LAHYL Philosophy

                        The primary purpose of LAYHL is to contribute to the development

                        of our youth through the game of hockey. 

                        LAYHL is committed to providing our

                        young people the opportunity to learn basic skills of skating,

                        participate successfully in a team sport and learn how to

                        play the game of hockey. The LAYHL Board of Directors are firmly

                        committed to supporting our player members and coaches in

                        acquiring greater skills and attaining higher knowledge of

                        the game of hockey. 

                        LAYHL strives to teach participants:

                        1. Commitment to team work

                        2. Development of self esteem and camaraderie

                        3. Development of skills necessary to play ice hockey

                        4. Knowledge of the rules and strategies of the game

                        5. Knowledge of conditioning techniques that affect short and long term

                            health and performance

LAYHL Territory

                        Maine Amateur Hockey Association (MEAHA) has divided the

                        State into geographical districts. In 2001 LAYHL was

                        classified as District 6 which is the following towns:

                        Lewiston           Lisbon           Lisbon Center         Lisbon Falls

                        Greene              Sabattus         Turner                     Turner Center

                        No.Turner         Leeds             No. Leeds               Howe's Corner

                        Livermore        E. Livermore  No. Livermore        Livermore Falls

                        Players not living in these territories may be allowed

                        to transfer from another District.

Transfer Policy

                        LAYHL follows MEAHA's transfer policy.

                        The policy allows players to transfer to another

                        organization providing they meet the following criteria:

                        1. The transferring player must remain in good standings

                            with the original organization

                        2. The transferring player is within the age group of

                            Bantam or younger

                        3. The transferring player must abide and properly fill

                            out the Request to Transfer form.

                        4. Lateral transfers are allowed (Tier to Tier).

                            However, if the new team plays in a State Tournament,

                            the transferred player is not allowed to participate in

                            the State Tournament.

                        5. If a player wishes to try out for a higher Tier at

                            another organization and makes the team, they are

                            allowed to participate in the State Tournament.

                        6. If a player trying out for a higher Tier than his/her

                            organization offers and the player does not make the

                            team, they are required to return to their original

                            organization and abide by their organizations policies.

Team and Player Classification

                        Team Classification: Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League

                        is a registered member of USA Hockey and abides by all

                        of its rules and regulations governing amateur hockey.

LAYHL Assessment Procedure

                        The assessment is calculated each year prior to the

                        start of the season and is payable by check, credit card

                        or money order. It can be paid in full or by monthly

                        installments from the date of registration to September

                        15th of the new season.

LAYHL Payment Policy

                        A change in payment policy for enrollment has been

                        approved for the purpose of aiding parents and

                        streamlining the process to meet the financial needs of

                        LAYHL. (Board approved 11/06)

                        In the spring prior to fall hockey season, parents can

                        participate in our payment plan. Down payment of 1/3

                        for Instructional, House and Travel with systematic

                        installments made thru the summer. Assessments need to be

                        paid in full by December 1. (Board approved 8/09)

                        In late August /early September -Travel B/Tier II tryouts.

                       (See Travel program section)

                        A $30 fee along with full payment or installment payments totaling House

                        assessment is required to tryout.

                        September 15th Final payment date- Instructional, House

                        and selected Travel players total assessment.

                        ** If a player is not registered by September 15th, a

                        $50 late registration fee will be charged.

Registration Instructions

                        -All past due balances must be paid in full prior to

                          registration for the season.

                        -Each registration date offers the opportunity to pay

                          with credit card.

                        -Assessment amounts and registration forms for

                          respective divisions will be available on our website www.layhl.com.

                        -Players must be in good financial standing per dates

                          outlined in order to try-out for travel or participate

                          in House evaluations.

                        -Parents must register their child at

                          www.usahockeyregistration.com. Follow the directions for

                          player, pay the required fee and submit confirmation

                          during registration.

                        -Any outstanding credits will be issued at time of

                          registration.

