Rules Of Operation

SECTION 1: RULES OF OPERATION

These rules are intended to set out the current policies of the Club, which will be applicable to the Teams and its players. While they are intended to be comprehensive, the Rules and Policies are not exhaustive and the Club reserves the right, in its discretion to make such changes and additions from time to time as it deems appropriate. Notice of any changes and/or additions will be given to Team Officials and, when appropriate, directly to parents/guardians on a timely basis.

SECTION 2: THE CLUB

2.1. The Club's Legal Status

The Toronto Red Wings Hockey Club Inc. ("the Club") was incorporated as a non-share capital corporation by Letters Patent issued by the Province of Ontario on March 7, 1980 and operates under the Rules of Operation and the rules of the Greater Toronto Hockey League ("the GTHL").

2.2. Club Directors and Officials

The Club is governed by a Board of Directors, some of whom also act as Club Officials. Club Directors are primarily responsible for reviewing the general performance of the Club and its Teams. Club Directors have no direct responsibility for liaising or interacting with Team Officials and parents/guardians and do not deal directly with Team affairs. Club Officials, including the General Manager, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Club and its Teams and all other matters in any way relating to the GTHL, its members, other hockey organizations and governing bodies.

2.3. The Club's Teams

Unless otherwise determined by the Club or the GTHL, the Club will register and operate 8 teams in the AAA division of the GTHL, comprising the following: Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget and Midget (each referred to in these Rules as the "Team"). Under no circumstances will the Club be responsible for any obligations, financial or otherwise, incurred by a Team, unless such obligation is approved in writing and contained in a document signed by two authorized signing officers of the Club.

2.4. The Club's Responsibilities

Subject to the overriding authority of the GTHL, the Club has exclusive control over its Teams and Players registered with the organization for all periods sanctioned or mandated by the GTHL. In addition to the foregoing and to the other rights reserved below, the Club shall have primary responsibility for the following:

Team Officials. The Club appoints and, if necessary, replaces the Head Coach of each Team and approves the selection of other Team Officials. The Club monitors and evaluates the performance of all Team Officials.

GTHL Registration. The Club registers its players and Team Officials with the GTHL.

Team Programs. The Club develops programs of general application for its Teams.

Tournaments. The Club approves and processes tournament applications. If a conflict in scheduling between Teams arises, the final determination as to the application to be processed will be made by the General Manager of the Club in his absolute discretion.

Practice Ice. The Club provides each team with 3 hours of practice ice each week on a regularly scheduled basis. This ice belongs to the Club and may not be sold or given away. If a Team has a scheduling conflict a Team Official willcontact the General Manager to arrange a trade with another Team. If this is not possible and the ice is left vacant the Team will be charged the going hourly rate. If a Team misses a practice due to a tournament scheduled gamethe practice is lost and will not be made up.

Equipment, Gear and Clothing. The Club provides each team with Clubhome and away jerseys, home and away socks, club jackets, equipment bags, hockey pants and practice jerseys.

Disciplinary Hearings. The Club's Officials accompany the Team Officials and player/s to any disciplinary hearing mandated by the GTHL. The Club reserves the right to exclude any person/s from a disciplinary hearing as it considers appropriate in its absolute discretion.

Club Name and Logo. The Club approves all uses of its name and, where the Club owns its logo, authorizing its use on materials, equipment, gear and clothing.

2.5. Fund Raising

(a) General

The Club Officials will review and approve all Team fund raising plans before they are implemented. The Team is solely responsible for the consequences of any such activities including the content of any written material used to further those activities. All fund raising efforts shall be conducted in compliance with all provincial and municipal laws, by-laws and regulations. Club sponsored fund raising events are mandatory participation by each Team.

(b) Club Auction and Dance Event

The Club will hold an auction and dance on a date selected by the Club during each season. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Club, each Team shall be obligated to purchase 60 tickets and the cost is to be included in the Team budget for each year. A Silent Auction is held during the dance and each Team is expected to provide items for the auction. All proceeds raised by the Team during the auction shall be retained by them, (less expenses which include the DJ, decorations, bid sheets, pens etc.)

