TOURNAMENT RULES RIGA HOCKEY CUP 2024

A. All the games of the tournament are in accordance with the International Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) rules with following additions/exceptions:

A1. U-18 for players born in 2006 and younger.

A2. U-16 for players born in 2008 and younger.

A3. U-15 for players born in 2009 and younger.

A4. U-14 for players born in 2010 and younger.

A5. U-13 for players born in 2011 and younger.

A6. U-12 for players born in 2012 and younger.

A7. U-11 for players born in 2013 and younger.

A8. U-10 for players born in 2014 and younger.

A9. U-9 for players born in 2015 and younger.

No overage players are allowed in the tournament.

Requests for any overage players should be forwarded to the Tournament Committee not later than 14 days before the tournament commences. Overage players added to the line up without a request made in advance as mentioned above will not be accepted anymore in the tournament under any circumstances.

Exceptions:

Club teams (NO select teams) are entitled to have a maximum of 3 overage players in their team under the following conditions:
1. The player concerned received official dispensation from the National (or regional) Federation to participate in a lower age group during the regular season.
2. The player concerned has not played in his own age group during the regular season.
3. Dispensation should be requested at least 2 weeks before the tournament commences and the player is only entitled to participate as soon as the organizing committee grants approval. Official documentation should be sent to the organizers.
4. Girls are entitled to play 1 age group, based on 2 years of birth, lower.

B. 22 players can be applied per team (including 2 goalkeepers). Exceptions are allowed only by agreement with the organizers of the tournament. The maximum team staff of trainers, managers and other representatives is limited up till 3 persons. Exceptions are allowed only by agreement with the organizers of the tournament.

C. All the participants are required to have an ID or a copy of ID in person during the tournament, which can be asked to be provided if necessary. If an ID cannot be provided, the organizers can decide on giving the team a technical loss.

D. The team must be ready to come on ice 5 minutes before the game starts. Otherwise, the organizers can decide on giving the team a technical loss of 0:5.

E. The team which is called out first is the home-team, and accordingly, the second called out team is the guest-team. The home-team plays in dark-colored forms, and consequently, the guest-team plays in the light-colored forms.

F. The home-team takes the seats on the right side.

G1. Under no circumstances it is allowed to switch players between teams if a club has two or several teams in 1 age group. Otherwise, the organizers can decide on giving the team a technical loss of 0:5 and/or  disqualification from the tournament.

G2. No players can be added to the line up anymore after the first game commences. All players to be used during the weekend should be entered in the line up before the first game.

H. The representatives of the tournament are not responsible for any team’s lost/damaged inventory of personal belongings. Do not leave any valuables in the dressing rooms.

I. Hockey sticks can only be used during on ice games. The use of hockey sticks outside the ice (inside or outside around the accommodation) is not allowed. In case of violation, the responsible player/players might be disqualified from the tournament. This decision can also be taken by the arena staff.

J. The representatives of the tournament do not take responsibility for any team’s lost/damaged inventory or other personal belongings.

K. The duration of a game is 3 x 15 minutes (running time). The last two minutes of the third period – stop time. The maximum duration of a single game is 60 minutes (including warm-up), if a referee of the particular game has not decided otherwise.

Exception: Games in the U-9 and U-10 tournament are 1 x 35 minutes (running time) and the last two minutes of the game – stop time. The maximum duration of a single game is 45 minutes (including warm-up).

L. During the first or preliminary round all teams will play each other once. For second round games and finals we refer to the format of each individual tournament.

M. Points:
1. 3 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time
2. 1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied
3. 0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time

N. TIE BREAKING SYSTEM (not in accordance with IIHF rules)
1. If two (2) teams end up with equal points:
1.1 The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence.
1.2 If the game between the two (2) teams is also a draw, the better goal difference in the group games concerned is taken into consideration;
1.3 If the (better) goal difference is equal, the higher number of goals scored in the group games concerned is taken into consideration.
1.4 If the (higher) number of goals scored is equal, the total number of penalty minutes in the group games concerned is taken into consideration. The higher place is taken by the team with less penalty minutes.
1.5 If the total number of minutes is equal, the tournament organizers will draw the final placing for the teams in the group concerned in front of the representatives of both teams.

2. If three (3) or more teams end up with equal points:
2.1 Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly based on the higher number of points.
2.2 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal points, the better goal difference in the sub group games concerned is taken into consideration;
2.3 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal goal difference, the higher number of goals scored in the sub-group games concerned is taken into consideration.
2.4 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal number of goals scored, the total number of penalty minutes in the sub-group games concerned is taken into consideration. The higher place is taken by the team with less penalty minutes.
2.5 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal number of penalty minutes, the better goal difference in the original group games concerned is taken into consideration;
2.6 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal goal difference in the original group games, the higher number of goals scored in the group games concerned is taken into consideration.
2.7 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal numbers of goals scored in the original group games, the total number of penalty minutes in the group games concerned is taken into consideration. The higher place is taken by the team with less penalty minutes.
2.8 If two (2) or more teams end up with equal number of penalty minutes in the original group games, the tournament organizers will draw the final placing for the teams in the group concerned in front of the representatives of both teams.

O. If the result in the play-offs is a draw, a shoot-out serie of 3 penalty shots takes place to determine the winner, with the home team taking the first shot. If a winner is still not determined, the teams continue with a single shot with the guest team taking the first shot until a decision is made.

P. The first three shots are taken by different players. After that, the same player may take several shots. A player still serving a penalty at the end of the regular time can not take a penalty shot.

Q. In case of a draw in the final game for 1st and 2nd place, a sudden death overtime of 5 minutes takes place until a team scores a goal in a 3 against 3 player format. If the winner is not determined by then, a serie of penalty shoot-outs takes place as per  point O. mentioned above.

R. Penalties:

1. Minor penalty – 2 minutes (running time)
2. Major penalty – 5 minutes (running time)
3. Game Misconduct penalty (5+20) – A player/team official, who has been given a Game Misconduct penalty is sent away from the field for the rest of the game. If the same player/team official is given a second Game Misconduct penalty in the tournament, he is suspended for the next game. In case the same player/team official received a third Game Misconduct Penalty he is disqualified for the tournament entirely.

S. Body checking is prohibited in the U12, U11, U10 and U9 age groups.

T. For U12, U11, U10 and U9 age groups games are being played not taking into consideration icing rule.

U. For U9 age group games are being played not taking into consideration offside rule. The U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 or U-18 team that committed the offside rule is prohibited from changing players (and the goalkeeper) as per IIHF standard (U-10, U-11 and U-12 are allowed to change players).

V. U-9 and U-10 group teams do not change sides after the break to make it easier for players to change.

Z. The organizers of the tournament keep the rights to make decisions over situations not mentioned or covered in the tournament rules and regulations.