Guidelines for Players and Parents

Written by Administrator | 08 April 2010

Scarborough Ice Raiders Mission Statement

The objective of the Scarborough Ice Raiders is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for children and youth to learn and enjoy the game of hockey and encourage all players to pursue their best level of ability in a competitive environment.

Rules of Operation

The rules and guidelines set out here are applicable to all teams and players in the competitive divisions of the Scarborough Ice Raiders. The Board of Directors of the Scarborough Ice Raiders will from time to time amend these rules and guidelines. Any substantial changes will generally take place prior to the start of the following season and will be corresponded to all players, coaches and parents.

Scarborough Ice Raiders

Legal Status

The Scarborough Ice Raiders (the “Association”) is incorporated as a non- share capital corporation and operates as a not for profit entity and is also subject to the rules of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

Association Directors and Officers

The Association is governed by a Board of Directors, some of whom are appointed by virtue of their position as General Managers of the various Divisions in the Association. The names and positions of the Directors and the Sub Committee of the Competitive Division is listed in the Association’s website at www.scarboroughiceraiders.com

The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the operations of the Association. The Directors have delegated responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Competitive Division, General Manager and Sub-Committee.

The Board is responsible for issues of a general policy nature including: the Association’s budget, financial soundness, significant Association operating policies and the Association Officers’ performance and responsibilities. The Directors have no direct responsibility for liaising or interacting with Team Officials and parents/guardians and do not deal directly with Team affairs, except as part of a dispute resolution process.

The General Manager is responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Association and the Teams and in all matters in any way relating to the GTHL, its members, other hockey organizations and governing bodies. The General Manager may call upon the President or any other member of the Sub Committee of the Competitive Divisions to assist in carrying out delegated responsibilities.

The Association’s Teams

Unless otherwise determined by the Association or the GTHL, the Association will register and operate 9 teams in the Scarborough Hockey Association A Division: Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Pewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget Jr. and Midget Sr. and such teams as determined year to year by the Executive Sub Committee, according to the guidelines approved by the Directors of the Association, for the Scarborough Hockey Association A Division

Under no circumstances will the Association be responsible for any obligations, financial or otherwise, incurred by a Team, unless such obligation is approved in writing and contained in a document signed by the President and General Manager.

The Association’s Responsibilities

Subject to the overriding authority of the GTHL and Hockey Canada, the Association has exclusive control over its Teams and players registered with the Association for all periods sanctioned or mandated by the GTHL. In addition to the foregoing and to the other rights listed below, the Association through the authority given to the General Manager of the Competitive Divisions and subject to its By-Laws and other policies shall have primary responsibility for the following:

Team Officials. The Association appoints and, if necessary, replaces the Head Coach of each team and approves the selection of other Team Officials. The Association monitors and evaluates the performance of all Team Officials.
GTHL Registration. The Association registers its players and Team Officials with the GTHL.
Team Programs. The Association develops programs of general application for its Teams.
Tournaments. The Association approves and processes tournament applications. If a conflict in scheduling between Teams arises, the final determination as to the application to be processed will be made by the Association in its absolute discretion.
Practice Ice. The Association provides each Team with 1.5 hour of practice ice each week on a regularly scheduled basis. Any additional practice ice required is to be arranged by the Team at their own cost
Equipment Gear and Clothing. The Association provides each Team with Association mandated game sweaters, socks, Association jackets and equipment bags. Association jackets must be worn by all players to all games. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of the player (or coach). The Association must approve all sponsorship cresting prior to placement. In an effort to maintain costs the Club mandates that game sweaters, team jackets and hockey bags, if they fit and are in good condition maybe used for a second season. A refund for the cost will be provided by the Club to the team. In addition helmets, pants and gloves maybe worn a second year (if they were purchased originally through the Scarborough Hockey Association). The Club has recommended that track suits, hats and other visible apparel only be purchased if done so through a sponsor, however this is a team decision which must be agreed to be 75% of the parents. All must participate when the decision is made.
Disciplinary Hearings. The Associations Officers (President and/or the General Manager) accompany team Officials and player(s) to any disciplinary hearing mandated by the GTHL. The Association reserves the right to exclude any person(s) from a disciplinary hearing, as it considers appropriate in its absolute discretion.
Association Name and Logo. Scarborough Ice Raiders and Scarborough Hockey Association and their Logos are the property of the Association.The Association approves all uses of its name and logos on materials,equipment, gear and clothing.

