(Amended 5-10-2011)

GHRA Mission Statement

 

The mission of GHRA is to offer High School students an opportunity to represent their school by participating in an organized High School roller hockey league, and to promote roller hockey as an officially accepted High School sport.

 

Our goals are:

Ø      To promote the sport of roller hockey.

Ø      To facilitate skill development in playing, coaching, and officiating.

Ø      To emphasize the ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, respect for the rules and fair play.

Ø      To respect all individuals including fellow athletes, coaches, league officials, referees, team representatives, and parents.

 

I.                   DEFINITIONS

 

1.      “Championship Game” shall mean that game which is played after the end of the League’s regular season in each division, the winner of which shall be considered the League champion for their division.

 2.      GHRA “Board of Directors” shall mean such committee or group of people established pursuant to the League’s guidelines, charged with overseeing the operations of the League.  References to GHRA Board of Directors herein shall also refer to any committee or individual to which the GHRA Board of Directors assigns or delegates certain duties and responsibilities set forth herein.  The GHRA Board of Directors reserves the right to amend any Rules or Procedures set forth in this document as appropriate.

 3.      “League Season” shall mean September 1 through the following August 31, encompassing one complete League Season.

 4.      “League Game” shall mean any scheduled Regular Season Game or Playoff Game, both within a division, or Interdivisional play.

 5.      “Member Team” shall mean any team, which has been accepted as a Member of the League pursuant the procedures set forth herein.

 6.      “Playoff Game” shall mean any one or more of the games played as part of the League playoff schedule, as such schedule is established at the end of the regular season.

 7.      “Regular Season Game” shall mean any one or more of the games played as part of the League schedule, as such schedule is established at the start of the season.

 8.      “GHRA” shall mean the Georgia High School Roller Hockey Association.

 9.      “Team Official” shall mean any person serving as coach, manager, team representative or other official capacity or assisting on the Players’ Bench during a League Game pursuant to Penalties/Misconducts ~4.1 herein for a Member Team.  All “Team Officials” will be required to submit a “background check” form, provided by the league, prior to the start of the season.

 

II.                MEMBER TEAM PARAMETERS

 1.      Application for Membership

Schools wishing to join the League for the first time must submit a membership application in writing, no later than September 1, 2011.  The GHRA Board of Directors shall decide whether to admit the applicant based on a number of factors, including availability of rink time.  Meeting the requirements set forth in the application does not guarantee admittance into the League.  However, any teams meeting such qualifications but not admitted to the League at that time will be admitted as rink time becomes available or Member Teams drop out, in the order in which qualified applications were received.  All league fees plus pre-season tournament entry [$2,500.00 per team] are due at the registration deadline, September 14, 2011.  Any late registrations up to September 21, 2011, will be assessed a $300.00 late fee in addition to the $ 2,500.00.  League registrations will close on September 21, 2011.  Any exceptions must be submitted to the Board of Directors for a decision.

2.      Coach Selection

Each Member Team shall be responsible for selecting all of its coaches and team officials.  In the event a Member Team is having difficulty finding a head Coach, the GHRA Board of Directors may assist in the process by providing names of potential coaches to a representative of the Member Team seeking a Head Coach. Upon selection of a Head Coach by a Member Team, such Member Team shall notify a member of the GHRA Board of Directors of its selection. All coaches and team officials are subject to final approval by the GHRA Board of Directors, with such approval not being reasonably withheld.

 

3.      Player Selection

 Coaches / Team Representatives should contact School Administrators and discuss GHRA’s Mission and Guidelines.  Enlist school support for letting you promote and advertise player tryouts.

 Announce Tryout date(s) in advance to allow students time to discuss and plan their attendance.

 Make your selections based on “Player Eligibility Parameters” set forth herein.

 

 

 

III.             PLAYER ELIGIBILITY PARAMETERS

 

General

 

Ø      A team shall be comprised of a minimum number of eight [8] skaters and one [1] goaltender.

Ø      A maximum number of players shall be no more than sixteen [16] skaters and three [3] goaltenders, per GHRA guidelines.

Ø      The individual coaching/team manager staff, within the minimum and maximum range, per GHRA guidelines, shall determine the actual roster size.

Ø      Upon entering high school, a student/athlete has four consecutive calendar years of eligibility to play InLine hockey.  No “red shirt” athletes in high school InLine hockey, and …

- Any InLine hockey player who turns 19 prior to May 1^st of the previous school year is not eligible to play InLine hockey the next season.

