5 PENALTIES

Referees: a) The referees shall maintain control of the game and the players. Any decision made by a referee is final. The referee has control over stoppage of time and play. b) The referee shall assign an official time keeper and scorekeeper at the beginning of each game. The score keeper will also record penalties. c) Each game shall have a minimum of one referee and a maximum of two. d) Players who excessively argue the refereeÕs decision(s) may be removed from play and may face suspension. e) The referees will see that the teams are called to the surface at the appointed time for the commencement of each game and at the start of each regulation period. The referee will remain at the conclusion of each period and wait until the players have proceeded to their benches or dressing rooms. f) The referees will check the equipment worn by any player when requested to do so by the coach of either team. g) The referees will assess all penalties as described by the rules in the rule book. h) The referees will have the final decision on all goals, disputed or not. i) The referees will announce to the official scorer the duration of the penalties and the rule infractions involved, and also to whom the goals and assists are to be credited. j) After each game, the referees will check and sign the scoresheet and return it to league officials. NOTE: Mandatory referee equipment requirements include: whistle, sneakers or rubber-soled shoes and distinguishable attire. 

Minor Penalties:
1. For a minor penalty The offending player shall be removed from play for 90 seconds (running time) from the time the ball is dropped to restart play. His/Her team will play with one less player. When a player from each team receives a minor penalty at the same time, the penalties are called coincidental minors. When coincidental minors occur, the teams remain at full strength (5 vs. 5). NOTE: Should consecutive minor penalties be called upon one team, the offending team shall remain only two players short (three player surface minimum excluding the goalkeeper at all times) until all minor penalties have been served consecutively. NOTE: In cases where two minor penalties have been assessed to the same team, the second player that enters the penalty box does not have his/her penalty time commence until the first playerÕs penalty has expired or a goal has been scored against his/her team.
2. For a bench minor penalty (this is an infraction by the team, not an individual player) the captain or coach of the offending team will assign a player (either on or off the playing surface) to serve two minutes in the penalty area. His/Her team will play short one player.
3. If The opposing team scores a goal while a team is short-handed by one or more minor penalties, the short handed team shall be permitted to immediately release the first player who caused his/her team to be short handed.
4. If a player receives a major and minor penalty, the major penalty shall be served first. When two players on the same team receive penalties, one minor and one major, the minor penalty shall be served first
5. Players with 3 minor penalties or 1 major and 1 minor penalty, will also receive a game misconduct.  The penalty resulting in the misconduct will be served by a different player on the rink at the time of the penalty. 

Minor and major penalties shall be imposed for the following reasons (The severity of the infraction shall be left to the refereeÕs sole discretion):
    1. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: ¥ Challenging or disputing the decision of the referee ¥ Creating a disturbance ¥ Shooting the ball after the whistle has blown ¥ Delaying the game by deliberately throwing or shooting the ball out of the playing area ¥ Deliberately displacing the goal net ¥ Using obscene or abusive language ¥ Interfering in any way with the game official ¥ Interference of play from the bench ¥ Making physical contact with an opponent after the whistle has blown ¥ Abuse of officials (verbally or physically) ¥ Not immediately following the decisions of the official after a penalty has been called ¥ Throwing anything into the playing area
    2. Excessive Violence ¥ Any deliberate body checking ¥ Running, jumping, kicking or charging at an opponent ¥ Cross checking ¥ Unnecessary roughness ¥ Use of forearms or hands to check an opponent above the opponentÕs shoulder
    3. Injury or Attempt to Injure ¥ Slashing or attempts to slash ¥ Butt-Ending or attempts to butt-end ¥ Spearing or attempts to spear
    4. Altercations (fighting/wrestling) ¥ Retaliating physically with a player
    5. Obstructions ¥ Elbowing or kneeing ¥ Holding an opponent or his/her stick impeding him/her from playing ¥ Tripping ¥ Defending player (excluding the goalkeeper) smothering the ball ¥ Goalkeeper smothering the ball outside the privileged area ¥ Impeding the progress of an opponent who does not have control of the ball or knocking his/her stick from the hands or preventing him/her from retrieving it.
    6. Technical Violation ¥ Use of the stick not conforming to the rules ¥ Leaving the penalty bench prior to expiration ¥ Throwing a stick in the direction of the ball
    7. Delaying the Game ¥ Failing to maintain proper face-off position ¥ Deliberately holding the ball against the surface structure ¥ Exceeding the maximum allowed players in play ¥ Excessive clearing (refereeÕs discretion) ¥ Stick measurement; if stick is legal, team requesting measurement is penalized