                        -Financial hardship request must be received in writing

                          to the President by September 15 for review.

Mailing Address

LAYHL

P.O. Box 7243

Lewiston, ME 04243

                        A player with a pre-paid assessment, who leaves the

                        program prior to one of the above referenced dates, will

                        be entitled to a refund of any pre-paid assessment not

                        yet accrued.

                        In addition to the foregoing, any additional charges

                        incurred by the League as a result of a late payment,

                        included but not limited to, bank service charges, court

                        costs, and attorney fees, shall constitute an additional

                        amount due to the League from the delinquent member.

                        In the event that any amount is not paid when due, the

                        League shall have the right to pursue any and all legal

                        avenues for collection of the same and the delinquent

                        member shall pay any and all costs of collection, plus

                        the interest referred to above, including attorneys'

                        fees.

                        These steps are taken to minimize costs to the league

                        and to keep the program affordable for everyone. Refunds

                        will be distributed at the end of the hockey season.

                        (Board Approved 12/12/01)

                        Multi-Player Family Discount are offered.

                        Any family with 3 or more siblings registered and

                        playing in LAYHL in the same season will be entitled to

                        a discounted assessment. The ruling allows for the

                        assessment to be one-half of the regular House

                        assessment for the 3rd and 4th player(s). The discount

                        is calculated on the youngest player's regular House

                        assessment only (does not take additional Travel fee

                        into consideration).

                        LAYHL Instructional Division - Atoms and Mini Mites

                        The Instructional program was developed by USA Hockey

                        and introduced to LAYHL.

                        This program was built to enhance the beginning

                        player's initial exposure to skating and hockey. Skill

                        development, teamwork and fun are emphasized. Pressure

                        to perform, to score, and to win are eliminated. All

                        first year players (ages 4 to 6) will be enrolled in

                        this program. Players who have never been on skates before

                        as well as those who have some skating experience are welcome to

                        participate. Returning players who are not yet old

                        enough for the Mite Division remain in the program in

                        one of the advanced groups. Players will be grouped by

                        both age and ability so that teaching methods can be

                        geared to the correct level. The Atoms Division is offered in

                        two 10-week sessions.

                        Instruction for those younger players returning for the

                        second session will continue from the 1st session, while

                        allowing new players to join the program. For the children

                        in this Division, on-ice and off-ice

                        support are crucial. Please contact the Atoms or Mini

                        Mites Director to see how you can help out by

                        volunteering. It is our goal to provide a fun-filled

                        learning atmosphere and parent support plays an

                        important part.

LAYHL House Programs -Tier III

                        Mites, Squirts, Peewees, Bantams, Midgets and Girls Divisions (Tier III)

                        Coaches

                        All LAYHL Mite to Midget Divisions, coaches, and assistants

                        are required to be certified by the Maine Amateur League

                        through the Initiation Program and background checks completed.

                        The goals of the House Program focus on providing

                        instruction and playing hockey in a recreational

                        environment. All children are offered the same

                        opportunities and are treated similarly regardless of

                        their abilities or the speed at which they learn. A

                        strong emphasis is placed on sportsmanship and equal ice time.

                        The House Program primarily operates on utilizing all

                        available rinks. All players will be placed in the

                        Player Evaluation Draft every year. At the beginning of

                        each season, a skating/playing evaluation will be

                        conducted. During this evaluation all players will be

                        rated by ability and categorized as A, B, or C players.

                        Players will then be drafted to teams by coaches on a

                        rotating basis. Players at the Peewee and Bantam levels

                        will be drafted with position preference accounted for.

                        Any new player registering after the completion of the

                        draft but before December 31st, will be placed on teams

                        as follows:

                        1. Team with the lowest number of players

                        2.   If all teams are equal, to the team that was next in

                              order to draft

                        Every effort will be made to have each child receive an

                        equal amount of ice time.

                        A strong emphasis is placed on learning the skills and

                        sport of ice hockey and players can expect to practice,

                        on average, once per week. Teams will be sharing ice

                        times during these practice sessions.

