ANCHORAGE WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE, INC. RULES AND REGULATIONS
Revised July 30, 2008

I. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
A. Age. Players must be women at least 18 years of age on December 31 of the playing year. Players under 18 years of age need written board approval before placement on a team.
B. Registration. Players must be registered with the league. Tier II players must be placed on a team roster by the Board. Every attempt will be made to honor player requests; however, team equality is the first priority of Tier II. Board decisions on placement are final. Tier I players must be included on the team roster on file with the Board from the Tier I Team Representative.
C. Skill Level. All skill levels, from beginning to advanced, are welcome in the AWHL, Inc. The AWHL will consist of two divisions: Tier II is the recreational "C" division and Tier I is the competitive “A”/”B” division, if there are enough players to warrant such divisions. AWHL Players are encouraged to register for the Tier that best reflects their competition and skill level.
D. Fees. The Board determines the league fees on a yearly basis based on the projected cost of ice, referees and overhead (e.g. mailbox, newsletters and Tier II equipment).
1. Tier II players and Tier I teams must pay dues in full before being eligible for their first game.
2. The Board, under special circumstances, may approve special arrangements for late payment.
3. Tier II players joining the league after December 15th pay 50% that year's fee.
4. Extra costs incurred by Travel Teams will be borne by the players on those teams.
E. Jerseys. Tier II Jerseys are the property of AWHL and must be returned within seven (7) days following a player's final game. Failure to return a jersey will result in a $100 replacement fee. AWHL will not provide Tier I jerseys.

II. REFUNDS
A. Refunds. All registration fees paid to AWHL, Inc. will be considered fully earned on the occasion on which the player participates in a scheduled game, practice, or scrimmage. All refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Board.
B. Tier I Refunds. Tier I team fees will only be refunded if there are less than four (4) Tier I teams at season start. The Tier I team representative, not AWHL, is responsible for determining and administering player refunds on that team.
C. Refund Eligibility. Fees will be refunded to Tier II players for the following reasons only:
1. Inability of the player to participate any further due to medical reasons, such as pregnancy, illness or injury subject to verification.
2. Moving beyond AWHL, Inc.'s geographical boundaries.
3. Selection to a high school hockey team.
D. Refund Schedule. Fees will be refunded according to the following schedule:
1. From registration to first scheduled league ice: 100% minus league expenses.
2. From first scheduled league ice to December 15th: 50% minus league expenses.
3. After December 15: no refunds.

III. TEAM COMPOSITION
A. Team Representative. Each team must provide a Team Representative. Changes to the team representative must be submitted to the Board in writing. Duties and powers of Team Representatives are described in the By-Laws.
B. Tier II. A Tier II team will be considered complete when the roster has thirteen (13) players and one (1) goaltender. Once all teams have been completed, the Board may add up to two (2) additional players to any team. Players will be added to the teams on a first come/first serve basis. After fifteen (15) players are rostered, a team may elect to add players to their team up to eighteen (18) players and one (1) goalie.
C. Tier I. In Tier I, the team representative will initiate registration of a Tier I team by filing a team roster. The team roster determines the composition of the Tier I team. The team representative may add to or remove
from her roster until December 15th. The team representative submit to AWHL, in writing, any changes in the Tier I roster. Tier I teams will not exceed 20 players, including goaltender(s).
D. Travel Teams. Players interested in playing on a Travel Team will be required to attend tryouts. An evaluation panel will be appointed by the Board to determine which players will be on the Team. All decisions by the Board are final.

IV. TEAM MODIFICATIONS
A. Ineligible Players. If any ineligible player is used, the offending team will forfeit the game. The infraction will be brought before the Board and a maximum penalty will be a three game suspension for the offending player.
B. Transfer. Tier II players may transfer from one team to another Tier II team within AWHL, Inc. if:
1. The player provides a written request for transfer.
2. The board evaluates the skills of the petitioning player and decides such a move would not result in an uneven distribution of talent among the teams.

C. Substitute Goaltender. If a goaltender is ill or otherwise unavailable to play a scheduled game, then a team may use another AWHL registered goaltender, providing that this rule is not abused to give the team an unfair advantage. If a team is found by the Board to have abused this rule to gain an advantage in play, then the team will automatically forfeit any games played with the substitute goaltender. If a substitute goaltender is unavailable then the team may put a sixth player on the ice. To have goaltender privileges, a player must be wearing all required goaltender equipment.
D. Substitute Players. Substitute players will be allowed to play on a team that is unable to field ten (10) players from its roster. A team may substitute the number of players to bring their bench up to ten players (excluding the goalie) for that game. The substitutes must be noted in writing on the score sheet. Substitute players must be AWHL members in good standing. Players can substitute "up" from Tier II to Tier I, but cannot substitute "down" from Tier I to Tier II.
E. Tier II Imbalance. The Board may ask a player, players, or team in Tier II to make an adjustment to the level of play, team, or Tier if there is a notable imbalance in the team scores or standings.

V. COACHES
A. Compensation. AWHL, Inc will pay to insure one (1) coach per team. All coaches must be volunteers and must offer their services with the understanding that they will not receive any compensation from AWHL.
B. Philosophy. Coaches of teams must recognize the recreational philosophy governing non-competition play, and must be guided by this philosophy in decisions about how much playing time experienced versus new players will receive in each game.
C. Complaints. If there are complaints about a coach, the Board reserves the right to caution and ultimately dismiss a coach from the league.
D. Registration. All coaches must submit an AWHL registration form prior to being on the bench.

