2011 Rules & Regulations 

Match Penalty protocol  

Player District Map

Here are some general guidelines concerning the new rules.

1) Tier I rules, there have been many changes to the Tier I rules so if you are playing or considering playing Tier I you should read review all the rules.

a.  There are only two recognized Tier I(AAA) programs in the state, The Tampa Bay Lightning Alliance and the Florida Alliance, these are the only teams that will be eligible to play for a state championship and advance to Nationals. Any other Tier I team is considered an independent and is not eligible to play in the SFHL, CFHL or FAHL.

b. All Tier I rosters must be posted on the organizations web sites by 9 pm tonight , May 18. After tonight Tier I teams cannot  recruit any players until June.

c.Tier I teams cannot recruit any player that signs a letter of commitment with a Tier II (AA or A) team.

d.Once a player signs a letter of commitment to be a Tier I player he is considered a Tier I player and cannot play AA unless there are special circumstances .

2) New District policy –replaces old 60 mile rule.

a. The State is now divided into 4 districts, teams can have as  many players from within their district on a team.

b. Team will only be allowed two(2) players from outside their district. NO Exceptions will be considered this year.

c. Players distance will now be their home address and distance from the rink.

3) Double Rostering.

a. Teams that double roster players are considered “Rec” and are not eligible to play in SAHOF Championships.

b. “Rec” teams will be limited to no more than 3 double rostered players.

c. Players cannot be double rostered in their same age group.

d. A team that double rosters players with younger players and later wants to add more players must “drop” a double rostered player.

4) New Transfer/player release rules.

a.  There is a new schedule of what an organization is entitled to charge if a player wishes to go to another organization.

b. It is up to the organization whether they require a Financial Release for TRYOUTS.  Players don’t need a financial release to tryout but they do need one to be rostered, thus if you make the team you’ll need a financial release.

c. Players need a financial release when going to a new organization in order to be Rostered on a team.

d.  An organization has 10 days to return a release from the day they “receive” a completed financial release form. This form can be found on the Sahof web site in the forms area.

e. If you do not receive a release within 10 days you are released , however you must have proof of when you sent the financial release form to the organization. An email with a time stamp is permissible along with a copy of the financial release.

5) New Player/commitment letter- this can be found in the forms section of the web site.

a. There is a new “standardized” commitment letter from SAHOF, it’s up to an organization whether they use it along with their own.

b.Once a player signs a letter of commitment that player is financially held to that organization.

c. You are not required by SAHOF to sign a letter of commitment at tryouts that is solely up to the organization's policy that you are trying out for.

 FOR ORGANIZATIONS- If you want SAHOF to uphold the financial release rules to collect any monies due to you for a player you MUST use the SAHOF commitment letter this goes for all players, AAA, AA, A and Rec.

 6) New Advertising of Spring and Fall teams and tryouts.

a.Spring teams may not advertise, form or conduct tryouts before February 1^st.

b. Fall teams may not advertise, solicit players or conduct any sort of “skates” that are in any way perceived to be for a Fall team until the day after USAH youth National Championships.

c. Tryouts for Tier I (AAA) and Tier II (AA and A) must followed the SAHOF schedule.

 Just a few other rules to keep in mind as you prepare for tryouts.

1. The SFHL(AA)  only allows one team from an organization at a specific age group. In the past the SFHL has allowed some organization a 2^nd team in a specific age group when it needed the 2^nd team for scheduling. Any organization cannot advertising that “two” AA team will play in the SFHL, there is no certainty that a 2^nd  AA team will be allowed to play in the SFHL.

2. AA  teams are only allowed to play in 3 “AAA” tournaments during the fall season. Any team found to have played in more than 3 will be disqualified from playing in SAHOF, and can be barred from playing in the SFHL the following year.

3. If you are going to play for another team in a tournament, that team must apply for a tournament team, and all players must receive permission from their primary team to play on another organizations “tournament team”.

These are just the highlights of the new rules you can find the complete set of SAHOF rules on the web site any omission of those rules  in this email do not take away from the full rules posted on web site.

All forms and rules can be found on the SAHOF web site.