(c) Club Tournaments

The Club hosts two tournaments each year-the Spring Challenge on the Victoria Day weekend and the Early Bird in September. The Teams are expected to participate in both tournaments, with no exceptions, if appropriate for their age groups.

2.6. Who can make decisions on behalf of the Club

Unless specifically set out in these rules no decision, authorization or approval granted by a Club Official shall be binding on the Club, unless it is in writing and signed by the President and General Manager or other authorized signing officer of the Club.

2.7. Communication with Club Officials

(1) General

All issues and communications relating to the ordinary course of Club management should be directed to the General manager, unless urgency or circumstance requires that another Club Official be contacted.

(2) Communication between the Club and Team Officials

Unless otherwise directed by circumstances or urgency, all requests, notices or other matters requiring interaction between the Club and a Team shall be communicated to or by the Teams Head Coach or Team Manager.

(3) Communication between parents/guardians and the Club

The Club will, if necessary, schedule separate meetings with team parents or guardians each year for the purpose of reviewing matters or issues relating to the Team. Notice of the location and time of each meeting will be given by the Club at least 5 business days prior to the date fixed for such meeting. Any parent/guardian who wishes to place a matter on the agenda for discussion at a meeting must give notice to the Club through the Team manager or the Head Coach at least 5 days prior to the meeting.

Unless the parent/guardian is invoking the dispute resolution procedure set out in Section 8 of these Rules, parents/guardians should not communicate directly with the Club or its Officials outside of the regularly scheduled Club meetings.

SECTION 3: THE TEAMS

3.1 Team Officials

(1) Who are they

Each team will have the following officials:

• a Head Coach appointed by the Club
• least two Assistant Coaches appointed by the Head Coach subject to Club approval
• a Trainer appointed by the Head Coach subject to Club approval, and
• a Team Manager appointed by the head coach or parents/guardians representing 75% of the players of the team.

(2) Criteria for Appointment

Each Team Official must be a person of good character and reputation and possess such credentials and qualifications as the Club, in its discretion, believes necessary to reflect the image and values of the Club both within the GTHL and the hockey community.

Unless otherwise agreed by the Club, a Head Coach shall not be a parent/guardian of a player on the team.

(3) Head Coaches Responsibility

Subject to the limitation of the team budget with all applicable rules, regulations and policies, including those stipulated herein or otherwise adopted by the Club from time to time, the Head Coach of each team will be responsible for the content, scope and implementation of any programs established for the Team as well as the conduct of the Players and Team Officials.

(4) Payments to Team Officials

Any person acting in his or her capacity as Team Official may receive payment for his or her services and, in addition, may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of such services.

Unless otherwise agreed to by parents/guardians representing at least 75% of the players on the team, the Team may not make any payments in respect of fees or reimbursements in excess of the amounts allowed for in the Preliminary Team Budget for each year.

(5) GTHL Passes Provided

The Club will provide a maximum of 5 arena passes to each Team for their Team Officials at no additional cost. Each team may purchase, subject to the approval of the General Manager, one additional pass at the prevailing rate charged by the GTHL.

(6) Team Officials are not employees or agents of the Club

Although appointed or approved by the Club, neither the Head Coach nor any other Team Official is or should be construed to be an employee of the Club. The Club is not responsible for acts of theft or embezzlement by any Team Official, nor is it responsible for any other of a Team Official's actions or omissions of any nature or kind, whatsoever or howsoever caused.

Team Officials are not agents of the Club and therefore have no authority to speak for, incur obligations, financial or otherwise, grant any approvals or accede to any requests on behalf of the Club.

(7) Treatment of player when parent/guardian acts as Team Official

The Club policy allows for a Team Official to coach his own child. However, if the Club General Manager determines that the son/daughter of a coach is not AAA caliber, then the Club reserves the right to ask the coach to remove his son/daughter from the team. Should the coach decide not to comply with this request then both the coach and his son/daughter will be removed. However, if the child is of AAA caliber, the Club expects its Team Officials to keep the best interests of the Team in mind at all times.

