NOHA BULLETIN 26-004 Participant Registration

NOHA BULLETIN 26-004

October 15, 2026

As League schedules get underway across the NOHA, this bulletin reminds all Member Hockey Associations of the rostering, screening and team staffing requirements that apply to every game and team activity. Please share it with your Registrar, your coordinators and all Team Officials.

1. Players and Team Officials Must Be Rostered in the HCR

NOHA Regulation 5.1.1 d) states:

"In all Divisions, Players and Team Officials must be registered on rosters in the HCR before participating in their Team's first League game on any League schedule or by November 1st if the Team has not played its first League game by this date."

This means:

• Rosters must be complete and entered in the HCR before your Team's first League game, not after.

• Teams that have not played a League game by November 1, 2026 must still have rosters entered by that date.

• This applies to all Divisions and to both Players and Team Officials.

2. Consequences for Allowing an Unrostered Player to Participate

NOHA Regulation 5.1.2 b) states:

"Any Team Official or Association Board Member who allows a Player who is not listed on the approved HCR roster or has not received NOHA authorization to take part in a game shall be reported to the President and may be suspended for a period of up to one year."

Team Officials and Association Board Members are responsible under this regulation. Before each game, confirm that every Player dressed is either on the approved HCR roster or holds NOHA authorization to participate.

Participation by any ineligible Player will result in the forfeiture of a game in which they participated, will result in a suspension to the Team’s Head Coach and may result in a fine to the Association.

3. Screening Requirements for Team Officials

Any individual required to complete screening who does not have a cleared Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), Declaration or Receipt on file may not participate in any team activity and will be deemed ineligible, in accordance with the OHF Screening Policy.

Associations are responsible for confirming that screening is cleared before an individual takes part in any game, practice or team activity.

4. Only Rostered Team Staff May Participate

Only Team Officials listed on the Team's HCR roster may serve behind the bench or act in any team staff capacity during a game.

Rostering Team Officials in the HCR also lets the NOHA confirm that each individual holds the qualifications required for their role. Team Officials who are not rostered cannot be verified, and Associations will be unable to show that their staff meet certification requirements.

Team Officials who still need to complete a required course are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. With the exception of Development 1, all required courses can be completed fully online.

Participation by any ineligible Team Staff will result in the forfeiture of a game in which they participated, will result in a suspension to the Team’s Head Coach and may result in a fine to the Association.

5. Team Staff Requirements for Games and Team Activities

Every game requires at least one rostered Coach and one rostered Trainer. Teams without rostered and qualified Team Officials may not take part in any on-ice or off-ice activity, including games, practices, dryland training and team events. This requirement comes from Hockey Canada regulations and the Hockey Canada insurance program. An activity run without approved and qualified Team Officials does not meet these requirements and may not be considered a sanctioned activity. Associations that allow such activities to proceed may be exposing participants, volunteers and the Association to risk without the protection of Hockey

Canada insurance coverage.

In addition, please remember that for U7 and U9 Programming, it is a requirement to have at least one (1) qualified Coach for every nine (9) rostered Players.

If you have questions about rostering, screening, qualifications or NOHA authorization, please contact the NOHA office at 705-474-8851.

Thank you for your attention to these requirements and for your ongoing work to keep our game safe and well run