USFHL CONSTITUTION:

Commissioner:  Jason Goldberg, handles the day to day operations of the league including - annual draft, trades, website hosting/updating, league update and play block backup files, receiving/import game results & boxscores & the constitution.

Co-Commissioners: JJ Legree - responsible for checking mgr files to ensure they comply with league rules, monitoring player usage, Yuku Board Moderator & compiling league and team statistics reports.  Chris Halleran - responsible for our league schedule

League Structure:

• 24 USFHL teams. 
• 2 Conferences with 12 teams each consisting of 3 Divisions with 4 teams each.
• 82 game Unbalanced schedule with Inter-Conference games.
• Schedule:  8 games Vs. each Divisional opponent (8x3=24 games), 4 games Vs. each Same Conference opponent (4x8=32 games), 2 games Vs. each Other Conference opponent (2x12=24) and the final 2 games* Vs. a divisional opponent based on the prior year standings as follows, 1 & 2, 3 & 4 paired (2x1=2).  *In Year IV match-ups pairings are: Toronto/Oakland, Orleans/Carbondale, MadCity/Quebec City, Texas/Oakdale, West Chester/Vancouver, Hartford/Hawaii, Long Island/Woodbridge, Gatineau/Port Moody, Minnesota/Garland, Missouri/Acadie, Chicago/Suffern & Broadway/Mesquite  
• The 3 Division Winners qualify as Seeds #1, #2 and #3 for the playoffs.  
• The next best 5 Conference Records qualify as Seeds #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8.
• Round 1 - Quarter Finals - #8 Vs. #1, #7 Vs. #2, #6 Vs. #3 and #5 Vs. #4; Round 2 - Semi Finals and Round 3 - Conference Finals
• The lower # seeded team will have home ice advantage.
• The Conference Champion with the higher # of points in the Regular Season will have the home ice advantage in the USFHL Cup Finals.
• All Playoff Series are Best of 7 format with 2H, 2A, 1H, 1A, 1H schedule.
• NHL rules regarding tie-breakers will be used.  Under NHL rules, if two teams end the season tied in points, the order of tiebreakers is victories, head-to-head records and goal differential.

League Requirements:

• Strat-o-Matic Version V9.00d Computer Hockey.  The USFHL will use the latest version of the game each season.
• 2008-09 Season disk
• YAHOO IM buddy name
• Yuku Board Private Forum Group membership
• $7.00 USD or CAD annual league fee per season payable through paypal to usf@rogers.com

Maintaining Membership in the USFHL:

• The commissioner of the USFHL will remove any owner that clearly demonstrates a lack of commitment & respect for the league.  If you do not meet deadlines and / or choose to disrespect other members and / or fail to meet the league requirements you will be promptly removed from the USFHL.  All league rules are enforced as written.

League Draft:

• Each USFHL team will draft 30 players.
• Each team will be able to protect a maximum of 18 players.
• Anyone that appears in the computer version of the game is eligible to be drafted as long as their actual card is based on the regular season.
• Uncarded players can be protected.  There is no limit to the amount of uncarded players that can be protected as long as the league minimum requirements are met.
• Trading is allowed during the draft in accordance to our trading rules.
• USFHL draft order for the following seasons:  League Champion selects last, Playoff teams are then ranked in order based on how far they reached in the playoffs and then the non-playoff teams.  The bottom 4 teams each year will be ranked based on the lottery system for Round 1 only.  After Round 1, the bottom 4 teams will be ranked in accordance to actual record.  When necessary in each of the above groupings, a teams conference standing and or league record for that year will be used to settle any tie-breakers.  All tie-breakers will be in accordance to NHL rules.
• Non-playoff teams lottery:  The team with the worst record will receive 4 tickets, the team with the 2nd worst record will receive three tickets, the team with the 3rd worst record will receive 2 tickets and the team with the 4th worst record will receive 1 ticket.  These tickets will be pooled and a lottery will take place in order to determine the draft order for the first 4 picks in Round 1 only.  This lottery will be done live on AOL IM using a Chat Room and will take place shortly after the League Champion has been crowned.
• Round 1 to Round 6 are single selection rounds.  Round 7 to Round 9 are double selection rounds.  Round 10 is the final round and all USFHL teams will complete their draft at their selection.
• Once a team reaches 30 players their draft is complete and all draft picks remaining for this team will be skipped.