3.2. Team Meetings

The Head Coach will meet with the parents/guardians at least 3 times each season. The first meeting should be held prior to the commencement of the season and other meetings should be arranged to coincide with the distribution of the team's financial summaries. The purpose of the meetings will be to review matters of interest relating to the Team, including its financial affairs.

Additional meetings may be held if requested by the Club, the Head Coach or parents/guardians representing at least 50% of the players.

3.3. Team Rules

Individual teams may have their own Team rules provided they do not override the Club Rules of Operation. These rules are to be approved by the Club Officials prior to their presentation to the parents. They must be presented to the parents in writing.

3.4. Sponsorship

Teams are encouraged to solicit support from corporate sponsors in order to reduce the financial burden on parents/guardians. As consideration, the Team may, at it own cost, grant the sponsors the right to place their names and/or logo on equipment, gear and clothing used by the Team (providing the Club has not authorized the name or logo of its own corporate sponsor). To ensure consistency and quality, Club Officials must approve all sponsorship cresting. With respect to team jerseys only one patch per jersey will be allowed, the location and size of which must be approved by Club Officials.

3.5. Private Lessons

No child may be made to participate in "private lessons" if a fee is to be charged.

SECTION 4: CLUB AND TEAM FINANCES

4.1. Permitted Use of Club Funds

The Club is a non-share capital corporation and cannot have any shareholders who are entitled to profit from its operation. All monies earned by the Club must be used to meet its ongoing obligations or otherwise retained for the purpose(s) set out in its Letters Patent.

Any payments or distributions may not contravene applicable law(s) or the rules of the GTHL.

4.2 Team Bank Accounts

Teams are not allowed to maintain their own accounts. All monies collected will be listed by the Team Manager and a copy of the list along with the cheques/cash will be given to the Club Treasurer for deposit. Any requests for payments must be made in writing, accompanied by an invoice if applicable, and directed to the Club Treasurer.

The Club Treasurer will provide a Statement of Account on a regular basis, or at any time requested by a Team Official. These statements must be distributed to the parent/guardian at least 3 times during the season, usually at a team meeting.

4.3. Team Budgets

The Club will provide each teams Head Coach a written outline of the costs for the season and what is included in the cost. This information is to be shared with the parent/guardian of every player prior to signing with the team. The parent/guardian will sign a copy acknowledging receipt and agreement. They will also, at that time, be provided with a copy of the Club Rules of Operation. A player card will not be submitted to the GTHL for approval until the parent/guardian has signed the agreement.

The Head Coach will provide the Club with a preliminary Team Budget prior to tryouts, for the Clubs approval. This budget must include proposed Team revenues including sources, and an estimate of Team expenses. If the Team opts to pay its Team Officials in accordance with Section 3.1 (4) of these Rules, the preliminary budget must also indicate the amount paid to each Team Official, the source of funding and the basis on which such payments shall be made.

The approved preliminary Team Budget must be provided to a parent/guardian prior to the player signing a card. The parent/guardian must acknowledge in writing that they have received and approved the team budget.

No material changes to the preliminary Team Budget shall be permitted without the prior approval of the Club.

4.4. Use of Surplus Funds

If there is a surplus of funds available to a Team at the close of the GTHL season in any year, such surplus shall be used in such a manner as the parents/guardians representing 75% of the players on the team reasonably determine. Funds that have been received from a Corporate Sponsor may not, by law, be refunded to an individual parent/guardian. If a refund has been approved, it must be returned to the Corporate Sponsor.

4.5. Disputes Over Team Finances

Any complaint by a parent/guardian arising out of a Team budget or financial summary must be referred to the Club for resolution. The decision of the Club will be binding on both parties.

SECTION 5: RULES RELATING TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

5.1. Notices, Approvals and Authorizations

Any notice given to or approval or authorization granted by a parent/guardian of a player shall be deemed for all purposes to have given or granted by all of the parents and/or guardians of such player.