Fund Raising

General

The Association’s General Manager will review and approve all Team fundraising programs before they are implemented. The Team is solely responsible for the consequences of such activities. All fundraising efforts shall be conducted in compliance with all Provincial and municipal laws, by-laws and regulations.

Who can make Decisions on Behalf of the Association

Unless specifically set out in these rules, no decision, authorization or approval granted by an Association Officer will be binding on the Association, unless it is in writing and signed by the President and General Manager of the Competitive Division.

Any decision or approval sent by e-mail must be originated by the General Manager. It will have the appropriate approvals as required under our governing rules and regulations

Communication with Association Officers

General. All issues and communications relating to the ordinary course of the Association should be directed to the General Manager, unless urgency or circumstance requires that the President be contacted. The President or General Manager of the Scarborough Hockey Association are not to be contacted as they do not have any specific responsibility or authority to deal with matters of the Scarborough Hockey Association, other than by consultation with the President and General Manager of the Scarborough Hockey Hockey Association
Communication between the Association and Team Officials. Unless otherwise dictated by circumstance or urgency, all requests, notices or other matters requiring interaction between the Association and a Team, shall be communicated to or by the Team’s Head Coach or Team Manager.
Communication between parents/guardians and the Association. Parents/guardians should not communicate directly with the Association outside of scheduled meetings. Exception to this will be in the circumstance where the parent/guardian has communicated with the Head Coach and Team Manager. Refer also “Dispute Resolution” below.

The Teams

Team Officials

Each Team will have the following officials;

A Head Coach appointed by the Association
At least two Assistant Coaches appointed by the Head Coach subject to Association approval.
A Trainer appointed by the Head Coach subject to Association approval, and
A Team Manager appointed by the Head Coach subject to Association approval
Parent Liaison appointed by the team officials and parents. The Liaison is not to be related to any of the other team officials and will assist the manager in his/her responsibilities and decisions pertaining to the bank account and team functions. The team may apply for an Associate Pass the cost of which is to be paid by the team ($140.00 - $170.00 approx.)

Head Coach’s responsibilities

The Head Coach of each Team will be responsible for the content, scope and implementation of any programs established for the Team as well as the conduct of his or her players and Team Officials, as outlined here or otherwise communicated to the Head Coach.

Where a Team is called upon to perform an action under the Rules and policies set out here, the action shall be performed by the Head Coach or other Team Official s/he may designate with the approval of the Association.

Payments to Team Officials

The Scarborough Ice Raiders and its Competitive Division does not pay any Coaches or other volunteers. Members of the Coaching Staff of each Team may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses (when the member is not related to any of the players on that team) incurred at Tournaments outside of the GTA. Certain approved professional development courses may also be reimbursed by the Association.

GTHL passes provided

The Association will provide a maximum of 5 passes to each Team for their Team Officials.

Team Officials are not employees of the Association

The Association is not responsible for any Coach’s or Team Official’s actions or omissions of any nature or kind.

Treatment of players

All players are to be treated equally. Where a player is a child or relative of a Team Official and the Association determines the treatment of such player is not in the best interest of the Team, a warning will be issued to the Head Coach and Team Official. If the treatment continues, the Association may suspend or replace the Head Coach or Team Official.

Team meetings

As per GTHL Rule 5.11, the Head Coach will meet with parents/guardians at least 3 times each season. The first meeting will be prior to the start of the season. Each meeting will include the presentation of the team’s financial summaries. The meetings will review matters of interest relating to the Team.

A notice of the meeting will be provided to the parents/guardians a minimum of 5 days prior to the meeting and the meeting will be held at a location convenient to the majority of the attendees and will be chaired by the Head Coach.

Sponsorship

Teams are encouraged to solicit corporate sponsorship to reduce the financial burden on parents/guardians. The Team, at its sole cost, may grant sponsors the right to place their names and/or logo on equipment gear and clothing used by the team. The General Manager must approve all sponsorship cresting including location and size.