Rule 6.1 Unnecessary Roughness (Roughing) a) A minor or major penalty, at the discretion of the referees, will be imposed on any player who uses unnecessary roughness. b) The act of riding an opponent off the ball, or meeting the opponent head-on while attempting to play the ball will not be considered roughing. c) Penalty for unnecessary roughness should be called in every case when an opposing player makes unnecessary contact with the player in possession.
Rule 6.2 Holding A minor penalty will be imposed on a player who holds an opponent with his hands, stick, or in any other way. This rule will be strictly enforced.
Rule 6.3 Elbowing and Kneeing a) A minor penalty shall be assessed any player who fouls an opponent in any manner with his elbow or knee. b) A major penalty shall be assessed any player who injures an opponent by elbowing or kneeing.
Rule 6.4 Handling Ball With Hands a) If a player, except the goalkeeper closes his/her hand intentionally on the ball, the play will be stopped and a minor penalty will be imposed. b) A player will be permitted to stop or bat a ball in the air with his open hand, or push it along the surface with his/her hand, and the play will not be stopped unless, in the opinion of referee, The player has deliberately directed the ball to a teammate, in which case the play is to be stopped and the ball faced-off at the nearest face-off spot toward the center line. c ) Hand passes will be permitted only in the defensive zone.
Rule 6.5 High Sticking a) High sticking shall occur when the hockey stick is extended above the offending player's shoulders at any time. The result is a 90 second (running time) penalty. If the hockey stick makes contact with the opponent above the normal height of the shoulder, the referee, at his discretion, may impose a 90 second minor, three minute minor, or 3 minute major in the event of an injury.. b) Batting the ball above the normal height of the shoulder with the stick is prohibited and when it occurs play shall be stopped and the offending player shall receive a 90 second minor penalty. . Following a high sticking penalty, the ensuing face-off shall take place at an end zone face-off spot of the offending playerÕs team.
Rule 6.6 Charging A minor or major penalty, at the discretion of the referees, will be imposed on a player who violently runs, jumps into, or charges an opponent, or blindsides an opponent from behind.
Rule 6.7 Interference It is a violation of the rules to interfere with or impede the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. Accidental body contact will be permitted. All judgements in this case shall be at the refereesÕ discretion. NOTE: Often it is the action and movement of the attacking player which causes the interference, since the defending players are allowed to stand ground. NOTE: Occasionally players of marginal ability, may create the appearance of interference. An official should only call a penalty for the those types of deliberate interference: a) When a player deliberately impedes the movement of an opposing player after ball has been faced-off. b) When a player deliberately holds the stick of an opposing player. c) When the ball carrier makes a drop pass and follows through as to take his/her opponent out of the play, thus opening the way for the ball carrier. d) When the ball carrier is eliminated from the play by a defender who slides on his/her pads, whether possession of the ball is gained or not. Defensive interference consists of bodily contact with an opposing player when he/she does not have possession of the ball. Goalie interference occurs when an offensive player interferes with or impedes the progress of the goalie while the goalie is in his/her crease or privileged area. e) When the ball is in the attacking zone and not in the goal crease, a player of the attacking team may not stand on the goal crease line or in the goal crease, hold his stick in the goal crease or pass through the goal crease.  If the ball should enter the goal while such a condition prevails, a goal shall not be allowed.  For violation of this rule, while the attacking team has possession of the ball, play shall be stopped and a face off held at the nearest face off spot outside the attacking teams zone. This rule shall not apply when the goal keeper is out of his goal crease. 
Rule 6.8 Delaying the Game a) A minor penalty will be imposed on any player, goaltender, or coach who delays the game by deliberately shooting or batting the ball outside the playing surface, deliberately displaces the goalpost from normal position,or refuses to place the correct number of players on the surface to commence play after being warned by a referee. b) Intentional delay of the game by goalies will be called at the discretion of the referee.
Rule 6.9 Cross Checking and Butt-Ending a) A minor or major penalty, at the discretion of the referees, is to be imposed on a player who cross checks or butt-ends an opponent. b) A match penalty will be imposed on any player who deliberately injures an opponent by cross checking or butt-ending.
Rule 6.10 Slashing a) A minor or major penalty, at the discretion of the referee, will be imposed on any player who slashes or attempts to slash an opponent with no his stick. Referees should penalize as slashing any player who swings his stick at an opposing player without actually striking him, or where where he makes a wild swing at the puck with the object of intimidating an opponent. b) A major penalty and game misconduct penalty will be imposed on any player who injures an opponent by slashing. c) Any player who swings his/her stick at another player in the course of any altercation will be subject to a match penalty.
Rule 6.11 Hooking a) A minor penalty will be imposed on a player who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking the body or stick with his/her stick. This rule will be strictly enforced. b ) A major penalty will be imposed on a player who injures an opponent by hooking. c) When a player is checking another player in such a way that there is only stick-to-stick contact, such action is not either hooking or holding. He may turn the stick down over the opponentÕs stick.
Rule 6.12 Tripping a) A minor penalty will be imposed on any player who places his stick, knee, foot, arm, hand, or elbow in such a manner that it causes his opponent to trip or fall. b) A player may not slide on his knees or roll into an opponent thereby causing the opponent to trip or fall. c) When a player is in control of the ball in the attacking zone and has no opponent between him and the goaltender, and is tripped or otherwise fouled from behind, thus preventing reasonable scoring opportunity, a penalty shot will be awarded to the player. If when the opposing team has pulled the goalie, the above infraction occurs, the attacking team will be awarded a goal.
Rule 6.13 Zero Tolerance Rule
    1. If an official on the surface or off (i.e. scorekeeper) hears either a player on the surface or on the bench use profane language, the official will stop the game and issue a ÒfirstÓ warning to the offending player. The same warning will be made to the playerÕs bench and the coach of the team. The second offense warrants a two minute unsportsmanlike penalty.
    2. If the on-surface official hears profane language and determines that the public (fans, parents, etc.) can hear profane language, a two minute bench penalty will be assessed, an on-surface player will serve the penalty, and the team will play one on-surface player short for the duration of the penalty.
    3. If the on-surface official hears profane language used a second time from the team, bench, or coach, and determines that the surrounding public can also hear the profane language, a five minute bench penalty will be assessed, an on-surface player will serve the penalty, and the team will play one on-surface player short for the duration of the penalty.
    4. If the team in question cannot be controlled, the referee at their discretion may default the game and award the points to the opposing team.

