Parent Guide

On the Ice - Games

• For games, only players and team officials that are listed on a team’s roster are allowed on the player bench (per USA Hockey rule 107b.) 

On the Ice - All Events

• Players must wear proper protective equipment at all times - including pads, helmets, mouth guards, and neck guards.
• For all events at Trinity Pawling, all adults must wear a helmet when on the ice.

Locker Room

• Players may not enter the locker rooms unattended and must be supervised by either a parent or coach at all times.
• No food or drink is allowed in the locker room except for water bottles.
• No individual — player, coach, staff, or parent — may use the recording or photographic capabilities of any device capable of capturing images or video (including mobile phones, cameras, smartwatches, or any other recording device) in a locker room or changing area.
• Players may possess mobile phones in the locker room but must not use them to take photographs, video, or audio recordings of any other person.
• Violation of this prohibition may result in immediate removal from the locker room, suspension, or expulsion from PHA programs, and may be referred to law enforcement.
• Exception — Celebratory Photographs and Recordings: Photographs or recordings may be taken in a locker room in limited celebratory circumstances, such as a victory celebration or team party, provided that: (a) all persons present are appropriately dressed; (b) all persons present have been advised in advance that photographs or recordings are being taken; and (c) no individual is photographed or recorded without their knowledge. This exception does not alter any other requirement of this policy, including the two-adult rule.
• Exception — Music Streaming: A coach’s device may be used solely to stream age-appropriate music in the locker room before or after a game or practice. The device must not be used to capture images, video, or audio recordings of any participant while in the locker room.

24-Hour Rule

Hockey can be an emotional experience. The excitement and energy generated during games can often spill off the ice and create strong reactions in coaches and parents. As parents, we will not always agree with a coach's decision. However, it is important to recognize that the coach's role is to make decisions for the team first and a player second. Also, we need to understand that most players are not aware of any problem until we, as parents, bring it to their attention. For parents, it is important to separate their child’s hockey development from game time emotions. For this reason, we adopted the “24-Hour Rule” which includes the following:

• Coaches will not discuss a game, or situation in a game, until at least 24 hours after the game was completed. 
• Parents/guardians are not allowed to confront a coach, team, player, PHA board member, or league official to discuss any “negative” game or practice situation(s) with the coaches and PHA Board until at least 24 hours have passed from the completion of the game or practice.
• Violation of the 24-hour rule policy will result in Parent being suspended for 7 calendar days.

If parents respect the 24-hour rule, their concerns are more likely to be fully addressed in a reasonable discussion. More importantly, a child's enjoyment of a game won’t be marred by an ill-timed confrontation. The intent of this rule is to move an emotional and confrontational discussion away from the presence of the players, and to allow the parties to "cool off", compose themselves, and put the incident or situation that occurred in the game in perspective before meeting to discuss it.

Screening

• All coaches, program administrators, board members, team managers, hired skating/hockey instructors, and any other members of PHA that have routine access to our players must be screened.  CHC has adopted a policy of screening returning coaches, administrators, etc. every other year. 

• USA Hockey and CHC have a mandatory screening policy to help protect the youth that participate in our sport. In short, “It is the policy of USA Hockey that it will not authorize or sanction in its programs that it directly controls any volunteer or employee who has routine access to children (anyone under the age of majority) who refuses to consent to be screened by USA Hockey before he/she is allowed to have routine access to children in USA Hockey’s programs. Further, it is the policy of USA Hockey that it will require the affiliates to adopt this policy as a condition of its affiliation with USA Hockey.”  

Parent/Player Conduct

All members of the PHA must adhere to the following policies. Any violations of such polices will be subject to immediate review, and further actions may be taken if necessary:

• USA Hockey Player Code of Conduct - to be signed by every new player
• USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy - acknowledgement and compliance with policy is required for both parent and player as a part of our registration process

Anti-Bullying Policy

PHA has adopted its own anti-bullying policy. We consider that policy to be a range of behavior from verbal teasing to physical aggression, and that no amount of bullying is acceptable. 

