Rules for Adult Dek Hockey

General Facility Rules:

  • Individuals utilizing this facility do so at their own risk. The property owner(s), league operators, officers and owners and staff of The Metuchen Sportsplex assume no liability for any injuries or accidents which may occur.
  • Conduct within the facility and on the rink should be approached in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
  • No food, drinks, chewing tobacco, chewing gum, or metal cleats permitted on playing surface No sunflower seeds or similar type products are permitted in the facility.
  • No glass containers on the rink or in the player boxes.
  • The Metuchen Sportsplex reserves the right to refuse play or service to anyone.
  • Any fighting will result in permanent banishment from facility.
  • Icing- Automatic NO Touch needed when ball is cleared behind the far face-off mark.
  • Offsides- Delayed offsides using the RED Center Line.

Sign Up Guidelines and Fees:

  • Teams sign up on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Teams can sign up anytime before the session start date. To guarantee your team spot, a $100 non-refundable deposit is required prior to league start date. Deposits will only be refunded if the Sportsplex does not have a league spot available for your team.
  • A team will pay with a one lump sum payment before the start of their first game. This will put the responsibility on one person to pay for the team. If you Captain multiple teams, you will receive a $75 discount on those teams.
  • ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE: www.metuchensportsplex.com.
  • If full payment is made after the deadline, up to a $50 late fee will be charged if management allows your team to play.
  • No individual will be allowed to participate in any league games, practice session, tournament, clinic, open pick-up game, or other activities until a release form has been properly completed and signed.
  • Playing sports can be a hazardous activity and unfortunate things can happen. You are contractually agreeing that you have signed our liability release and that you are waiving your rights to file a lawsuit against us. You accept the conditions of the fields, courts, and other surfaces, and also any unforeseen situations that may occur. If you are uncomfortable with any of these conditions, you can choose not to play or participate in our leagues or other activities.
  • Individuals that sign up will be placed in the Metuchen Sportsplex database where other teams may contact you to recruit you for their team, or we may create teams from groups of individuals to place in the league.

Numbered Jerseys:

All players are required to have a shirt with a number on the back. The referee has the right to not start the game until at least 5 players have numbered jerseys. Any player who does not have a numbered shirt will not be allowed to play.

In the event of a color conflict, the away team must change jerseys. Each team's jersey color will be posted on the web site, and team captains will be responsible for checking to see if there is a color conflict each week. In this case, the away team must bring an alternate jersey. The Metuchen Sportsplex will not be responsible if this policy is not followed. Failure to bring an alternate jersey will result in a forfeit.

Player Rosters:

  • Team rosters are limited to 18 players per team, including the goalie.
  • Before the start of next season, all rosters must be in by the captains' meeting. You may still add players up to the third game, but your roster must be submitted online by that day. The reason for this is to place your team in the division that will allow them to compete and not dominate. If the league director does not know a player on your roster, that player may be asked to come to an evaluation to determine his/her ability to make sure that teams aren’t unfairly balanced. All this is being done to create a “fair” and “competitive” league.
  • Players may only be added after the 3rd game if a player is injured and removed from the roster for the remainder of the session. Proof of injury must be provided. Acceptable proof shall be a doctor's note. At the discretion of management, a team may claim hardship and add one player after the third game. Any player on a roster that is found to be illegal will forfeit all the games for the team during that season. It is the responsibility of the manager to know which players are legal or illegal. Management reserves the right to check the identifications of any player on a player roster to check and see if they are legal players under management guidelines.
  • Non-Rostered Goalies: Teams may use a non-rostered, league registered goalie at any time during the regular season, as long as they are within their division or lower. During the playoffs, all teams must use only rostered goalies that have played 4 games.
  • Playoff Eligibility: Non-rostered players are ineligible for all playoff games. Rostered players must have played in at least four of the team’s scheduled games to be eligible for playoffs; circumstances involving sickness, injury, or vacation can be evaluated by the league commissioner for playoff eligibility.
  • Adult League: Management reserves the right to veto any goaltender who has not played in at least 4 of a team’s scheduled games as a goalie. This prevents experienced goalies from “playing out” all year and playing in net for the playoffs.
  • If your team wins its division two times in a row, you will be asked to move up a division unless you remove dominate players.

