2005 Texas State Tournament Guidelines
Indicated below is the Texas Amateur Hockey Association (TAHA) Tier I & II State Tournament Guidelines. To download a copy in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, click HERE...
Texas Amateur Hockey Association
(TAHA)
Tier I & II State
Tournament Guidelines
A Tier I or II team is any team that is properly registered as a Tier I or
II team based on criteria setup by TAHA, the Rocky Mountain District, and USA
Hockey.
1. Eligibility/Registration
a. The team shall be certified by the Texas Registrar [form 2-T, Team Roster Registration Certificate] to have complied with all eligibility requirements.
b. Copies of government issued birth certificate or, if birth certificate is not available, copy of passport ID page for each rostered player.
c. The team’s certified player roster must be in the hands of the Tournament Committee 1 week prior to the start of the region play downs or championships.
d. A player(s) and Registered Team Member (e.g. coaches) must be eligible to compete in the State championship in order to participate in the District and National Championships.
e. Each team must have completed as a team unit at least twenty (20) games.
f. Each player must have played in at least ten (10) games during the season.
g. For score sheets to count in meeting the 20/10 rule, that team’s Team Membership Application (2-T) and Player Roster form (1-T) must be certified by the Texas Registrar prior to the game being played. Roster changes after December 31st will not be accepted.
h. A game is a match played against another team that is registered with a member organization of the IIHF at the same competitive level and officiated by registered officials. A game shall consist of at least three periods, which last a minimum of sixty (60) minutes.
i. All Coaches (head and assistants) must have the required minimum level of coaching certification as specified by USA Hockey to participate in the State Championship.
2. Tournament Committee a. TAHA will designate a Tournament Committee to preside over the tournament.
3. Number and Qualification of Teams (including the Host Association)
a. The Texas State Tournament shall consist of four teams representing three regions, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Rest of Texas, and a host team.
b. The Host team shall not compete in the region play downs.
4. Entry Fees
a. Not in excess of $895.00 per team.
b. Any fee in excess of this amount must be approved by the TAHA President.
5. Number of Players
a. A maximum of twenty (20) players, including goalkeepers, shall be permitted to play in a game. All teams are requested to arrive with two goaltenders.
b. Teams unable to arrive without a back-up goaltender shall be permitted with the approval of the TAHA President to use a substitute goaltender from a lower level team within the same organization.
6. Playing Rules
a. Only official USA Hockey Playing
Rules currently in effect shall be used.
7. Notification of Intent to Enter Team(s)
a. Member associations shall signify their intentions of entering a team(s) by doing so in writing to the TAHA President no later than December 22nd.
b. Each team must submit a list of games played, opponents, scores in their application to play in the State Tournament.
c. Applications must be accompanied with a refundable deposit of $300 per team which will apply to the State Tournament fee should the team(s) represent the region. If a team withdraws prior to competing in the regional play downs the fee shall be forfeited and the association shall be subject to a suspension from State tournament play for one year.
d. No USA Hockey member Team shall play in any league that prohibits that Team from entering and fully participating in its State Championship.
8. Merchandise and Awards
a. The host shall provide a team championship and runner-up award, as supplied by TAHA.
b. The host will have the right to sell merchandise at the State tournament. Any use of the TAHA or USA Hockey logos must be approved by the governing bodies.
c. A title sponsor may be used with the prior approval of the TAHA President and the host arena operator.
9. Uniforms
a. All teams entered must be properly uniformed including home and away jerseys and matching socks.
b. Home teams shall wear light/white jerseys and the visiting team shall wear dark colored jerseys in all games.
10. Completion Dates
a. TAHA sets the tournament dates during their Annual meeting in the summer.
b. The tournament shall be completed no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the District Championships.
11. Time Between Games
a. No team shall be required to play a second game in one day against a team playing its first game on that day.
b. It is recommended that there be a minimum of four hours between games played on the same day and twelve (12) hours on games played on consecutive days (i.e. end of one game to start of next game).
