These are guidelines for all players who intend to take part in a Legion hockey session. Please note that by stepping onto the ice for any Legion session you agree to abide by them. Any changes will be notified via the mailing list.

We realise that most players are playing for fun but as hockey is a physical sport, incidents will happen from time to time. These guidelines are to let you know how the club will deal with them.

In the following guidelines we refer to the "session coach". This will usually be the Legion coach or assistant coach. If someone else is coaching the session, this will be made clear at the start.

These guidelines do not (and cannot hope to) cover every scenario that may take place on the ice. The session coach may, at his/her discretion, give a warning for ANY action that he/she considers dangerous. The session coach's decision is final.

Players that are asked to leave the ice will not have their session fees refunded.

Play for fun and respect your team-mates, your opponents and the officials.

“3 Strikes and you're out” rule.

A player who, in the opinion of the session coach, commits a dangerous act or breaches these guidelines will be given a warning. Any player who is warned for the 3rd time in a session will be asked to leave the ice.

Serious Breaches

If an offence is serious enough the offending player may be asked to leave the ice immediately and without prior warning

Supplementary Discipline

The Legion Executive committee may, at their discretion, investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game or Legion session.

Disciplinary action may be taken relating to any offence or breach of discipline that was committed before, during or after a session/game, whether or not the coach and/or referee saw the offence at the time.

Contact and checking

The Legion plays non-checking hockey where reasonable contact is permitted. Please read Appendix A, the IIHF issued guidelines that we will be using.

Please also remember that Tuesday night at Sobell is a "beginner/intermediate" standard session and special care should be taken due to the number of inexperienced players that are on the ice.

Fighting

Fighting is not permitted. Anyone throwing punches, trying to start a fight or threatening other players will be asked to leave the ice immediately.

Sticks

Players should be aware that hockey sticks can cause injury to other players. You are responsible for any injuries inflicted with your stick, whether accidental or not.

Players should not play with broken sticks as this may be dangerous to other players.

Match officials

Abuse of match officials, whether in EIHA registered games or in-house games / scrimmages is not acceptable. This also applies to abuse of off-ice officials and the session coach.

Alcohol / Illegal Substances

Players should not attend sessions when under the influence of alcohol (or any illegal substances) as this can present an increased risk of injury to yourself and other players. We reserve the right to ask a player to leave a session (without refund) if we believe that the player is under the influence. In these cases the session coach's decision is final.

Equipment

Full equipment should be worn at all times.

Players MUST wear Leg Pads, Elbow Pads, Helmet & Gloves at all times on the ice. If you do not wear all of these pieces of equipment you cannot take part in a session.

We also recommend that players wear a "box", shoulder pads, protective shorts and facial protection (half or full visor).

Players that choose not to wear full kit do so at their own risk. We will not be held liable for any injuries to players who do not wear full kit or wear faulty kit.

We also recommend that you read the "Penalties" section of the IIHF rulebook. This can be found at www.iihf.com/hockey/rules/offrules.htm

Appendix A

IIHF Guidance

Body contact / checking

Allowed - Body Contact

• Intent to play the puck first.
• Minor intent to play body when going in the same direction.

Not Allowed - Body Checking

• Intent to physically play the body first.
• Obvious intent to play the body when going in the opposite direction or from the side.

Corner play - contact or checking

Allowed Corner Play - Contact

• Puck is major focus.
• Body contact is result of playing the puck.
• Minimal checking close by to opponent.

Not Allowed Corner Play Checking

• Opponent becomes bigger focus than the puck.
• Obvious intentional body check into the boards.

Defensive player - contact or checking

Allowed Defensive Player Contact

• Allowed to hold position.
• No space between opponent.

Not Allowed Defensive Player Contact

• Stepping directly into path of player.
• Stopping with space between players (stride).

Collisions - contact or checking

Allowed Collisions - Contact

• Accidental, although a big check occurred.
• No control of collision for either player.

Not allowed - Checking

• Intentional.
• Playing body only.
• Checking player controls situation but does not attempt to prevent.