5.2. Payment of Fees

The parents/guardians responsible for each player shall make all payments required of such player on a timely basis in accordance with the rules prescribed for the Team. Failure to make such payments at the time or times prescribed may result in the suspension of the player until such payment is received by the Team and/or the Club.

5.3. Standard of Conduct

Parents/Guardians are expected to conduct themselves generally in a manner which best exemplifies the standards and values of the Club. This means that parents/guardians must demonstrate respect, courtesy and civility in all dealings related to their child's involvement in the Club's hockey program including dealings with the Club and any of its teams, other parents/guardians of players, opposing teams, game official and fans and spectators whether at home or away at tournaments. Provocative and inflammatory type of behaviour including profanity, threats and verbal or physical confrontations will not be tolerated.

5.4. Sanctions for Misconduct

The Club reserves the right to discipline any parent/guardian who violates this standard of behaviour or whose actions, in the opinion of the Club, denigrate, damage or bring into disrepute the image and reputation of the Club or its Club and Team Officials. Such discipline may consist of prohibiting such parent/guardian from attending team functions, practices or games for such period as the Club, in its discretion, considers appropriate. Failure to abide by such sanctions may result in the suspension or release of the player for whom such parent or guardian is responsible.

SECTION 6: DRESS CODE

6.1. Nature of Code

The dress code outlines the standard of dress to which the coaching staff and players are expected to adhere to while representing the Club in all league, playoff, tournament or exhibition games. Dress codes set a positive image for the organization. Failure to adhere to proper dress code may result in a one game suspension. Continued dress code infractions, may result in removal from the Team.

6.2. Coaches Dress Code

All coaches shall be dressed in Club jackets, dress pants, dress shoes or boots, dress shirt and tie.

6.3. Trainers Dress Code

All trainers shall be dressed in Club tracksuits with suitable boots or running shoes. The trainer shall also have his/her trainers kit available at all times while on the bench.

6.4. Players Dress Code

All players shall be dressed in Club jackets, dress pants, dress shoes or boots, dress shirt and tie.

SECTION 7: RULES RELATING TO PLAYERS

7.1. Players Obligations

Players shall:

   (1) represent their team with dignity at all times.
   (2) show respect for the rules of the game, the game officials and their decisions.
   (3) demonstrate respect for their team mates and treat them fairly and equally.
   (4) demonstrate respect for their coaches, other Team officials, their opponents and the coaching staff of their opponents.

7.2. Sanctions for Breaching Obligations

The Club, in its discretion, reserves the right to restrict the ice time, suspend or release any player who is found by the Club to have breached any of the foregoing obligations.

7.3. Player Injury

Neither the Club nor the Team is responsible for any injury suffered by a player, whether on or off the ice and however caused. The GTHL maintain insurance which may be applicable in certain events.

7.4. Allocation of Ice Time

The Head Coach shall make all decisions regarding the amount of ice time afforded to a player having regard to the best interests of the Team.

Any player denied reasonable ice time, or parent/guardian thereof, shall be entitled to request and obtain an explanation for such decision, without fear or threat of repercussion, provided such request is made in both a civil and appropriate manner.

If a player is denied reasonable ice time on a continuous basis and is not satisfied with the explanation provided by the Head Coach, he or she may request that the issue be referred to the Club for determination in accordance with the procedure set out in Section 8 of these Rules. The decision of the Club will be final and binding on all parties.

7.5. Playing and Practicing with Affiliated Teams

The following teams are affiliated with each other: Minor Atom and Atom, Atom and Minor Peewee, Minor Peewee and Peewee, Peewee and Minor Bantam, Minor Bantam and Bantam, Bantam and Minor Midget, Minor Midget and Midget.

Whenever practical, players should be made available to the Affiliated Team so long as it does not conflict with the players' primary responsibility to their own Team. The Head Coach will select the player(s) having regard to the reasonable requests of the Affiliated Team. Any Head Coach who does not allow a player to be called up may face disciplinary action.

