometimes causes scheduling conflicts resulting in players missing Hingham Youth Hockey games and practices. Should there be a substantial number of players of any given Hingham Youth Hockey team with these scheduling conflicts, it could result in the disruption of that team's ability to compete in its program, which is unfair to the other players on that team. In addition, such a situation could be unfair to the players not selected for a higher level team, as roster spots are being occupied by players who are not fully participating in the Hingham Youth Hockey program.

      Hingham Youth Hockey does not wish to prohibit, or even discourage, players from seeking additional opportunities to participate in youth hockey. However, given the potential disruptive effect of a substantial number of a team's players participating in an "uncoordinated" program, some guidelines for such participation must be set forth. It shall be the policy of Hingham Youth Hockey that all of its players, both in the South Shore and Metro South Conferences, must give Hingham Youth Hockey games and practices priority over the games or practices of other programs, leagues or tournaments. This policy shall not necessarily preclude players from participating in additional programs, leagues or tournaments, but merely requires that arrangements be made with all of their coaches to allow participation in the Hingham Youth Hockey program to the satisfaction of their Hingham Youth Hockey coaches. In the event such arrangements cannot be made, the Hingham Youth Hockey coach may require a player to participate in the Hingham Youth Hockey program or resign from the team. This policy shall be made clear to all parents during tryouts to provide them an opportunity to make satisfactory arrangements prior to the beginning of the season.
  3. HYH PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:
    1. Learn to Skate Program. Hingham Youth Hockey administers a Learn to Skate program for beginning skaters, including children with little or no skating experience. With the cooperation of Pilgrim Skating Arena, an hour of ice time is provided on Saturday mornings for this program. The ice is divided into two sections, with children moving from a very beginning level to the level where players in the Instructional Program (or players of similar abilities) are permitted to skate. Volunteer parents supervise each segment of the program.

      The program is structured to allow parents to pay a relatively small registration fee for each child and then pay a per session fee each time the child skates. The Board of Directors will establish both the registration fee and the per session fee prior to the beginning of the Program each year. The Learn to Skate Program is a first come, first served program, and is not limited to Hingham residents.
    2. Cross Ice Hingham Youth Hockey participates in the USA Hockey Program for children between the ages of four and five, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey who have had no previous organized hockey experience. The Cross Ice Program is the primary method that Hingham Youth Hockey utilizes in attracting new participants to our Programs. The Program runs from October through the end of March, with the first half of the year made up of one hour per week practice sessions, focusing on skating and basic hockey skills, and the second half made up of games.  Games are played in the smaller, Rink "B" at Pilgrim Arena, which allows for a lower cost structure for beginning players. The Board of Directors will establish the fee for its Cross Ice Program prior to the beginning of the Program each year, and will advertise the Program in order to attract new participants to Hingham Youth Hockey. 
    3. Mite. The Mite Program is for players between the ages of five through eight, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey. Hingham Youth Hockey participates in the mite programs of both the Metro South Hockey League (Mite C) and South Shore (Mite A and B) Conferences, with the Metro South Hockey League mite program structured as "two minute buzzer hockey" for player's with limited hockey experience. It is the policy of Hingham Youth Hockey to strongly encourage the parents of five year old children to participate in the Instructional Program and the parents of all six year old children to participate in at least one year of Mite C hockey.
    4. Squirt The Squirt Program is for nine and ten year old players, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey. Hingham Youth Hockey participates in the squirt programs of both the Metro South (Squirt C) and South Shore (Squirt A and B) Conferences.
    5. Pee Wees The Pee Wee Program is for eleven and twelve year old players, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey. Hingham Youth Hockey participates in the pee wee programs of both the Metro South (Pee Wee C) and South Shore (Pee Wee A and B) Conferences.
    6. Bantam The Bantam Program is for thirteen and fourteen year old players, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey. Hingham Youth Hockey participates in the Bantam programs of both the Metro South (Bantam C) and South Shore (Bantam A and B) Conferences. The Bantam A program is structured to allow players to participate on their scholastic teams, with the season ending on or about November just prior to the start of the school season. In addition, those players not yet in High School may also have the opportunity to play for Team South Shore (through the South Shore Conference), if there are enough available Players in the Conference.
    7. Midget The Midget Program is for fifteen to eighteen year old players, with the cutoff birthday determined by USA Hockey. Hingham Youth Hockey currently participates in the Midget program of the South Shore (A and/or B) Conference and the number of teams is determined by the initial interest at the time of Registration. Metro South Hockey League does not currently have a C Level. Depending on a change in policy by Metro South Hockey League and depending on the expressed interest at the time of Registration in such a program, the Board of Directors may consider offering such a program in the future.
    8. Girl's (please visit the Girls Hockey site here) The Girl's program consists of a 10 and under, 14 and Under Division and a 12 and Under Division. Girls Hingham Youth Hockey is expecting to participate in each of theses Divisions through South Shore Conference or an equivalent program. It is expected that there shall be additional age classifications in the future, and Hingham Youth Hockey expects to participate in those Divisions also.
  4. Team Classification.
    1. Number of Teams in Program. The total number of teams in the Hingham Youth Hockey Program shall be determined by the Board of Directors based on the number of registered players.
    2. Classification of Teams. The classification of the teams in the Program (i.e. how many "A", "B" or "C" teams) shall be determined by the Coaches Committee, with the approval of the Board of Directors, as a result of the Player Selection process described as described above.

