Article 1.

Games of the Greater Springfield Junior Amateur Hockey League shall be played under the rules of USA Hockey and Massachusetts Hockey.

Article 2.

On admission to the League, each Association will pay an entrance fee of $50.00 to the League Treasurer. Each member team will pay an annual assessment per team to be set at the start of each season by the Board of Directors and shall be due by November 1st of that season to cover League operational expenses for the current year.

Article 3.

Any unpaid charges for ice rental or officials fees that are incurred by a team in a regularly scheduled game because of forfeit, non-payment or failure to show, must be paid to the League Treasurer within 30 days upon receipt of the bill. Failure to pay within 30 days will result in a 10% penalty fee.

Article 4.

Charges for the officials and timekeeper shall be paid to the timekeeper prior to the start of each League game. When only one referee reports for a game, he shall receive one and on3-half times the normal fee.

Article 5.

1. Any team wishing to reschedule a game must notify the League Scheduler in writing thirty (30) days in advance. G.S.J.A.H.L. games will take precedence over games of other leagues to which member teams belong except in the case of State Play downs and Championship Tournaments. A limit of 2 games occurring in the same day will be allowed during the season. All cancellation of games including inclement weather shall be at the direction of the League Scheduler. If an Association chooses not to show for a game due to inclement weather, the Association shall have three (3) days to appeal to the Scheduler or Executive Board. This would allow time for the scheduler to determine whether other teams traveled to or from that area on the same day.
2. A select players’ first obligation, except between the hours of 2:00 PM and
   8:00 PM on Sundays, is to play for their town program Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV teams regular scheduled games, practices and / tournament games. Town programs may waive this requirement. Between the hours of 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM on Sundays, players may play for the team of their choice. During State Tier I Tournaments, the select players first obligation will be able to play for his / her Tier I team.
3. 
   All No Play Dates for Evaluations shall be turned in to League Scheduler two (2) weeks prior to start of. All No Play Dates for the schedule. Regular Season shall be turned in two (2) weeks prior to the start of schedule. All No Play Dates for the Play Off Round shall be turned in two (2) weeks prior to start of schedule.
4. Any Association wishing to give ice to the League for League Games shall follow the rule of ½ hour per team per week. Example: if you have 8 teams, you will give the League 4 hours of ice per week, for odd number of teams you will round up. If additional ice is needed for games, it will be the responsibility of the League Scheduler to contact the Associations to obtain this ice.

Article 6.

Substitutions for any teams for League Scheduled Games shall not be permitted. Teams scheduled must play their games.

Article 7.

All teams shall submit a roster of all eligible players to the League Secretary by December 1st. Each Association shall submit an Association Registration Form listing all elected officers, ice coordinator and head coaches. Failure to comply with this date may result in the offending team being omitted from the schedule.

Article 8.

The League Secretary shall keep all rosters and shall make copies available to any Board of Director or Association upon request.

Article 9.

The League Secretary shall be notified of any changes or additions to a team’s roster before such player can participate in a League Game.

Article 10.

Players shall not be added to a team’s roster or transferred to another team’s roster representing the same Association after January 15th except with the approval of the G.S.L. Board of Directors.

Article 11.

A player shall not be listed on more than one team roster in the G.S.J.A.H.L.

Article. 12.

If a player is injured and unable to play at any position, a replacement from another team of a lower classification in the same age group or any classification of a lower age group from the same Association may be used for a maximum of three League games in one season and then only in order to achieve a team roster minimum of eleven (11) players. Any replacement player playing more than three games will become a permanent member of that team. Replacement players shall be listed at the bottom of the roster and marked with an * using their legal name on the game sheet.

The three game limit be waived for goaltenders by the League President for extenuating circumstances. The three game limit shall be waived for Bantam and Midget Divisions by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

• Approved for the 2002-2003 season at the September 25, 2002 GSL Board Meeting

Article 13.

• Mite Division 1 & II (A & B) and all Divisions of Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget shall be played with change on the fly rule.
• During the first half of the regular season Mite Division III shall have the option to play with or without the two-minute whistle. If one coach requests the two-minute whistle, it shall be used for that game. Coaches requesting the two-minute whistle shall note it on the game sheet prior to start of game. During the second half of the regular season Mite Division III (C) shall be played with the change on the fly rule.
• Division IV (Novice (7 & under) shall play under the two minute whistle line change rule. All players except the goalie must be changed every two minutes. Division IV Novice (7 and under) shall be played on half ice for the season.

Article 14.

Games will start at the times designated in the published schedule. Games roster sheets shall be turned into the timekeeper prior to the start of play. Games will consist of three twelve (12) minute “stop action” periods and will conclude at the end of sixty (60) minutes. Mite Division IV (Novice) games played on ½ ice will consist of three ten (10) minute periods and will conclude at the end of fifty (50) minutes.

Article 15.

Division age classifications shall follow those approved by USA Hockey.

Article 16.

In Mite Division III (C) and Mite Division IV (Novice) games, one coach from each team shall be permitted on the ice during League schedule games until January 1st of the regular season for the purpose of instruction only and shall not interfere with the referees.

Article 17.

