Rule 11.1 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Unsportsmanlike Conduct includes disrespectful behaviour, which is conduct deemed rude, unpleasant, inappropriate, or unprofessional and found to be offensive to others, but not rising to the level of conduct described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination. Unsportsmanlike conduct may also include, but is not limited to, the following actions, which will be penalized at the discretion of the Referee:

1. Challenging or disputing an official’s decision in an unsportsmanlike manner.
2. Use of derogatory language that may be offensive to any individual.
3. Deliberately spraying snow from their skates into an opponent’s face (e.g. “spraying” the goaltender).
4. Shooting the puck at or near the goal after the whistle.
5. Shooting the puck out of the playing area, after the whistle.
6. Engaging in any inappropriate or unwanted discussion with the referee before, during, or after the game.
7. Any behaviour intended to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty.
8. Any other display of unsportsmanlike behaviour that would be considered disorderly or contrary to the spirit of the game.

Note: If any behaviour described in Rule 11.1 includes behaviour described in Rule 11.4 – Discrimination, the individual must be penalized under Rule 11.4, in addition to any other penalties that individual might receive.

1. A Minor or Bench Minor penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who is guilty of Unsportsmanlike Conduct, as outlined above.

2. No Major penalty may be assessed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

3. No Match penalty may be assessed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

4. A Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player who:

   1. Persists in Unsportsmanlike Conduct, after receiving a Minor penalty under Rule 11.1 (a).
   2. Distracts a player taking a Penalty Shot or a goaltender defending a Penalty Shot.
   3. Intentionally knocks or shoots the puck out of reach of an Official who is retrieving it.
   4. Does not proceed immediately and directly to the Penalty Bench when they have been penalized.
   5. Enters or remains in the Referee’s crease while the Referee is reporting to or consulting with any game official.

   Note 1: A Referee is not required to assess a Minor penalty under this rule before assessing a Misconduct penalty, but may assess either penalty initially.

   Note 2: A team official may not be assessed a Misconduct penalty under this rule, but should instead be assessed Game Misconduct Penalty

5. A Game Misconduct penalty will be assessed to any player or team official who persists in Unsportsmanlike Conduct, after receiving a Minor penalty under Rule 11.1 (a) or a Misconduct penalty under Rule 11.1 (d).

   Note 1: A Referee is not required to assess a Minor or Misconduct penalty under this rule before assessing a Game Misconduct penalty, but may assess either penalty initially.

   Note 2: Where a player or team official has been assessed a Game Misconduct penalty under this rule, 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.