The Singapore Ice Hockey Association (“SIHA”) recognizes the necessity of having effective Disciplinary Rules and Procedures.

The mission of the SIHA Disciplinary Rules and Procedures is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of those rules and regulations, which govern discipline within Ice Hockey under the SIHA, and also to promote fairness, respect and equality within the sport.

The overriding objective is to secure justice in SIHA disciplinary proceedings and that decisions are made in a fair, consistent, and expeditious manner.

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

The Disciplinary Committee is a committee of the SIHA delegated with the task of dealing with Ice Hockey related and general disciplinary matters. It shall have jurisdiction to impose any sanctions.

The Disciplinary Committee consists of:

  • Eugene Ang – Referee in Chief
  • Benjamin Huang – Head Linesman
  • Alphonsus Jude Joseph – SIHA President
  • 1 Nominated Team Representative (non-voting)

The Nominated Team Representative is part of the disciplinary committee for the purpose of transparency in decision-making but also to allow a team perspective to be brought to the discussion. They do not have a vote in the final decision but clearly their perspective will be heard and taken into consideration for the final decision.

The SIHA Team Managers must nominate at the beginning of the season:

  • One named individual to be the Nominated Team Representative for the Disciplinary Committee for the season;
  • One named individual to be the alternate Nominated Team Representative for the Disciplinary Committee for the season.

A quorum of three shall be sufficient to convene a meeting/conference call to discuss an incident.

The Disciplinary Committee nominated to consider a particular disciplinary matter shall act on a simple majority vote (plus 51%) in arriving at its decision.

Any member of the Disciplinary Committee shall decline to participate in the consideration of certain disciplinary matters if there would be serious grounds to question his/her impartiality such as having a direct or indirect interest in the outcome of the proceedings.

The Disciplinary Committee may determine that a Player, Person, Club/Team shall be disciplined for an offence which is different from the offence for which the Player, Person, Club/Team was originally sanctioned, providing such offence arises out of the same incident or incidents as that referred to in the Game Sheet/Referees Report and that the Player, Person, Club/Team shall not, in the opinion of the Disciplinary Committee, be unfairly prejudiced by the same.

Unless, in its sole discretion, the Disciplinary Committee or the Executive Committee otherwise decides, the Disciplinary Committee will be convened in the following circumstances:

  • When a Penalty is called by a Referee based on offences described in the current IIHF Official Rule Book that incur an automatic suspension;
  • When any other act or acts of Misconduct are committed.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, PROCESS AND TIMELINES

  1. All SIHA game officials are required to submit an incident report form within 24 hours (1 day) of the game when they assess any of the following penalties during a game:
  • Misconduct
  • Game Misconduct
  • Major Penalty
  • Match Penalty
  1. A copy of the incident report form will be sent to all members of the disciplinary committee.
  1. All Match Penalties will result in the Player being suspended for a minimum of two games.
  1. The Disciplinary Committee will consider all Match Penalties. The level of suspension for Match Penalties over and above two games will be based on the game officials incident report form and video evidence (when this is available).
  1. The Disciplinary Committee does not need to meet to review the assessed misconduct or game misconduct penalties, unless they feel it appropriate to impose a greater sanction than what was awarded on the ice.
  1. The Disciplinary Committee can up-grade a penalty based on:
  • Video evidence;
  • A report from the Game Official Supervisor; or
  • If on reading the game officials incident report form they feel a more severe penalty should have been assessed.
  1. All Players receiving Misconduct, Game Misconduct, Major or Match Penalties are required to wait for notification from the Referee in Chief before resuming any participation in games, for any division.
  1. If the incident report relates to a misconduct or a game misconduct penalty this will be logged with the SIHA against the offending player and if the player has reached a penalty point limit then the team will be informed of the suspension within 24 hours (1 day) of the game.
  1. If the incident report relates to a misconduct or a game misconduct penalty but the Disciplinary Committee feel that it warrants further discussion and will potentially be upgrading the penalty to carry a suspension with it, then the team will be informed within 24 hours (1 day) of the game and the player will not be eligible to participate in any games until notification is given by the Referee in Chief.
  1. The Disciplinary Committee will meet/have a conference call within 48 hours (2 days) of the game if they need to discuss the report because:
  • A Match Penalty has been assessed; or
  • The game officials incident report warrants further discussion.
  1. A decision on a Match Penalty or an upgraded Misconduct or Game Misconduct Penalty suspension will be issued to the club within 72 hours (3 days) of the game. The offending player is not able to play in any games prior to receiving a decision from the disciplinary committee.
  1. If a player has been suspended for any reason under the disciplinary rules SIHA will NOT refund any portion of league or membership fees.

NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF SANCTIONS

The Disciplinary Committee can apply any of the sanctions listed below:

  1. A caution, warning as to future conduct, reprimand;
  2. A suspension for a specified number of games or set period of time;
  3. Exclusion orders from The Rink (Ice Hockey arena);
  4. Suspension from involvement in Ice Hockey officiating, and/or administration;
  5. Suspension or expulsion from participation in any competition;
  6. Expulsion from membership of/affiliation to the SIHA;
  7. Any combination of the above.

PENALTY POINT SYSTEM

To help assess and monitor discipline, the SIHA operates a Penalty Points System.

Players will accumulate Penalty Points for committing offences and incurring Penalties. The accumulation of penalty points will be recorded and monitored by the Referee in Chief.

The table below sets out the number of penalty points received for the various infractions:

PENALTY GAME TIME SERVED PENALTY POINT
Minor Penalty 2 min by offending player 0
Misconduct penalty 10 min by offending player 4
Double minor plus misconduct 4 min to team, 10 min personal penalty 2
Game Misconduct Expulsion for remainder of game 4
Major plus Game Misconduct Expulsion for remainder of game 5
Match Penalty Expulsion for remainder of game 6

The table below sets out the sanctions for the penalty points received in addition to any additional game suspensions from particular situations:

PENALTY POINTS SUSPENSION
5 points 1 game
10 points 2 games
15 points 4 games
20 points Full suspension for the rest of the season


SUSPENSION PROCEDURE AND RULES

The Disciplinary Process and sanction applies to any game authorized and organized through the SIHA.

The following types of games will not count towards a suspension and do not qualify as games played for the purposes of fulfilling/meeting the suspension imposed:

  • Forfeited League Games;
  • Awarded League Games;
  • Cancelled Games.

Suspensions will carry over to the next season, should the suspension not have been served in full during the previous season

‘RECOMMENDED’ SUSPENSIONS FOR DISCIPLINARYCOMMITTEE

PENALTIES ‘RECOMMENDED’ SUSPENSION
ABUSE 1 GAME
BOARDING 1 GAME
CHARGING 1 GAME
CHECKING FROM BEHIND 2 GAMES
CHECKING TO THE HEAD 2 GAMES
CROSS CHECKING 1 GAME
ELBOWS 1 GAME
HEAD BUTT 2 GAMES
HIGH-STICKING 1 GAME
HOOKING 1 GAME
KICKING 2 GAMES
FIGHTING (1 PUNCH) 1 GAME
FIGHTING (2 PUNCHES OR MORE) 2 GAMES
SLASHING 1 GAME
TRIPPING 1 GAME
UN-SPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT 1 GAME
RACIAL ABUSE 5 GAMES
GAME MISCONDUCT 1 GAME
ANY OTHER MATCH PENALTY 2 GAMES

The above table outlines the suspensions as a guideline for the Disciplinary Committee to use when making its decision. These ‘Recommended Suspensions’ are in addition to the ‘Penalty Point System’ and suspensions that come along with accumulating penalty points over the course of a season.

The Singapore Ice Hockey Association may change the rules and/or procedures at any time during the season. If this does happen, all team managers will be notified prior to the new rule taking effect.

You may also wish to download the disciplinary rules & procedures HERE.