The Fair Play program, which rewards teams for showcasing proper behavior during competition, has been lauded as one of the top behavior-influencing programs in youth hockey since being implemented in the 2004-05 season.
Under the Fair Play system, teams earn an extra point (Fair Play Point or FPP) in their district or league standings for staying under the established threshold for penalty minutes and avoiding inappropriate behavior by coaches or spectators. While Fair Play does not impact the outcome of individual games, consistently good (or bad) behavior can have a cumulative effect on league standings and playoff seedings, encouraging players, coaches and parents to display positive behavior at all events.
Coaches and parents play key roles in educating young players on body positioning, body contact skills, how to show good sportsmanship and to respect the rules, officials and opponents during games. Fair Play Points provide an additional incentive for teams to spend time focusing on each of these areas and doing them consistently.
Below are the official requirements for teams to earn their Fair Play point.
Level | Minutes | Level | Minutes |
---|---|---|---|
Squirt | 10 min | Girls 10U | 8 min |
Peewee | 12 min | Girls 12U | 10 min |
Bantam | 14 min | Girls 15U | 12 min |
Youth 16U | 16 min | Girls 16U | 14 min |
Junior Gold | 16 min | Girls 19U | 14 min |
Note: If a coach is assessed a game misconduct or match penalty, a spectator is requested to leave the arena by an official, or a player receives a match penalty for an obscene gesture or offensive/hateful/discriminatory language, that team will not be eligible for a Fair Play Point regardless of their total penalty minutes.
Penalty Classification | PIM Equivalent |
---|---|
Minor or Bench Minor | 2 minutes |
Major | 5 minutes |
Minor & Misconduct (2 & 10) | 12 minutes |
Misconduct (10) | 10 minutes |
Mouthguard Misconduct | 2 minutes |
Game Misconduct | 10 minutes |
Match | 10 minutes |
Penalty Shot | Equivalent to penalty assessed |