Letter from SAHA President John Cox

For the past two years, we have observed a disturbing trend in SAHA, the SE District, and even across North America - that being an increase in the number of penalties assessed for physical abuse of a game official  - USA Hockey Rule 601(g)1.

In part, Rule 601 reads:
   
"(g) If any player is guilty of any of the following, he shall be assessed a match penalty:
 (1) Deliberately inflicting physical harm to a Game Official in any manner or attempting to do so."

Specifically this means deliberately striking, pushing, or even grabbing a game official - or attempting to do so.

Additionally, the USA Hockey By-Laws specifically mandate a one year suspension for violation of Rule 601(g)1:

"With respect to suspensions resulting from assaults on game
officials from match penalties in violation of Rule 601(g)1 or 601(j)1
(Physical Assault on Game Officials) of USA Hockey’s Playing
Rules, there shall be immediate suspension from all USA Hockey
sanctioned games and practices and a hearing under Bylaw 10.D.
(Playing Rule violations) by either the governing state association
or Affiliate Association, its designated hearing body, or the Junior
Council sanctioned league, which shall exercise original
jurisdiction in the matter. If the match penalty is affirmed, the
player or team official shall be suspended for not less than one
calendar year with one calendar year probation thereafter."

Needless to say, it is heart-wrenching to suspend a player for a year because of what may have been a split second lack of discipline, composure, and good judgment. None the less - it is never acceptable for our players to have physical contact with a game official. USA Hockey recognizes that our game officials are a critical and integral part of our game and protects them from physical abuse while performing in that role. The rule and the consequence are very specific and USA Hockey affords very little flexibility in administering the one year suspension.

While I do not believe the problem is wide spread in SAHA - I do believe that these incidents are avoidable and that even one incident is one too many.

Therefore, I am asking coaches at every level within SAHA to review Rule 601(g)1 and the mandatory one year suspension with their players and at the youth hockey level, with the parents of their players.

I think the message to our players is simple - "Under no circumstance should you touch or make physical contact with a game official"

Should you have questions or comments, please let me know.

John Cox
SAHA President