NORTH WATERLOO RINGETTE LEAGUE (NWRL)

RULES AND PROCEDURES

 

1) ORA rules WILL APPLY unless otherwise stated. Protests will be done in accordance with ORA rules. The referee's decisions are final.

2) North Waterloo offers recreational ringette in the following age groups and categories:
Bunnies 7 yrs & under
Novice 9 yrs & under
Petite 11 yrs & under
Tween 13 yrs & under
Junior 15 yrs & under
Belle 18 yrs & under
Issues regarding overage players and co-ed teams wanting to play in a 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 NWRL to forward those requests to their respective Regions.

3) North Waterloo Scheduler may provide a full year ice schedule for teams in the Tween - Belle Divisions. Bunny - Petite 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 re-seeding 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.

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 cancellations and 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 two 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 7 - 0 loss. The forfeiting team will be responsible for paying the referees, timekeepers, scorekeepers, shot clock operators and the ice fees where applicable, if appropriate notice is not given. The above does not apply to games cancelled 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) Crewing 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 this time the coaches must make the decision to proceed with the game as scheduled or play the game as an exhibition only.

12) Minimum number of players is 7. 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, he/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 1 teams that are short players prior to game time are allowed to draw Tier 2 players for North Waterloo play only, as long as it does not affect their home team. Tier 2 teams must go down a division if there is a shortage of players. At the September 23, 2004 meeting it was agreed that teams could 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 calibre to the player missing). In the event a player is called up she/he must play and be given equal ice time. Players can be substituted for no more than a total of 5 league games during the season. Substitution is only to take place if a team has less than 10 skaters and substitution can not exceed their TRF. If a player that was not expected to play and for whom a player was substituted for subsequently arrives at the game to play and this player brings the team number to 10 skaters the substituted player is not allowed to play unless agreed upon by both head coaches at the time of the game. Goalies are exempt from the above and may be moved between teams in the same division and can play as many games as needed.

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.  Those associations that do not have shot clocks are encouraged to purchase or borrow a shot clock from another association or the Region.

18) Two minute buzzers will be used in the Bunny Division with stop time.  Upon the end of the allotted regulation time the game is over whether the game time is completed or not and the score at that time will be the official final.  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 Bunny Division only) 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 periods in the Novice - Belle divisions. Bunnies play two 14 minute periods with the two minute buzzers.  Upon the end of the allotted regulation time the game is considered over and complete whether the game time is completed or not and the score at that time will be the official final.

21) At the scheduled game time, the timekeeper will start a TWO minute clock (for Junior & Belle) and a 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 the referees must be notified before the clock is run straight time.

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 victory overtime period will be played.  Subject to ice time availability.

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

30) Home team coaches or designate is responsible to report the Game Report Statistics to the Statistician within 48 hours of the completion of their game.

31) All major penalties must be reported to the respective centre’s representative who, in turn, must bring it to the attention of North Waterloo as well as their respective Regions within 24 hours of the occurance.