U9 Guidelines (Shamrock Hockey League)

SHL U9 MD Guidelines

 

OVERVIEW

 

The SHL will continue to offer U9 programming for the 2023/24 season.  This document will outline: league structure, league rules and league expectations so that there is consistent programming in all Centres, for all participants.

Additionally, scheduling and other pertinent information will be touched on at the conclusion of this document.

 

LEAGUE STRUCTURE

 

Games
• The League will schedule 12 half ice regular season games and 12 full ice regular season games

 

Tiers
• All “first picked” MD teams from any Centre will be considered a Tier 1 team for the purposes of league structure by the SHL – whether the team is from an A, B, C or D sized Centre; henceforth known as Tier 1 A/B and Tier 1 C/D
• All “second picked” MD teams from any Centre will be considered a Tier 2 team for the purposes of league structure by the SHL 
• Centres with three teams will be labelled MD Tier 1 A/B, MD Tier 1 B/C, and MD Tier 2
• Centres may request to the Shamrock sub-committee to move Tiers one month prior to the start of the full ice regular season – teams can only move up/down one Tier
• Additionally, D Centres may request ‘special consideration’ by the Shamrock sub-committee to play Tier 2 (based on number of their registrants) 10 days prior to the start of the half ice season – movement will be case by case & not guaranteed
• Tier 2 teams will only ever play other Tier 2 teams

 

LEAGUE RULES


Half Ice Regular Season
• Centres must provide 4x6 nets for games – no exceptions 
• Games must be played with black pucks – no exceptions 
• Centres must put up divider boards/foam for games 
• The ice must be divided at the center red line – no exceptions 
• Teams should field both sides of the ice with 4 on 4 games on each side, however;
• Teams may opt to play 3 on 3 games in the extreme scenario one team is short too many players to play 4 on 4, if both head coaches agree or under the Shamrock League direction

(Note: in the extreme scenario a 3 on 3 game is played, ‘3 on 3 game’ must be clearly printed at the top of the game sheet)

• Games will be 2 halves – halves will be 22 minutes in length 
• Games will have a 3 minute warm-up period and teams will warm-up on separate sides of the divider
• A 2-minute buzzer will be the set length of every shift 
• The away team will switch sides after the first half
• Modified game sheets must be filled out prior to each game and emailed to Gwen Fickling, OMHA U9 Convenor
• Game sheet shall be checked off ‘competitive’ -OR- ‘uncompetitive ’ 

 (Note: absolutely NO SCORES are to be written on the game sheet) 

• Handshakes will be carried out prior to the game
• All in-game rules will be followed under the OMHA Manuel of Operations and other HC, OHF and/or OMHA documents

 

Full Ice Regular Season
• Period lengths will be 10-10-15 for all home games; OMHA 10.2 – Game Length (table B)
• All scores and standings will be recorded in a timely fashion
• Gamesheet Inc will be the official scorecard of the game
• All full ice regular season games must be played and recorded to keep teams in “good standing” and meeting Shamrock League commitments
• Handshakes will be carried out before the game
• All in-game rules will be followed under the OMHA Manuel of Operations and other HC, OHF and/or OMHA documents


Full Ice Championship
• Only teams in “good standing” may participate in the U9 SHL Full Ice Championships 
• Teams must declare their intention to play in the U9 SHL Full Ice Championships no later then February 15th of the calendar year
• Tier 1 must be split into separate A/B and C/D Championships – this is based on being a full ice Tier 1 A/B or Tier 1 C/D team
• Tier 2 will run a single Championship
• All the Championships must be tournament-style
• Prior to the Championship game, a Semi-Finals (at minimum) shall be played to determine teams in the Championship
• No game shall exceed a single overtime period and shootout – including the Championship 
• The Championship must be completed by April 7th

 

LEAGUE EXPECTATIONS


Centres
• The SHL expects Centres to help facilitate what is written in the SHL U9 MD Guidelines, asking the Shamrock sub-committee or Shamrock Executive for clarification when needed
• The SHL expects Centres to field teams with the appropriate amount of players to play 4-on-4 on both sides of the ice during the Half Ice Regular Season, barring unforeseen circumstances
• The SHL expects Centres to remain in “good standing”
• The SHL expects that Centres will distribute this document and that it will be read and understood by all head coaches & team staffs participating in SHL U9 programming

 

Teams
• The SHL expects teams to structure all games as presented in this guideline – onus on head coaches for enforcement
• The SHL expects teams to fill out the proper game sheets for half ice and full ice games – no exceptions

