Rules of the Western Challenge Cup Championships

RULES OF THE WESTERN CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016
1.RANKINGS
Rankings for the current year will be based on results from the previous year at the Western Challenge Cup. Gold will be ranked as #1, silver # 2, bronze # 3 and 4 place team as #4 ranked. Numbers #5 – #12 will be decided by WCC counsel draw. New teams or teams that did not participate in previous tournament in that division will be part of the draw. WCC will determine ranking after first four ranked teams if a member league did not compete the previous year, they will then be ranked as the lowest seed
2.SCHEDULING
The schedule for the Western Challenge Cup will be done by the tournament host chairman, along with the Chairman of the Committee. The schedule will then be distributed to all member leagues.
a) The Western Challenge Cup needs to be based on a format that includes 4-5-6-8-10-12 teams in each group/division. Odd numbers like 7 or 9 teams are not desirable. The fair system is to make sure teams play a balanced schedule.
b) The host centre needs to be able to provide a maximum of a 110 game slots, which would allow the championships to be run at its capacity of 5 levels of play.
c) The host centre needs to have these game slots booked by January 1st of hosting year at the latest. They must be prepared to give final floor time bookings to their local facilities by February 28th of hosting year.
d) The Championships will be based on 3-4 days of competition ... Thursday thru Sunday or Friday through Sunday. Every effort should be made to book the Championships on the first or second weekend of July, based on availability of hotels and floor time.
3.BUDGET & CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY FEES
The budget for the Championships and team entry fees need to be in place by the host centre for the Annual Western Challenge Cup meeting (in January-February) for approval by all member leagues. The budget should be based on 100 games schedule, 5 levels of play with 8 teams in each level. All member leagues should come to this meeting prepared to commit to how many teams from their league will participate and in which levels of play. The Host centre will set the entry fee deadlines, but it must be approved by the Western Challenge Cup Committee. The final proposed budget must be released to all member leagues by April 15 of the current year.
4.AGE GROUPS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
As voted upon at the 2011 Western Challenge and effective for the 2014 Western Challenge Cup, the age groups will be as follows; based upon the full calendar year birthdates:
U11 Division (players born in 2004 & 2003 (full calendar year)
U13 Division (players born in 2002 & 2001 (full calendar year)
U15 Division (players born in 2000 & 1999 (full calendar year)
U17 Division (players born in 1998 & 1997 (full calendar year)
U19 Division (players born in 1996 & 1995 (full calendar year)
5.ROSTERS AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES
The first copy of team rosters should be turned into the Tournament Chairperson no later than June 15 of the current year ... this is for the program. If you miss this deadline your team roster may not be included in the program. WCMBHA had implemented in 2013 that Presidents of participating BC Teams are required to verify and sign off on all Team Rosters prior to submitting to the tournament chair. Final rosters will be declared at the Coaches meeting at the Championships. Photocopies of all players’ birth certificates, government issuedpicture ID or passport must be turned in as well.
6.FORMAT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
We should make every effort to run a 40 team tournament each year with no more than 60 team tournament, 5 levels of play and level having 4 to 12 teams competing. Alberta is planning to send 3 teams in each division. Each level of play would be represented by member leagues with the following numbers:
Minor Ball Hockey Edmonton (AB) 3 teams
Metro Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Surrey Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Valley Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Delta Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Richmond Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Tri-Cities Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
Victoria Minor Ball Hockey (BC) 1 team
If a league is unable to send a team, we should then ask other member leagues if they would be willing to send a second team in that level and ask Edmonton to send a third team only after the 6 West Coast leagues have been given the opportunity to send a second team.

12 TEAM FORMAT (22 GAMES)

4 teams in three divisions... rankings based on last Championships
Division "A": leagues ranked 1-6-7-12, Division "B": leagues ranked 2-5-8-11, Division “C”: leagues ranked 3-4-9-10
Teams would play a round-robin, playing a total of 3 games
The three division winners plus the second place team with the best record advance to the Semi-Finals
Advancing teams are then ranked 1 thru 4 based on round robin results
Semi-Final games would be 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
Winners will advance to the Gold Medal Game, Losers go to the Bronze Medal Game
Under this format every team play 3 games, and 4 teams will play 5 games

10 TEAM FORMAT (22 GAMES)

5 teams in two divisions... rankings based on last Championships
Division "A": leagues ranked 1-3-5-7-9, Division "B": leagues ranked 2-4-6-8-10
Teams would play a round-robin, playing a total of 4 games
After the round-robin, there would be 2 medal games only, no other playoffs
The Gold Medal Game: 1st place teams in each division, based on round-robin
The Bronze Medal Game: 2nd place teams in each division, based on round-robin
Under this format every team play 4 games, and 4 teams will play 5 games

