Rule 404. Misconduct Penalties

1. A ``MISCONDUCT'' penalty involves the removal of a player, other than a goalkeeper, from the game for a period of 10 minutes, but another player is permitted to immediately replace a player so removed. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain in the penalty bench until the next stoppage of play.

   Unless immediate substitution is permitted under the coincident penalty rules 402(f) and 403(c), when a player receives a minor or a major penalty plus a misconductor game misconduct penalty at the same time, the penalized team shall immediately place an additional nonpenalized player other than a goalkeeper, on the penalty bench and such player may not be changed.

   For Juniors only - If a player receives a major plus a misconduct penalty, the penalized team shall place a substitute player on the penalty bench before the major penalty expires and no replacement for the penalized player shall be permitted to enter the game except from the penalty bench.

   Any violation of this provision shall be treated as illegal substitution under Rule 205 (Change of Players) calling for a bench minor penalty.

2. This Subsection Applies For Juniors only - A ``GAME EJECTION'' or ``EJ'' penalty involves the suspension of a player or Team Official for the balance of the game but another player is permitted to immediately replace a player so removed.

   (Note 1) The Referee is required to report all Game Ejection penalties and the surrounding circumstances to the Proper Authorities.

   (Note 2) For a Game Ejection penalty regardless of when imposed, a total of ten minutes shall be charged in the records against an offending player.

   No player may be assessed a Game Ejection penalty during the last five minutes of the third period or any part of overtime. If a player receives a major penalty which would normally incur a Game Ejection penalty, the Referee shall have no alternative but to assess a game misconduct penalty in lieu of the Game Ejection. A Game Ejection penalty may be assessed if associated with a double minor penalty under Rule 607 - Checking from Behind, Rule 608(c) - Butt-Ending, Rule 603(d) - Head-Butting, or Rule 634 - Spearing.

3. A ``GAME MISCONDUCT'' penalty involves the suspension of a player or Team Official for the balance of the game, but another player is permitted to immediately replace a player so removed.

4. Except for Juniors - A player or Team Official incurring a game misconduct penalty shall be suspended for the next one game of that team, except that when such penalty is imposed under Rule 403(b) (Second Major in Game) there shall be a two-game suspension.

   (Note) In all cases where a game misconduct penalty is assessed, the incident shall be reported to the Proper Authorities who shall have full power to impose further suspensions.

5. Any player (Midget age classification and below, including High School) who incurs five penalties in the same game shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.

   Any Adult player who incurs five penalties in the same game shall be immediately ejected from the game with no further suspension.

   Any Head Coach whose team (Midget age classification and below, including High School) receives 15 or more penalties during one game shall be suspended for the next one game of that team.

   For Juniors only - A player or Team Official incurring a game misconduct penalty shall be suspended for the next scheduled League game.

   For Juniors only - In regular league games, any player who incurs a total of three misconduct penalties, other than those associated with automatic penalties, shall be suspended for the next league game of his team. For every three additional misconduct penalties assessed to the same player, he shall be suspended for one game.

   In playoff games, any player who incurs a total of three misconduct penalties, other than those associated with automatic penalties, shall be suspended for the next playoff game of his team. For every three additional misconduct penalties assessed to the same player, he shall be suspended for one game.

   (Note) If a player receives a suspension that he is unable to serve at the end of the season or playoffs, the following shall happen:

   1. The player shall be suspended for the remaining game(s) at the beginning of the following season.
   2. The team must ``buy out'' the suspension if the player is not returning at a cost of up to a Fifty Dollar ($50.00) filing fee and up to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per unserved suspended game.

6. If any Team Official is assessed a game misconduct penalty, he may not sit near the players' bench of his team, nor in any way attempt to direct the play of his team.