20.0 Video Review Policy, Policies, ALLIANCE Manual of Operations (Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario)

Print20.0 Video Review Policy

20.1   ALLIANCE Hockey Policy on Video Review

 

1.   The ALLIANCE Executive Director may, of his own accord or at the request of a member minor hockey association,
       review a video record of any ALLIANCE sanctioned game for any event

 

a)  which resulted in the referee assessing a penalty for which an automatic suspension of three (3) games or
     more is required;
b)   warranting a suspension of any player or team official for three (3) games or more;
c)   warranting a suspension of any game official; or
d)   involving an injury.  (An injury report must accompany the video, if a player is not injured on a non-call a review
     will not take place
e)  non call that warrants a Match Penalty

 

2.   If the review is done by the Executive Director of his own accord, the review is subject to such process as the
       Executive Director deems appropriate.

 

3.   If the review is done by the Executive Director at the request of a member minor hockey association, the following
      process applies:

 

a)   The review request must be submitted to the ALLIANCE office in writing within forty-eight (48) hours of the
       completion of the game, along with

 

i.    a copy of the complete gamesheet (both sides of all sheets);
 ii.   a copy of the video record of the entire game, or such substantial part of the entire game as is available;
 iii.   a cheque/money order/bank draft payable to ALLIANCE Hockey for One Hundred and Fifty ($150)

               (non-refundable) per incident to cover the review fee.

 
b)   The Executive Director shall review the video record in a timely manner and may do any or all of the following:

     i.    set aside any penalty assessed by the referee which resulted in an automatic suspension of three (3)
                                   games or more;
      ii.    assess any appropriate penalty, suspension and/or supplementary suspension (including  substituted or
                                   additional penalties) for any infraction committed during the course of such game or during the
                                   aftermath of such game by any player or team official whether or not such infraction has been penalized
                                   by the referee;
      iii.   refer the matter to the ALLIANCE Discipline Committee for hearing;
      iv.   refer any  game official  to  the  Technical   Director (Officiating) for resolution purposes;
      v.   dismiss the review request.

c)   The Executive Director shall consult with the Technical Director (Officials), and may consult with the game
       officials and any other person the Executive Director deems proper during the course of the review.
 

d)   The standard of review to be used by the Executive Director in addressing a review request under items 1 (a) and
       (b) above is “conclusiveness” (ie. the video record under review must conclusively show that the referee’s in-
       game determination was incorrect).

 

e)   The Executive Director shall notify all affected parties of his decision in writing and in a summary manner.
       No decision involving a player or team official shall affect the outcome of
i.    the game as played, or
ii.    any game played after the game giving rise to the review and before the release of the decision of the
              Executive Director but shall otherwise be treated as if such decision had been made during the course of the
              game by the referee.

f)    Reasons for the Executive Director’s decision are not required to be given.


 

4.   Reference in this Policy to the Executive Director includes the Executive Director and/or their designate.


BACKGROUND
The use of video is becoming more prevalent in minor hockey. Parents may record games on video for enjoyment purposes, while teams may record games on video for use as a development or strategic tool. 
With that in mind, the issue of the League viewing such videos for situations that may occur during a game continues to be an issue. By way of this policy, the League wishes to communicate its position on when it is appropriate and responsible for the League to do so.
Both Hockey Canada and the League have very specific rules regarding the On-Ice Official’s judgment.

Hockey Canada Playing Rule 5.1 (c) reads: “A Referee shall have full authority and the final decision in all matters under dispute. Their decision shall be final on all questions of judgment and not subject to appeal.”

ALLIANCE Hockey: “REFEREE’S DECISION: A protest on a referee’s decision will not be considered unless it concerns a question respecting interpretation of the rules of the game.”


POLICY

Video That Will Not Be Reviewed
The League will generally not view videos for the purpose of reviewing on-ice officials’ calls or non-calls, nor for the purpose of reviewing the on-ice officials’ penalty selection unless otherwise outlined in this policy.

The League will generally not view videos for the purpose of reviewing the conduct or actions of any individual player unless otherwise outlined in this policy.

The League will generally not view videos for the purpose of reviewing the conduct or actions of any teams during any game unless otherwise outlined in this policy.

Rationale: The on-ice officials have rules at their disposal to penalize these situations.

Video That May Be Reviewed
The League may view video for the purpose of identifying the correct player in situations in which an incorrect player may have been identified by the on-ice officials and issued a penalty resulting in a suspension.

The League may view video for the purpose of reviewing the conduct of game officials during altercations, specifically when use of force is concerned.

The League may view video for the purpose of reviewing a game situation that results in a serious injury to any player whether or not a penalty was assessed. The Executive Director or their designee may use this video when determining the appropriate length of a suspension to any player or players who may have been directly involved in a player being seriously injured, whether or not a penalty was assessed at the time of the injury. 

The League may view videos for the purpose of reviewing the conduct of spectators and parents. 

Rationale: The on-ice officials may not have rules at their disposal to penalize these situations or may not be able to make the appropriate assessment of the cause or severity of an injury. Illegal plays resulting in severe injuries to players should not go un-penalized just because an on-ice official may not have been able to assess the appropriate penalty at that moment in time.

Decisions under this provision are subject to appeal as per ALLIANCE Hockey Constitution By-Laws 19.0.

Review of Misapplication of a Rule Or Judgment Resulting In Suspension
The League will view videos for the purpose of the appeal of a suspension when it is the contention of the Club/Team that a rule has been misapplied or that the official erred in their judgment when assessing a penalty that results in a suspension of two or more games.

The review will be considered by the League when the following has been submitted to the League Office:

•  A copy of the video in its entirety
•  A deposit of $150.00. The deposit is refundable only in instances in which the appeal is upheld in whole or in part. If the appeal is
    denied, the deposit is forfeited.
•  A copy of the Gamesheet
•  A statement outlining what penalty is being appealed which is signed by the Council Member or President of that Team’s
    Minor Hockey Association.
•  The submission occurs within 5 business days of the game being played. 

Procedure:
Upon receipt, the ALLIANCE Executive Director or their designee will review the appeal and make one of the following
determinations:

1. The review is inconclusive. A review may be deemed to be inconclusive if (among other things), in the opinion of the
            Executive Director or their designee, the video recording does not provide a sufficiently clear view of the incident.

2. In this case, the suspension(s) as a result of the penalty or penalties assessed by the official will remain in effect and the
            deposit is forfeited.

3. The review is conclusive that the official misapplied the rule and/or used incorrect judgment. In this case the corresponding
            suspension(s) is/are revoked.

4. The review is conclusive that the official applied the rule correctly and/or used correct judgment. In this case the
            suspension(s) as a result of the penalty or penalties remain in effect and the deposit if forfeited.

 This review is not subject to any further appeal.

Submission of Video:
If a Team wishes to submit video for review, the following procedure must be followed:

1. The video, along with a letter signed by the Council Member or President of that Team’s Minor Hockey Association must be
            delivered to the League Office.

2. The letter must specifically outline what the Team wishes to have reviewed.

3. The video must be cued to the point at which the incident occurred or there must be an indication in writing of what time in
             the game the incident occurred and where on the submission it can be located.