Player impairment rules

Alcohol, drug and impairment policy;

The League recognizes that player safety is one of its primary goals and responsibilities. From time to time, a player may intend to compete in a League game who may be intoxicated, inebriated or impaired by alcohol or other substances whether legal or illegal. This could potentially result in a dangerous and unsafe situation for the player involved, his or her teammates, competitors or League Officials.

The League reminds its members that the primary responsibility for determining their suitability to play in this condition rests primarily, and most importantly, with the player themselves, followed by their teammates, and as a last resort, the Game Officials. The League respectfully asks its members to strongly consider not playing if they feel impaired, inebriated or otherwise unsuitable to play. If the member chooses to dress regardless and his team feels an unsafe condition may exist, the team Captain, or designate, should ask the player to reconsider their decision prior to the start of the game. If the player still refuses, the team may contact the Game Officials prior to the start of the game and request that they approach the player and discuss the possibility of the player leaving the ice and not participating in that game. If the player leaves the ice after this request, it would not result in a penalty being assessed to the player. If, in the opinion of the game Official, the player is obviously too impaired to safely continue, the player will be ordered to leave the playing area (including players benches).

If they refuse to leave the playing area or if the player becomes abusive, the Official will then have the option of assessing a Gross Misconduct penalty under CARHA Rule 33-“making a travesty of the game”. This misconduct will carry a penalty of a minimum one Game Suspension in addition to the game he is removed from. As always, all Gross Misconduct penalties will be referred to the League President for information purposes and added to the players Seasonal penalty totals.