III. PERSONNEL SELECTION 

  1. Coaching Coordinator. As provided in the By-laws, the Coaching Coordinator shall be a member of the Board of Directors and selected by the Board as an officer of Hingham Youth Hockey. The Coaching Coordinator shall have demonstrated, strong, on-ice coaching skills. The responsibilities of the Coaching Coordinator are broad, including serving as Chairman of the Coaching Committee, which oversees the selection, training and oversight of the coaches for all of Hingham Youth Hockey's programs; and the planning and operation of all player selection and tryouts.
  2. Program Coordinators. As provided in the By-laws, Hingham Youth Hockey shall have Program Coordinators for each Program offered (Learn to Skate and Instructional may have a single Program Coordinator). The Program Coordinators are members of the Board of Directors and selected by the Board of Directors as officers of Hingham Youth Hockey. Each Program Coordinator shall be the administrator of one of Hingham Youth Hockey's programs, serving as the principal liaison between the player's and their parents and Hingham Youth Hockey, including the coaches, officers, any fundraising committee established under the By-laws, and the Board of Directors. In addition, the Program Coordinators shall be the principal advocate for their Program on the Board of Directors. The Program Coordinators should be well organized and good communicators, and should be available to the parents, but do not necessarily have to possess on-ice hockey skills.
  3. Coaches.
    1. Qualification of Coaches. All coaches should demonstrate competency in skating, hockey skills, teaching techniques, strategies, and skills in communicating with parents and players. In addition, as a minimum qualification, all head coaches must be "patched" (both "associate" and "intermediate" and beginning in 2002-03 the Midget A Head Coach must have an "advanced") through Mass Hockey.
    2. Selection of Head Coaches and Team Assignments. Head coaches shall be selected and assigned teams by the Coaching Committee after the selection and assignment of players to teams, with the final list of all Head Coaches submitted to the Board of Directors. Head coaches shall have a high level of competency in the qualifying skills listed above for all coaches in Hingham Youth Hockey and must agree to give Hingham Youth Hockey priority over coaching commitments to other hockey or other sports programs.
    3. Selection of Assistant Coaches. Assistant coaches shall be selected by the Head Coach of a team, with each assistant coach approved by the Coaching Committee. In the Instructional Program, Head Coaches and the Coaches Committee shall affirmatively encourage participation from parents as assistant coaches.
  4. Team Managers. The Head Coach shall appoint a Team Manager, who shall be responsible for working with the parents on organizing the team's participation in all team and Hingham Youth Hockey activities, including tournaments, fundraising and social activities. The Team Manager shall seek to minimize the amount of time the coaches spend in performing the administrative tasks associated with a team's participation in Hingham Youth Hockey programs, and therefore maximize the amount of time the coaches spend coaching the players.

