Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What are the league prices?
A: The Varsity and JV player fee is $365.
A: Goalie fees are $180
A: The Middle School fee is $325 for skaters, and $160 for goalies.
Q: When can my team have their tryout?
A: Tryouts are not mandatory, but tryouts can take place on weekends until February 1st. Email info@skatesafeamerica.com or mscardigno@skatesafeamerica.com to book your tryout.
Q: What if we’re a returning team, but one or two players need jerseys?
A: Email or contact us about ordering jerseys and we will connect you to our vendor.
Q: When is the league starting?
A: Varsity and JV starts 2/7. We plan on having the Varsity and Junior Varsity divisions finished by Memorial Day weekend. The season is 10 games plus single elimination playoffs.
Q: What about Middle School?
A: Registration for Middle School will open in March. League plays itself will start and finish in concert with our “spring” season going from March to June. The season is 9 games plus playoffs.
Q: Is playing time equal?
A: Islandwide is considered a competitive school league, and coaches are not required to play their players equally if they do not see fit as numerous games are very competitive. If this is something you do not agree with, we offer house league seasons in the fall, spring and winter where players see more equal playing time. Lastly, while we do try to break up teams into divisions that is not a guarantee that teams will be competitive every game they play. Some teams are going to be stronger than others.
A: This includes tryouts. Not all players trying out for their respected teams are guaranteed a spot if the team exceeds the maximum roster limit.
Q: What is the playoff eligibility?
A: All players must have played three games and be paid in full for their season to play in playoffs. If a player is injured and medically unable to play they are eligible for playoffs regardless of how many games, they have played.
Q: Whom do I contact if I need help?
A: You are always welcome to send any questions you may have to mscardigno@skatesafeamerica.com and info@skatesafeamerica.com. Several staff see this email account multiple times a day
2025 Islandwide Roller Hockey: Rules & Regulations
At Skate Safe we use the AAU/USARS Rulebook, as well as the rules below.
GENERAL
Age Ranges: Middle School ages are 5th to 8th grade; JV is 7th to 10th and Varsity is 8th to 12th.
Disclaimer: Islandwide has the last say whether or not a player is too good for their respective division regardless of if they are the appropriate age.
Varsity and Junior Varsity Breakdown:
• Both divisions will play a 10-game season plus playoffs. Playoffs will follow a single elimination format.
• Games will be played on Friday nights and on Sunday from late morning to mid-afternoon.
• Based on the teams that sign up divisions will be broken up by skill after some games have been played. Please keep in mind that while we do our best to ensure balanced competition throughout the season that we cannot help if some teams are stronger than others.
• Playoffs may be played in separate brackets with two or more champions being crowned per division.
• Players may play in JV and Varsity if they pay for both. It would 50% off for the second team. Islandwide reserves the right to decide whether a not a player is too good for a given division. Players playing both divisions cannot play in playoffs without being paid in full for BOTH seasons.
Games Played: **All players must play a minimum of 3 games to be eligible for playoffs. One of those games must be in the first 5 games, and one must be in the second 5. ** Players must play at least 5 of their teams' games in order to play in the All-Star Game.
If a player is not officially on both rosters, they may be called up to play Varsity or down to play JV 3 TIMES without be expected to pay for both seasons. They will not be able to play for both teams in playoffs without paying for it.
Goalies: Goalies may play up OR down a division as long as they are age appropriate. Example: a 9th grade goalie playing Varsity can be called down to their JV team. Islandwide reserves the right to decide whether a not a goalie is too good for a given division.
- If your goalie cannot make his/her game it is your responsibility as a coach or captain to dress one of your players. Your back-up goalie for that game must be from your roster, another goalie in your organization or town. Beginning in 2021-22 we will be giving out a goalie call or email list. However, a goalie from your own division cannot play in the playoffs.
Injuries: All injured players should secure a doctor’s note and give a copy to the league. Any injured player who misses four consecutive games is entitled to a store credit with a doctor’s note. For example: being injured for two games, coming back to play and then missing two more games does not count.
Rosters:
A team needs a minimum of 8 skaters and a goalie to enter the league. The maximum a roster can be is 12 skaters and a goalie.
Teams have until their 5th game to add players to their rosters.
Middle School Season
• We will be offering a 9-game spring season beginning in March.
• The cost is $325 per player. Goalies will be charged a discounted rate of $160.
• Based on the teams that sign up divisions will be broken up by skill.
GAME PLAY
Regular season games will be played as two-22-minute halves with the clock running. The clock only stops if you are down by two goals or fewer with less than two minutes remaining.
• ** During the regular season ties go to a 5-minute 3 on 3 overtime period with the teams defending net being furthest from their bench. The clock will stop with a minute or less to play. If the game is still tied the game will enter a 3-round shootout. Unlike house league all rostered players must shoot in a shootout before returning to the top of the order. All playoff games resulting in a tie will go into sudden death 4-on-4 overtime. **
• -Teams with 3 skaters and a goalie may start a game playing 3-on-3 if the opposing team agrees.
PENALTIES
Coaches on Rink:
Only players in uniform that are healthy and eligible to play are allowed to be on the playing surface during games and warm-ups. Injured players may not be on the bench. Any non-roster player under the age of 18 is not permitted on the bench as an assistant coach. Coaches coming onto the surface during an altercation will be immediately ejected from the game and are subject to further disciplinary action. If a player is injured on the rink use your discretion on when you feel its necessary to come onto the rink.
Delay of Game:
• No on-rink official should tell any player to move the puck from behind the net unless the player is doing so in a taunting or deliberate manner that is detrimental to the flow of game.
• Any player who receives three minor contact penalties in one game is out of the game.
Abuse of Officials and Sportsmanship and Fair Play:
Islandwide has a zero tolerance in regard to abuse of officials. If a player, spectator or coach physically or verbally abuses an on rink official or an off rink official such as a scorekeeper or employee they will be disciplined Any off-rink employee who witnesses an egregious penalty not called by on rink officials may meet with officials and management to discuss possible disciplinary action
• All players who finish a game are expected to shake hands. Any player who leaves the rink without shaking hands is subject to suspension.
• Any fan or spectator verbally abusing rink officials or abusing players or coaches may be asked to leave the building.
• At the discretion of the referee and management an unsportsmanlike penalty can be given for any behavior deemed unsportsmanlike. This includes taunting, chanting, or anything deemed distracting or inappropriate during the course of a game.
Please see our Zero Policy Tolerance for complete information.
Social Media Disclaimer: Islandwide works very hard to be as current as we can with social media. That includes website articles, pictures and videos. Any sort of social media comments made in the form of a verbal threat or bullying by players, coaches or parents is subject to suspension.
SUSPENSIONS
All suspensions will be communicated to the team coach. It is then the coach’s responsibility to notify the appropriate player/s. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL.
If you are playing JV and Varsity and are suspended, you must serve your suspension for whatever game you have next.
For example: if you are suspended from a Varsity incident on Friday night and have a JV game Sunday you will have to serve your suspension for that game.
PLAYERS WITHOUT TEAMS
Please contact us if you would like to join the league.
COMMUNICATION:
We work very closely with coaches, but all schedules and standings can be found on our Skate Safe website and Sports Ninja app.
MOVING GAMES:
All teams are urged to submit a list of three to five non-playable blackout dates before the schedule is made. Such examples would be ice hockey tournaments, school functions or other important events. If you do not tell us prior to making the schedule we do not switch games once the season begins.
