MMHA Discipline Policy

Disciplinary situations involving minor infractions occurring within the jurisdiction of the MMHA will be dealt with by the appropriate person having authority over the situation and the individual involved (this person may include, but is not restricted to, executive or committee member, tournament chairperson, coach, team manager. 

Procedures for dealing with minor infractions shall be informal as compared to those for major infractions and shall be determined at the discretion of the person responsible for discipline of such infractions, provided the individual being disciplined is told the nature of the infraction and has an opportunity to provide information concerning the incident. 

• The following disciplinary sanctions may be applied, singularly or in combination, for minor infractions: 
• Verbal reprimands 
• Written reprimand to be sent to the individual 
• Verbal apology by the individual 
• Written apology by the individual 
• Termination of Team service or other voluntary contribution to the team, the minor hockey organization or to the MMHA
• Suspension from the current competition and/or for a specified number of games, other sanctions as may be considered appropriate for the offense. Note: All Suspensions must be approved at the discretion of the Rules & Ethics Committee.

• Major Infractions will be addressed by the MMHA Rules & Ethics Committee, comprised of at least three impartial and uninterested board members. The committee will collect information from all parties involved, conduct a formal hearing, and render a decision within 48 hours after the hearing.

• At their discretion, all coaches are authorized to remove players and parents from a game or practice upon witnessing any of the actions as listed above.

• When a coach removes a player from a game or practice, the coach will communicate to the player and their parent or guardian as to why this action was taken.

• Additionally, the coach will communicate the incident to the appropriate team liaison and President of the Association as soon as practicable. Upon a second infraction of the actions listed above by a player or parent, the coach will immediately report the incident to the team liaison, MMHA President, and the Rules & Ethics Committee.

• A player will not be suspended prior to a hearing and the disciplinary hearing will abide by and be consistent with USA Hockey’s By-Law 10: Dispute Resolution, Discipline, Arbitration

• Any activity that violates rink policies, state or federal laws or creates a continual safety risk, will result in an immediate suspension until such time as disciplinary hearing can be conducted, no later than one week after the activity at issue was reported to the President.

• Unless otherwise outlined above, all MMHA disciplinary hearings will abide by and be consistent with USA Hockey’s By-Law 10. This disciplinary policy will be posted on the MMHA website and the Board will routinely impart this policy to members at the start of the season and again during the season. All members are on notice of this policy and its applicability to the entire membership and MMHA community.

• USA Hockey Annual Guides/Governance & Policies: www.usahockey.com/annualguide

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