League Play:

• The USFHL will play its games in blocks.  There will be 12 blocks in total for USFHL Year VI - 2007-08 Season.
• Coaches will play their home games for the regular season and playoffs.
• Teams will use 4 offensive lines and 3 defenseman pairings for all periods in all blocks during the regular season and playoffs.  In OT during the regular season and playoffs, a team will be allowed to use 3 offensive lines and 2 defensive pairings.
• Cards per forward line change is 3, Cards per defensive pair line change is 3.
• The USFHL will be using Computer Line Changes with Human Decisions to simplify game play.  Each line must see the ice in sequence before a line is repeated.  For example;  Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4, you cannot do this:  Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 1, Line 4.   No player may double shift.  
• The USFHL requires the Visiting Teams to keep the same line up rotation throughout the game during the regular season and playoffs ie., FWD Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4 and DEF Line 1, Line 2, Line 3.  For OT during the regular season and playoffs it would be:  FWD Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 and DEF Line 1, Line 2.  This will allow the Home GM to match lines for the entire game.  Notes:  The home team will be able to match up lines in each game, by viewing their opponents lines in the computer manager report by going to TEAM - DISPLAY REPORTS - COMPUTER MANAGER REPORTS even though we will be using the lock computer manager function.  The lock computer manager function will block player/team tendencies.
• Each head coach can create a minimum of 4 or a maximum of 12 forward lines.  If more than 4 lines are going to be used the following format should be set-up as follows:  1a, 2a, 3a, 4a - 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b - 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c;  the "a" lines could be designated for the 1st period, "b" lines for the 2nd period and the "c" lines for the 3rd period.  At no time can these lines "a", "b" and "c" be mixed up within a single period.
• Each coach can create up to 5 defensive pairings.  For the regular season and playoffs each team requires 3 sets of defensemen, however;  in OT during the regular season and the playoffs each team will be dropping down to 2 sets of defensemen.  For example a head coach may use this format;  Line 1 - (1 and 4), Line 2 - (2 and 5), Line 3 - (3 and 6), Line 4 (1 and 2) and Line 5 (3 and 4).
• Teams will use 3 Power Play lines and 3 Penalty Kill Lines for special teams.  A Player can only appear on one of the 2 main Power Play Lines and one of the 2 main Penalty Kill Lines.  Only forwards rated to as P** may play the point on the power play.   The Power Play unit must consist of at least one defensemen.  The Penalty Kill unit must consist of two defensemen.
• Each head coach can only change the offensive/defensive settings during a stop in play ie., Face-off and Line Change situation.
• The "Remove if Fatigued" function for goalies will not be used in the USFHL.
• Home Rink Advantage max rule will not be used.
• Skater Fatigue System max rule will not be used.
• The Alternate Passing System max rule will be used.
• The Support Low Penalty Minutes max rule will be used.
• No Rest will be used.
• Lock Code function will be allowed.  The commissioner will supply each owner with their own lock code.  A master lock code list will be kept by only the commissioner.
• Injuries will not be used.
• (4 on 4) OT for 5 minutes, followed by a shoot-out will be used.  1 point is awarded to the team that loses the OT/Shoot-out.
• No subs on coincidental penalties will be used.
• The Action, Ice, Skate, Pass rule will be used during shorthand situations.
• The end penalty minor on a PPG rule will be used.
• The 2009+ face off after a penalty rule will be used (face off moves to the offensive zone).
• When awarding "any player shots" the home team must restrict his shot candidates to those with the "highest offense ratings". If two or more candidates have an equal "highest offense rating" he must choose the player with the least "previous any player shots". When awarding "any player rebound shots" the home team may choose any player with no restrictions.
• OT in the playoffs is sudden death and each team will play 5 on 5 hockey with 4 offensive and 3 defensive lines rotating similar to the regular season.

League Rosters:

• Each USFHL team must maintain the league minimums for each position during the season.
• Each player is only allowed to play at positions listed on their card except; where permitted by SOM Hockey rules ie., a RD can play both RD and LD on the PP unit, C may play either wing on the PK & in OT in the regular season.  Note:  In PK situations, LD must play LD and RD must play RD as per SOM rules.
• The maximum roster size is 35 players, the minimum roster size is 25 players.  Once a team reaches these limits, either a player must be waived or a free agent must be claimed.
• Free agents are players that have not been selected in the draft.
• Free agent claims during the previous season are not eligible for protection unless the player claimed was previously waived.

Player Limitations:

Regular Season:

• Any player that has played 70 or more NHL games is unlimited in the regular season.
• Any player that has played 69 games or less NHL games is limited to their actual number of games played in the regular season.
• Goalies are limited in games to their actual number of NHL games played in the regular season.

