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Youth Dek Hockey League Rules & Regulations

Faqs

Age Divisions

  • Peewee (Ages 4, 5, 6)
  • Penguin (Ages 7, 8, 9)

Division Eligibility

A player’s age on January 1st determines his/her division eligibility for the entire calendar year. Players are allowed to “play up” a division, but never allowed to “play down” – no exceptions. A player who is “playing up” a division based on his/her eligibility age is only allowed to play in the highest skill level of his/her true division of eligibility.  Girls who are playing in the youth co-ed league have one additional year of eligibility.

Forfeits

Teams are allowed to play with 3 players and a goalie to avoid a forfeit or for good sportsmanship purposes.  If a team does not have enough players, the team coach must email the league at info@thesportsarena.net.  Once the league receives the forfeit notification, the league will inform the opposing team.  If a team does not show up and does not notify the league in advance, the coach of the team will be suspended from playing in that team's next game.  Any team who forfeits 3 or more games, will not be eligible for playoffs. Forfeits are scored 8-0 for the non-forfeiting team.

Rosters

Each team must have a minimum of 11 players. Teams formed by the league will include no more than 14 players, although larger-sized rosters will be accepted should a team make such a request. The use of a non-rostered player is strictly prohibited.

Equipment

All players must wear the following equipment:

  • Matching jersey with a permanent number (no tape)
  • Street hockey helmet (with face cage/shield)
  • Shin guards
  • Elbow pads
  • Hockey gloves
  • Hockey stick
  • Protective cup (recommended for boys)

Goalies: leg pads, goalie glove & blocker (no baseball mitts), chest protector.

Game Length

  • Peewee: (1) 8-minute practice time and (2) 16-minute periods with stoppage every 2 minutes for line changes.
  • Penguin: (1) 5-minute practice time and (3) 12-minute periods. Stop time will be played for the final 2 minutes of each period.

Penalties

Standard NHL penalties will be called. 

Overtime

Regular Season Games

  • Peewee: If there is a tie at the end of the last period, the game will end in a tie.
  • Penguin: A 5-minute sudden death overtime period will be played to attempt to break the tie. If the score remains tied at the end of the 5 minutes, the game will end in a tie.

Playoff Games

  • If there is a tie at the end of the last period, a 5-minute sudden-death overtime period will be played. If at the end of the 5-minute overtime, the score is still tied, a shootout will be conducted to break the tie.

Timeouts

Each team gets 2 timeouts for the game. 1 additional timeout will be given for the 5-minute overtime period.

Offsides

  • Peewee: Offsides will NOT be enforced.
  • Penguin: The offside rules will be enforced.

Conduct

All coaches, players, and spectators are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. The league has a zero-tolerance rule for poor sportsmanship. Any player violating The Sports Arena’s Code of Conduct will be penalized appropriately up to and including game ejection, future game suspensions, and league expulsion. All Code of Conduct violations will be reviewed in detail and administered by the league. A player who receives 3 penalties, will be ejected from the game.