The GHRA Executive Board has adopted 4 criteria in the team selection process.  Eligible players must fall within these criteria.  Two-thirds [2/3] of a team roster must be comprised of student’s attending the High School the team represents, keeping in mind that a maximum of 4 players can be acquired from criteria 2, 3, and 4.

 

 

1.      Criteria 1

The first order of selection is a resident High School player representing their school.  Every reasonable effort must be made to generate interest and participation from within the school that the team represents.  Two-thirds [2/3] of the team roster must attend the High School that the team represents.

 

2.      Criteria 2

The second choice will come from home schooled or private school, High School grade level players from within the attendance district of that High School.

 

3.      Criteria 3

The third selection available will be High School students whose school attendance district does not have its own team.  Those students may play for the nearest adjacent High School that does have a GHRA team.

 

4.      Criteria 4

The fourth and final criterion is an 8^th grade student athlete.  Prior to the start of each GHRA season, the High School coach must designate up to two [2] Middle School “feeders” from which players may be chosen.  These players must be in the attendance district of that High School for enrollment the following year, or meet the requirements as a home schooled or private school student designated in Criteria 2.

 

Ø      There shall be a maximum of up to four [4] players, as designated in Criteria 2, 3, & 4, on a single team

 

5.      Goaltender Rule

As some GHRA teams have only one goaltender and proposals have been suggested to address this issue, the GHRA Board has adopted the following policy:

Any team that does not have a goaltender available for a game due to illness, injury, etc., may request to “borrow” a goaltender from another team.  The borrowed goaltender must be from the same division or a lower division of play.  The opposing coach must be told prior to the start of the game. 

The spirit of this decision is to allow teams to compete with the use of an experienced goaltender.  It is not intended for a team to make itself more competitive.  This rule should only be invoked due to legitimate reasons and not to improve your team.  The requested goaltender should not be the other team’s #1 player, if others are available. 

6.      Establishment of Team Parameters

The GHRA Board of Directors shall establish parameters for individual teams for the upcoming season no later than the September 21, 2011.  Such parameters will be established pursuant to the guidelines set forth herein.

7.      Exceptions

Any deviations from the standards set forth herein shall be at the determination of the GHRA Board of Directors.  Persons or teams seeking such deviations shall submit, in writing, via e-mail, a request for an exemption to a member of the GHRA Board of Directors [Doug Russell at Doug.Russell@Norandex.com]  No Later than September 14, 2011.  In this request please provide all the necessary details as to why you are seeking this exception to the Rules and Procedures set forth herein.  The GHRA Board of Directors shall make a final determination of all such applications no later than September 21, 2011.
 

8.      Proof of Eligibility – Completed Registration Packages

As part of the Registration package, an official GHRA Roster must be submitted with the attending school information completed, no later than September 14, 2011.   Each team must submit their completed On-Line registrations by the September 14, 2011 deadline.  Any team that has not completed and turned in the entire registration package with associated payment by September 14, 2011 [to include $300.00 late fee from September 15 through September 21, 2011], will not be eligible to participate for the upcoming season.  If a question arises regarding eligibility, the GHRA Board may require a copy of a student ID. 

IV.             Roster Additions / Changes 

1.      Prior to the Start of Season

Students, who change schools prior to the start of the season, must play for the team representing the school that the student has transferred to, unless the new school does not have a team.

If the student’s new school does not have a team, see Criteria 3 under “Player Eligibility Parameters”.

2.      After the Start of the Season

Students changing schools within the GHRA member teams, after the start of the season shall be able to complete the current season with the team representing the school that such player started the season with.  However, the following season such players must try out for the team representing the school they are attending.  If the student’s new school does not have a team, see Criteria 3 under “Player Eligibility Parameters”

Students transferring into a school after the season starts may be added to the team’s roster, providing there is an eligible roster spot open.

3.   Roster Deadline

All rosters for the upcoming GHRA season must be submitted to the GHRA Board of Directors On-Line by September 14, 2011.  No player may be added to a team’s roster after September 17, 2011 without approval by the GHRA Board of Directors. 

