Equitable Ice guidlines
PLAYER ICE TIME EQUALITY GUIDLINES
a) HRI. specifies that the coaches are to rotate players so all receive equitable ice time. Persistent long shifting of one player or line will not be tolerated. Violations of equitable ice time are subject to suspension of the coach(es).
b) In the Novice division, all five players must change on every line change where there are 10 skaters dressed for any given game (exhibition and tournament games included). In the Atom division, coaches are required to play 9 forwards on teams with 13 or more skaters. No double shifting of any player is allowed in the atom and below age division (tiered house). Double shifting is described as being the act of leaving a player on the ice for two consecutive shifts; the exception to this rule would be the replacement of a defenseman during a penalty kill.
c) Coaches in the Atom and Novice Division are encouraged to meet before each game for the purpose of matching lines to ensure players of near equal ability are competing against one another.
d) The Hockey Regina Board of Directors recognizes that this regulation can be difficult to interpret and therefore provides the following guidelines:
i. Every player (skater) should have a reasonable expectation of playing every 3rd shift of every game for teams with 3 forward lines and 3 sets of defensemen.
ii. Every goalie should have a reasonable expectation to play + of all games (whether that is + of each game or rotating games is decision of the coach). The goaltending rotation should be communicated to the player and parents.
iii. If a player is absent for any reason from a game, then it would not be reasonable to expect to make up the shifts lost. For example, if a goalie misses a game that they were expected to play in, it is not reasonable to expect that the rotation would change to accommodate (although it is expected that coaches will work around planned absences where possible in making the goalie assignments).
iv. Team rules agreed up by players and coaches at the beginning of the year can include the disciplinary action of sitting out a predetermined amount of time. This guideline is not intended to negate the coaches¦ ability to discipline players.
v. A coach must have the discretion to bench a player for disciplinary reasons, but should be communicating this to the player and parents.
vi. Injuries: If a player is injured during a game and sits out a few shifts, they should not expect to make up the missed shifts.
vii. Specialty Teams: Hockey Regina believes that all players should be taught how to play in power play, penalty killing and end-of game situations and be given the opportunity to gain experience in these specialty team situations.
viii. During penalty killing situations, it is not reasonable to expect the same player to sit out while short handed.
ix. One player or one line should not be consistently shifted longer than the other players or lines. This will happen from time to time, but it is not reasonable to expect that it would happen consistently through several games.
x. If a team is missing a player or players, other players may get more ice time to make up for missing players. It is the coaches¦ discretion to which players get the additional ice time. Each player should still reasonably expect to play every 3rd shift.
PROTOCOL FOR EQUITABLE ICE POLICY
a) Hockey Regina¦s Equitable Ice Policy applies to all teams playing in Hockey Regina.
b) Steps
i. Parents who feel their coach has not followed the Equitable Ice Policy should speak directly with their coach along with the team parent rep (liaison, manager, third party), after observing the 24-hour policy. The meeting discussions should be documented.
ii. If no resolution is reached, the parent should contact the Division Director and provide documentation of initial coach¦s meeting.
iii. The Division Director will investigate and contact the coach with his/her findings. If the director has determined that the coach has not been following the Equitable Ice Policy, the coach will be warned to immediately make sure he or she follows the policy. The first offence for continuation failing to follow the policy is a one game suspension.
iv. The Division Director, on their own accord will continue to monitor the teams use of equitable ice.
v. Should the coach continue failing to follow HRI¦s Equitable Ice Policy, more substantial suspensions will follow as per the Code of Discipline Minimum Suspensions Chart.
