The True Noob Hockey League (TNHL) Code of Conduct - 2025/2026

Purpose: True Noob Hockey League (TNHL) is dedicated to creating a fun, safe, and
supportive environment where beginners can learn and enjoy hockey while fostering
sportsmanship and positivity among all participants.

1. Fun and Encouragement

• Positive Play: Prioritize fun, inclusivity, passing, and teamwork. Encourage all players, regardless of skill level.
• Learning Environment: Mistakes are part of learning. Experienced players should guide and support beginners, not dominate play.
• Yellow Tape Players: Players with yellow tape on their stick blades need extra space and encouragement. Respect their needs, offer coaching, and adjust your play based on their skill level—whether they have yellow tape or not.

2. Safety First

• Safety Over Aggression: Always choose the safe play over a hard-nosed hockey move.
• No Aggressive Play: Avoid hitting, slashing, hooking, tripping, or any aggressive behavior. Even skilled players should ease up—this league isn’t for battling it out.
• Personal Space: Respect others’ space, especially yellow-tape players, and stay aware of your surroundings.
• Required Equipment: Wear all mandatory safety gear (helmets, mouthguards, pads) to prevent injuries.

3. Sportsmanship and Conduct

• Respect for All: Treat teammates, opponents, referees, and spectators with respect. Abusive language, taunting, or disrespect is not tolerated.
• Fair Play: Emphasize enjoyment and participation over winning. Play honestly and
• fairly.
• Constructive Feedback: Offer helpful, supportive advice, especially to new players.

4. Attitude and Behavior

• Positive Attitude: Stay upbeat on and off the ice. Celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and play for everyone around you—teammates and opponents alike.
• Encouragement: Cheer on good effort and sportsmanship from all players.
• Team Spirit: Build a sense of community within your team and the league.

5. Volunteer-Led League

• Respect Volunteers: TNHL relies on volunteer captains, referees, and organizers.
• Appreciate their efforts to keep the league running smoothly.
• Respect Referees: Referees are volunteers doing their best. Accept their calls graciously, don’t argue, and play in a way that supports fair officiating.
• Zero Tolerance for Abuse: Verbal abuse toward volunteers, players, or anyone else is unacceptable and may lead to immediate suspension or expulsion.

6. Reporting Issues

• On-Ice Incidents: Address concerns with your captain first. Captains will then consult the referee together.
• Post-Game Grievances: Raise issues with your captain after the game. Captains and the commissioner will review and respond.

7. Disciplinary Actions

• Objective: We aim to maintain a positive environment through guidance, not
• punishment.
• Corrective Measures: Negative behavior will first be addressed with constructive
• instruction. If it persists, suspension or expulsion may follow, evaluated case by case.
• Expulsion: Expelled players forfeit fees and cannot return in future seasons.

8. Commitment to Improvement

• Continuous Learning: Strive to improve your hockey skills and conduct.
• Feedback: Welcome input from coaches, referees, and players to enhance the experience. Don’t take it personally—cool off, reflect, and discuss with your captain if needed.

9. Parents and Children in the League

• Parental Responsibility: Parents must teach kids (17 and under) to:
  • Be cautious near the boards and avoid charging for pucks if someone’s close.
  • Ease up on yellow-tape players or beginners.
  • Prioritize passing to set up teammates.
• Observation: Parents, captains, referees, and players should monitor kids’ play for safety and sportsmanship. Captains may ask parents to address reckless behavior.
• Communication: For players 18+, league officials may address them directly but will inform parents. Parents preferring direct communication should notify the league.
• Safe Play: Teach kids that safe plays trump risky moves, especially near the boards.
• Partnership: We value kids’ participation and rely on parents to help ensure a safe,fun environment.

The following is only a highlight of rules specific to the True Noob Hockey League. Where not specified, standard ice hockey rules shall apply, at the discretion of the referee.

Roster

• Any substitute player MUST be approved by all captains prior to start of game
• Only if necessary, certain players may be deemed as superstar or exceptional, and will be capped at 1 or 2 goals, respectively per game. This status may be evaluated on an ongoing basis throughout the season.
• Only if necessary, substitute players (any player not on opening day roster) may be capped on the number of goals they are allowed to score in a game, at the discretion of the other team captains

Equipment

• Full equipment is mandatory to play
• Team uniforms must be worn
• If a player forgets their uniform, the other captain must approve alternate uniform

Game Rules

• Games will be three 15-minute RUNNING TIME periods with no provision for overtime
• Teams will change ends at the end of each period
• Offside rules apply
• Automatic no-touch icing rule will apply once the puck passes the defence’s blue line to the opposition red goal line, at the discretion of the referee. Referees may waive icing in the interest of game time management.
• Each team may use ONE 30-second timeout per game

Penalties

The referee may assess a 2-minute game penalty at their discretion for all regular hockey penalties, including any of the following:

• Dangerous unintentional contact with opposing goalie (i.e. crashing the net)
• Rough/aggressive plays (e.g. slashing, cross-checking, dangerous plays near
• boards, etc...)
• Intentional delay of game penalty
• Excessive or over-the-top celebrations

The referee may assess a game misconduct at their discretion for any of the following:

• Intentional checking/hitting or contact with opposing goalie - plus 7 game suspension
• Repeated penalties by same player - plus 1 game suspension
• Severe slashing - plus 7 game suspension
• Crosschecking - plus 7 game suspension
• Highsticking - plus 4 game suspension
• Unsportsmanlike behaviour (e.g. chirps, taunts, heckles, acts of aggression) - plus 4 game suspension
• Fighting - plus 7 game suspension

Referees may terminate the game if it gets out of control due to any fights or bench altercations.

Suspensions

• All suspensions carry into the playoffs and the next season
• All suspensions are subject to league review and possible additional suspension time and/or fines
• All game misconduct penalties come with an ejection from the game, and are subject to a fine ($20.00 towards end-of-year prizes). A one-game suspension can be handed out at the referee's and/or league's discretion.
• All fines must be paid before a player is allowed to participate in the next game.
• A fighting major will result in immediate ejection from the game and an automatic
• 7-game suspension and a $50.00 fine. The incident will be reviewed by the league committee for possible further disciplinary action.
• Any fighting on arena property outside of a game will result in an immediate indefinite suspension as well as involvement of police
• A second game misconduct penalty will result in an automatic 3-game suspension and a $40.00 fine
• An additional fighting major, game/match, or gross misconduct in any subsequent game will result in an indefinite suspension
• A game/match or gross misconduct will result in immediate ejection from the game, and a $20.00 fine. A one-game suspension can be handed out at the referee's and/or league's discretion.
• “Third Man” involved in any altercation and ANY player coming off the bench during an altercation will result in ejection from the game and a minimum 2-game suspension plus $40.00 fine.
• Players are not allowed to be present on the team's bench during the suspension period or after being ejected from a game. Any player who receives a total of 60 minutes in penalties during the course of the regular season will receive a $10.00 fine and possible suspension. After 70 minutes, a $20.00 fine and possible suspension, and after 80 minutes the player will receive a $50.00 fine and possible suspension, pending review by the league committee.
• Striking a referee or league official will result in an indefinite suspension, pending league committee review and possible civil action. This includes excessive verbal abuse on or off the arena floor. The rule is in effect anywhere on arena property.

Plain and simple: DO NOT HARASS an official.