Misconduct Problems

[crazylegs_9 0]

In the past couple seasons in our mens league there has been a plague of whining at the refs. This past season there were a record number of 10-min Misconducts from players yelling at the refs over calls/threatening opposing players, and for some of these guys its becoming a regular occurance. This is leading to some officials to take full seasons off, and has disgusted other players who get sick of hearing it, to move down to our secondary league. As a scorekeeper/player in the league I am going to bring forward a possible rule to attempt to control this in the captain's meeting to set things up for next season. My idea includes a 1-game suspension after two misconducts. Another 1-game if another is misconduct is assessed. If the behavior continues to a forth misconduct of the season for any given player, they are booted from the league for the remainder of the season. Does anyone has any suggestions, or things to add? I figured I'd run it in front of some other people who spent a lot of time around the game, and may see some of the same things.

[DamnLocust 0]

While I don't know what the effect has been, my league has added a similar rule for game misconducts:

1/28/07 RULE UPDATE: Any player who is assessed a second game misconduct in a season (including playoffs) will serve a two (2) game suspension. A player assessed a third game misconduct in a season (including playoffs) will serve a five(5) game suspension.

The main problem with this kind of thing is that probably 85% of players in our league don't read the website and don't know the ins and outs of the rulebook we use anyway. I believe that the best way to cut down on the crap is for the refs to take a stand early and often in games, and not only add a misconduct, but put teams down a man for an extra 2 minutes as well.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

LOL at first glance I thought Michelle had done some shit.

[willy0314 0]

I'd say start off with atleast a 2 game suspension, and then go to 6 for a third offense.

I hate guys that bitch in beer league. Half of them act like the are pissed for getting passed up in the draft, and the other half bitch and chop your $150 stick in half because your only 5'8" and have scored 4 goals on them. Last year we had some old guy throw a broom and a chair onto the ice after he got ejected for fighting.

[reaper07 0]

hey, im 5'8.

dont player hate

[hockey39 0]

what ever type of disciplinary action you enforce in the league, stay firm on the policy. No ifs / buts as that will just create more issues for you if calls aren't consistent. Issue the misconduct / suspension policies and make them clear to the team captains for them to pass it down to the team for the up coming season with the policies attached during their registration as this will hold them accountable. In addition, hold your referees accountable without turning them into tyrants on the ice or roller.

hockey39

[crazylegs_9 0]

Hopefully, if the plan goes through we are going to make it well noted, and throw it into the policy/pamphlet we hand out at sign up. Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, and I think I will change it so the third offense is 2 games. The meeting is coming up in a week or so. I'll update based on what we come up with.

[chk hrd 164]

you have set up guidelines to penalize the players but what about the refs who are consistently bad and/or just show up for the money. I've seen my share of refs who spaz when you question a call they make regardless if you talk to them nice about it.

Just this weekend we had a ref let everything go in our game (mens league semi final playoffs) because he was tired and just wanted to get out of there (his words to us) because he had reffed a few games earlier for a Can?Am tournament.

We get hooked and slashed and start to get mad (who wouldn't) because of his lazy non-calls, get upset and ask when is he going to do his job. After about the 6th missed call you start yelling at him. So now (by your rules) we get a game misconduct because this guy didn't do his job.

Don't get me wrong, the idea is a good one, but you have to fix both sides of the problem, not just one.

[crazylegs_9 0]

I know what your saying. From seeing just about every game in our league, our officials do a very good job. We only have about 8 refs, and most of them are cops, or lawyers that do it, and I don't think its really all about the money to them. It seems like there are a half dozen or so guys who pay 400 dollars to come and be pissed off for 2 hours a week. These are the guys we are trying to filter out/maybe straighten out. Too many incidents of thrown sticks/helmets and we even had someone pop over an icing call. For a beer league of 6 teams, in a regular season game where all teams automatically make the playoffs, it just doesn't need to happen.

[Ogie 0]

In our league any plaer who gets a game misconduct has to sit one game. Further, they have to sit all games until that league's game is served--so for most guys playing 2 or 3 nights a week it means missing more than one game. That has cut out on most of the stuff that is over the top. Keep in mind though, that an official has to file paperwork for a game misconduct, and they hate doing it. So, to avoid that, the league also threw in a "game ejection" rule which basically says if the player is bitching and moaning too much the official can just hand out a game ejection and avoid the paperwork. The player hits the showers early and cools off, and the official doesn't have the extra work. No suspension, but typically that keeps the guy in check for a while.

[RadioGaGa 162]

LOL at first glance I thought Michelle had done some shit.

Me too *L*

[jmiro 55]

In the past couple seasons in our mens league there has been a plague of whining at the refs. This past season there were a record number of 10-min Misconducts from players yelling at the refs over calls/threatening opposing players, and for some of these guys its becoming a regular occurance. This is leading to some officials to take full seasons off, and has disgusted other players who get sick of hearing it, to move down to our secondary league.

alot of the older guys at my rink play in the secondary league for the same reason. I dont want to get screamed at. Im paying good money to play and just have fun. the first game i ever played in at this rink i had a younger kid punch me in the head for sometning dumb like a hand pass.

[Chadd 916]

If the refs hand out penalties every time someone deserves one, the problem gets resolved. The problem is that too many refs take took much abuse before handing out the 2 or 10. By the same token you do have the couple assholes who hand out dimes like it's candy on Halloween, but that's far less common. If you set a standard, and stick to it, it will get better.

[hunterphfr 12]

There's one of those guys on my team, 4 times a season or so a 2 min minor turns into an ejection for whining, bitching and door slamming. Peer pressure has been unsuccessful.

The solution is not suspension this is America hit him where it matters...$$$. I played in a league in Calgary before moving to Tampa that was plagued with fights numerous good, rough old time hockey fights. Then they implemented an automatic $100 fine for fighting payable before you set foot on the ice again. Overnight fighting all but ceased. It was like a completely different league.

If you can get a guy to stop and think before he swings at the guy he is really pissed at, he'll sure as hell think twice before he calls the ref an ass or slams the penalty box door.

[Chadd 916]

There's one of those guys on my team, 4 times a season or so a 2 min minor turns into an ejection for whining, bitching and door slamming. Peer pressure has been unsuccessful.

The solution is not suspension this is America hit him where it matters...$$$. I played in a league in Calgary before moving to Tampa that was plagued with fights numerous good, rough old time hockey fights. Then they implemented an automatic $100 fine for fighting payable before you set foot on the ice again. Overnight fighting all but ceased. It was like a completely different league.

If you can get a guy to stop and think before he swings at the guy he is really pissed at, he'll sure as hell think twice before he calls the ref an ass or slams the penalty box door.

Easier solution is to not invite the guy back to your team next season. At that point he's no longer your problem. Our league decided to remove the captain/team rep suspension after 15 penalties rule for this season. Not surprisingly, penalties are way up this season but they are more evenly distributed than in the past.

[number21 3]

They made the punishment tougher for my league this season. Now for abbuse of the officials or refusing to leave the ice/building if you are ejected is a minimum 2 game suspension (about $50 if you break down the cost)

I have a feeling a guy or two on my team may get hit with this. we have some hotheads, but usually the captain can talk them down or can get them on the bench right away.

[hunterphfr 12]

I never thought of the immediate intervention idea, we usually try and talk some sense into him after the game. By the next game it's all gone.

[GSHL99 0]

In our beer league a first misconduct gets you a one game suspension, a second 4-8 games, a third is usually a years suspension but with the option of a life time ban.