IV. PLAYER SELECTION.

  1. General Principles. The objectives of Hingham Youth Hockey emphasize that each player should enjoy the experience of playing youth hockey and that our programs should promote the players' health, security, happiness and sense of self worth. With those objectives in mind, the general principles of player selection for Hingham Youth Hockey programs and teams shall be centered upon conducting a fair and open process in order to place players on teams where they will have the greatest opportunity to enjoy themselves and improve their skating and hockey skills.
  2. Player Selection Procedures. The Coaching Committee shall design, establish and oversee the selection and assignment of players for the various Hingham Youth Hockey programs and teams. The procedures shall be fair, open, consistent and objective, and shall be designed to evaluate players' skating and hockey skills, as well as a player's maturity to participate at a particular level of youth hockey. Included among the procedures shall be a policy with respect to injured or ill participants. 
  3. Selection of South Shore Conference Teams. As the South Shore Conference represents the more competitive program in which Hingham Youth Hockey participates, the players to participate in the South Shore Conference shall be selected and assigned to a team prior to the selection and assignment of Metro South Hockey League teams. A player who has previously participated in the "A" level of a particular South Shore Conference program (e.g. mites) is not guaranteed a position on that "A" level team in future years. However, due to Metro South Hockey League rules, a player who has previously participated in a particular South Shore Conference program (e.g. mites), may not be assigned to a Metro South Hockey League team at that level in future years. If Hingham Youth Hockey has more than one team in a particular program of the South Shore Conference, players should be assigned to make the teams balanced, to the extent reasonably possible.
  4. Selection of Metro South Hockey League Teams. Subsequent to the selection of the South Shore Conference teams of a particular level (e.g. mites), the remaining players shall be assigned to a Metro South Hockey League team. If Hingham Youth Hockey has more than one team in a particular program of the Metro South Hockey League, players should be assigned to make the teams balanced, to the extent reasonably possible.

V. MANAGEMENT OF PRACTICE ICE.

  1. Procurement of Practice Ice.
    1. Budget for Practice Ice. The Board of Directors shall establish a budgeted amount for Practice Ice. The acquisition, distribution and oversight of Practice Ice for the Programs should be effected within the budget constraints established by the Board.
    2. Acquisition of Practice Ice. The Ice Coordinator shall seek to acquire the maximum amount of Practice Ice within the budgeted amount, taking into consideration the quality and location of the rink, the times available compared to the ages of the participants, and the potential conflicts within the Program.
  2. Oversight of Practice Ice Time.
    1. Ice Coordinator. Under the By-laws, the Ice Coordinator is the officer responsible for the procurement, distribution and oversight of the Practice Ice of Hingham Youth Hockey.
    2. Oversight of Ice Allocation. The Coaching Committee shall set the parameters for the Ice Coordinator in scheduling and distributing the Practice Ice to the teams within Hingham Youth Hockey's various Programs. Once the parameters are established, the Coaching Committee shall not be involved in the procurement, scheduling or day to day oversight of Practice Ice. If a complaint is received from a coach or Program Coordinator concerning the allocation of Practice Ice, the Coaching Committee shall meet and resolve the complaint consistent with the parameters it had previously established.
    3. Principles for Allocation of Practice Ice. In establishing the parameters for the Ice Coordinator, the Coaching Committee shall be governed by the following principles:
      • Equal Allocation for Equal Dues Obligations. Each Program whose players are obligated to pay an equal amount of dues shall receive approximately an equal amount of Practice Ice time each month. When determining the amount of Practice Ice allocated to a Program or team, the actual ice time during a specific time period shall be utilized, e.g. 60 minute vs. 50 minute practice "hours".
      • Early Ice Time for Younger Players. Practice Ice time shall be allocated such that younger players receive the earliest available Practice Ice time available during a particular month.
      • Procedures for Additional Ice. Additional Practice Ice time that becomes available after the monthly schedule is established shall be distributed by the Ice Coordinator in a fair and reasonable manner, recognizing that such distribution may result in the overallocation of Practice Ice in any particular month.
      • Maximize Number of Teams per Sheet. Given the shortage of Practice Ice time available, and until such time as that additional Practice Ice time becomes available, the maximum reasonable number of teams shall be scheduled on each Practice Ice sheet.
      • Timing and Location of Practice Sessions. The time and location of practice sessions shall be structured fairly among the teams and Programs, i.e. weekend and outside of Pilgrim practice sessions shall be distributed fairly among the teams and Programs.

