Rule 10.8 – Refusing to Start Play

Rule 10.8 – Refusing to Start Play

Teams – team officials and players – are not permitted to suspend or conclude a game for any reason. The Head Coach is responsible for all actions of their team, including in a situation of refusal to start play.

A team is determined to be ‘refusing to start play’ when:

  • A Team refuses to place the correct number of players on the ice, after being warned by the Referee; 
  • A player or team official refuses to leave the Players’ bench, penalty bench or general playing area after being assessed a Game Ejection, Game Misconduct, Gross Misconduct, Match penalty or Misconduct; or
  • It is apparent that a team has either withdrawn from the ice (e.g. leaves the players’ bench) or has refused to appear for the start of a game or period. 

Procedure

  1. When an incident of ‘refusing to start play’ has occurred, the Referee will assess a Bench Minor penalty for Delay of Game. If this occurs in the last two (2) minutes of regulation time or any time in overtime, a Penalty Shot shall be awarded in lieu of the Bench Minor penalty.
  2. After the Bench Minor penalty is assessed, the offending team must resume play without any unnecessary delay.
  3. If the offending team does not resume play promptly after the Bench Minor penalty is assessed, the Head Coach will be assessed a Game Misconduct penalty, and the game will be ‘forfeited’.

Where the Head Coach has been assessed a Game Misconduct penalty under this rule and the game has been forfeited, the Referee will report the individual(s) by completing a Game Incident Report, including full details and submitting the report to the appropriate Member or league delegate.

  1. A Bench Minor penalty for ‘Delay of Game’ will be assessed to any team who refuses to start play. If this occurs in the last two (2) minutes of regulation time or anytime in overtime, a Penalty shot will be assessed in lieu of the Bench Minor penalty.

  2. No Major penalty may be assessed under this rule. 

  3. No Match penalty may be assessed under this rule.

  4. No Misconduct penalty may be assessed under this rule.

  5. A Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to the Head Coach of any team who refuses to start play, after being assessed a Bench Minor penalty for Delay of Game.