JWHL Game Rules 2007-2008, Inaugural Season

Playing Rules
The goal of this league is to prepare the athletes to play at the collegiate level.  Games will be played following the rulebook for the National Governing body in which country a game is being played.  Therefore, the USA Hockey rulebook will be used for all games played in the US, and Hockey Canada rules will be used for all games played in Canada. 

Games
All games will be 20-20-20 minutes with a 5-minute pre-game warm-up.. The warm-up clock will start when the zamboni doors are closed and referee’s are on the ice.

Ice will be resurfaced after each period.

If at any time during the third period a team has a six or greater goal lead the game clock will go to running time. The clock will stay running time until the goal differential goes back to four goals.

If a league game is not completed during its available ice slot (which slot must be at least 1:45 hours), and the ice slot cannot be extended to allow for the normal completion of the game using a stop time game clock, the following rules will apply:

• If the third period of the game has begun before the ice slot expires, the game will be considered completed.
• If the third period of the game has not begun before the ice slot expires, the game will be suspended and resumed at a place and time to be agreed by the respective teams. However, if the coaches of both teams agree that resuming the game will not change its outcome, they may agree to call the game final at the end of the ice slot.

When “running time” is in effect, penalties will also be running time.

The on-ice officials may direct the scorekeeper to stop a running clock, in the event of an on-ice injury or other circumstances that in their judgment warrant stopping the game clock.

Players/Roster
Each JWHL team must file a league roster on Oct 1 preceding the season.  Rosters must adhere to USA Hockey rules for US based teams, and Hockey Canada rules for Canadian based teams.  In the US, the roster is: 18 skaters and 2 goalies.

Jersey Colors
Teams designated as “Home” teams in any JWHL Girls Division game shall wear light colored jerseys and “Away” teams shall wear dark colored jerseys. If the teams’ light and dark jerseys are not, in the judgment of the on-ice officials, sufficiently distinguishable from each other, the on-ice officials may direct either team to change jerseys or secure pullovers.

League Standings
Standings will be compiled by the JWHL Statistician and made available to all teams at least once per month during the league’s regular season, and following any league weekends. Teams are responsible for notifying the Statistician of any information that is inaccurate.

League Standings will be determined by the following criteria:
Most points (based on two points awarded for a win and 1 point awarded for a tie).
Most wins.
Fewest losses.
Head to head competition

Off-Ice Officials
The host is responsible for providing a timekeeper and scorekeeper. For games at an neutral site, the league is responsible for providing timekeeper and scorekeeper.

Protests
A team wishing to protest a game may only protest the following issue:
Accusing an opposing team of using an ineligible or illegal player or coach.

A protested game must be recorded as a protest on the game's scoresheet. A copy of that scoresheet and a $50 protest fee must be received by the League Committee within 48 hours of the protested game. If the protest is ruled to be valid, a decision will be reached and the $50 fee will be refunded.
Rulings on all protests will be made by the League Committee

Referees
It is the responsibility of the host to provide on-ice officials; at neutral sites, it is the responsibility of the league.

Failure to Compete
Any team not completing their JWHL schedule may, by decision of the League Committee, be ruled ineligible to participate in the end-of-season JWHL playoffs.

Scoresheets
The Home team is responsible to fax to the JWHL Statistician the game scoresheet within 48 hours of the conclusion of any showcase weekend.

Sportsmanship/Handshakes
The JWHL endorses a traditional handshake at center ice at the end of each game, which should include all players and coaches from participating teams. The responsibility of enforcing a traditional handshake is placed on coaches and game officials. Any display of poor sportsmanship or penalties occurring during post-game handshakes will be subject to discipline by the JWHL, in addition to any penalties assessed by the on-ice officials.

On-ice officials have the discretion not to allow the handshake line to take place, if in their judgment having the handshake may lead to an altercation or will delay the timely commencement of the next league game.

Suspensions
If any team official or player is serving a suspension, she/he may not sit on or near the player bench of her/his team or in any way attempt to direct the play of her/his team.

Players and team officials serving any suspension will be considered “ineligible players” for every game in which they participate, until their suspension is served.

When a game suspension is being served, it must be clearly indicated on the score sheet. The team with the suspended player or team official shall include on the scoresheet the name of the suspended player or team official, and the total number of games being served.

All suspensions occurring in JWHL League games must be served in the next scheduled JWHL League game(s) for that team (including playoffs) which is in addition to the next scheduled USA Hockey (non-JWHL) game.  Suspensions for Canadian teams will follow the JWHL Suspension rule in addition to the Hockey Canada suspension rule.

Suspensions not occurring in JWHL League games must be served in the next game(s) played, whether League game or not.

If a team official or player violates her/his suspension, the League Committee shall have the authority to impose additional discipline, including but not limited to team suspensions or game forfeitures.

Timeouts
Each team will be allowed one, one minute timeout, which may be used at any point in a game. If a timeout is called when running time is in effect , the game clock will stop during the timeout and running time will resume with the ensuing faceoff.

Zero Tolerance
Each team shall take action to insure that spectators are not abusive to on or off-officials, players, team or league officials or other spectators. Failure to do so could result in team suspension or game forfeiture, such penalty to be decided by the League Committee and Commissioner.

Each JWHL team is responsible for educating and monitoring this policy with the parents and spectators of their team or club.

Any coach, team official, parent or spectator assessed a Zero Tolerance penalty will have their case reviewed by the League Committee in which the Zero Tolerance penalty occurred. If the League Committee determines that a Zero Tolerance penalty did occur, it shall impose a suspension of the involved coach, team official, parent or spectator of at least the next two (2)JWHL games scheduled for the team involved. If the coach, team official, parent or spectator violates such a suspension, the League Committee shall have the authority to impose additional discipline, including but not limited to team suspensions or game forfeitures.