4.   Rosters

 Current Rosters are considered final and closed by the League Season’s September 21, 2011, deadline.  Player’s may only appear on one team roster.  School’s having more than one team may not carry any individual player on multiple rosters.  Teams may submit in writing a request to add a student transferring in to a school, or school attendance district [under criteria 2, 3, or 4], provided there is a roster vacancy [see maximum roster guidelines].  The Board of Directors will respond to such requests within 15 days of receipt.  Should a player be injured and will miss a large portion of the season, you may submit an exception request to the Board for consideration to add another player.  The Board will rule on this request with 10 days of submission.

 

           

 

5. Player Movement - Lower Level to Upper Level Teams from the Same School

 

Each GHRA team may make a permanent player shift, of a maximum of 2 players, upwards only once per year effective January 15 of that season. No players may be moved to a lower division team.

      

 

V.                LEAGUE SCHEDULE – GENERAL

 

1.      Organization of Teams by Conferences and/or Divisions

 

Organization of Member Teams into conferences and/or divisions shall be at the discretion of the GHRA Board of Directors.  Teams will be placed into divisions based on anticipated skill level.  Teams will be allowed to submit information relevant to the teams expected skill level at the time a roster is submitted.  No appeal will be considered once the Board of Directors has made its decision.

The number of divisions and the number of teams assigned to each division will be decided based on the number of teams registered.  The goal is to produce a balanced, competitive schedule.

No school shall have two or more teams placed in the same division with the GHRA Board’s approval. 

 

VI.             LEAGUE GAMES

 

1.      General

The rules and regulations set forth in this section shall be applicable to all League games, including Regular Season Games and Playoff Games.

 

 

2.      Seven Goal Rule

If at any time during a League Game, the score differential reaches seven (7) goals, the game clock shall be operated using a running time format until such time as the differential is reduced below seven.

3.       Jerseys & Hockey Pants

All League Teams shall have two sets of jerseys – one white or light-colored and one dark. 

The home team shall wear dark jerseys

All inline hockey pants must not have holes in them allowing pads underneath to be exposed or sticking out.

4.      Protective Equipment

All players on Member Teams for all on-rink League practices and games must wear all protective equipment required by AAU InLine Rules, including mouthpieces.

 

VII.          REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

 

1.      General

The number of Member Teams, number of League Games each team plays, times of games, length of season and other elements of the League Schedule shall be determined at the discretion of the GHRA Board of Directors.

No Regular Season Game shall be scheduled prior to October 1, or later than May 15, during any League Year.

Each Member Team shall be scheduled to play the same number of Regular Season Games each Season.

2.      Regular Season Game Format

All Regular Season Games shall be limited to three periods of not less than ten (10) minutes, utilizing the stopped clock concept.  If, at the end of regulation time the score is tied, there will be one 5 minute, run-clock, sudden death, overtime period with 3 on 3 plus goalies.  The first team to score will be declared the winner, thus ending the game and receiving 2 points for the win.  The losing team is awarded 1 point. If after the overtime period no team has scored, it will be followed by a 3 man shootout.

      Shootout format: Each coach chooses 3 players from his team to shoot on the opposing goalie one time. A player cannot shoot twice in any round of shootouts. The visiting team goes first followed by the home team. Both teams will complete three rounds, at that time the team with the most goals will be declared the winner. If no team has accumulated more goals than the other team, the teams will move into sudden death shootout with the visiting team shooting first. After every round which ever team is ahead will be declared the winner, thus ending the game and receiving 2 points for the win and the losing team is awarded 1 point.

There will be NO timeouts during the OT period.

 

 

 

 

3.      League Standings – Regular Season 

League standings shall be determined by awarding two (2) points for a victory, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss. 

In the case of a tie in the standings at the end of the regular season, the following guidelines shall be followed:

a)      Tie between two teams:

1)      Team with greatest number of wins.

2)      Head-to-head record between the two teams.

3)      Fewest goals allowed.

4)      Fewest penalty minutes.

5)      Coin toss 

b)     Tie among three or more teams:

6)      Team with greatest number of wins.

7)      Fewest goals allowed.

8)      Fewest penalty minutes.

9)      Coin toss.

 

Only those division games that count in the League standings will be used for tie breaking purposes. 

 

VIII.       LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

 

1.   Playoff format

The League playoff format is affected by numerous factors including the number of Member Teams.  Therefore, the playoff format may change from time to time and shall be determined by the GHRA Board of Directors prior to each League Year. 

 

 

2.   Playoff game format 

All Playoff Games shall consist of three periods of not less than ten (10) minutes utilizing the stopped clock concept.  

