Each arena will have a full copy of sanctioned event rules at the registration desk. This includes the ORA code of conduct for spectators and others.

Ringette Canada Shot Clock rules will be in effect at all A, B and C levels. The latest revision may be found in the back of any Ringette rulebook.

All divisions will play two 15 minute periods.

All games are stop time. However, if there is a seven or greater goal spread between the teams at the start of the second period, running time may be declared.

Running time will be maintained as long as there exists a seven or greater goal spread between the teams. The tournament chair reserves the right to declare running time where it is felt to be in the best interests of the participants to do so, or is requested by both coaches.

The decision to declare running time will be considered final and not subject to appeal.

Tie-breaking Rules
Round robin games may end in a tie. Final games will be played until a winner is declared. Ties in the standings will be broken by Ontario Ringette's Sanctioned Event Tie-Breaking rules. Mini Games will ONLY be played to break a tie in the standings if all of ORA's Sanctioned Event Tie-Breaking rules and mathematical formulas have been exhausted and teams are still tied.

Code of Conduct
Players, coaches and spectators are expected to conform to the Ontario Ringette Association Code of Conduct. In the unlikely event that disciplinary issues arise, a disciplinary committee that has been established by the GAARA Tournament Committee will address them.

All decisions of this committee are considered final.

No protests or grievances will be considered regarding an official's on-ice judgment or application of the rules. Questions regarding rule interpretations can be directed to the Tournament Referee in Chief through the tournament staff at the arenas.

In the event that there is a protest or grievance, a committee has been established to determine whether it will consider the protest and to render any related decisions. All decisions of this committee are final.

The rules regarding player substitutions are available in the ORA Sanctioned Event rules. TRF adjustment forms will be available at the registration desk at each arena.

Sanctioned Event Rules (including tie-breaking and player substitution rules can be found
http://www.ontario-ringette.com/administration/op_manual/documents/oragt.pdf

Sanction Event rules start on page 5
Tie-breaking rules start of page 18 at paragraph 5.f. Ranking of Tied Teams.

Player Substitution Form called “TRF Adjustment Form can be found
http://www.ontario-ringette.com/administration/documents/gtf07.pdf


ARENA RULES
Keeping the Tournament on Time
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to start games 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. A team requested to start early can lose by default if they are still not ready to play 10 minutes before scheduled game time.

Important: Warm up times will be limited to 2 minutes from the time the Zamboni doors close.

Wearing of Helmets Coaches & Bench Staff
This is an important issue. It encompasses both an ORA rule and a new City of Ottawa Policy Instruction.

"All coaches and on ice participants must wear proper helmets, fastened up, while on the ice as per the ORA rule, with respect to any Ringette involved event. Any on ice participant who does not wear a helmet will be fined $50 per incident. The fines will be billed to the Association whom the participant(s) is associated with ."

This rule applies to out of Region and out of Province teams as well as ERRA. Fines will not be levied by ERRA on out of Region and out of Province teams but their Region or Province will be notified of the non wearing of helmets.

This includes wearing a helmet while shaking hands on ice at the end of the game. (Webmaster's Note: Players are encouraged to skate by the opposition team's bench to shake hands with their coaches after the traditional center ice handshake with the opposing team.) Clarification is being sought from the ERRA Membership Services Coordinator about whether the laying of capets for presentation of medals after championship games is allowed. That ruling will be published here when known.

Exception: Clarification has been sought and given by the ERRA Membership Services Coordinator on Injured Players and stepping on the ice to get to the player's bench when there is not other way. The Answer is simple.

If the bench staff HAVE to cross the ice to get to the benches, then they have to cross the ice. If the bench staff have to treat a player on the ice who is injured then they have to do it, whether they have a helmet or not. In this case the player on the ice needing assistance is more important.

What we are trying to do here is follow the ORA policy of wearing helmets while participating in games, practices, and any ringette function that involves being on the ice.

Exigent circumstances will force a member of the bench staff to enter the ice surface without a helmet. While this will happen, I strongly recommend that bench staff have a helmet available on the bench for such circumstances, however, that may not be possible. Bench staff are to be invited onto the ice by the referee, and are to be assisted by the referee to the injured player. As stated before, In these cases the player on the ice needing assistance is more important. We don't want anyone to be hurt falling on the ice.