The Cleveland Heights Senior Hockey League (CHSHL) was formed to provide an opportunity for recreational hockey for adults in the Cleveland Heights area. CHSHL employs officials (referees and scorers) to ensure that the games are played according to the rules. As in every human activity, these officials will make errors in judgment and errors in the application of rules. Since hockey is a very fast-paced, intense game, the participants may feel disappointed if a call is made against their team, and particularly if they do not agree with the call. It is entirely natural for a participant to voice his/her disappointment, and CHSHL will not attempt to curtail this action so long as it is consistent with the purpose of the League.
However, we have seen several incidents recently in which participants have crossed the line between voicing their displeasure and being verbally abusive to officials. USA Hockey, the governing body for amateur hockey in the United States, has a zero tolerance policy with respect to abuse of officials. CHSHL operates under the rules of USA Hockey, and therefore, we also have a zero tolerance policy. Our interpretation of this policy will be as follows:
- Only the captain or alternate is permitted to discuss an official’s decision with the officials. If a player, other than the captain or alternate, complains about a call to an official, the official is to issue the player a warning. If the player continues to complain, the official will assess that player a 5-minute or 10-minute misconduct penalty, depending upon the severity of the offense. If, during or after serving this penalty, the actions continue, the official will assess the player a game misconduct penalty, which carries an automatic one-game suspension for the first and second offenses, a 6-game suspension for the third offense, and a season-long suspension for the fourth offense.
- The captain or alternate is permitted to discuss a decision with an official for a reasonable period of time, generally for one minute or less, provided the discussion is conducted in a respectful manner. If the captain or alternate verbally attacks the official, the discussion is over, and the penalties set forth in paragraph 1 will apply. In addition, if a captain is assessed a game misconduct penalty for abuse of an official, the first offense carries a one-game suspension, the second offense a 6-game suspension, and the third offense a season-long suspension.
- CHSHL intends that the officials apply the above policy reasonably and fairly, but the officials are instructed to apply these penalties to any and all players and captains who verbally abuse an official.
- Physical abuse of an official is never tolerated and will result in at least a suspension for the balance of the season, as well as possible further suspensions as may be deemed appropriate by the Hockey Committee and the Recreation Director. In addition, legal proceedings may result against the player.