12. Age Classifications
a. 18 or under -- To be eligible to compete during the 2004-05 season a player must be born during 1986 or later.
b. 16 or under -- To be eligible to compete during the 2004-05 season a player must be born during 1988 or later.
c. 14 or under -- To be eligible to compete during the 2004-05 season a player must be born during 1990 or later.
d. 12 or under -- To be eligible to
compete during the 2004-05 season a player must be born during 1992 or later.
13. Pairings/Format
a. The tournament format shall be a three-game round robin. The pairings shall be determined by a blind draw conducted by the Tournament Committee.
b. The top two teams shall then play for the State Championship.
c. The schedule of games, including home and visiting team designations, shall be set by the Tournament Committee and approved by TAHA no less than 30days prior to the first game.
d. The schedule shall be sent to all qualifying teams no less than 10 days in advance of the first game.
e. Anyone requesting a change in schedule must notify the TAHA President within 48 hours of receiving the schedule.
14. Time of Periods
a. All games will be played with stop time and will be played to their completion.
b. Period times are as follows:
i. 18 or Under three (3) periods of seventeen (17) minutes
ii. 16 or Under three (3) periods of seventeen (17) minutes iii. 14 or Under three (3) periods of sixteen (16) minutes
iv. 12 or Under three (3) periods of fifteen (15) minutes
c. There shall be no overtime in the round robin.
d. There shall be an ice cleaning to start each game and between the second and third period of each game.
e. It is recommended that the following ice be allotted for each level: Level Round Robin Championship Midget 18&U 1h50m 2 hours Midget 16&U 1h50m 2 hours Bantam 14&U 1h45m 2 hours Peewee 12&U 1h30m 2 hours
f. Should the Championship game be tied at the end of regulation time then sudden death overtime will be played until the game is decided. The format is as follows:
i. There will be a 3-minute rest following the third period.
ii. The teams shall not switch ends for the overtime periods.
iii. Each overtime period will consist of 5-minute stop time periods.
iv. At the completion of the first overtime period there shall be a 3-minute rest.
v. The first sudden death overtime
shall be played 4-on-4 plus the goaltenders. If the game remains tied after the
first overtime, a second shall be played 3-on-3 plus the goaltenders. If the
game remains tied after 2 overtimes, then a third shall be played 2-on-2 plus
the goaltenders.
15. Process to Determine Regional Representatives
a. Each of the three regions shall determine their representative as follows:
i. Once all teams have declared their intent to participate, the Tournament Committee shall rank the teams in each region and submit to the TAHA board for approval.
ii. When only one (1) team declares in a region their intent to participate, they will be declared the region representative.
iii. Where two teams have declared in a region (Houston and DFW), the two teams shall play a best-of-three play down series to determine the representative.
1. The higher ranked team will be host for games 1 and 3 (if needed) and will be responsible for procuring ice and officials for those games with the cost of game three to be split by the teams.
2. The lower ranked team will host game 2.
3. All play down games must be completed by February 6th-except for the 12&U Peewee, which must be completed by January 30th.
iv. In the “Other Texas” Region, if only two teams declare their intent to participate and the teams are within 100 miles they will follow the DFW and Houston Regions format.
v. In the event the “Other Texas” teams are further than 100 miles apart the top ranked team shall host all three games on a weekend with the completion of the games by February 6th except for the 12&U Peewee, which must be completed by January 30th. Costs for ice and officials shall be split between the two teams.
vi. In the event of any conflicts in scheduling of games, the State Tournament Committee (including the TAHA President) shall arbitrate. Their decision will be final. vii. In the event that more than two teams in a region declare their intent to participate, the following play down shall take place.
1. Three teams – The second and third ranked teams shall play a one game playoff hosted by the second ranked team with the ice and officials costs to be split. This game must be played prior to January 14th. The winner of this game then plays the top ranked team in the best-of-three described above.
2. Four teams – The top ranked team shall host the fourth ranked team and the second ranked team shall host the third ranked team in one game playoffs. Costs of ice and officials are to be split. The games will be completed prior to January 14th. The winners of the two games shall then play the best-of-three described above.
