Team Rules
Everything you need to know to avoid getting fined.

Introduction- The Moose Knuckles Hockey Club has been organized to provide a high quality experience for players wishing to develop their individual skills within a winning team environment. As a member of the club, you are expected to do your part to maintain this environment by adhering to these basic team rules and respecting your fellow teammates. Please familiarize yourself with the following rules and be prepared to adhere to them without exception.

1. Organization- The club shall be managed by a board of directors whose responsibilities shall include maintaining league relations, collecting team and league fees, purchasing uniforms and equipment, arranging practices, communicating with members, addressing disciplinary problems, levying fines or suspensions, and handling any other club related matters as may arise from time to time. The board shall consist of two permanent members and up to three elected members who will serve one-season terms. Back to top.

2. Team Captains- The club shall elect a team captain and two alternate captains to serve as representatives to on-ice officials, organize game rosters and lines, and enforce team rules. Both captain and alternates shall automatically sit on the club’s board of directors as its elected members. Back to top.

3. Fees– Members will be expected to pay appropriate league, team, and uniform fees as identified by directors and agreed to by the club in general. Failure to pay fees will result in suspension or dismissal from the club. Back to top.

4. Scouting Reports- The club shall distribute to each player a scouting/tactical report via e-mail prior to each game. Each player is responsible for familiarizing himself with its contents and being ready to implement relevant team or individual strategies contained within. Failure to adhere to tactical recommendations may result in disciplinary action including reduced ice time, fine, and/or verbal abuse. Back to top.

5. Roster- The club’s player roster will be completed based on the assumption that all players will be in attendance for each game. Players will be expected to appear on time and ready to play for each scheduled game. The team captain shall have sole discretion as to which players to dress for a game and together with the alternate captains, shall be responsible for the arrangement of line combinations. Back to top.

6. Absence- In the event that a player must miss a game or arrive late, it is the player’s responsibility to notify the team captain no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of the game. This is to enable the captain to make arrangements for a substitute or rearrange lines accordingly. Failure to notify the captain of an impending absence by the designated time shall result in a fine of $20 and/or a scratch from the next game. Repeated absence without leave may result in dismissal from the team and forfeiture of team fees. Back to top.

7. Practice- Practice sessions are essential to learning tactics, developing skills, and improving as a team. While not strictly mandatory, players will be expected to make their best effort to attend all team practices. The team captain shall notify club members of practice times and dates via e-mail each week. In the event that a player consistently misses practices, he may be scratched from a game or be allowed limited ice time. Back to top.

8. Long Shifts- Everyone wants to get as much ice time during games as possible, however, prolonging shifts cheats teammates, puts tired players on the ice, and almost always leads to mistakes that hurt the team. Therefore, it is essential that each player and his line mates adhere to shift limitations as directed by the team captain. Failure to adhere to shift limits shall result in the benching or guilty players or lines as deemed necessary by the team captain. Repeated infractions may result in fines or scratches as determined by the club’s directors. Back to top.

9. Shift Duration- The team captain, in conjunction with his alternates, shall designate the timing of shifts during games. The team captain shall have the right to play selected players or lines longer or shorter as he sees fit in order to achieve the team’s tactical objectives during the course of a game. This is primarily to enable the team to match players or lines to opponent’s strengths or weaknesses, however, the team captain shall have the authority to adjust shifts at any time at his discretion. Back to top.

10. Penalties- Players will be expected to maintain their composure within generally accepted bounds during games and avoid taking senseless penalties. In the event that a player takes excessive penalty minutes to the detriment of the team, the club’s directors shall suspend the guilty player and/or issue a fine of up to $20 in addition to any league imposed penalties of fines. Back to top.

11. Disciplinary Action- The club’s directors shall have the right to administer appropriate disciplinary action to any player as needed to ensure the welfare and stability of the club. The directors may impose fines, limit ice time, suspend a player from games, or dismiss a player from the club - with or without prorated refund. Back to top.

12. Uniforms- The club shall provide appropriate numbered team jerseys – home and away - prior to each game. Team jerseys shall be based on those of the Toronto Maple Leafs (blue and white). At the beginning of the season, each player shall be provided with appropriate team socks - home and away. It shall be each player’s responsibility to bring the appropriate team socks to each game. The club shall provide practice jerseys for scrimmage or drill purposes. Players shall provide their own practice socks. Practice and game jerseys will be collected after games and practices for laundering and redistribution. The club shall maintain ownership of both game and practice jerseys. Note: League rules mandate that all players on a team wear matching uniforms during games. Back to top.

13. Equipment– Each player shall be responsible for providing his own protective equipment and sticks. Equipment and sticks must adhere to league standards. Use of sandpaper on gloves, tacks on elbow pads, or sharpening of stick ends is frowned upon. The club recommends that each player provide a black helmet and standard black pants to conform to the overall team identity. Back to top.

14. Alcoholic Beverages– Players shall be expected to be sober prior to and during games. However, following games, players may elect at their own discretion to join their teammates in moderate beer consumption. The team captain shall designate a player following each game who shall be responsible for bringing an appropriate amount of beer for the team’s use to the following game. The team encourages responsible alcohol consumption and assumes no liability for individuals who drink. Back to top.

15. Liability– Ice hockey is potentially dangerous sport. The Moose Knuckles Hockey Club, its members and directors, assume no liability for injuries to individuals sustained during or as a result of participation in practices or games involving the club. By participating in practices and/or games with the club, individuals accept and assume responsibility for their own safety and hold the club, its members and directors, harmless. Back to top.

16. Playbook– The team playbook and the system contained within are the property of the Moose Knuckles Hockey Club and are not to be distributed or shared with other individuals or teams. All contents of the playbook and system are ©2002 Thomas Brown / Brownian Motion Productions. Back to top.

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