1. Due Process - what is it? If you are suspended, fined or expelled from hockey, you would want: A. Notice, preferably in writing, of the specific offenses with which you are charged; B. An opportunity to defend yourself and a reasonable time within which you are charged; C. The right to have counsel represent you if you wish; D. A hearing before a disinterested, objective body at a specific time under such circumstances as to give you full opportunity to present your defense; and E. Notice of how to appeal the decision if it is against you.

2. When and where can you be suspended? A. At a game; B. At a tournament (local, regional or national); C. After a game; D. At an off-season sanctioned event upon discovery of a violation; E. For violations of player registration or team registration rules (either USA Hockey or local or league rules upon discovery of the violation); F. For violations of tournament rules (local, invitational, regional or national upon discovery of the violation).

3. Who can suspend you? A. A referee; B. A tournament discipline or grievance committee; C. A league, local association or USA Hockey Council that has jurisdiction over your hockey program; D. Affiliate or State Associations; E. USA Hockey Executive Committee; F. USA Hockey Board of Directors.

4. Who can be suspended, fined or expelled? A. Players; B. Coaches; C. Administrators; D. Referees; E. Game officials; F. Hockey associations (local, state or affiliate); G. Registered teams; H. Allied members.

5. What can cause you to be suspended? A. Violations of playing rules: i. Game Misconduct 404(d); ii. Gross Misconduct 404(f); iii. Match Penalty 405(c); iv. Supplementary Discipline 410(a); v. Assault of Officials 601 (g)1, or 601(j)1; Suspensions resulting from violation of the above rules are not considered a "Local Suspension" for hearings provided in USA Hockey By-Laws. These rules are needed to properly supervise hockey games by the referees and other game officials; and are an exception to the Sports Act and the Constitution and By-laws of the United States Olympic Committee. vi. Other playing rules - Local or Regional. B. Other Rule/Regulation violations: i. Violations of registration rules - local, district, affiliate, USA Hockey; ii. Violations of player transfer rules; iii. Violations of Special Sanction events; e.g. summer tournaments; iv. Conduct unbecoming the sport of ice hockey.

6. What is a hearing? A. A meeting demanded by the suspended person, or required by the rules of either USA Hockey or a local organization, where the person or persons who have charged another with a violation of a rule or regulation must prove the rule violation which has caused or required the suspension; B. A hearing is convened by a panel of at least 3 people (always an odd number) who will listen to the evidence presented by the party supporting the suspension, who has the burden of proving the violation. The violation must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence presented - (more likely true than not true); C. The person charged may present evidence on his/her behalf, and may be represented by counsel; D. Any relevant evidence to the incident may be submitted. The Rules of Evidence that apply to judicial proceedings shall not apply at the hearing; E. The hearing body upon demand before the hearing, shall record the full hearing, except its deliberations. It shall prepare written findings of what it determines happened and its decision within 5 business days from the date of the hearing. It shall then deliver its decision promptly thereafter to any person suspended and the suspending authority; F. The hearing body may limit the time each side has to present its case, provided each side has equal time allotted to it.

7. Appeals. A. Any person suspended may, after a hearing and decision, appeal an order of suspension to the appropriate appeal authority. i. Playing rule suspensions or suspensions of by-laws or rules of local, league or district organizations shall be appealed to the Board of Directors of the State Association or, where no State organization, to the Affiliate Association Board of Directors; or the designated committee of such Board of Directors. ii. A referee suspension, if appealed, shall be to a committee of the District Referee-in-Chief, the Affiliate Association President, or his/her designee, and a person selected by those two. iii. Regional or National Tournament rules or special jurisdictional hockey association rules shall be to the USA Hockey Council that has jurisdiction over the program. B. The appealing person, or organization, must notify the suspending authority of the appeal within 10 days from the receipt of the decision, otherwise the suspension shall be final. C. The written statement of why the suspension should be overruled, or reversed, shall be delivered to the appropriate appeal authority within 30 days of the decision appealed from. D. Any suspension shall be in force and in effect until it expires or the appeal authority modifies it. E. The appeal authority may hold a hearing, at its option, or consider the appeal on the written submissions of the parties to the appeal. The decision of the appeal authority shall be of the full body. F. The appeal authority must decide the appeal within 10 days from the submissions to it. G. The appeal authority may affirm, reverse or modify any suspension as it deems proper under the circumstances before it. H. Except for suspensions of Affiliate Associations, or expulsions of any person or organization from USA Hockey, there are no further appeals.