Overtime shall be utilized to determine the outcome of Playoff Games in the following manner:

 (a)    All Playoff Games, including the Championship Game, tied at the end of regulation time shall play one (1) five-minute stop-time overtime period.  If the game remains tied at the end of such overtime, a second five-minute stop-time overtime period shall be played.  If the game still remains tied, a third five-minute stop-time overtime period shall be played. This will continue until one team scores and is declared the winner.

(b)   There are NO timeouts during any overtime format.

3. Playoff Eligibility

      A properly rostered player must participate in at least 8 of his/her team’s regular season games to be eligible to participate in that team’s post season play.

IX.             PENALTIES/MISCONDUCTS

1.      General

The rules and regulations set forth in this section shall be applicable to all League games, including regular season and playoff games. 

Any player or Coach suspended pursuant to this section must serve the suspension during League play.  If a player is suspended pursuant to a Match Penalty or Gross Misconduct, the suspended player cannot participate in any AAU/USARS activities during such suspension.

 

 

 

2.      Official Rules of InLine Hockey 

Official Rules of InLine Hockey (USARS Rules), as applicable to the High School division, in conjunction with GHRA League playing rules as set forth herein, shall be used in all League games.  GHRA rules override USARS Rules if there is a conflict. 

Note:  Any player receiving a game suspension for a 3^rd time within a “League Season” for any reason will no longer be permitted to participate in GHRA for the remainder of that “League Season”.  The GHRA Board of Directors shall review the case for the following “League Season” to determine player status.  [A game misconduct resulting in a 3 game suspension would count as a single event for this rule].

 

 

3.      Game Misconduct 

Any player receiving a “Game Misconduct” penalty shall be suspended for the balance of the game in progress, plus an additional game suspension for the next scheduled game, unless the penalty is for Fighting or Intent to Injure, which is covered in Rules #4 & 5 below. 

4.   Fisticuffs 

Any player who receives a major penalty for Fisticuffs (Fighting) (USARS Rule 44.1) shall be assessed the following:

 

If player does not make contact with a thrown punch:

First Offense: A Five (5) minute major penalty, a game misconduct and a Three (3) game suspension.
or

 

If player does make contact with a thrown punch:

First Offense: A Five (5) minute major penalty, a game misconduct and a Five (5) game suspension.

 

Fight Instigator Penalty (USARS Rule 44.7) – the player who starts the altercation, which turns into a fight (with a thrown punch or not), will also receive an additional 2 games.

 

(Amended 5/10/09 Fight Instigator Penalty – the player who starts the altercation, which turns into a fight (with a thrown punch or not), will also receive an additional 2 games.

Second Offense (same League Year):  A five (5) minute major penalty, a game misconduct and suspension for the remainder of the season, including playoffs. 

Any player who receives a penalty for being the third man into an altercation (USARS Rule 44.11) shall be assessed a two (2) game suspension in addition to any other penalties assessed pursuant to this section (i.e. Fighting). 

Any player who receives a penalty for leaving the bench to participate in an altercation (USARS Rule 44.12) shall be assessed a three (3) game suspension in addition to any other penalties assessed pursuant to this section (i.e. Fighting).

Included with the above mentioned disciplinary actions: 

1] A second (2^nd) fighting offense for the same team (same or different player), during the same season, will result in that team forfeiting their next scheduled game (including playoffs, if applicable). 

2] A third (3^rd) fighting offense for the same team (same or different player), during the same season, will result in that team forfeiting their next three scheduled games (including playoffs, if applicable).

3] A fourth (4^th) fighting offense for the same team (same or different player), during the same season, will result in that team forfeiting the remainder of the season (including playoffs).  This team will also be subject to a Board of Directors review before admittance to GHRA for the following season. 

There is no appeal from any league-imposed suspension.  A designated Board member may, in his/her sole discretion, permit interested parties to submit statements and other pertinent materials for the Board's further consideration after a suspension is imposed.  The Board's final ruling is not subject to any appeal or further review

5. Team Officials

At least one individual, age 19 or older (registered with AAU as a coach) shall be allowed on a member team’s player’s bench area at all times during league or play-off games.

No more that four (4) individuals (registered with AAU as a coach and must be a minimum of 18 years of age), other that plays shall be in a member team player’s bench area during league or play-off games. 

No parents, friends, relatives or other individuals who are not a Player or Team Official [Penalty box monitors are considered Team Officials] shall enter the Player’s Bench area, Penalty Box area, Scorekeepers’ area or attempt to enter any of these areas or the rink surface during a League Game.