Whenever practical, Affiliated Players should practice with their Affiliated Teams. The Head Coach of each Affiliated Team will jointly identify the players practicing from time to time.

7.6. Permission to Skate

With other minor teams

Permission to skate with other GTHL, OMHA or Alliance teams shall be granted at the discretion of the Club and shall only be binding if signed by the President or General Manager. The Club may require the player to attend one or more tryouts before granting such permission.

With junior teams

Permission to skate with Tier II or Jr. C teams shall be granted at the discretion of the Club and shall only be binding if signed by the President or General Manager. In the absence of special circumstances, permission will not be granted for Minor Bantam or Bantam aged players. Permissions for graduating Minor Midgets and first year Midgets may be given upon completion of tryouts.

Tier II Affiliation

Notwithstanding that the Club may be affiliated with a Tier II team, no Minor Midget or Midget player shall be obligated to play for such team and, subject to compliance with the foregoing sections, may request a permission to skate with any Tier II, Jr. B or Jr. C team selected by him.

7.7. Subsidies

The Club may consider written requests to subsidize all or a portion of a player's registration fee. Such subsidy, if any, will require compelling circumstances and a clear demonstration of need and will only be granted to individuals who exemplify the standards and values of the Club. The Club will require the Team in question to match any subsidy. The Club will require that the player and/or the parent/guardian volunteer their time at the Club tournaments or fundraisers in exchange for the subsidy.

7.8. Repayment of Subsidy

If a subsidized player wishes to obtain a release prior to the end of a season, the Club may, as a condition of granting such a release, demand and obtain repayment of the subsidy.

7.9. Releases

The Club's policy regarding releases for Minor Bantams to first year Midgets is that outright releases at the conclusion of the season are not granted. The Club Officials will, at their discretion, consider requests for releases on a case by case basis. The parties requesting releases are asked to put their reasons in writing and send them to the attention of the Clubs General Manager. If a suitable reason is found, a release will be granted on the first day of the GTHL tryouts.

7.10. Releases for Minor Bantam to Midget

No Team Official shall have the authority to provide a player, and/or the parent/guardian of a player with a written release or a verbal commitment to release a player.

7.11. Refunds where a release is granted prior to November 15

If registration fees, sponsorship monies and additional monies have been paid to the Club and/or Team and a player is released or leaves the team for any reason, any time up to and including midnight November 15th, that player shall receive a pro-rata rebate calculated as follows: A charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) will be charged for each game, practice and off ice training session that the Team held from the day of card signing until the day the release was granted, plus a $300.00 used equipment charge. Before a refund is issued all items supplied by the Club and/or the Team must be returned to the Team Manager. These items include but are not limited to the following: home and away jerseys, practice jersey, bag, pants, home and away socks, jacket, tracksuit. The coaching staff must notify the General Manager in writing the last day the player is to have played or practiced.

7.12. Refunds where a release is granted after November 15th

If a player is successful in securing a release from the GTHL after November15th, no refund of registration or sponsorship money will be made.

SECTION 8: DISPUTE RESOLUTION

8.1. Complaints against the Club

Complaints against the Club are to be made in writing and mailed to the attention of the General Manager, Toronto Red Wings Hockey Club, 4000 Chesswood Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 2B9

8.2. Twenty Four (24) Hour Rule

To avoid emotional or angry outbursts and behaviour at both games and practices, the "24 hour rule" is in force for all players, parents and guardians. This rule requires you to wait a period of 24 hours before making your concerns known to the appropriate party. If a player, parent/guardian has observed the 24 hour rule, he/she is to first put their complaint in writing and give it to the Team Manager. The Team Manager will then file a copy of the complaint with the Club General Manager. The Club General Manager will discuss the complaint with the appropriate party and if necessary a meeting will be held to resolve the complaint. The Club General Managers decision will be final.

8.3. Verbal, Mental or Physical Abuse

If a parent or guardian believes their son or daughter has been subjected to verbal, mental or physical abuse by any Team Official, they are to notify the Club General Manager for immediate investigation.