(Note: teams willfully breaking guidelines may result in league enforced head coach suspensions, as determined by the Shamrock Executive)

 

SCHEDULING


Tier 1 – A/B Centres

• Dorchester A
• Ilderton B
• Lambeth B
• Lambton Shores B
• Mooretown B
• Mt. Brydges A
• Petrolia B
• South Huron B
• St. Mary’s A
• St. Thomas A
• Strathroy A
• C & D “first picked” teams who are moved up to Tier 1 A/B at the beginning of the full ice regular season; henceforth, considered ‘B’ for the purposes of SHL scheduling

 

 Tier 1 – C/D Centres

• Dresden C
• East Lambton C
• Lucan C
• North Middlesex C
• South Kent C
• Wallaceburg C
• West Lorne D
• Any other “first entry” team added by: Point Edward, Port Stanley, Southwest, Thamesford etc, henceforth, considered ‘D’ for the purposes of SHL scheduling
• A & B “first picked” teams who are dropped to Tier 1 C/D at the beginning of the full ice regular season; henceforth, considered ‘C’ for the purposes of SHL scheduling
• Any “second entry” team with a “first entry” above and a “third entry” below them; henceforth, considered ‘C’ for the purposes of SHL scheduling

  
Tier 2 – A, B & C Centres

• Any “second picked” team from an A, B or C base category Centre
• Any other “third entry” team with “first entry” and “second entry” teams above them; henceforth, considered ‘Tier 2’ for the purposes of SHL scheduling

 

  Tier 2 – C & D Centres

• C & D "first picked” teams who are dropped to Tier 2 at the beginning of the full ice regular season

 

  Tier 2 – D “Special Consideration”

• D “first picked” teams who are dropped to Tier 2 prior to the start of the hockey season; they will play their half & full ice seasons in Tier 2

 

Match-ups (half ice)
• Tier 1 A/B teams will play 8-9 games versus other Tier 1 A/B teams and 3-4 games versus Tier 1 C/D teams in their 12 game schedules
• Tier 1 C/D teams will play 7-8 games versus other Tier 1 C/D teams and 4-5 games versus Tier 1 A/B teams in their 12 game schedule
• Tier 2 will play all of their games versus other Tier 2 teams only – no exceptions

 

Match-ups (full ice)
• Tier 1 A/B teams will only play other Tier 1 A/B teams • Tier 1 C/D teams will only play other Tier 1 B/C teams
• Tier 2 teams will only play other Tier 2 teams

 

Match-ups (SHL Championships)
• Tier 1 A/B will play for the “Tier 1 A/B Championship” – minimum 3 game round robin
• Tier 1 C/D will play for the “Tier 1 C/D Championship” – minimum 3 game round robin
• Tier 2 will play for the “Tier 2 Championship” – minimum 3 game round robin
• Tournament shall set match-ups based on standings in a consistent manner; it is strongly reccommended to place teams into pools (i.e. Pool A 1st, 3rd, 5th… Pool B 2nd, 4th, 6th…)
• The tournament may provide a Quarter Finals, but must provided a Semi-Finals 
• No ‘byes’ to the Championship games

 

OTHER INFORMATION


Age Groups
• U9 MD will be run as a mixed U8/U9 division


Important Dates
• Any Centre wishing to abstain from the half ice portion of the regular season, but participate in the full portion (past January 15th), must submit their intentions to do so  prior to September 1st to the SHL sub-committee 
• D Centres wishing to drop to Tier 2 for the half and full ice season, must submit this request (in writing) 10 days prior to the start of the half ice regular season 
• The host for the U9 MD Full Ice Championships will be determined at the November monthly meeting; due to the size of U9, one or more hosts may be chosen 
• A & B Centres wishing to drop to Tier 1 C/D for the full ice season, must submit this request (in writing) 30 days prior to the start of the full ice regular season
• C & D Centres wishing to move up to Tier 1 A/B or drop to Tier 2 for the full ice season, must submit this request (in writing) 30 days prior to the start of the full ice regular season 
• Tier 2 teams wishing to move up to Tier 1 C/D for the full ice regular season, must submit this request (in writing) 30 days prior to the start of the full ice regular season

(Note: a specific date in December is TBD for movement between Tiers)

• Teams must declare their intention to play in the U9 SHL Full Ice Championships no later then February 15th of the calendar year

 • The Championship must be completed by April 7th

 CONCLUSION

SHL Sub-committee

 

 

SHL Executive

 

 

OMHA