Any Member Team violating the rules set forth in this section shall be assessed the following:

§         First Offense:  A two (2) minute minor penalty and the game shall be stopped until the offending individual is removed from the building.

§         Second Offense:  (same League Game):  The game shall be ended and declared a forfeit.

A violation of any rule set forth in this section shall be considered a first offense and any subsequent violation of any rule in this section shall be considered a second offense for the purposes hereof.  (It is not necessary that the violation be of the same type to declare the game a forfeit).

 

 

6.      Notification 

All game misconducts and suspensions (other than Match Penalties and Gross Misconducts) less than five games are automatic, non-appealable, according to USARS and League Rules.  No written notification is required by the Board.  An entry shall be made in Pointstreak noting the suspension in a reasonable time after the event.  It is the coach’s responsibility to verify his/her player has received a game misconduct with the referees immediately following the game.  If a player who receives a game misconduct [which carries a minimum one [1] additional game suspension] and attempts to, or plays in the next scheduled game; both the player and head coach will be subject to additional disciplinary action [see Section 9, sub-heading 9, Enforcement – Team Violations]. 

    7.      Serving Suspension 

A player suspended pursuant to this section (not including those players suspended for a specified number of days), shall be listed on the official score sheet and in Pointstreak as a Suspended Player for any game(s) for which such player is suspended.   

9.    Enforcement – Team Violations 

Any team using an ineligible player (one who does not satisfy the requirements set forth herein), shall forfeit any game(s) in which such player participates.  The official score of such game shall be 1-0 and all individual statistics shall be recorded as if there had not been a forfeit.  Further, both player and coach shall serve a two [2] game suspension, by the discretion of the Board of Directors, in addition to any previous suspension not yet completed. 

     10.  Amended rule: dated August, 2005

To All Coaches / Team Reps:

There was an incident during the "end of game" handshake at one of our playoff games in the 2004-2005 league season.  A senior on the losing team proceeded to "face rub" the opposing goaltender, then punched and knocked to the floor an opposing skater.  As the referees came in to break up the ensuing fight which developed with this same individual and another opposing player [both these players received major penalties, resulting in 5 game suspensions], the senior yelled obscenities to the crowd and told the referee"…you can't do anything to me, I'm a senior".  The result is the winning team loses a player for the rest of the playoffs, and the losing team seemingly walks away without any penalty.

 

As you can imagine, the Board has discussed this type of behavior in the past and now feel we must do something to discourage it from happening again.  We have to place the burden on the coaches and captains of each team to talk to their players before a game to let them know this is not acceptable behavior.  Further, the following rule has been adopted:

 

 

 

 

Amended rule, Section IX, # 10

 

·       Any player who cannot fulfill his/her disciplinary suspension(s) carried over from one league season to the next, will be banned from entering a “GHRA sanctioned” facility for a period of not less than 6 months after the penalty occurred.  This covers both seniors, and any underclassmen who do not return to an active GHRA roster for the following league season.

 

 

X.                MATCH PENALTIES AND GROSS MISCONDUCTS

 

1.      Disciplinary Committee 

Any player, coach or team official who receives a Match Penalty or Gross Misconduct shall be suspended from all AAU/USARS activities (including all League activities and practices), until the Disciplinary Committee holds a hearing. 

The Disciplinary Committee shall hold hearings pursuant to a schedule established by the GHRA Board of Directors.   

Any suspension rendered by the Disciplinary Committee shall be retroactive to the date of the incident.  Once a decision is rendered, the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee shall, within three (3) business days of the hearing, notify the Head Coach of the appropriate Member team of any suspension imposed.

Any player, coach or team official suspended pursuant to this section shall be suspended from all League activities, including practices, until such suspension has been served in full.

 

 

 

10.   Referee’s Judgment 

In the case of any penalty, the referee’s call stands.  This is true regardless of whether the penalty is considered by some as a bad call, unfair call or an improper call. 

 

 

 

XI.             COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT AND REPSONSIBILITIES

 

The League is very appreciative of the time, effort and dedication its coaches contribute to the program.  All coaches are representatives of their respective school as well as the League.  To ensure that all League coaches perceive their position and responsibilities in the same manner, the following code of conduct and responsibilities have been developed:

 

1.   Code of Conduct 

All League coaches shall:

 

Ø      Refrain from engaging in any activities or conduct, which are, or may be viewed as being, detrimental to any player, team, school or the League. 

