Who we are

SIMSBURY YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (SYHA) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Simsbury Youth Hockey Association (SYHA) is organized to provide a recreational amateur hockey program with an emphasis on skill development and competition. SYHA serves a core geographic area including the towns of Simsbury, Granby, East Granby, Canton, Bloomfield, Suffield, Burlington, Hartland, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, Colebrook, Winchester, Torrington, and Harwinton; residents of other towns may register as participants in SYHA subject to the limitations and requirements of Registration policy.  Prospective members of SYHA should read our policies closely. House and Girls team registrations will be open to all players regardless of town or residence.

SYHA recognizes a broad range of abilities and commitment among its participants and strives to provide appropriate instruction and competition within the constraints of cost and available ice time. SYHA does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, national origin, or religious affiliation and seeks to place enrolled players with similar desires and assessed abilities together on teams or in similar groups to maximize enjoyment for all participants. 

Our policies are a statement of purpose of the experience, philosophy, and procedures governing the operation of SYHA and supplements its By-Laws. Policies are definitive and any deviations or changes shall be initiated through the Policy Committee and shall be approved by the Board. Occasionally, it is necessary for the Board of Directors of SYHA or its representatives to take additional action(s) not specified in Policy. They are empowered to do so at their discretion in support of SYHA’s stated goals and the policies outlined here. 

SIMSBURY YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (SYHA) CORE GEOGRAPHIC AREA

For the purpose of Policy, SYHA’s Core Geographic Area is defined to include the towns of Simsbury, Granby, East Granby, Canton, Bloomfield, Suffield, Burlington, Hartland, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, Colebrook, Winchester, Torrington, and Harwinton.

No exceptions will be made to this definition. The Board may, at its sole discretion, amend or redefine the Core Geographic Area in the best interests of the program prior to the beginning of the next registration cycle. 

For the purposes of the registration Process, “SYHA Players” are defined as:

1. All players, returning or new registrants, residing in SYHA’s Core Geographic Area, and
2. Siblings of current SYHA players from outside the Core Geographic Area.

House and Girls registration will be open to all players regardless of town or residence.

Potential travel team (Mite through Midget) players from outside the Core Geographic Area will be considered Alternate Applicants.  Soon after the registration deadline and based on the numbers of registered SYHA players, SYHA will determine the number of teams it will support for each Division for the upcoming season and its ability to accept Alternate Applicants. Decisions regarding the acceptance of Alternate Applicants will be made at the sole discretion of SYHA according to the needs of the program. There is no guarantee that Alternate Applicants will have a spot in SYHA for the upcoming season.

General Code of Conduct. All coaches, players, and parents will display good sportsmanship in their conduct at all SYHA activities and will at all times conduct themselves appropriately. Players, parents and coaches must adhere to the SYHA Code of Conduct and abide by all provisions at all times or be subject to disciplinary action by the Board. In particular, but not exclusively, the following standards of conduct shall be observed:

• Foul, disrespectful, or abusive language or gestures by any SYHA player, coach, parent, or associated spectator will not be tolerated
• Harassment of officials, players, coaches, or spectators by any SYHA player, coach, parent, or associated spectator will not be tolerated
• Currently-promulgated USA Hockey rules, including without limitation policies on sexual and physical abuse, shall govern the conduct of all SYHA coaches, players, parents, and associated volunteers unless the rules and regulations of SYHA impose a higher standard of conduct. Copies of USA Hockey rules and regulations are available upon request by the President.
• Any behavior, whether specifically associated with SYHA activities or distinct from them, deemed inappropriate by the Board, in its sole discretion.

Players' Conduct. In addition to the general standards of conduct set forth above, players shall observe any reasonable, non-discriminatory, and fairly-applied team rule clearly communicated to players and parents by a coach. In particular, but not exclusively, players may be disciplined for:

• Continued unexcused absences from practices
• Insubordination
• Hazing or other abusive treatment of other players
• Stealing property or equipment
• Destruction or damage to another person's property
• Destruction or damage to facilities used by SYHA and it’s opponents
• Use of alcohol or other controlled substances, including illegal drugs of any kind
• Lack of adherence to player code of conduct in locker rooms - Locker Room Policy

Enforcement. Head Coaches and Division Directors will be responsible for enforcing SYHA standards of conduct expected of players, parents, and associated spectators and will attempt to resolve minor violations involving the general standards of conduct mentioned above at the team level. All violations of standards of conduct (coaches, players, parents), will be reported in writing by the Head Coach to the Division Director, who will then share the report with the Director of Coaching, the Vice President of On-Ice Operations, the Vice President of Policy, and the President. The Division Director, the Director of Coaching, the Vice President of On-Ice Operations, the Vice President of Policy, and the President will have the power, after notice and hearing, to suspend the offending party from practices or games for any reasonable term, or to end further participation in the SYHA program depending, at their sole discretion, upon the severity of the offense. Their decision in all such disciplinary matters is final.

The Vice President of On-Ice Operations, the Division Director, and the Director of Coaching will be responsible for enforcing standards of conduct expected of coaches, and will attempt to resolve minor violations of the standards of conduct. If the matter is unresolved, the Division Director will notify the Vice President of Policy and the President in writing and schedule a meeting with the Head Coach, the Division Director, the Director of Coaching, the Vice President of On-Ice Operations, the Vice President of Policy, and the President. The Division Director, the Director of Coaching, the Vice President of On-Ice Operations, the Vice President of Policy, and the President will have the power, after notice and hearing, to suspend the offending party from practices or games for any reasonable term, or to end further participation in the SYHA program depending, at their sole discretion, upon the severity of the offense. Their decision in all such disciplinary matters is final.

Parent Participation. SYHA is an all-volunteer organization. Parents are instrumental in all aspects of SYHA’s operations: as Board Members, as coaches, as team managers, as game-timers and scorers, and in many other ways. Simply put, SYHA could not function without the on-going commitment of parent volunteers. During the year SYHA organizes and runs various events – often fund-raising efforts - to benefit all participants in the organization. All parents are asked to donate their time and energies and to help with these events as much as possible.

Parents are invited to attend SYHA Board meetings; this invitation will be specifically reiterated annually in the President's welcoming letter. Parents may question policies or procedures of SYHA at any time and are invited to address any comments or questions to the appropriate Division Director and/or Head Coach who shall attempt to address any concern in a manner consistent with the philosophy of SYHA.

The Division Director or Head Coach will promptly refer all concerns not addressed to the satisfaction of the parent(s) affected to the Vice President of Policy. If the matter remains unresolved to the satisfaction of the parent(s) affected, the Vice President of Policy will notify the President. The President will consult with all affected and interested parties and render a decision at his/her sole discretion. The decisions of the President in all such matters are final.

President's Letter. The President will prepare an annual letter to be sent to parents at the beginning of the season. This letter will communicate the broad goals and philosophy of SYHA, the standards of conduct required of all participants, and refer parents to this Policy Paper for further information about SYHA’s program, policies, and procedures.