VI. PLAYING RULES.

  1. Rules of Affiliated Organizations. All administrators, coaches, players, parents and guardians shall comply with the rules of all organizations affiliated with Hingham Youth Hockey, including: USA Hockey; Mass Hockey; South Shore and Metro South Hockey League; and Tournament Organizations.
  2. Game Ice Time.
    1. Equal Time as General Rule. All players in similar positions, baring injury, shall skate approximately an equal amount of time in league games over the course of a season.
    2. Exceptions. An exception shall prevail to the above rule during the last two minutes of a game, and power play and penalty killing lines shall be permitted. This rule shall not apply in the event of a coach disciplining a player for violating any Hingham Youth Hockey or team rule.
  3. Tournaments.
    1. Participation. As a general rule, it is expected that each team shall participate in at least one tournament. It is also expected that each team shall follow rules B1 and B2 above.
    2. If it is necessary to borrow players for a Tournament, each team shall fully comply with all Tournament rules. Further, you must borrow from a team within Hingham Youth Hockey and it must be from a level below or equal (if allowed under Tournament rules). If there is a hardship and this cannot be accomplished, the Head Coach must get permission from then Tournament Director and the Hingham Youth Hockey Executive Board.

VII. RULES OF CONDUCT.

  1. Sportsmanship.
    1. General. Good sportsmanship is required of all players, coaches, parents and spectators. All Hingham Youth Hockey rules will be strictly enforced.
    2. Parents and Coaches. All parents are responsible for the conduct of their children. Parents will be held responsible, along with the player, to see that all rules and policies are followed. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team.
    3. Code of Conduct. All parents, coaches and players shall adhere to the Code of Conduct as developed by Hingham Youth Hockey and USA Hockey and shall be required to sign such a document as may be distributed by Hingham Youth Hockey.
  2. Equipment.
    1. Parents' Responsibility. Parents have the obligation to ensure that their player wears all of the mandatory equipment and that all of their player's equipment is in satisfactory condition, of the correct size and has not been modified in any manner that would reduce its performance as warranted by the manufacturer.
    2. Mandatory Equipment for Hingham Youth Hockey Participants. The following equipment is required for all players in the Instructional Program and above:
      • HECC approved helmet and face mask;
      • hockey gloves;
      • hockey pants with pads;
      • shoulder pads;
      • shin guards;
      • supporter with cup (boys) and pelvic protector (girls);
      • elbow pads;
      • internal mouth guard for U12, U14 and U16 levels;
      • full coverage throat protector/neck guard is highly recommended;
      • goalie must wear an approved fully protective face mask and helmet with throat protector;
      • sticks must have the butt-end covered with tape or end cap; and
      • any other equipment required by USA Hockey, Mass Hockey, the South Shore or Metro South Hockey League, as appropriate, or any applicable Tournament organization
    3. Uniforms. Each player shall be issued and shall wear in all Hingham Youth Hockey games, the uniform sanctioned by Hingham Youth Hockey for the team on which they are playing.
  3. Improper Conduct.
    1. General Principle. A coach or player who fails to conduct himself/herself properly on or off the ice may be issued minor, misconduct, game misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalties from game officials and may be subject to the sanctions set forth below. Further action involving probation, suspension or termination from Hingham Youth Hockey may be assessed by the Disciplinary Committee.
    2. Examples of Improper Conduct. The following examples of improper conduct are presented for clarity, and are not meant to be all inclusive. At no time should any of this conduct occur either before, during or after a Hingham Youth Hockey game, practice or event:
      • threatening or derogatory remarks to members of the opposing team, referees, off ice officials, members of the staff at any ice rink, officers of Hingham Youth Hockey or spectators;
      • threatening or derogatory remarks to teammates, coaches, game officials or coaches;
      • abusive or obscene gestures or actions;
      • a player failing to proceed directly to the penalty box when issued a penalty;
      • failure of the coach to keep his/her players under control; and
      • marking or defacing any of the facilities in which Hingham Youth Hockey teams practice or play, or the destruction of any personal property in those facilities.
      • physical violence outside the rules of hockey, including "locker boxing"
      • no hazing of any participant involved in HYH.  Hazing includes any conduct which is intimidating, humiliating, offensive, or physically harmful. The hazing conduct is typically an activity that serves as a condition for joining a group or being socially accepted by a group’s members.
    3. Parents' Financial Responsibility. Any financial cost associated with the improper conduct of a Hingham Youth Hockey player while participating in a Hingham Youth Hockey sponsored event shall be the responsibility of the parents of that player, including the costs resulting from the marking or defacing of facilities or the destruction of any equipment or other personal property.
    4. Parents and Spectators. Parents and spectators are under USA Hockey "ZERO TOLERENCE and may be asked to leave or be removed from the ice arena at any time by a game official for improper conduct.