3. Five teams – The format shall be as follows:
a. No. 2 vs. No. 5 in a one-game playoff hosted by No.2 (Jan 14th)
b. No. 3 vs. No. 4 in a one-game playoff hosted by No.3 (Jan 14th)
c. Winner of (a) vs. winner of (b) hosted by the higher ranked team (Jan 23rd)
d. The winner of [c] will then play
No.1 in the best-of-three series as described above.
4. For 6 or more teams, the above process will be modified by the State Tournament Committee.
b. All games will be played until a winner is declared by the competition. Time of periods shall be as defined in 14 (b) above.
16. Process for Determining Tournament Finalists
a. During round robin play, each team will play each other.
b. During round robin play, each team will be awarded 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie.
c. The two teams accumulating the most points in the preliminary round will proceed to the Championship game.
d. If two or more teams have an equal number of points, their positions shall be determined by the following tie-breaking formula. In order to break a tie, the following formulas will be followed until one rule determines the position of all teams that are tied.
i. The results of the games played between the teams tied in the following order:
1. The points acquired in these games.
2. Subtracting goals scored against from goals scored in these games, the positions determined in order of the greatest surplus.
3. Dividing the goals scored in these games by the goals scored against, the positions determined in order of the greatest quotient (Note – A quotient involving dividing by 0 has a higher standing than a quotient of dividing by any other number).
4. Dividing the goals scored into the total of goals scored and goals scored against in these games, the positions determined in order of greatest quotient.
ii. If after applying the formulas of (i) 1, 2, or 3 the tie still exists (i) 2 and 3 shall be applied using all of the games played by the teams tied.
iii. If the above procedure does not break the tie, then the final USA Hockey tie-breaking rule shall be applied. (Shoot-out involving all teams tied)
17. Referees
a. The three-man system shall be used. All referees and linesman must hold a certification level that meets (or exceeds) USA Hockey’s guidelines for the age group in which they will be assigned.
b. Referees will be assigned by the TAHA Referee in Chief or his designee.
18. Discipline Committee
a. TAHA shall assign a three-person Discipline Committee to be appointed prior to January 1st.
b. The committee shall be responsible for deciding any action, suspensions or otherwise to be taken against a player or team official receiving a match penalty. This includes the region play down games and the State Tournament.
c. The committee shall have the authority to initiate action involving supplementary discipline against a player or team official whether or not it involves the playing rules, provided however that the player or official is given notice of intended action and has an opportunity for a hearing.
19. Selecting a Host for the Texas State Tournament
a. Any TAHA member association is eligible to bid to host anywhere from one to four classifications.
b. Bids must be received in accordance with TAHA’s requirements.
c. The TAHA board will review the bids and make the award.
d. The Host is responsible for providing the following:
i. A sufficient amount of ice shall be provided to comply with the regulations.
ii. Sufficient accommodations shall be available for out of town teams at a reasonable price and in relative close proximity to the arena.
iii. All financial aspects of running the tournament.
iv. Providing space for any TAHA officials attending disciplinary hearings.
v. Providing scorekeepers who will be paid by TAHA and penalty box personnel.
e. TAHA will be responsible for providing the following to each Host:
i. On-ice officials that comply with 17 above and associated fees.
ii. Team awards for the champions and runners-up.
f. The Host shall be able to cover costs through the following, however, budgets must be submitted and the State Tournament Committee must approve all fees. It is not the intention of TAHA that the host should make any money on the State Tournament.
i. Tournament fees to a maximum of $895 per team.
ii. Charge a gate fee for spectators at a maximum of $5 per game or $10 for a tournament pass (Note - team officials and players listed on the USA Hockey Roster may not be charged).
iii. Secure a title sponsor for the tournament subject to the approval of TAHA and the arena management.
iv. Merchandise sales (Note – the use of USA Hockey or TAHA logo must be approved in advance).
v. Program advertising. vi. Other revenue generating opportunities should be approved by TAHA in advance.