8 TEAM FORMAT (20 GAMES)

2 divisions of 4 teams ... rankings based on results at last Championships
Division "A": leagues ranked 1-3-5-7, Division "B": leagues ranked 2-4-6-8
Each division plays a 3-game round robin
After round-robin, teams will play a single game elimination Quarter-Final
Match-ups for Quarter-finals would be 1A vs 4B, 2A vs 3B, 3A vs 2B, 4A vs 1B
The 4 winners advance to the Semi-Finals
Advancing teams are then ranked 1 thru 4 based on round robin results
Semi-Final games would be 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
Winners will advance to the Gold Medal Game, Losers go to the Bronze Medal Game
Under this format every team play 4 games, and 4 teams will play 6 games

6 TEAM FORMAT (17 GAMES)

All 6 teams in the same pool... rankings based on last Championships
Teams would play a round-robin, playing a total of 5 games
After the round-robin, there would be 2 medal games only, no other playoffs
The Gold Medal Game: 1st vs 2nd place teams, based on round-robin
The bronze Medal Game: 3rd vs 4th place teams, based on round-robin
Under this format every team would play 5 games, 4 teams would play 6 games

5 TEAM FORMAT (12 GAMES)

All 5 teams in the same pool... rankings based on last Championships
Teams would play a round-robin, playing a total of 4 games
After the round-robin, there would be 2 medal games only, no other playoffs
The Gold Medal Game: 1st vs 2nd place teams, based on round-robin
The bronze Medal Game: 3rd vs 4th place teams, based on round-robin
Under this format every team would play 4 games, 4 teams would play 5 games

4 TEAM FORMAT (10 GAMES)

All 4 teams would be placed in the same pool
Rankings based on results at previous years Championships
Teams would play a round-robin, playing a total of 3 games
After round-robin, all teams from the division will advance to Semi-finals
Teams will play a single game elimination Semi-Final
Match-ups for the Semi-final games would be 1st vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd
Winners advance to the gold medal game. Losers go to the Bronze Medal Game
Under this format every team will play 5 games

7.DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE and APPEALS
The Western Challenge Cup Committee will create a tournament Disciplinary Sub-Committee, who will deal with all aspects of the Championships themselves. That Sub-Committee would include the following people:
1 Provincial Rep from each attending association (BC/Alberta/Manitoba/Saskatchewan)
1 Canadian Ball Hockey Association Executive Member (if one is attending tournament)
1 Referee-in-Chief of the Championships
This sub-committee will be picked and announced at the Coaches Meeting at the start of the Championships. All Decisions of this group will be respected and final.
Disciplinary measures to be dealt with by the sub-committee, governing bodies can raise the disciplinary decision but they are not allowed to weaken the suspension.
All protests and Appeals must follow the guidelines handed out at the Coaches meeting before the tournament starts.
8.REFEREE-IN CHIEF
Each Championship will have CBHA Minor Technical Director. This individual will be responsible for assigning 2 referees per game and supervising officials during the tournament in order to help decide which officials will work in the playoff rounds and Medal Games. There will be a meeting with the Western Challenge Cup Chairman and Host Chairman and Technical Director to decide the playoff assignments after round-robin games and also after the Gold and Bronze Medal games have been decided. The final decision on assignments will be made by the W.C.C. and Host Chairman. All member leagues present at the Championships will be notified of who is officiating in the playoff and medal games.
The Technical Director will be paid a minimum fee per day + expenses for each day of the tournament by the Host Center to carry out their duties and will not be used to officiate any games during the tournament.
9.REFEREES
Traveling Provinces must send referee's to officiate at the Championships, but they must make this request to the Western Challenge Cup Chairman & local Tournament Chairperson in writing by June 1. The local leagues sending referees must be prepared to cover the referee's travel and hotel costs. The final decision on referees will be made by the President’s of participating Provinces. Game fees for referees will be set at $35 per game and will be paid each day in cash to officials to help them with their expenses while at the tournament.