    5. Major Penalties. Hingham Youth Hockey is subject to the rules of Metro South and South Shore Conferences (as applicable) with respect to sanctions resulting from a player or coach receiving major penalties in a Metro South or South Shore Conference game. In order to maintain consistency with respect to the disciplining of players engaging in such conduct, the policy of Hingham Youth Hockey will be to assess, at a minimum, the sanctions imposed by the South Shore Conference for any such conduct. Hingham Youth Hockey reserves the right to assess additional sanctions in accordance with the provisions of this document.
    6. Major Fighting. Major fighting will not be tolerated by Hingham Youth Hockey. The following sanctions shall be imposed in conjunction with the Metro South and South Shore Conferences. In other words, the sanctions shall run simultaneously with the sanctions imposed by those conferences, unless specifically stated or determined otherwise.
      • If an official calls a Major Penalty for fighting in any period of a Hingham Youth Hockey game, and as a result the player receives a Game Misconduct for such penalty, the player will be suspended for the next three scheduled Hingham Youth Hockey games, and the player will not participate in any other Hingham Youth Hockey game or practice until his or her suspension is served.
      • If an official calls a second Major Penalty for fighting on the same player during the season, and as a result the player receives a Game Misconduct for such penalty, the player will be suspended for the remainder of the season pending a hearing for the following season.
    7. Other Game Misconduct or Match Penalties. Any player, coach or manager who receives a Game Misconduct or Match Penalty, other than set forth above, in any Hingham Youth Hockey sanctioned game, shall be subject to any disciplinary action required by the South Shore or Metro South Hockey League, as applicable, which disciplinary action shall be at least equal to the following sanctions adopted by Hingham Youth Hockey.
      • If an official assesses a Game Misconduct penalty, the player, coach or manager will, at a minimum, be suspended for the next scheduled Hingham Youth Hockey game, and the player, coach or manager will not participate in. any other Hingham Youth Hockey game or practice until his or her suspension is served. The Disciplinary Committee may assess additional sanctions if the events warrant.
      • If an official assesses a second Game Misconduct penalty against the same player, coach or manager during the season, the player, coach or manager will, at a minimum, be suspended for the next three scheduled Hingham Youth Hockey games, and the player, coach or manager will not participate in any other Hingham Youth Hockey game or practice until his or her suspension is served. The Disciplinary Committee may assess additional sanctions if the events warrant.
      • If an official assesses a third Game Misconduct penalty against the same player, coach or manager during the season, the player, coach or manager will, at a minimum, be suspended for the remainder of the season, and the player, coach or manager will not participate in any other Hingham Youth Hockey game or practice until his or her suspension is served.
      • If an official assesses a Match Penalty against any player, coach or manager, the player, coach or manager will be automatically suspended by MassHockey and Hingham Youth Hockey until after hearings by MassHockey and the Hingham Youth Hockey Disciplinary Committee, at which point appropriate sanctions may be imposed.
      • If it is determined by the Disciplinary Committee, after thorough review and hearing, that a player acted with deliberate intent to injure another player, such player will be immediately dismissed from Hingham Youth Hockey.
      • Any coach found to have played or practiced a player under suspension shall be immediately suspended from all Hingham Youth Hockey activities for a period of not less than one year, in accordance with USA Hockey Rule 18F. In addition, the team will forfeit all games in which such suspended player or players participated.
    8. Off Ice Fighting. Fighting will not be tolerated on the ice or off the ice, in the hallways, locker rooms, parking lots or in any other Hingham Youth Hockey venue.
      • Any player who starts or participates in a fight after a game has been officially terminated shall be automatically suspended from all Hingham Youth Hockey games and practices if a penalty is issued by the official indicating that the offense occurred after the termination of the game. This suspension shall be reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee within 5 days and appropriate sanctions may be assessed.
      • If no such penalty is issued the player/players participating in a fight may be subject to such disciplinary action as may be determined appropriate after a thorough study of all available information by the Disciplinary Committee.
      • Coaches, managers, players and parents are not permitted to smoke or chew tobacco on the bench, on the ice or in the locker room during games or practices.
      • Drinking of intoxicants or the use of illegal substances by a player, coach or other participants while engaged in a Hingham Youth Hockey game or practice will result in immediate suspension from all Hingham Youth Hockey activities, pending a hearing by the Disciplinary Committee, at which point appropriate sanctions may be imposed.
    9. Additional Rules by Coach. A coach may establish additional rules which are not inconsistent with the rules set forth in the By-laws or this document, upon proper notice to the Coaching Coordinator and the players on his or her team.
      • A coach may suspend a player for improper conduct for one (1) game for a first offense without the right of a hearing. Such action must be reported to the Program Coordinator, the Coaching Coordinator and the President for review and a record made of such review. Any subsequent offense will entitle the player to a hearing within 5 days before the Disciplinary Committee.
      • A coach may hold a player out of a game if either the player has missed the immediately preceding practice without satisfactory cause or if the player does not show up for a game on time. The Program Coordinator shall be notified of any player so penalized.