                        Games are played within LAYHL House Program as well as

                        against teams from other hockey organizations. By

                        playing teams outside our area, the League is able to

                        provide the House teams with more games at a much lower

                        cost. In addition, each Squirt, Peewee and Bantam team

                        can qualify to participate in the year end State Tournament

LAYHL Travel Program (Travel B/Tier II)

                        All LAYHL Travel teams are registered with and play

                        under the rules established by USA Hockey. Travel Teams

                        are fielded in the Mite and Girls U 12, U14, U16 divisions.
                        Squirts, Peewees and Bantams are with the Gladiator League

Travel Mites

                        LAYHL has one Travel team at the Mite level playing in

                        Tier I. The Mite team plays a mixed schedule of Maine

                        State Travel League games and Seacoast League games. USA

                        Hockey does not include the Mite age group in State

                        level tournament play. At this younger age, LAYHL

                        strives to maintain a balance between developing skilled

                        hockey players and playing games competitively. Mite

                        Travel coaches try to provide an equal experience for

                        all players during the course of the season.

                        Travel Team Hockey is intended to offer a highly

                        competitive level of hockey for all players in the older

                        age groups. The coaching philosophy focuses on

                        developing advanced individual and team play skills.

*COACHES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE ALL PLAYERS

EQUAL PLAYING TIME, BUT ARE EXPECTED TO

DEVELOP ALL TEAM MEMBERS.

                        Travel team players are selected after a series of

                        tryouts. Selections are based on player's skills,

                        attitude, and sportsmanship.

                        Players and parents will be making a major commitment of

                        time and energy to hockey during the season, which will

                        begin in early October and may last until late March.

                        Once selected, players are expected to fulfill their

                        commitment to the team for the entire season. A player

                        who quits the Travel program after Dec. 1st will not be

                        assigned to a house team.

                        All players are subject to USA Hockey eligibility rules,

                        and Travel team rosters are limited to a maximum of

                        twenty players. However, LAYHL will set the team roster

                        size and will establish players' positions and playing

                        time.

Coaching

                        LAYHL coaches come from a variety of backgrounds, but

                        all share two important characteristics; they are ALL

                        volunteers and they ALL care about the development of

                        our children. Anything parents can do to help with

                        off-ice responsibilities are encouraged.

                        Prospective Head Coaches will be nominated by the

                        respective Division Directors and may be asked to appear

                        before the Board of Directors before being accepted. The

                        criteria for becoming a coach increase as the age

                        division and level of competition of the players

                        increase. Instructional coaches, for example, must be

                        able to effectively communicate with younger children.

                        As players develop, it becomes increasingly important

                        those coaches are sufficiently skilled so as to be able

                        to enhance the skill development of the most advanced

                        player on a team. Coaches must also possess a thorough

                        knowledge of the strategies of the game.

                        USA Hockey provides training to individuals who wish to

                        coach through their Coaching Achievement Program. This

                        program is administered through affiliate State

                        Associations in the form of clinics. These clinics are

                        specifically designed to supply each coach with the

                        knowledge of his/her responsibilities and skills of the

                        game that will equip him/her to do the best possible job

                        at whatever caliber of hockey he/she is involved with.

                        LAYHL encourages all persons interested in becoming

                        coaches to attend these clinics. Clinics are typically

                        held in the fall. LAYHL has made it a policy to

                        reimburse the tuition for coaches who successfully

                        complete certification through Level 4, with the Board's

                        discretion and approval. USA Hockey mandates that

                        coaches of teams eligible for State, Regional, and

                        National tournaments be certified through these formal

                        training clinics. If you have an interest in coaching or

                        assistant coaching, please contact a Division Director

                        for information on dates and locations of clinics.

Coaches Rules and Procedures

                        1. Minimum age for coaches is 16 at the time of

                            selection. Any Coach age 16-18 is designated as a

                            Student Coach. All Student Coaches must be registered

                            with USA Hockey and be reported to the LAYHL Registrar.

