Zero Tolerance

In an effort to keep ice hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, The Oswego Hockey Club has adopted a policy requiring all participants, including but not limited to, the players, coaches, and parents/spectators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all OHC-sanctioned games.

OHC is a member organization of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois and USA Hockey and, therefore, supports in full and is required to administer AHAI’s Zero Tolerance Policy as it pertains to member clubs. The Policy provides all participants and spectators direction in developing self-discipline, leadership, integrity and respect for the rules and for all participants, officials and spectators.

AHAI has a very simple definition of Zero Tolerance. The definition is: Any lack of Respect or Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and will be a violation of AHAI’s Zero Tolerance Policy. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, officials, team officials and administrators, parents and spectators to comply with the Zero Tolerance Policy. Each organization, player, coach, official, parent and spectator is expected to enforce this Policy. In addition, AHAI has instructed the Officiating Program to adhere to certain points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship. These points were written and implemented to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all USA Hockey sanctioned events. AHAI adopted the USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy that can currently be found on line at http://www.ahai.org/page/show/223726-policies.

Players:

Players will receive a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct such as:

1. Openly disputing or arguing any decision by an official.
2. Using obscene or vulgar language at any time, including swearing, even if it is not directed at a particular person.
3. Visually demonstrating any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision.  

Penalty:

Any time that a player persists in any of the above actions, he or she shall be assessed a misconduct penalty.  A game misconduct shall result if the player continues such action(s).