North Waterloo Ringette League Rules/Procedures

1. ORA rules WILL APPLY unless otherwise stated. Protests will be done in accordance with ORA rules. The referees’ decisions are final.

2. North Waterloo offers recreational ringette in the following age groupings and categories;

Bunnies 7 yrs. & under C
Novice 9 yrs. & under C
Petite 11 yrs & under C
Tween 13 yrs. & under F C
Junior 15 yrs. & under F C
Belle 18 yrs. & under F C

Issues regarding overage players and Co-ed teams wanting to play in an female category will be voted on by Associations at a regularly scheduled North Waterloo Meeting. Player movement forms must be filled out and brought to the meeting to be considered. It is the responsibility of the home Association to forward those requests to their respective Regions.

3. North Waterloo's Scheduler will provide a full year ice schedule for teams in the Belle Division. Bunny - Junior teams will be provided two schedules allowing for the re-seeding of teams after Christmas. At the first North Waterloo meeting of the season dates for these two seasons will be voted on and a date for the reseeding meeting set. Coaches are welcome and encouraged to attend the re-seeding meetings.

4. Associations will select dates and vote on the selection of Championship Day teams. All games must be considered in the determination of the teams advancing to Championship Day.

5. Dates will be provided to North Waterloo for Regional seeding meetings. Western Region teams playing in North Waterloo will vote on cut off dates for the selection of teams going to Regionals on the Championship side of the tournament.

6. Each Association will provide North Waterloo a contact person and procedure for the cancellation and the rescheduling of games.

7. Date of make-up game must be set within two weeks of original game but does not have to be played within the 2 weeks. Affected Associations to reschedule. The statistician should be notified of the changes.

8. 72 hours notice must be given by a team planning to forfeit a game. A forfeit is recorded as a 5-0 loss. The forfeiting team will be responsible for paying the referees and timekeepers, if appropriate notice is not given. The above does not apply to games canceled due to inclement weather.

9. A team that REFUSES to play a league game will be subject to a $500.00 fine, payable to North Waterloo from the offending association and further disciplinary action where deemed necessary.

10. Curfewing of a game is not a basis for protest. Only for exceptional circumstances will a game be rescheduled with league approval.

11. Coaches are to be notified prior to game start if there is only one referee being used. It is at that time the coaches must make the decision to proceed with the game as scheduled or play the game as exhibition only.

12. Minimum number of players is 8 (7 skaters and a goalie). If one team does not have the minimum number of players by game starting time, the game will be defaulted and played as an exhibition game.

13. All players must be given equal ice time. In the Novice Division, no double-shifting is allowed if there is an even number of players to make up exact lines. If exact lines cannot be made, the double-shifting will be allowed. Centres cannot double-shift in the centre position, she must be moved to another position. No power lines are allowed in Novice. Any team caught triple-shifting by a convenor or another reliable person will automatically forfeit the game. The only allowable exception is for an 8 player team.

14. If a player replaces another player who is injured or has to make an equipment adjustment, the replacement player is not considered as being double shifted.

15. Tier I teams that are short players prior to game time are allowed to draw Tier II players for North Waterloo play only, as long as it does not affect their home team. Tier II teams must go down a division if there is a shortage of players. Teams can call players over from a team in the same division – providing coaches used good judgement in whom they call over (ie – call over a player of similar caliber to the player missing. In the event a player is called up he/she must play and be given equal ice time. Goalies are excepted from the above and may be moved between teams in the same division.

16. Coaches are not to run up scores. Every effort should be made to keep the game fun for each team especially in the lower divisions. If a coach allows his/her team to dominate a game with no effort to hold back the team it is to be brought to the attention of North Waterloo. Game clocks are not to show more than a 5 goal spread.

17. North Waterloo will use shot clocks for all games at the Petite level and above in those arenas that have them.

18. Two minute buzzers will be used in the Bunny Division. Novice C & D Divisions only for the first four games unless a mutual agreement is made by the coaches prior to the game start. Players cannot change during their two minute shifts. A penalized player will serve her penalty for the duration of her shift while the two minute buzzers are in effect.

19. Coaches (maximum of two will be allowed on the ice in the Novice Tier II Division only), for the first four games unless a mutual agreement is made by the coaches prior to the game start. Coaches must wear helmets and it is recommended they wear elbow and knee pads.

20. Games will consist of two 15 minute stop-time period in the Novice - Belle DivisionsBunnies play two 16 minute periods with two minute buzzers.

21. At the scheduled game time, the timekeeper will start a TWO minute clock (for Junior, Belle) / THREE minute clock (for Novice, Petite and Tween). As soon as this time expires, the game will start. If there is an excessive delay of the game, there will be a two minute delay of the game penalty assessed.

22. No monetary awards will be given to individual players or teams by the coach.

23. No spectators are allowed on the ice with the exception of medical staff, or parent(s) in the case of injury.

24. Coaches and referees must be notified before the clock is run.

25. No smoking behind the bench.

26. Players and coaches using foul language may be ejected from the game.

27. Any players not wearing proper equipment will be removed from the ice.

28. In case of a tie in a championship game, a 5 minute sudden death overtime period will be played.

29. Coaches’ suspension: 2 games from Home Association.

30. Home team is required to change sweater colours at the request of the referee.

31. Teams with more than one team in the Petite or higher divisions must Tier them as Tier I and Tier II - to be decided upon at the September meeting each year depending on the number of teams.

32. Coaches are responsible to fill out and deliver to the North Waterloo Ringette League statistician the following information by e-mail preferably or by phone within 48 hours of your game (includes league, exhibition and tournament games)- Game Type, League Game #, Game Date, Division/Level, Teams involved, Score, Total Penalty minutes for each team and any game comments. Failure to submit these forms on time will result in a $25.00 fine to the offending Association, per team, that fails to submit. Game Report Forms will than be forwarded to Western Region G&T.

33. All major penalties must be reported to the respective centre convenor who in turn must bring it to the attention of North Waterloo as well as their respective Region.

34. The Discipline/Grievance committee for North Waterloo will consist of members of North Waterloo Associations. Additional suspensions may be added.

Update10/Sept 2005