Major Penalties
    1. For the first major penalty assessed to a player in any single game, he/she shall be removed from the surface for 3 minutes. (Goalkeeper excluded.)
    2. For a second major penalty assessed to a player in a single game, a game misconduct penalty in addition to a major penalty will be given. The player will also be suspended from playing for the remainder of the game and no less than five games.
    3. A game misconduct penalty may be assessed if what was normally a minor penalty causes an opponent to bleed.
    4. The following infractions result in a major penalty: ¥ Injuring an opponent by cross-checking or hooking. ¥ Injuring an opponent by deliberate use of knee or elbow. ¥ Grabbing or holding the face mask of an opponent. ¥ Injuring an opponent by slashing. ¥ Deliberate intent to injure an opponent. NOTE: Wild swinging at an opponent or at the ball to intimidate an opponent is considered a major penalty.

Rule 7.1 Molesting Officials a) Coaches are not allowed to enter the playing surface during regulation play. Coaches who do enter the playing surface are subject to review and possible suspension by the League Manager. All incidents of this nature must be reported to MYSHA league officials. b) Any player, coach or trainer who holds or strikes an official will automatically be assessed a gross misconduct, suspended from the game and reported to The League Manager for further penalty. c) Players, coaches, and trainers are not to use obscene or profane language anywhere in the rink. For violation of this rule a bench minor penalty will be imposed.
Rule 7.2 Spearing A major penalty will be imposed on a player who spears or attempts to spear an opponent, regardless of whether bodily contact is made or not.
Rule 7.3 Suspensions Coaches and/or players under suspension are not allowed to serve as a coach or player.

Match Penalties: A match penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game. A substitute player must be placed on the penalty bench to serve a three-minute penalty and may not return onto the surface, regardless if a goal is scored. b) For all match penalties, regardless of when imposed, a total of 5 minutes will be charged against the offending player. c) A player incurring a match penalty will be investigated by the League Manager who will have full power to impose any further penalty he may deem fitting. d) A match penalty will disqualify the player for at least two consecutive games.

Rule 8.1 Fighting A match penalty will be assessed to any player aggressively involved in a fight. Dropping of the gloves is seen as an aggressive action of a fight. The circumstances of such occurrences will be reported to the league for further action. NOTE: If player enters a fight as a third man, that player (including goalkeeper) will be assessed a match penalty.
Rule 8.2 Leaving Player or Penalty Benches a) No player may leave the player or penalty benches at any time to enter an altercation. A match penalty is to be imposed on each player violating this rule. The referee will report all such infractions to the League Manager for further action. b) Except at the end of each period, a time-out, or an expiration of a penalty, no player may leave the penalty bench. c) A penalized player who leaves the penalty bench before his penalty has expired, whether play is in progress or not, will receive an additional minor penalty to be served after serving the unexpired penalty. 