Ø      Conduct themselves in a positive and sportsmanlike manner at all times; and strive to provide a safe and positive environment at all times.  The coach should promote fair play and sportsmanship among all players, coaches, referees and parents.

 

The following behavior by League coaches shall not be tolerated: 

Ø      Any type of physical, verbal or sexual abuse of a player. 

Ø      Verbal or physical confrontations with other coaches, players, referees, parents or spectators. 

Ø      Excessive use of profanity. 

2.   Responsibilities

 

Ø      Coaches shall make efforts to continually develop their coaching skills and to learn new drills and coaching methods. 

Ø      Coaches shall conduct organized practice sessions for their team during the season. 

Ø      Coaches shall ensure that their players wear any and all equipment required by AAU/USARS and the League for all practices and games. 

Ø      Coaches shall stay abreast of all rules, policies and procedures implemented by the League and shall maintain an open line of communication with team parents and officials to ensure that they are kept informed of any and all rules, policies and procedures so implemented that may affect them.

 

 

XII.          REFEREES CODE OF CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

1.   Code of Conduct 

All League referees shall: 

Ø      Refrain from engaging in any activities or conduct, which are, or may be viewed as being, detrimental to any player, team, school or district or League. 

Ø      Conduct themselves in a positive and sportsmanlike manner at all times. 

Ø      Strive to provide a safe and positive environment at all times and promote fair play and sportsmanship among all players, coaches, referees and parents. 

2.   The following behavior by League referees shall not be tolerated: 

Ø      Any type of physical, verbal or sexual abuse of a player. 

Ø      Verbal or physical confrontations with other coaches, players, referees, parents or spectators. 

Ø      Excessive use of profanity. 

3.   Responsibilities 

Ø      All League referees shall maintain proper certification as required by AAU/USARS. 

Ø      Referees shall be responsible for attending all League Games, which they are scheduled to officiate. 

Ø      Referees officiating League Games shall conduct periodic equipment checks before and during games to ensure all players are wearing the appropriate and required protective equipment. 

Ø      Referees shall stay abreast of all rules, policies and procedures implemented by the League.

 

XIII.       PARENTS AND SPECTATORS CODE OF CONDUCT 

All parents and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a proper, respectful and sportsmanlike manner while attending League Games.  Obnoxious behavior, verbal abuse of players, coaches, referees and other spectators or the use of profanity will not be tolerated.  Any parent or spectator engaging in inappropriate behavior may be asked to leave the arena.  If they do not, the game will be forfeited and the proper law enforcement agency will be summoned.  In the case of consistent or particularly egregious behavior, the GHRA Board of Directors may ban a parent or spectator from all League activities. 

 

 

XIV.       AAU/USARS BACKGROUND CHECKS 

AAU/USARS requires all volunteer personnel who have routine access to children (under the age of majority), submit a background check form to the Board of Directors, prior to the start of the Season.   

For the 2005-2006 season [and all subsequent seasons moving forward], all GHRA coaches will be required to submit background check forms [regardless if they are required to submit background checks for other entities (i.e., other leagues such as AARHO)], on an annual basis.  Any coach that does not comply will be prohibited from participating in GHRA league activities. 

The following is AAU/USARS Screening and Policy Procedures:

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

Screening and Policy Procedures
[Quoted from AAU/USARS Documentation]

 

In an effort to insure the safety and well being of our registered members, AAU/USARS have implemented the following coach screening policy procedure for inline hockey.  AAU/USARS firmly believe in providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all inline hockey participants.  Coach screening is one important method to achieve this goal.  The most important result of coach screening is that children (minors) throughout the country will benefit from this program.  We all have a responsibility to protect these children.  The success of the screening program depends largely on the cooperation of the AAU/USARS sanctioned inline hockey leagues nationwide.  A crucial element of this procedure is confidentiality.  All materials involved with coach screening must be kept confidential by law.  Therefore, each sanctioned league is required to adhere to the following protocol. 

Screening Policy 

It is the policy of AAU/USARS that it will not authorize or sanction in its programs that it directly controls, or sanctions, any volunteer or employee who has routine access to children (anyone under the age of majority) who refuses to consent to be screened by AAU/USARS, their affiliates, or their sanctioned inline hockey leagues, before he/she is allowed to have routine access to children in AAU/USARS programs.  Further, it is the policy of AAU/USARS that they will require all affiliates and sanctioned leagues to adopt this policy as a condition of its affiliation or sanctioning with AAU/USARS. 