Supplementary Team rules

The Team may adopt policies and rules in addition to those set forth here. No rules shall be effective unless approved by the Association and a copy given to each of the Team players and one of their parents/guardians.

TEAM FINANCES

Team bank accounts

Each team will maintain a bank account under the Team’s name with a bank satisfactory to the Association. There will be at least three signing authorities for each Team bank account including at least one Team Official and at least two parents who are unrelated to and independent from any Team Official or Club Official where one is selected by the parents/guardians representing 75% of the players on the team. At least two signatures shall be required for all cheques issued by the Team, including the signatures of at least one of the parent representatives referred to above. No money is to be withdrawn from the Team bank account unless it is by way of a cheque, with 2 signatures. The names of the authorized signing officers shall be provided to the Association upon request.

Team receipts and expenditures

All revenues belonging to the Team including fees, sponsorship contributions and proceeds derived from fundraising activities shall be deposited to the Team’s bank account, without prior deduction, immediately upon receipt.

Team finances

Prior to the start of try-outs the Association will provide to each Head Coach a statement of costs for the goods and services provided by the Association to the Team for that year. This statement will also be available on the website.
The Head Coach will provide the Association, 30 days prior to the commencement of try-outs, a Preliminary Budget for approval including: proposed Team revenues, proposed Team expenses and reasonably detailed explanatory notes for each budgeted item.
The Association will require the Head Coach to provide the Preliminary Team Budget to parents/guardians at least one day prior to the date fixed for signing the player’s registration card. The parent/guardian must acknowledge in writing receipt of a copy, at the time of signing of the registration card.
No material changes to the Preliminary Budget shall be permitted without prior approval of the Association and 75% of the parents/guardians of the players on the team.
The Head Coach will submit the Final Team Budget to the Association and to the Parent/guardian of each player. The final budget must be in the format acceptable to the Association. Changes must be highlighted with appropriate explanations.
The Final Team Budget must be submitted to the Association and to the parent/guardian of each player prior to the start of the GTHL season
Any goods or services purchased from any Team Official must be separately disclosed.
It is mandated by the GTHL that the team will produce 3 separate interim financial summaries (September15, November 15 and January 15) in addition to the Final Financial Statement which shall be provided within four weeks after the Team’s last game. The Final Financial Statement must be signed by at least 2 signing officers of the team.
If there is a surplus of funds available to the Team at the close of the GTHL season, the surplus is to be used in a manner as the parents/guardians representing 75% of the players on the team reasonably determine. If there is no determination by April 15th the funds are to be transferred to the Association. The Association will return the funds to the Team as reconstituted which shall be used to offset that season’s expenses.
Any complaint by a parent/guardian arising out of a Team budget or financial summary must be referred to the Association for resolution. The decision of the Association will be binding on all parties.

RULES RELATING TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Notices, approvals and authorizations

Any notice, approval or authorization given by a parent/guardian of a player shall be recognized as having been given by all parents and/or guardians of the player.

Payment of fees

Payments of registration fees (Association fees) are due September 1st of the season. Team fees are due by the date determined by the Head Coach of the Team. Failure to make such payments at the times prescribed may result in the suspension of the player until the team receives payment.

Standard of conduct

Parents/guardians are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which best exemplifies the standards and values of the Association, demonstrating respect, courtesy and civility in all dealings with their child’s involvement in the Association’s hockey program, including dealings with

The Association and any of its Teams
Other parents/guardians of players
Opposing teams
Game officials, and
Fans and spectators

Provocative and inflammatory types of behaviour, including the use of profanity, threats and verbal or physical confrontations will not be tolerated.

Sanctions for misconduct

The Association reserves the right to discipline any parent/guardian who violates this standard of behavior or whose actions, in the opinion of the Association, denigrate, damage or bring into disrepute, the image and reputation of the Association or Team Officials. The parent/guardian may be prohibited from attending Team functions, practices or games for such a period, as the Association considers as appropriate. Failure to abide by these sanctions may result in the suspension or release of the player.

Standards and sanctions imposed by the GTHL

In addition to the above, sanctions may be imposed by the GTHL as contained in section 14 of the GTHL Handbook.