Roster Cards:
Permanent Rosters must be turned in by the first game or teams will forfeit all games in which a permanent roster was not on file in the manager's office. This roster must include the names and numbers of every permanent player on your team. The numbers you put on the permanent roster must match the jersey numbers on the field. If a player is not uniformed with the same number on the permanent roster, your team may forfeit that game. If a player’s number is different because he forgot his jersey number, that player must inform the referee prior to the game or risk forfeiting that game. Referees will track penalties based upon jersey number and not based upon players' names. It is the responsibility of each team to ensure that the numbers match the names.

Referees or management may at any time check the names and numbers of players prior to the start of any game or after a game. If a player is caught with a different number than the one on the roster card, that game may be forfeited. This decision will be at the referee’s discretion.

Equipment:
All the below items are mandatory.

  • Helmet with chinstrap (under 16 yrs only)
  • Elbow pads
  • Protective cup and supporter
  • Knee and shinguards
  • Stick
  • Shirt & covering for all black colored shinguards

All of the below items are optional but highly recommended.

  • "Girdle": Provides thigh, hip, and tailbone protection.
  • Mouth pieces for adults: Provides shock protection in collisions.
  • Visors or facemasks for adults: Provides additional facial protection.
  • Inline pants: Made to withstand the grind of the game.

Goalkeepers Equipment: Adds a blocker glove, catching glove, leg guards, and padded hockey pants, all designed for hockey goalkeepers, as mandatory equipment. Without all mandatory equipment a player may not have goalkeeper’s privileges.

Uniforms: Players shall be uniformly dressed in approved hockey apparel or pants and long sleeves, whenever possible, but no game shall be prevented from being played, and no player prevented from playing, due to lack of matching uniforms. Players shall, however, make every effort dress uniformly and have a number. Players must have matching jersey numbers.

Uniforms: Players are discouraged from wearing the same numbers, but no player shall be prevented from playing because of it. Players with same numbers shall be marked on score sheet as e.g., “12a” and “12b”.

Balls: Pink MYLEC ball will be used for all games. All teams must provide 2 Pink MYLEC balls at each game.

Uniforms:
Referees may also make a particular player change jersey if it conflicts with opposing team’s colors, and keep player off surface until that player changes jersey to a contrasting color. No delay shall be allowed for this purpose. It is the player’s responsibility to wear the proper color.

Official Games:
A game is considered "official" after three completed periods of play. If there is an injury or other unforeseen circumstance, the current score will stand as official, once three periods have been played.

The Rink:

  • The official rink size will be 180X80 feet
  • Play will be 5 VS 5 (4 players and 1 goalie)
  • The ball will remain in play if it hits any netting above the glass.
  • Placement of the face off will follow USA Inline guide lines (see USA Inline Rule Book).

Playoff Seedings:

  • If two teams have identical records, the tie breaker is game points.
  • If the teams have the same game points, the tiebreaker goes to head to head wins.
  • If the teams split the head to head games, the tiebreaker goes to goals allowed.
  • If the goals allowed are identical, then it goes to goals scored.
  • If the goals scored are identical, then it goes to a coin toss.