Not all joking or horseplay is bullying, but when the intent or effect is to cause distress, repetition of such behavior is bullying and will not be tolerated. Physical bullying can include pushing, hitting, or kicking a person or interfering with their property. Verbal bullying is the use of words or gestures to hurt or humiliate another person, including name-calling, insults and teasing.

It is the responsibility of everyone to stop bullying. If you are being bullied, or know of someone being bullied, you must tell your coach or a member of the PHA Board as soon as possible.

If a person involved is a member of the PHA (including players, coaches, managers, parents and volunteers) has taken part in bullying behavior, a warning will be given. If the behavior continues, that person may be suspended or excluded from the rink for up to three full games. Any further incidents will be referred to the PHA Board for further action. These followup actions can include further warnings, discussions with parents, further suspensions or exclusions, ineligibility for tournaments and playoffs, and removal from the team.

Attendance & Committment

Hockey is a team sport and attendance at all practices, games, and tournaments is part of the commitment that your child and your family is making to their teammates and coaches. A typical week at Putnam includes at least two hours of practice and two games, with travel times of up to 90 minutes from Putnam. Putnam understands that 100% attendance over the course of the season at all events may not be possible. The expectation is that players will make every effort to honor their commitment to their team. In all cases where an event will be missed, the reason for missing should be conveyed to the coach as soon as practical and preferably at least 24 hours before the event.

Players who accept a position on a Putnam travel team agree to attend two out-of-town tournaments and an end-of-season state tournament. Putnam practices in the weeks immediately preceding state tournaments are mandatory.  

Missed games and practices may result in a loss of playing time, to be decided at the coach’s discretion, based on the legitimacy of the absence. Legitimate absences include, but are not limited to, illness, injury, and participation in mandatory school and religious activities. Repeated absences may result in a loss of playing time and a reduction in a player’s prospects for selection in future years.

While on Trinity Pawling School Grounds

• Smoking is not allowed on school property.
• There is no parking on either the drive or the sidewalk leading up to the rink entrance. This is a No Parking Zone that needs to be kept clear for emergencies.
• There is no parking behind the Zamboni garage area past the gate.
• All spectators must adhere to USA Hockey’s Zero Tolerance Policy. On-ice officials will stop the game when any spectators displaying inappropriate and disruptive behavior interfere with other spectators or participants of the game. The on-ice officials will identify violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing them from the spectator’s viewing area of the game. Once removed, play will resume. Lost time will not be replaced, and violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local governing body. Examples of inappropriate behavior include:
• Using obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
• Taunting players, coaches, officials or other spectators by means of baiting, ridiculing, threatening player violence, or actual player violence.
• Throwing any object in the spectator’s viewing area, players’ benches, penalty box or on-ice surface that in any manner creates a safety hazard.
• All individuals, including coaches, managers, and players, must wear approved headgear while on the ice.
• Coaches should refrain from putting out nets or blue dividers while the Zamboni is still on the ice. THIS IS NOT SAFE, and the water also needs a chance to freeze to prevent ridges that cause tripping hazards. 
• The doors to the ice should remain closed, and players should remain seated on the benches until the operator has completed his job and the Zamboni has returned to the garage.

Parent and Guardian Conduct

General Standards

Parents and guardians play a vital role in creating a safe and positive environment for all participants. Consistent with the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s standards and USA Hockey’s member conduct expectations, PHA requires all parents and guardians to conduct themselves in a manner that supports the physical and emotional well-being of every athlete. The following standards apply to all PHA events, including games, practices, tournaments, and any associated travel.

Spectator Conduct at Games and Practices

• Parents and guardians and all other spectators must conduct themselves with respect and sportsmanship at all times. Positive encouragement of all players — including opponents — is expected. Taunting, heckling, or demeaning remarks directed at players, officials, coaches, or other spectators are prohibited.
• Parents and guardians may not approach, confront, or argue with officials, opposing coaches, or opposing players or their families during or after a game. Concerns about officiating or coaching decisions should be raised calmly and privately with the head coach or PHA Board at an appropriate time and place.
• Profanity, abusive language, or threats directed at any individual — whether player, coach, official, or spectator — will result in immediate removal from the facility. Violations may result in the parent or guardian being banned from PHA games, practices, and events.
• Parents and guardians must not coach from the stands. During games and practices, instruction and direction of players is the exclusive responsibility of credentialed PHA coaches.