A person may be disqualified and prohibited from serving as an employee or volunteer of AAU/USARS, or a sanctioned AAU/USARS league, if the person has:
 

 

 

1.      Been convicted (including crimes the record of which has been expunged and pleas of “no contest”) of a crime of child abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, or physical abuse, causing a child’s death, neglect of a child, murder, manslaughter, felony assault, any assault against a minor, kidnapping, arson, criminal sexual conduct, prostitution related crimes or controlled substance crimes.

2.      Being adjudged liable for civil penalties or damages involving sexual or physical abuse of children.

3.      Being subject to any court order involving any sexual abuse or physical abuse of a minor, including but not limited to domestic order or protection.

4.      Had their parental rights terminated.

5.      A history with another organization (volunteer, employment, etc.) of complaints of sexual or physical abuse of minors.

6.      Resigned, been terminated or been asked to resign from a position, whether paid or unpaid, due to complaint(s) of sexual or physical abuse of minors.

7.      Has a history of other behavior that indicates there may be a danger to children in AAU/USARS.

 

Screening Process

 

1.      Each AAU/USARS sanctioned league shall appoint one individual as the contact person for screening within that league.  This person shall collect all screening application/consent forms from those individuals who will have routine access to children prior to such access and submit them to the applicable screening company.  This person is also the only one to receive a copy of the screening results.  The screening form shall have been submitted to the screening company within 60 days of the individual’s first participation in a practice, game, or other routine access to children.  As a reference, all AAU/USARS sanctioned leagues can contact Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc., 1-866-996-7412, for their screening services.

2.      Each AAU/USARS sanctioned league will be responsible for the payment of the costs associated with conducting the screening process.

3.      Each AAU/USARS sanctioned league must form a 3-person league screening committee charged with the task of reviewing all screening “hits” from within that league and deciding on a course of action in such cases

4.      Any individual identified and disqualified from league participation by the 3-person league screening committee may not appeal.  The Committee’s decision on any such appeals shall be the final determination of this matter.

 

 

 

 

Privacy Policy

 

To protect the privacy of all involved and to comply with the laws of the United States of America, the following steps must be taken.  All AAU/USARS sanctioned leagues and the AAU/USARS national office are required to conceal all screening information and files in a locked file cabinet or equivalent location.  No persons other than the sanctioned league appointed screening contact and the league Screening Committee are allowed to view the screening materials.  Similarly, no persons other than those on the 3-person league screening committee are allowed to view the appeals materials. 

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2.      In accordance with AAU/USARS Screening and Policy Procedures, the GHRA Board of Directors has established the following:

 

Ø      GHRA will require all coaches and Team Representatives who have access to minor children to submit a background check Consent/Release form no later than September 17, 2011 for the upcoming season and agree to have their picture taken that will be place on their GHRA coaches badge and must wear to all GHRA functions.  The cost of the background checks are included in the 2011-2012 GRHA Leagues fees. 

Ø      The GHRA Board has selected Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc., one of two recommended providers approved by AAU/USARS, to do the background checks.

Ø      Doug Russell will be the Single Point of Contact for GHRA to Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc, and the 3 member panel will consist of Doug Russell, Ronnie Williams, and Tommy Melton, to review screenings in question.

Ø      GHRA has established a process with Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc., where the Board will only get a Pass/Fail type report.  All confidential information will be kept on file at Southeastern.  The GHRA Board will not see any of this information.

Ø        Should an applicant “fail”, or have information that falls into a “gray area”; Southeastern will provide the individual report with a number assigned to it, rather than a name.  Once the 3-member panel reviews it and concurs that the individual should not have access to minor children, Southeastern will provide the name so we may contact the individual.  Should the panel determine the information does not warrant a “fail” status, GHRA will notify Southeastern of that decision, without ever knowing the name of the individual.

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Ø        The panel will refer to “The National Recreation and Park Association Guidelines on Disqualifications” you may find this by logging onto www.nrpa.org/tlc2/  and follow the “NRPA Recommended Guidelines for Credentialing Volunteers”.

Ø      All information will be kept on file at Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc., for 7 years.  GHRA will keep any records on file for 3 years.  Background checks are discussed on an annual basis. All coaches each year must submit a background check form.