Forfeits & Make-Up Games

  • A team has 5 minutes from the start time to have at least 4 players and a goalie or 3 players and no goalie for a game to be officially played. After the 5 minutes has passed, a game will be considered a forfeit.
  • No games will be rescheduled due to cancellation because of weather. If a league game is cancelled one night of a two night league, any league games that are played that week will not count toward the schedule to keep standings equal. Every game needs to be played in a given week for a given league in order for those played games to count toward the schedule.
  • If a team is unable to play a scheduled game, the opposing team may choose to accept a 3-0 forfeit.
  • Follow these steps in the event you cannot make a game time:
  • Forfeits: Teams must call the opposing team to inform them of the forfeit. (Call the Sportsplex for the phone number of the opposing team). The Metuchen Sportsplex is not responsible for teams that neglect this rule and fail to notify the opposing team that they are not going to make a scheduled game. If a team shows up to play and the opposing team does not show up, then the team present will win by forfeit. Furthermore, the team that fails to show up for the scheduled game will be charged a forfeit fee that will be passed onto the team that was present for the game as long as the fee is collected.
  • Failure to do so will result in the game being forfeited. Furthermore, if the rescheduling or forfeit procedures are not followed, then the offending team will be charged according to the forfeit penalty schedule listed.

Forfeitures/Penalty Schedule:
A team forfeiting a game during any one session will be subject to the following fines:

  • First Forfeit- Warning
  • Second Forfeit- $50 fine
  • After the first forfeit, the team that forfeited will receive a warning. The second forfeit, a $50 fine. If a team forfeits three times in one season, they'll be pulled from the league, with all money paid being lost, and the team will have to pay in full at the time of registration for all future leagues.
  • Fines for forfeitures must be paid prior to a team continuing the session schedule. Forfeiture will be incurred if a team has failed to field the minimum number of players within ten minutes from the start of the game clock. Teams incurring forfeitures during a session shall not be eligible for a registration discount in the following session. Any team no show will result in a 3-0 victory for opposing team, and no rescheduled game will be given.
  • Failure to do so will result in the game being forfeited. Furthermore, if the rescheduling or forfeit procedures are not followed then the offending team will be charged according to the forfeit penalty schedule listed.

Sportsmanship:
Individuals are expected to play under control and within the rules of the game, and to the best of their ability, to avoid causing injury to themselves and to other persons using the facility.

Referees:
Referees appointed to officiate each game have complete authority on the field of play, and their decisions on points of fact connected with the game are final. Officiating will be monitored and assessed periodically, and management will always try to provide quality officiating at the facility. Constructive comments regarding the officiating are welcome and encouraged. Please submit any such comments in writing. Complaints regarding officials should be submitted in writing, contain points of fact, and have your name and the name of your team at the top. Teams may not discuss the officiating in a game immediately following their game. Teams may fill out a referee complaint form and turn it over to the commissioner of the league. The commissioner will take seriously all complaints written on a complaint form and turned in 24 hours after a game. The commissioner will not take seriously complaints directed at him immediately following a game, verbal or written. The commissioner will not overturn any calls made by the referee during the course of a game. If a team suspects an illegal player or other illegal activity associated with other team, they should inform the commissioner immediately. If this activity is discovered after the game is completed, the team should file a formal protest to the commissioner. Please read our rules below to understand how to file a formal protest. Do not discuss officiating or the officials with the facility staff during or immediately after your game.

Game Times

  • 3 periods, 10 minutes each. The first period with be running clock. The second and third periods with have stoppage time.
  • Overtime: If the score is tied after regulation, the teams will play a 5 minute period, running clock. If the game is still tied, there will be a shoot out. The shootout maximum is 3 rounds. If the game remains a tie after 3 rounds, each team will receive 1 point.
  • Playoffs: The teams will play a ten minute overtime period, followed a five minute period, and a three man shoot-out.
  • Any player, except for the goalie, given a minor penalty must sit in the penalty box for the time designated with no substitute for him being allowed.
  • If, while a team is short handed because of one or more minor penalties, and the opposing team scores a goal, the first of such penalties shall terminate automatically.
  • One timeout per team per game.

Scoring:
A goal shall be scored when the ball has legally passed between the goal posts below the cross bar and completely across the goal line.