RULES RELATING TO PLAYERS

Players’ obligations

Players shall

Represent their team with dignity at all reasonable times
Always play to the best of their ability
1. Showing respect for the rules of the game, game officials and their decisions, and their opponent
2. Using their best efforts to maintain their composure while on the ice, and
3. Refrain from trash talking or making improper gestures, whether on or off the ice
Demonstrate respect for their team mates and treat them fairly and equally
Demonstrate respect for their coaches and other Team Officials
Make their commitment to the Team, its programs and its goals as a major priority
make sure their equipment is kept in a good state of repair and not altered in any manner
attend all games or other events prescribed by the team
abide by the Team dress code and
refrain from using alcohol and prohibited drugs

Sanctions for breaching obligations

The Association reserves the right to restrict ice time, or suspend or release a player who is found by the Association to have breached any of the above obligations

Player injury

Neither the Association nor the Team is responsible for any injury suffered by a player howsoever caused. The GTHL maintains insurance which may be applicable in certain events

Allocation of ice time

The Head Coach shall make all decisions about the amount of ice time having regard to the best interests of the team.

Any player denied reasonable ice time, the player or parent/guardian, shall be entitled to request and obtain an explanation for the decision, without fear or threat of repercussion, provided the request is made in a civil and appropriate manner. If a player is denied reasonable ice time on a continuous basis and is not satisfied with the explanation of the Head Coach he or she may request the issue be referred to the General Manager of the Competitive Divisions for determination. The decision of the Association will be final and binding on all parties.

Affiliated teams

Any player may be called to play for the Team which is one level higher by way of affiliation (eg. Minor Atom and Atom). Players should be made available to the Affiliated Team as long as it does not conflict with the player’s primary responsibility to their own team (games and tournaments)

Whenever possible, affiliated players should practice with the Affiliated Teams. Their own Team Official must contact players who are to be called up to play.

Permission to skate

With other minor teams Permission to skate with other GTHL, OMHA or Alliance teams shall be granted at the discretion of the General Manager or President and is only binding if signed by the President or the General Manager. Permission to Skate forms will only be granted after the player has attended the first tryout of the Team. The Association may authorize a maximum of 3 permission to skate forms for a player
With junior teams Permission to skate forms with Tier II, Jr. B or Jr. C may be granted after the first tryout, by the President of the Association.
Tier II Affiliation No Minor Midget or Midget player having received Permission to Skate will be released from the Association without the approval of the President of the Association.

Releases

Once a player card has been signed, the Association will not grant a release to a player except under compelling and exceptional circumstances as determined by the Association at its own discretion. Releases may only be authorized by the President and General Manager of the Association only. No Team Official may do so either verbally or in writing.

Refunds where the players requests release. There will be no refund where a player or his/her parent/guardian requests the release.
Refunds where the Association instigates the release. The Association will authorize a refund after taking into account the costs incurred by the Association to the date of release and a proportionate share of the unused costs, upon the return of equipment (including team sweaters, jacket and hockey bag which must be in good usable condition). Team Officials will also calculate and refund a proportionate share of the unused costs.
Releases after November 15. There will be no releases approved after November 15.
No refunds under any other circumstances. If a release is mandated by the GTHL at any time or if a release is granted on or after November 16th the player shall have no entitlement to any repayment of his initial payment, except in respect of equipment returned.

Dispute resolution

Team Officials, players and parents/guardians are expected to recognize and respect a “24 hour cooling off period” prior to discussions relating to any dispute. The Association will not become involved with any dispute until all other avenues have been exhausted by the parties;

The request for resolution to the Association shall be made in writing to the Manager of the Team with a copy to the General Manager of the Competitive Division and set out in writing the issue(s) and arguments in reasonable detail.
The Team shall have 5 days to respond to the parent/guardian and to the Association setting out its position.
The Association shall cause a meeting to be held including all interested parties.
The parties shall attend the meeting in person, without other representation.
The Association shall issue a statement in writing detailing the Association’s decision. The decision by the Association shall be binding on all parties.

Prepared for the Scarborough Ice Raiders, 2010