Misconduct Penalties
1. A misconduct penalty calls for the removal of a player other than the goalkeeper from the game for a period of ten minutes. Another player is permitted to replace the removed player. After the penalty has expired, the player may not return to the game until there is a stoppage in play.
2. A player assessed a misconduct with another penalty will serve both penalties consecutively (back-to-back). All offending players will be required to sit in the penalty area until their penalty is served.
3. A game misconduct penalty involves the suspension of a player or a team official for the remainder of the game. His/ Her team may replace the suspended player with a substitute. NOTE: Any player or team official who is assessed a game misconduct shall automatically be suspended for a minimum of the next league or play-off game. (Ten minutes will be charged in the records against the penalized player.)
4. A gross misconduct penalty calls for the suspension of a player or team official for the remainder of the game. His/Her team may replace the suspended player with a substitute. The player or team official, however, will not be allowed to attend further games until the case has been reviewed by the league manager.
The following infractions also result in a misconduct penalty: 
Abuse of Officials 1. An aggressive dispute by a player with an official after a penalty has been called. 2. Using obscene or abusive language. 3. Intentionally shooting or knocking the ball out of reach of an official trying to retrieve it. 4. Deliberately throwing the ball or equipment onto the playing surface. 5. Entering the refereeÕs crease while the referee is consulting with game officials. (Applicable in rinks 150' or longer.) 6. Touching or holding a game official in any way. 7. Any inappropriate behavior that the referee views as detrimental to the game.

Penalty Shot: A penalty shot may be awarded to a team for the following reasons:
    1. A defending player (other than the goalkeeper) who deliberately gathers the ball in the crease and intentionally smothers it stopping play.
   2. If the attacking player has a Òbreak awayÓ and is illegally prevented by the defending team from advancing towards the goalkeeper when there are no players between the attacking player and the defending goalkeeper.
    3. Throwing a stick or any other object at the ball in the defending zone while the attacking team is attempting to score. If this is done on an open net and the goalie has been removed, a goal will be awarded.

Penalty Shot Execution
    1. For a penalty shot the referee will place the ball at the center rink face-off spot. The referee will signal play to begin. The players must maintain a forward motion at all times. No goal will be scored from a rebound.
    2. The goalkeeper must remain in his/her crease until the shooting player has made contact with the ball. If the goalkeeper leaves the crease prematurely the referee may start again.
    3. During a penalty shot, all players must return to their respective benches except for the players participating in the penalty shot.
    4. If a goal is scored, there will be a center-rink face-off. If no goal is scored, The face-off will be played in the defending teamÕs zone.

Goalkeeper Penalties
    1. A goalkeeper shall not be removed from the net for a minor or major penalty. Another team member will serve the goalkeeperÕs penalty.
    2. If the goalkeeper receives a game misconduct or match misconduct, he/she will be removed from the game and be replaced by a substitute goalkeeper or another player. This player will be granted a reasonable amount of time to put on the goalkeeper equipment. 
    3. A goalkeeper may be suspended for future games if the infraction is deemed ÒseriousÓ by the league manager.
    4. A minor penalty shall be assessed to a goalkeeper leaving the goal crease during a fight.
    5. A minor penalty shall be assessed to a goalkeeper who engages in play beyond the center line.

Calling of Penalties
    1. An infraction of the rules by a team in possession of the ball shall be called immediately and the referee will stop play.
    2. If the penalized team is not in possession of the ball at the moment of the penalty, the referee shall raise his/her arm and play will resume until the penalized team touches the ball. (This is called a DELAYED PENALTY.) Then, the referee shall stop play and call the penalty. Until play has stopped, the attacking team may replace their goalkeeper with another ÒattackingÓ player. 
    3. Once play resumes, the resuming face-off shall be where the infraction took place. In a delayed call the face-off will take place in the penalized teamÕs zone.
    4. If under a delayed minor penalty call the attacking team scores, the penalty is waived off and not assessed.
    5. If under a delayed major penalty call the attacking team scores, the goal is awarded and the penalty will be assessed.

MOORESTOWN YOUTH STREET HOCKEY ASSOCIATION {MYSHA} Reserves the right to investigate an infraction and impose additional disciplinary measures as it deems appropriate. This may be against a player, a team official, or an entire team. Any team or player removed from a sanctioned tournament or a season of play, will not be entitled to a refund of any dues/fees paid. Any suspensions imposed will include: playoffs, tournaments, and/or championships.