Rules & Regulations (2026-2027)

The Southern Girls Hockey League will adhere to the current USA Hockey Rules and Regulations.

All teams, Exhibition teams included, must be registered as Non-National Bound house/rec, travel, or lower in their appropriate age division. The SGHL board must have a certified roster (signed by the Affiliate Registrar) on file.

All players must be registered with USA Hockey.

It shall be the responsibility of each coach or team manager to check the age eligibility of the team members and submit an official USA HOCKEY 1-T Roster form showing player name and birth date. Failure to file the roster may result in forfeiture of all games until a complete roster is on file. Any updates or roster changes resulting in a revised roster must also be filed.

A team roster shall consist of no more than twenty (20) registered players, 18 skaters and 2 goalies. Double-rostering/subbing will only be permitted if the team in need has less than thirteen (13) players participating in the Southern Girls Hockey League weekend games upon SGHL Board approval. Double-rostering/subbing can only be defined as a player playing in their designated age division or playing up in an older age division for another team. Double-rostering/subbing for an emergency goalie can be submitted to the SGHL for approval. There will be no new double-rosters in the Southern Girls Hockey League playoff and championship weekend unless approved by the SGHL Board. All double-rostered players throughout the season can only play for both teams if they adhere to the 50% rule. There are no exceptions to this rule. AA players will be allowed in the SGHL for the 2025-26 season. There are no limitations regarding this rule. However, there will be no AAA players allowed in the SGHL for the 2025-26 unless approved by the SGHL Roster Committee and then by the SGHL Board. The AAA player could be appealed and possibly approved based on the area she is emerging from.

Players who are younger than the age brackets (12U, 14U, 16U & 19U) will be evaluated by the SGHL Board and approved by the affiliates registrar to play up one division. These players can be moved back and forth between teams throughout the season if needed, but the move must be approved by the commissioner. Play up forms must be on file at all times for the entirety of the season.

Each association shall be responsible for supplying their teams with a set of light and dark jerseys. All players shall be dressed uniformly. Teams may agree to switch jersey colors prior to the game but ultimately the Home team wears light and Away wears dark.

Any Southern Girls Hockey League team that does not show up to play in a scheduled league weekend, without prior approval by the league, will have their association assessed a $750.00 fine. This fine is for each team that does not show up from the organization. If the fine is not paid in its entirety within 30 days or 7 days prior to the Southern Girls Hockey League Championships the fined association will not be allowed to participate in the Southern Girls Hockey League at any level the following year until the fine is paid in full.

Each organization shall be required to pay the established league weekend ice fees to their host cities. There will be no refunds issued for teams that drop out of a game weekend. If the home team drops out, they are still expected to host and pay for their portion of the weekend.

Any team found to have participated in more than two tournaments deemed to be Tier I is considered a Tier I team per Southern Girls Hockey League rules and thus will be deemed ineligible for postseason play and final league standings.