The Midwest Inline Hockey Association uses the rules set forth by USA Hockey Inline on August 31, 2011 with the rule modifications listed in the Summary of Rule Differences document. Both the USA Hockey Inline rule book and Summary of Rule Differences document can be viewed below. The Midwest Inline Hockey Association has no affiliation with USA Hockey Inline.
FIGHTING RULES
MIHA: (1) Two players on opposing teams may drop their gloves and square off to exchange punches. Officials will allow this fight to proceed until one or both players are unable to continue the fight. If a player has a cage on, he must remove his helmet prior to the fight beginning. Both combatants must be willing to engage in the fight. If a player is involved in multiple fights during a game an ejection shall be assessed. If a player is involved in three fights during a tournament a tournament ejection shall be assessed.
(2) If a player initiates a fight but does not engage in the fight he may receive a 2 minute minor for instigating at the officials discretion. The player throwing the punch may be assessed a 10 minutes misconduct along with the 5 minute major.
Roster RULES
MIHA participants are only allowed to play for one team per tournament. The only exception to this rule is for goalies that may skate-out in one division and play goalie in another division. Also for goalies that are subbing for other teams under the goalie sub rule (see below).
All players must be pre-approved to play in MIHA as there are several players not allowed to play for various reasons - behavior, suspension, pro-level talent, non-payment, etc. For a teams first tournament, a roster is submitted and looked over for conditional approval by the league. At anytime during a tournament a player could be required to provide identification at the discretion of the tournament director. Also at anytime during a tournament, a player may be removed from the tournament due to behavioral issues or talent level exceeding the standard for that division.
Skaters must play Saturday to play Sunday has been a strict rule during the previous 4 seasons in MIHA. An off-season rule change starting in the 2018-19 season now allows for each team to have at least one player play on Sunday only. This player must already have been rostered, meaning that they have already played in a tournament with their team during that season. No one will be allowed to play Sunday only at a teams first tournament of the season. The captain must notify the tournament director before the end of games Saturday for the request to be eligible to play on Sunday. Only one request per team, no one can request two players for the one allowed spot. If the player is not listed on the current season's roster found on the website, they will not be eligible. Players playing on "Sunday only" will be credited as playing in the tournament for championships eligibility reasons.
ROSTER Additions
After a teams first tournament, everyone that played is now considered rostered. Any additions to this roster must be submitted for approval prior to the teams next tournament. The deadline to submit player requests is 5pm on the Thursday before the tournament. Goalie requests can be made at any time. A top level team will not be allowed to add talent that is deemed to make the team better. There is a fee per request as it is very time consuming to research and identify players. This fee is taken from the teams deposit unless other arrangements have been made with the league. If a player is requested and approved to play but does not participate in that tournament, he is not approved for the next tournament and must be requested again prior to the next tournament.
ROSTER Move-Up Rule
A player may move up a division from Saturday to Sunday. Both captains of the originally rostered team and the proposed team along with the tournament director must agree to the move up BEFORE either of that players scheduled games on Sunday. A move down request from Saturday to Sunday can be requested, but will only be considered if they player is a regular player in the lower division and there is a sufficient need for the player on the lower level team.
Goalie Roster Rules
Goalie substitutes are allowed in MIHA. If a goalie is hurt, can not find the rink, does not show up, or any other reason, a team can use a goalie with the permission of the tournament director. Allowed goalies include anyone in the same division or below at the tournament or equivalent. If there is a T3 goalie that rostered to a T3 team that season, and they are playing that weekend in T2, they can be considered an eligible sub for teams in the T3 division. Outside goalies / locals, can be considered with approval of the tournament director for games on Saturday. That goalie would be rostered on Saturday and therefore eligible for Sunday games. For Sunday games, the only goalies that can substitute in must be from the same division or below and be listed on the current MIHA stats system. The goalie must have played in MIHA in the previous 3 seasons. No outside goalies are allowed to substitute in on Sunday unless they have played Saturday.
ROSTER at Championships
The roster rules for championships are the same as above except for that eligible players must have qualified by playing in a certain number of tournaments for their team to be eligible, players are allowed to play for only one team at championships unless they are a goalie in one division and skating out in another. Players are not allowed to play "Sunday only" at championships as they are allowed to at a regular tournament.
Qualifying requirements to participate at Championships:
All players will have to have played in and were rostered correctly in at least two tournaments with one having required travel with their team during this season. You can not qualify by participating in only two local tournaments. Players can only qualify for the team that they where rostered for during the regular season and cannot attempt to qualify for multiple teams.
Goalies - Goalie substitutes for championships are considered on a case-by-case basis. Unknown goalies will not be approved.