Interaction with Coaches and Staff

• Parents and guardians who wish to discuss a concern about playing time, team dynamics, or coaching decisions must request a meeting with the head coach at a mutually agreeable time. Unless otherwise instructed by the coach, all parent-coach meetings must include the player. Approaching a coach during or immediately before or after a game or practice is a violation of PHA’s 24-Hour Rule.
• Parents and guardians must respect the authority and judgment of PHA coaching staff during team activities. Persistent interference with coaching decisions, or attempts to undermine a coach’s authority with players or other families, constitutes a violation of this policy.
• Parents and guardians may not enter the bench area, ice surface, or team locker room during or immediately following a game or practice without the explicit permission of the head coach or a PHA official.

Interaction with Minor Athletes

• Parents and guardians may not engage in physical or verbal conduct toward any minor athlete — including their own child — that constitutes intimidation, emotional abuse, or harassment, whether at the rink or in any other setting connected to PHA activities. This includes conduct transmitted electronically or through social media.
• Parents and guardians who are not credentialed PHA volunteers may not have unsupervised, one-on-one contact with minor athletes other than their own child. Any adult who wishes to work directly with players must complete the background screening and SafeSport training requirements.
• Parents and guardians must not pressure their child, or any other player, regarding performance, playing time, team selection, or development decisions. The psychological well-being of minor athletes is a core Safe Sport value, and conduct that causes emotional harm to a player — even when well-intentioned — may constitute abuse under USA Hockey’s Safe Sport standards.

Social Media and Electronic Communication

• Parents and guardians must not post content on any social media platform that demeans, embarrasses, or identifies any minor athlete, coach, official, or family connected to PHA or any opposing organization in a negative manner. This includes photographs, video, and written commentary.
• Parents and guardians may not initiate or engage in electronic communication — including text, email, or direct messaging via social media — with minor athletes other than their own child in connection with PHA activities, unless such communication is copied to the player’s parent or guardian and the head coach, and a legitimate team-related purpose is evident.
• Photography and video recording of players at games or practices is permitted for personal, non-commercial use. Parents and guardians must not publish or distribute images or videos of any minor athlete other than their own child without the written consent of that child’s parent or guardian.

Reporting Misconduct by Parents or Guardians

• Any participant who witnesses conduct by a parent or guardian that violates this policy is encouraged to report it to the head coach, a PHA Board member, or the PHA SafeSport Coordinator. Where the alleged conduct involves abuse or harm to a minor athlete, mandatory reporting obligations under USA Hockey Safe Sport Policies may apply.
• Reports will be reviewed by the PHA Board or its designated committee. The PHA Board reserves the right to remove a parent or guardian from a game or practice, restrict their attendance at PHA events, or, in serious cases, suspend or revoke the participation privileges of their registered player, consistent with applicable due process protections.
• Retaliation against any individual who reports a concern in good faith is prohibited and constitutes an independent violation of this policy.

PHA Inclement Weather Policy

The safety of our families is our priority and decisions are made based first and foremost on safety.

PHA will not penalize a player in any way for missing a game or practice due to bad weather. Each family must decide based on their own comfort level with the given situation. We encourage all of its members to be safe when deciding to drive to a game in inclement weather.

PHA will play regularly scheduled games and practices unless: 

1. The rink hosting our game or practice closes. 
2. The State declares a "State of Emergency" and/or issues a Travel Warning, which closes the roads to public travel.  
3. Any unforeseen condition occurs that could jeopardize ones safety. This decision will be made at the PHA board's discretion.   

Decisions made to cancel will be broadcast through the PHA email and PHA social media outlets.