Post Season:

• Any forward/defensemen that has played 61 games in the NHL is unlimited.
• Any forward/defensemen that has played 60 games in the NHL or under will be limited by taking the # of game played and dividing it by 10 and then rounding up.  Example;  a player that has played between 41-49 NHL games in a season will qualify for 5 games per series in the playoffs.
• Goalies:  1. To be eligible for post season play a goalie must start in 10 NHL games.  2. At the start of each post season series a team must select a minimum of 2 goalies that have a combined fatigue level of 7.  If more goalies are selected then these goalie must have a minimum fatigue rating of 3.  3. A goalie can start as many games as indicated by their fatigue rating. Thus a fatigue rating of 3, allows a goalie to start in 3 playoff games per series.  A fatigue rating of 6, allows a goalie to start in 6 playoff games per series.  A fatigue rating of 1, allows a goalie to start in 1 playoff game per series.  4. Any goalies that are overused during the regular season are considered free agents and are ineligible for post season play.
  

Sending Your Results:

• A game result is only official if both an export file and a boxscore file are submitted for that game.  Any game that does not contain a boxscore file will have to be replayed.  Any results not submitted on time will be simulated on the commissioners computer.  If you are going to miss a deadline please communicate this to the commissioner before the deadline and not the day of the deadline.

Free Agency:

• During the season, a team may claim a free agent under the following circumstances:  1)  to fill a roster spot for usage help or 2) to make up a roster spot for an unbalanced trade.  In case 1) there is a penalty associated with this type of claim.  Any player claimed as a free agent is not eligible for protection in the up coming season unless this player had been previously waived.  Note:  The maximum allowed roster size is 35 players and the minimum allowed roster size is 25 players.

Waivers:

• During the season, a team may waive a player under the following circumstances:  1) to make room for a free agent or 2) to make up a roster spot for an unbalanced trade.  Note:  The maximum allowed roster size is 35 players and the minimum allowed roster size is 25 players.

League Penalties:

• Any team that has extended a player beyond league rules in the regular season or playoffs will lose that player to free agency immediately.  That player will remain as a free agent until the season ends and will not be available for Free Agency Claiming.  That player will be available in the Annual Draft the following season.
• Overusage Penalties:  1 Player - Lose R6 pick, 2 Players - Lose R5 pick, 3 Players - Lose R4 pick, 4 Players - Lose R3, 5 Players - Lose R2 pick, 6 or more players - Lose R1 pick.
• Free Agent Claiming Penalties:  1 - 2 Players - No penalty, 3 Players - Lose R3 pick, 4 Players - Lose R2, 5 Players or more - Lose R1 pick.
• Note:  If a team does not have the pick to give then the penalty will revert to the next lowest available pick.  For example, if Team A is penalized a R6 pick for 1 overused player but, Team A does not have this pick to give then the penalty will be a R5 pick.
• All league penalties will be enforced.
• New owners to the league will take over teams as is.  Thus if a player has been lost to free agency that penalty remains, however;  they will not lose the resulting draft pick due to the overuse of that player.  All free agent penalties are also reset to 0, however;  they still cannot protect those free agents at the end of the season.  Lastly, all incentives for deadlines are reset to perfect from the date they take over.  If they take over the team at the end of the season, then they will receive the incentive pick.

Trading:

• Trading is allowed at any point in the off-season and during the regular season prior to the start of Block 7.
• Unbalanced trades are allowed as long as the participating teams in the trade meet the league roster requirements.
• Trading of future draft picks beyond one season is not allowed.  For instance, if we are drafting in the 2005-06 season, a team cannot trade draft picks beyond the 2006-07 season.
• Only teams that have been in the league for at least one full season are allowed to trade draft picks beyond the current year.
• Trading for players or picks to be named later is not allowed.
• Any trade that is deemed by the commissioner as being clearly unfair and not it in the interest of the league will be revoked.

League Competition Rule:

• The USFHL will implement a rule that will allow a member of the league to achieve a bonus draft pick based on meeting all deadlines.  Furthermore, to encourage competitive balance in this league, the following system will be utilized:  League Champion will receive an additional Round 3 pick.  Playoff teams will receive an additional Round 2 pick, and non-playoff teams will receive an additional Round 1 pick.  These bonus picks will be slotted at the end of the respective round using the same order derived from our league draft procedures.  Any league member that misses one deadline without any communication to the commissioner of the USFHL will waive their incentive bonus for that season.

New League Rules:

• At the beginning of each USFHL season, each member will be allowed to submit one new league rule or change to a current rule proposal for league wide vote.
• In order for a current rule to change, 18 votes approving the change are needed.
• In order for a new rule to be implemented, 13 votes approving this new rule are needed.
• The commissioner of the USFHL reserves the right to implement or change any rule that is in the best interest of the USFHL.

League Disputes:

• All league disputes will be settled by the commissioner of the USFHL.