VI. REFEREES
A. Officials. Two referees will officiate each scheduled game. If only one (1) referee is present the game will still be played and considered a league game.
B. No Referee. If no referees are present the game will be considered a tie and a scrimmage may be played. If at a later date ice is available to reschedule a game, a game will be played and the outcome will replace the tie.
C. Member Referees. AWHL membership does not disqualify a referee from assignment to an AWHL season game. AWHL members can not referee tournament games within their own Tier.

VII.GAME RULES
A. Rules. USA Hockey rules will be used during the season except as modified by Alaska State Hockey Association (ASHA) and AWHL, Inc. provisions.
B. Periods. Games will start after a five-minute warm up. All games will be played with a running clock. The normal period length will be two (2) seventeen minute (17) periods with the third period being the remainder of the time (15-18 Minutes) with one (1 minute) between periods. All rink schedules shall supersede these times. Special rules may be applied by the Board for Tournament Games. Tie games will be allowed during regular season play. The Board will determine special tie breaking rules for tournament play.
C. Protests. Protests of any game must be written on the score sheet after the game, but before the referee has signed it. If the protest is deemed justified by the Board, the game will be rescheduled for play. Coaches may write a comment about the game or referee on a score sheet after the game only before the referee has signed it. Nothing may be written on the score sheet after the referee has signed it.
D. Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed during games, practices, or other AWHL sponsored events on ice. No coach or player may smoke or drink while engaged in a game. Players/coaches that come to an AWHL, Inc. sanctioned event under the influence of mind altering substances, e.g. Alcohol, may be removed from the ice or game at the referees discretion. If the player/coach refuses to leave the ice at the referee's request, the team will forfeit the game and will be required to leave the ice. Violation of these rules will result in forfeiture of the game and/or suspension of the offending player or coach for up to three
(3) games. Subsequent infractions by player/coach may result in expulsion from the league without a refund.
E. Slapshots. Slapshots will be allowed in Tier I games only.

VIII. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
A. Disciplinary actions apply to coaches and players.
B. All major penalties will result in an automatic one (1) game suspension to be enforced during players next scheduled game.
C. Three (3) or more penalties (2-minute penalties) in one game is an automatic one game suspension (for the duration of that game). If the third penalty is received any time in the third period, an automatic next game suspension will be enforced. Suspension requires leaving the bench.
D. If a player or coach receives a game misconduct, the Board will convene to discuss the incident and whether any further disciplinary actions are necessary. The Board may also discipline any player or coach for any violation of league rules regardless of penalties assessed by referees. Disciplinary action may include suspension of an unlimited number of games and/or for the season.
E. The Board will send a letter to the person being disciplined informing him or her of the Board's actions.
F. A player or coach has the right to appeal any disciplinary action taken by the Board. Any such appeal should be in written format and submitted within the time frame specified in the notification of the disciplinary action.
G. If the player or coach does not agree with the Board's decision, an appeal may be submitted to the ASHA.

IX. EQUIPMENT
A. It is required that all the following equipment be used in all sanctioned AWHL, Inc. games and practices:
  1. Helmet, with full face-shield
  2. Internal mouthpiece (required for anyone under age 18).
  3. Pelvic protector
  4. Hip pads or padded hockey pants
  5. Hockey stick (must not be cracked or broken)
  6. Jersey
  7. Shin pads
  8. Shoulder pads
  9. Elbow pads
  10. Hockey gloves
  11. Hockey skates
B. Goaltenders must also have the following:
  1. Helmet, with full face-shield
  2. Pelvic protector
  3. Padded hockey pants
  4. Neck protector
  5. Shoulder and arm pads
  6. Chest protector
  7. Blocker and catcher gloves
  8. Leg pads
  9. Goalie or hockey skates
  10. Goalie stick
  11. Jersey
In Tier II, all special goalie equipment, except the skates, neck protector and stick; will be provided by the AWHL, Inc. if a goaltender wishes. Each goaltender must sign a form assuming responsibility for the gear during the season, and must return the gear in good shape after the last game. The goaltender will be charged for any gear damaged or not returned.
C. Players who fail to wear proper protective equipment will not be allowed to play on the ice but can return to the ice once they have all of the proper equipment. A player may be suspended from play for part or all of the season if the Board determines the player is intentionally ignoring the league equipment rules on a regular basis.

X. TOURNAMENTS
A. There will be at least one house tournament each year.
B. The Board will schedule and decide the rules for all AWHL, Inc. tournaments.
C. A team has the right to elect not to participate in tournament play.

XI. FUND RAISING
A. All proposed fund-raising activities must be presented in writing to the Board for approval.
B. The Board reserves the right to inspect at any time all financial records of any group operating under the auspices of this league.

XII.CHAIN OF COMMAND
A. Concerned players shall pose questions, concerns, or problems regarding players and teams as follows:
Concerned Player(s) to own Team Representative
Concerned Team Representative to Referee (during period breaks)
Concerned Team Representative to opposing Team Representative
Concerned Player, Players, or Team Representative to Tier Coordinator
Concerned Player, Players, or Team Representative to League President