                            All Student Coaches must complete the Initiation

                            Coaching Certification (Level 1). All Student Coaches

                            must be in the presence of an adult Coach/Asst. Coach

                            while working with the team. Student Coaches are not

                            allowed on the bench during games.

                        2. Each team is allowed four Coaches on the roster. Only

                            these four Coaches are allowed on the bench during

                            games.

                        3. Teams are allowed to assign and additional Assistant

                            Coach to participate in practices. The additional

                            Assistant Coach is not allowed on the bench during

                            games.

                        4. A registered Coach with LAYHL, who has special

                            skills, such as goalie training, checking skills, etc,

                             is permitted to make guest appearances to assist other

                             teams. Prior approval from the CAP Director and Division

                             Director is required.

                        5. Older siblings and players under the age of 16 or

                            other persons who are not registered as a Coach are not

                            allowed on the ice to practice with a team.

                        6. A prospective Coach must be willing to accept the

                            coaching position applied for if selected. This person,

                            therefore, needs to consider very carefully their

                            child's skill level and calculate the probability that

                            the child could qualify for a higher level of play than

                            the coaching position being sought. Once selected, the

                            Coach as an obligation to fulfill the responsibility he

                            or she was chosen for.

                        7. Coaches must comply with the coaching certification

                             levels set forth by MeAHA. LAYHL will reimburse for

                             Initiation clinics, Associate, Intermediate, and for

                             re-certification clinics. Advanced clinics (Level 4) are

                             the responsibility of the individual. Coaches are

                             required to re-certify every three years by attending a

                             four hour re-certification class.

Uniform Care

                        Uniform jerseys and socks are distributed to all teams.

                        The socks can be kept by players.

                        It is the responsibility of each player and

                        his/her parent's to care for the jersey and return it to

                        the coach at the end of the season. Jerseys are not allowed

                        to be altered or last names added to the back. If jersyes are

                        demaged or lost there will be a $100 charge.

Attendance

                        Reliable attendance is essential to personal

                        skill development and development of team continuity.

                        General guidelines that govern attendance are as

                        follows:

                        * Two un-excused absences from practices or games in any

                           combination may result in a player sitting out one

                           period of the next regularly scheduled game.

                        * Three un-excused absences from practices or games in

                           any combination may result in a player sitting out two

                           periods of the next regularly scheduled game.

                        * Four un-excused absences from practices or games in any

                          combination may result in a player sitting out an entire

                          game.

                        Punctuality

                        Ice time is valuable and should not be

                        wasted. All participants should arrive at games and

                        practices in sufficient time to allow for suiting up and

                        necessary pre-game/practice instruction and/or warm up.

                        Unless you have been told differently by your coach, it

                        is recommended that you be ready to "take the ice" at

                        least 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time.

LAYHL Player Behavior and Conduct

                        The rules set forth in this handbook are designed to

                        establish procedures and guidelines to support young

                        people who participate in LAYHL. Many of the rules are

                        those enacted by USA Hockey, Inc., which governs youth

                        hockey. LAYHL is committed to ensuring that they are observed.

                        The LAYHL Board of Directors, coaches, team

                        parents and volunteer parents all have a vested interest

                        in providing a safe, fun-filled environment for each

                        player. In return, each skater must understand that

                        coaches, assistant coaches and parent helpers are to be

                        treated with respect and consideration. LAYHL skaters

                        are expected to be attentive to coaches' directions and

                        instructions and to avoid disruption. The Board of

                        Directors will support the coaching staff in cases where

                        reasonable discipline must be exercised in order to

                        maintain an organized and enjoyable learning

                        environment.

                        Conduct

                        It is expected that a player will conduct

                        him/herself in a controlled manner while on the ice.

                        Coaches have the right to discipline, by way of "sit

                        outs", any behavior not conductive to the goals and

                        philosophy of LAYHL.