Mercy Rule: If there is a 7 goal differential, the score clock will run without any stoppage time. If there is a 10 goal differential, the game will be called.

Penalties/Fighting:

The Metuchen Sportsplex has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY on fighting, physical and verbal abuse towards employees, referees, players and patrons. Crossing this boundary will most certainly lead to an indefinite suspension and possible banishment from the facility.

  • Fighting could result in banishment from the facility. Suspension lengths will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • A player or coach sent off in (or after) a game by a referee will automatically be suspended from the next game in the session. In addition, a player will be banned from playing on any other team until the suspension has been served. If a player is ejected in the last game of a session, he/she will be prohibited from playing in the first game after he/she registers for another session.
  • A player or coach ejected from the facility for the offense of "violent conduct" (including, but not limited to: spitting, threatening, continued rough play, etc.) will be suspended as outlined above and, in addition, will be suspended for one additional game and subject to further disciplinary action as decided by the facility management.

Minor Penalties:

  • A minor penalty is 1 minute.
  • Any player, except for the goalie, given a minor penalty must sit in the penalty box for the time designated with no substitute for him being allowed.
  • If while a team is short handed because of one or more minor penalties, and the opposing team scores a goal, the first of such penalties shall terminate automatically.

Major Penalties:

  • Any player receiving a major penalty must be reported to the league director or manager on duty with a recommendation for possible suspension.
  • For a major penalty in the game to a player, including the goaltender, the penalized player shall be ruled off the playing surface and assessed a game misconduct penalty. It shall be necessary to place a substitute in the penalty box immediately. The substitute will be permitted to return to the playing surface after the time of a major penalty has elapsed and a stoppage of play occurs.
  • When a player is assessed both a minor and major penalty, the major penalty shall be served first. The substitute shall not return to the playing surface while serving any major penalty, however, if his major penalty time has elapsed, he may return on his minor.

Excessive Penalties in a Single Game: THREE minor penalty minutes (in a game) from a player shall cause the player to be ejected for the remainder of the game.

Fifteen minutes of minor team penalties in a game will result in the coach being suspended for one game (next game); this is an automatic suspension.

Suspension of Game: During the course of a game, if one or both of the teams create an atmosphere that is dangerous (excessive or flagrant penalties) to the other players, the referees will stop the game and warn both teams that the game may be suspended. If the problem continues, the referee will suspend the game.

The Director of Hockey will make all final determinations about any extenuating circumstances resulting in forfeits (traffic, etc.). A make-up game may be permitted, and team or teams may be responsible for any additional rink or referee cost incurred. Make up games are at the sole discretion of the league, and are only permissible in cases of extenuating circumstances.

A $100 bond will be required from any team involved in an altercation where more than one player is involved in a fight. Should a bond be placed against a team, the bond must be paid prior to the team's next game, or that game will be forfeited. The terms of the bond will be given in writing to the team. Should the team fail to adhere to the terms, the bond will be forfeited to the arena, and the team's participation will be terminated. If the team adheres to the terms of the bond, then the team will receive the $100 bond at the end of the session.

It is the responsibility of each player and the player's team representative to be aware of the total status of their player's infractions. Failure to comply may result in further disciplinary measures which may include suspension of the coach/rep. and forfeiture of games in which that player participated.

Protesting a Game:
Intention to file a protest must be noted in writing immediately following the game. A formal written protest with a $20 fee (refundable if upheld) must be submitted to the Metuchen Sportsplex within 48 hours after the end of a game. The league commissioner will review and have the final authority on all protests. ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE ARE FINAL. Only violations of the laws of the game, rules or guidelines of the facility as published are matters for protest. Any protests regarding fielding of illegal players must be brought to the attention of the game officials prior to the suspected player(s) leaving the surface of play.

Please read the SMG waiver of liability.

Contact Information
Please contact the Metuchen Sportsplex at [email protected] or 848-248-4684

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