Rules & Regulations (2026-2027)

All Coaches and Players must be registered with USA Hockey.

All Coaches must have completed a background check, their Safe Sport training AND the age appropriate USA Hockey coaching module before being approved on the USA Hockey 1-T roster and being permitted to perform any coaching privileges for a Southern Girls Hockey League team. Additionally, they must register for their USA Hockey CEP membership and register and attend a USA Hockey coaching clinic/seminar prior to December 31 of the current season. Should the coach not attend the clinic/seminar to complete his/her USA Hockey CEP certification program prior to December 31 of the current season, he/she will be removed from the bench beginning on January 1 of the current season and will not be eligible to carry out any coaching privileges for the remainder of the season.

In any situation where USA Hockey rules provide for a participant (Player or Coach) to be suspended for one (1) or more games, the suspension is to be applied and served at the next scheduled Southern Girls Hockey League sanctioned game(s). This game must be a regularly scheduled game shown on the master schedule. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of the game.

Suspensions should appear on the official Southern Girls Hockey League scoresheets, and while we will make every effort to keep the suspensions up to date, it remains the ultimate responsibility of the coaches & managers to comply and not play any player that is to be serving a suspension. Any Coach/Player that knowingly participates in a game that he/she should be serving a suspension will lead to forfeiture of the game along with any Sanctions outlined in USA Hockey. In addition, the Coach/Player will still be required to serve the suspension in a subsequent game and the Head Coach of the team will serve an additional 3-game suspension per SGHL rules. Rule 410 | Supplementary Discipline (a) In addition to the suspensions imposed by the on-ice officials, The Southern Girls Hockey League reserves the right, at its discretion and after the game has been completed, to investigate any incident that occurs in connection with any game. Any incident that occurs prior to, during, or after the game is subject to review regardless of whether the action was penalized by the Referee and is open to supplementary discipline of players, coaches, managers, and spectators.

After the game has ended and players and coaches have left the benches and entered the playing surface, if any player or coach is assessed a Misconduct or Game Misconduct (including but not limited to during the handshake protocol), that player or coach will receive an automatic AND additional 2 game suspension

(a) Any player who receives their third major penalty during the same season for any combination of aggressive infractions listed below shall receive an additional three game suspension. For any player who receives their fourth major penalty in this category, the player shall receive an additional five-game suspension. Any player who receives their fifth major penalty in this category during the same season shall be suspended until a hearing is conducted by the proper authorities (USA Hockey Affiliate). These designated game suspensions shall be in addition to any other suspensions imposed through the official playing rules. (b) Any team that receives three major penalties in the same game shall have its Head Coach suspended for the next game of that team. For any subsequent game where that team receives three or more major penalties in the same game, the Head Coach shall serve a three-game suspension. For a third game with three or more major penalties by the same team during the same season, the Head Coach shall be suspended indefinitely until a hearing has been conducted by the proper authorities (USA Hockey Affiliate).  The aggressive infractions that fit into this category are: Rule 603 Boarding Rule 604 Body Checking (Body Contact categories) Rule 606 Butt-Ending Rule 607 Chargin Rule 608 Checking From Behind Rule 609 Cross-Checking Rule 611 Elbowing Rule 619 Head-Butting Rule 620 Head Contact Rule 621 High Stick Rule 627 Kicking Rule 628 Kneeing Rule 634 Slashing Rule 635 Spearing Rule 639 Tripping/Clipping/Leg Checking Rule 640 Unnecessary Roughness (Roughing) (c) Any player who receives a second major penalty for fighting with the same team during the same season shall receive a three- game suspension. For a third fighting major with the same team in the same season, the player shall be suspended until a hearing is conducted by the proper authorities under Rule 410 Supplementary Discipline.

It shall be mandatory that the following equipment be worn by players in league games: Helmet and full-face mask (USA HOCKEY approved, HECC, CSA, etc.) Hockey Gloves Shoulder Pads Shin Guards Hockey Pants Elbow Pads Mouth Guard per USAH Guidelines Any other equipment mandated by USA HOCKEY RULES Neck Guards per USAH Guidelines (Mandatory)

Any player, parent or coach who willingly gives materially false information in connection with a player’s registration for a team shall be suspended for the current season. The same shall apply to any player who signs his parents’ name to his contract.

Any Coach may replace a player on the team roster for any reason. Once a player is removed from the team’s roster, that player shall not rejoin the team during the current season. Such changes must be reported to the Southern Girls Hockey League Association so that a certified updated USA HOCKEY roster can be obtained. The updated roster must be submitted to the Commissioner before the replacement player can play in any league game. This rule begins with the first weekend of league games. The league reserves the right to allow the player to rejoin the team if the player was removed for an injury.

Eligibility for play in an age bracket will be based on the year of birth as provided in USA Hockey guidelines for developmental leagues. Players are not permitted to play down an age division in the Southern Girls Hockey League.

While ice is being resurfaced, no player shall step onto the ice until after the Zamboni has left the ice and the Zamboni exit doors have been closed.

Any Player who participates in more than 10 league games or 2 tournaments on or with a Youth Tier I team or roster, that player will be ineligible for Southern Girls Hockey League playoffs and championship weekend unless approved by the SGHL Roster Committee and then by the SGHL Board. Any team that rosters a player that has been deemed ineligible above shall forfeit all games played with this player on the roster once the player has been deemed ineligible by the rule prescribed above. Players must play in 50% of league games prior to the championship weekend to be eligible to play in the championship weekend, unless approved by the board during an appeal process.

All coaches and players must complete a Code of Conduct.