                        Foul language/Harassment

                        Foul language, direct insubordination and harassment

                        of any kind is unacceptable behavior and will result in

                        the following disciplinary action:

                        1st offense - sits out one period

                        2nd offense - sits out two periods

                        3rd offense - one game suspension

                        Fighting

                        A player who starts a fight, engages in a

                        fight or deliberately attempts to injure another player

                        during a practice or game will be automatically

                        suspended from play for the remainder of the practice or

                        game and will be suspended for one subsequent game

                        (league or non-league). A suspended player, while

                        serving his/her suspension must be on the player's bench

                        in full uniform. All such incidents must be reported to

                        the LAYHL Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, on

                        a case by case basis, may impose additional penalties or

                        expel the player.

                        Stealing

                        Any player found guilty of stealing shall be dismissed from the program.

                        LAYHL will adhere to all USA Hockey and league rules

                        with respect to minor and major penalties. All match or

                        gross misconduct penalties will be reported to the USA

                        Hockey Central Section President and the LAYHL Board of

                        Directors. It is the responsibility of the team coach to

                        report such infractions to the LAYHL Board of Directors

                        within 24 hours of the occurrence. The player will be

                        kept from playing until the State Disciplinary Committee

                        meets and decides the case.

Parent Code of Conduct

                        As LAYHL parents or guardians we must be

                        positive in our attitudes toward the game of hockey and

                        emphasize the cooperative nature of the game. Negative

                        and rowdy behavior in the hockey arena reflects directly

                        and poorly on the whole organization. We must foster

                        good relationships between our young players within the

                        League and with our competitors as well. Children are

                        great imitators. As parents we must set positive

                        examples for them.

                        The LAYHL Board of Directors, in accordance with

                        USA Hockey's policy of ZERO TOLERANCE.

                        The following actions will not be tolerated under the

                        Zero Tolerance Policy:

                        -Yelling at or threatening referees, opposing players,

                          parents, or coaches before, during, or after games or

                          practices

                       - Direct confrontations with parents or players, demonstrations of  

                         frustration or anger after a game loss.

                         Unnecessary or exaggerated celebration of a goal scored

                         or game won that would embarrass or demean the opposing team.

                        -Any physical abuse of any other person

                         Approaching the bench during a game situation unless

                         summoned by a player or coach

                         Disruptive or abusive parents may be asked to leave the

                         arena - COMPLIANCE IS EXPECTED.

Coaches Code of Conduct

                        In addition to the ZERO TOLERENCE rules coaches must

                        respect all players, opponents, parents and game

                        officials. Be a positive role model to your players,

                        display emotional maturity and be alert to the physical

                        safety of players.

                        Be generous with your praise when it is deserved. Be

                        consistent, honest, and fairness. Give all players the

                        opportunity to improve their game skills and knowledge.

                        Familiarize yourself with the rules, techniques and

                        strategies of hockey.

                        Foul language or any form of harassment is unacceptable

                        behavior and will result in a one game suspension.

                        Do not argue with an official's decision in game play.

Questions, Concerns or Grievances

Step 1.            Parents who have concerns or questions regarding the league policies,

                        coaching strategies/philosophy or issues during practices/games should

                        discuss them directly with the Head Coach.

                        These concerns should be address with the coach

                        after/before practices, email or by phone. If concerns occur during a

                        game the parents are encouraged to wait 24 hours after the game.

 Step 2.           If  concerns have not been address appropriately, email

                        the specific Division Director or Parent Representative.

 Step 3.           If concerns remain, you can attend the Board of Directors meeting or

                        submit a signed grievance in writing to:

                        President of LAYHL:

                        LAYHL

                        P.O. Box 7243

                        Lewiston, ME 04243-7243 OR president@layhl.com

This handbook serves as a basic resource for information regarding the Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League (LAYHL).   LAYHL uses it’s website as the main resource for information.  www.LAYHL.com