Three (3) fighting penalties in one season shall result in a one (1) year suspension from participation in League Games from the date of the third penalty and shall carry over to the following season. Any player receiving a one (1) year suspension may appeal it by notification of the League Secretary within three (3) days of the game in which penalty was received. A hearing shall be held by the Executive Board within seven (7) days of the game. If an appeal is requested, all Associations involved in the altercation, shall have the opportunity to attend the hearing of the executive board.

Article 18.

Any player receiving three (3) penalties in a game, shall be removed from the remainder of that game only.

Game suspensions occurring in G.S.J.A.H.L. games must be served in the G.S.J.A.H.L. game immediately following, regardless of whether or not USA Hockey or Mass Hockey requires the suspension to be served in a non-league game. Coaches will be responsible to enforce this rule. A coach or team official who allows the participation of an ineligible player in any game shall be subject to a three (3) game suspension.

Article 20.

A coach wishing to file a protest shall file his intention on the game sheet and notify the Chairman of the Protest Committee, the 2nd Vice President, within 48 hours to be followed up with a written report within seven (7) days accompanied by a $15.00 Protest Fee. The fee shall be payable to G.S.J.A.H.L. and shall be returned if the protest is upheld. All parties involved (coaches, referees, players) shall be notified of the meeting date, time and location. Any part not able to attend the hearing may send a letter stating their case. It would be beneficial for all parties to be present. All parties will be heard separately and a decision will be made by the committee.

Article 21.

FIVE (5) paying positions have been established by the G.S.J.A.H.L. The fee is to be set by the Board of Directors on an annual basis at the first meeting of the season based on the budget. Any person in a paying position may also serve in a non-paying position.

In the event there are no candidates running for a particular Executive Board position, any person elected to an Executive Board position may volunteer to assume the duties, responsibilities and benefits associated with another Board position. In any and all cases such an individual shall only have one vote regardless of the number of positions they assume. In the event that the President assumes an additional position, he/she may only vote as President.

1. League Scheduler: The Ice Scheduler shall be responsible for obtaining ice and scheduling of all G.S.J.A.H.L. games. He shall also determine if any G.S.J.A.H.L. games are to be canceled because of adverse weather. This person may also serve in a non-paying position.
2. League Statistician: This person shall keep all standings and penalties and post a copy at all the rinks.
3. League Treasurer: This person shall deposit all funds, pay all bills and maintain accurate records of all League Financial transactions.
4. League Secretary (record keeper): This persona shall keep all team records, rosters and registrations as well as minutes of all League meetings, notices of meetings, agenda for meetings and all League correspondence. This person shall all be responsible for scheduling and training of all League Timekeepers.
5. Webmaster: This person shall be responsible for the development and
   maintenance of the website as well as posting schedules, schedule changes, rink information up to date.

Article 22.

• A protest of a player shall require him/her to sign the game sheet in the presence of the referee and will be compared to his or her signature on their USA Roster. If the protest is upheld, the offending team shall forfeit the game.
• A coach or team official who allows the participation of an ineligible player in any game, shall be subject to a three (3) game suspension.

Article 23. Teams shall not enter the player’s bench area prior to the zamboni leaving the ice. Failure to abide by this rule shall result in a bench minor penalty to be served at the start of the game.

Article 24.

Teams shall shake hands after the game. However, at the official’s discretion, the shaking of hands may be omitted to avoid any further problems on the ice.

Article 25. Timekeeper Duties:

1. Timekeepers shall be required to see that game sheets are mailed within three (3) days from the date of game to the statistician. Failure to do so may result in suspension of future assignments. The statistician shall notify the League Secretary in charge of timekeepers when game sheets are not received and she/he will notify the timekeeper. Games where timekeepers are assigned by the Association themselves (Greenfield, Pittsfield) will be required to give the League Secretary the name of the person responsible for submitting game sheets to the GSL prior to the start of the Evaluation Schedule, so that future problems concerning these groups can be resolved. If these groups fail to mail game sheets to the statistician within the required three (3) day period as required by GSL timekeepers, penalties shall be assessed by the GSL Board i.e. GSL will assign timekeepers, or any other penalty that GSL feels is necessary to encourage these Associations to conform with GSL By-Laws.
2. Timekeepers shall collect game sheet and officials’ money prior to the start of the game. Timekeepers shall make sure that the head coach has printed his name on the game sheet prior to the start of the game.
3. Timekeepers shall assist the referees by informing him of any player that has been given his “third penalty” in the game so that he shall be removed from the game.
4. Timekeeper shall insure that referees and coaches have signed the game sheet at the end of the game and give the respective copies to each coach.

Article 26.

Amendments to these By Laws shall be made in writing to the League Secretary
And submitted to the Board of Directors at least fourteen (14) days prior to the
Board Meeting at which such amendments shall be approved or defeated by a two thirds Vote of the Board of Directors.

Article 27.

Any amendment to the By Laws previously defeated by the Board shall not be Brought before the Board for reconsideration for a minimum of two (2) years. Any motion previously defeated by the Board shall not be brought before the Board for reconsideration for one calendar year.

Article 28.

All meetings shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order. Also, Roberts Rules of Order shall be the default document, when applicable, if our Constitution or Bylaws fail to address a particular situation.

Revised & Approved 9/25/02