VIII. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE.

  1. Membership and Organization. The Disciplinary Committee is established under the By-laws of Hingham Youth Hockey and consists of the President, the Coaching Coordinator, and the Program Coordinator in whose Program the subject activity has occurred.
  2. Powers of the Disciplinary Committee. Complaints of infractions of the rules of Hingham Youth Hockey shall be investigated and reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee as provided for in Article V, Section 7 of the By-laws of Hingham Youth Hockey. The Committee may, and if required under this document, shall, conduct hearings, upon due notice, concerning the conduct of any player, coach or other party and may thereafter impose additional sanctions not specifically mandated by the rules of Hingham Youth Hockey. In addition, the Disciplinary Committee shall hear appeals of disciplinary actions as provided below.
  3. Appeal of Disciplinary Actions. There is a limited right to appeal sanctions assessed against a player, coach or other party under the rules of Hingham Youth Hockey. Additional rights to appeal may be available under the rules of MassHockey.
    1. Mandatory Suspension of Three Games or Less. There is no right to appeal the assessment of any mandatory or automatic sanction resulting from an official's assessment of a Major Fighting or other type of Game Misconduct Penalty, if such automatic sanction is suspension for three games or less.
    2. Mandatory Suspension of Four or More Games. A player, coach or manager may appeal the assessment of a mandatory or automatic sanction under these rules if such sanction is suspension for four games or more. The appeal shall be heard by the Disciplinary Committee and the scope of the appeal shall be limited solely to whether or not the event which triggers the mandatory or automatic sanction occurred.
    3. Sanctions Imposed by a Coach. A player has the right to appeal the imposition of sanctions by a coach under the provisions of Section VII.C (10) of these rules. The appeal shall be heard by the Disciplinary Committee and the scope of the appeal shall include a full examination of the facts and circumstances relating to the imposition of the sanctions.
    4. Appeal of Decisions of Disciplinary Committee. Decisions of the Disciplinary Committee shall be final, subject only to appeal to a Special Appeals Committee appointed by the President, under the circumstances and conditions set forth below. The right of appeal of a decision of the Disciplinary Committee is granted to any person, including a player, coach or other party, who has been issued a suspension for more than thirty days. For any sanction below this amount, there is no right of appeal beyond the Disciplinary Committee.
    5. Appeal Procedures and Requirements. All allowable appeals must be submitted in writing to the President within five days of the party's notification of the imposition of sanctions against a player, coach or other party. The Disciplinary Committee or a Special Appeals Committee, as appropriate, shall establish a date of appeal as soon as possible, but in any event within fourteen days of the submission of the notice of appeal. Depending on the scope of the appeal allowed, either Committee may request that those persons with any interest in the matter appear at the appeal to provide their version of the events. After reviewing the all relevant facts and hearing from all appropriate parties, either the Disciplinary Committee or a Special Appeals Committee may, at its option, take no action, reduce the sanction, or impose additional disciplinary action. However, neither the Disciplinary Committee nor the Special Appeals Committee may reduce the Hingham Youth Hockey sanction to an amount less than that assessed by the Metro South or South Shore Conference.

IX. MISCELLANEOUS.

  1. Priority of Organizational Documents. These Procedures, Policies, Rules and Guidelines are intended to supplement the By-laws of Hingham Youth Hockey. In the event of any discrepancy between this document and the By-laws, the provisions of the By-laws shall control.
  2. B. Amendment. Under the provisions of the By-laws, these Procedures, Policies, Rules and Guidelines may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Any such amendment which substantively changes the provisions of this document must be communicated in writing to all of the Member Families of Hingham Youth Hockey.