2016 WESTERN CHALLENGE CUP REGULATIONS

1.OFFICIAL NAME
The Western Canadian Championships for minor ball hockey will be officially known as the "WESTERN CHALLENGE CUP".
2.OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the Western Challenge Cup Committee are as listed as follows:
a) To organize a Western Canadian Minor ball hockey championship for leagues in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
b)To uphold and maintain the rules of the sport of ball hockey, as set out in the Rules & Regulations of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association.
c) To ensure that these Western Championships are run in a fair manner, and that all member leagues respect the rules of this Western Challenge Cup Committee and the Canadian Ball Hockey Association.
d) To foster amongst its members a general community spirit and fair sportsmanship.
3.ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
A special committee will be in charge of organizing and administering the Western Challenge Cup. This committee will consist of a representative from every Minor ball hockey league in the western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and a representative of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association. The group will select a chairman of this committee, and that person will be in charge of chairing meetings and making sure that communications go out to all Minor leagues.
4.MEMBERSHIP
Membership to the Western Challenge Cup committee will be open to all Minor leagues who operate in Western Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. All member leagues must also meet all membership terms stated in the Regulations of the Canadian Ball Hockey Association (section 2.1). The Canadian Ball Hockey Association will have final say on any membership issues. Members must be an association actively participating in the current years Western Challenge Cup
5.VOTING
Every Minor league in Western Canada will have a minimum of 1 vote, and each league will be eligible to vote at all meetings of the Western Challenge Cup committee. The Chairman of the group will also have a vote, and will break any ties in voting. All voting will be done by a show of hands, unless otherwise requested by the Chairman. Each year, the entire group will decide which leagues are members of the group, and how many votes each league.
2016 MEMBERS & VOTES
Western Challenge Cup Chairperson 1 Vote
Richmond Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Metro Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Surrey Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Delta Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Ridge Meadows Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Valley Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Tri-City Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey Association (BC) 1 Vote
Edmonton Minor Ball Hockey Association (AB) 2 Votes
Medicine Hat Minor Ball Hockey Association (AB) 1 Vote
Sherwood Park Minor Ball Hockey (AB) 1 Vote
Calgary Minor Ball Hockey Association (AB) 1 Vote
CBHA – Minor Chair 1 Vote
Total Votes for 2016 would be 15
7. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Western Challenge Cup Committee will hold a General Meeting every year. The meeting will take place in late January or early February, and the actual date will be set at least 2 months prior to the scheduled date. For the purpose of courtesy, the meeting should shift back and forth between British Columbia and Alberta every year. Leagues should budget to send at least 1 representative to all meetings. A second meeting will be held at the site of the Western Challenge Cup tournament, but that meeting will be more of an information session and update to all members’ leagues in attendance. The Chairman of the Committee will establish an agenda and distribute it to all members.
8.REMOVAL OF MEMBERS
The Western Challenge Cup Committee, by a special resolution, may remove any individual or league from membership by a 2/3 majority vote. Cause for removal would include lack of attendance at meetings, violation of the C.B.H.A. Rulebook & Bylaws, or the Rules & Regulations of the Western Challenge Cup Committee, or any other act that may disgrace our group. The suspended member will be given written notice of termination and must turn over all documents that he/she may have within 48 hours of termination.
9.SUSPENSIONS
All suspensions of members, coaches, managers, or players must be voted upon by the entire Committee. Any suspensions incurred in regular league play or Provincial tournament play that carries over to WCC, must be submitted in writing and forwarded to the WCC RIC prior to tournament start. All member leagues agree to carry through on all suspensions and apply them to their own leagues. In regards to suspensions of coaches, managers, and players, all member leagues agree to carry these suspensions over to their own league. If a coach, manager, or player does not fully serve his/her penalty at the tournament, the duration of the suspension would be carried over to the local league.
10. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
In regards to voting on termination or any type of suspension, a Committee member or his/her league will not be allowed to vote on any matter pertaining directly to his/her team(s) or League. The Chairman will notify all members if an issue of conflict of interest should arise.
11.SUB-COMMITTEES
The Western Challenge Cup Committee can create any sub-committee as deemed necessary. Some suggestions for these sub-committees include a disciplinary committee, promotions committee, communications committee, and awards selection committee. The Chairman would chair all such sub-committees.
12. PRIVACY STATEMENT
The Western Challenge Cup Committee will respect the privacy of all member leagues and their players. We will not release, sell, or trade any membership lists to any organization for any purpose. All documents will be shredded at the conclusion of the tournament. We are governed by FIOPP laws
13.APPEALS/PROTESTS
All appeals and protests must go to the Committee of the Western Challenge Cup. All appeals and protests must be done in writing and submitted to the Committee Chairman along with $100. All decisions will be made by either all member leagues, or by a special Disciplinary Sub-Committee that may be created by all member leagues. The person submitting the appeal/protest will be notified in writing of the results. All decisions made will be final and will be respected by all member leagues. If the appeal is successful the team making the appeal will received $50.00 back. All appeals money received during the tournament will go to the WCC Host Committee.
14.RULES & GUIDELINES FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS
A separate set of rules & guidelines will be established and followed in regards to the actual Western Challenge Cup Championships. These rules and guidelines will be agreed upon by all member leagues at our General Meeting. Host committee will update rules & regulations for the current year agreed upon by the member leagues at the general meeting.Shin pads are mandatory for the tournament.
15. AMENDMENTS TO RULES & REGULATIONS
A review of the Western Challenge Cup Rules & Regulations will be made every year at our General Meeting, and changes may be made by a majority vote of member leagues present at the meeting. All members may submit proposed changes, in writing, to the Chairman. Revised Rules & Regulations will be distributed to all member leagues within 30 days after the date of which the meeting was held.