IHF FAQs


Frequently Asked Questions about the IHF High School Roller Hockey League     
[FAQs are a work in progress as of July 2011] The IHF is always glad to help wherever we can and provides the content below to help inform our roller hockey community on sme concerns and common questions. More content will be added to these FAQs over time. If you don't find an answer to your question, please see our Contact information to help provide you with the specific answer you seek.


FAQs About Forming a New High School Roller Hockey Team or Club

First, some helpful bits & bytes to inform and help get you started... 
A.  The IHF (Interscholastic Hockey Federation) League is arguably among the largest of its kind in the US and has been organizing high school competitions in the area since the 90's. The league is AAU sanctioned and all participants are insured via the AAU. The IHF invites teams from around the area to compete and welcomes any new club/team that may be forming. From L.A. County, the Inland Empire and Orange County, clubs representing their schools, although many unofficially, compete within the IHF and presently at three locations: The 949 Roller Hockey Center located in Irvine, CA; and The Rinks (by the Anaheim Ducks) at both Corona Inline and Huntington Beach Inline.
B.  ELIGIBILITY: Any team representing a California High School, public or private, is eligible to enter a High School Roller Hockey team in one or more divisions. Divisions open to include: Varsity, Jr. Varsity A (JVA); Jr. Varsity B (JVB); Jr. Varsity C (JVC); and Combination (Combo). 
C.   SEASONS: The IHF Fall/Winter Season typically starts in October and completes the playoff portion of the season with its weekend tournament in February at The 949 Roller Hockey Center in Irvine - our home rink. The new IHF Spring League began with games in March 2011.The IHF League (by its Board of Directors) conducts an annual Coach & Manager meeting each year in September that informs the League participants about the upcoming season and changes from the previous season(s). This is a must-attend event. 
D.  CIF SANCTION: Roller Hockey (inline hockey) is not a statewide CIF sanctioned high school sport. It is, however, sanctioned in San Diego district 10 only at this time.

About forming your new club...
a.. Spring is a good time to commence recruiting and organizing for the Fall Season. First is having a group of student-athletes (players) sufficient in numbers and desire to warrant the parents (and/or the school) to give consideration to forming a new team and club sport. Sharing information among the player prospects is essential to have a common goal and be able to rally to the cause. 
b.. IHF Teams are comprised of a minimum of six (6) Players with a Goalie and a Coach (max. roster of 15).
c.. All teams pay a League Fee for competing in the season (fees change from year-to-year and for seasons. Fees may be paid in two installments for the Fall season). The League Fee does not include optional practice slots which may arranged at the rink of preference (Home rink) of the respective team/club.
d.. The IHF is encouraged by both student-athletes and parents who have an interest in the sport and who initiate actions leading to its progress and forming a new club or team. The IHF has also worked with student-athletes (players) and parents alike wanting to form a club as well as with school districts and schools to assist in their recognition - mostly as a club sport program. Many IHF (school) clubs operate their teams as an organized club sport. There are also some districts and schools where the sport is not/may not be recognized as a club. 
e.. Clubs that enter the IHF League DO NOT have to have authorization from the school to compete. In fact, this may be a deterrent in some cases. Our cumulative experience spans the spectrum of school issues from the District to the School level. 
f.. Forming an independent HS Roller Hockey Club (or team), will likely mandate that the club can not use the school mascot or logo so as to not appear as an official representative of the respective school. However, because schools do not own the "name," a club may call themselves the (School Name) Roller Hockey Club and use a logo of their own design for use with jerseys, etc. This is the case with many clubs/team in the League.
g.. Independent HS Roller Hockey Clubs (or team) may form an advisory group or board of parents to help govern and manage their club. There are always concerns for finances, uniforms, practice and league fees, school liaison, transportation and help with keeping the club's continuity & succession plan in place. At the most basic level, a team must have an official contact (usually Team Manager and/or Coach) to represent the team to the League. As a policy, the IHF does not intercede in or govern Club Formation or matters within the individual club. 
h.. If your elective is to pursue forming a Roller Hockey Club at your school, first research the School and/or District's policies and procedures governing the formation of a Club - especially a club for an Alternative Sport (Roller / Inline Hockey), and then begin discussions with your high school’s Athletic Director (AD) and Principal. They will be concerned about the matters of liability and responsibility of the high school, and more. You will likely also need sponsorship help from a faculty member in helping the student-athletes to form hockey club at their school. If known, there may be a hockey fan or player on the faculty - a huge plus! The IHF has participated in helping and maintains reference materials that have been used over the past in presentation to schools, faculty and administrators to assist in the development of High School Roller (inline) Hockey Clubs.
i.. There are other High School Roller (inline) Hockey Clubs participating in the IHF League that have been recognized by, and in some cases, given recognition in varying degrees to the student-athletes who participate in them. Often, other clubs in your area may be a reference within the District and even lend additional assistance. 
j.. About high school roller hockey club structure and recognition programs. Survey results from 2007-08 IHF teams/clubs:
• 52% Organized as a school sports club
• 21% Operate as a nonprofit organization
• 21% Are recognized by their school district
• 31% Varsity players receive a letter for this sport
• 14% Players receive P.E. credit for this sport
• 62% Have yearbook recognition
• 14% Club pays for yearbook content
• 44% Club employs (fee or salary) its coach(s)
k.. Team Formation - Just how a Club/Team chooses to form its roster(s), run tryouts and evaluations, etc., are at the club’s discretion. Some teams begin fun sessions & practices in August to build the club camaraderie and expand interest. Most clubs do have tryouts and have their preliminary rosters locked by late September to early October (see Rules for requirements). 
l.. All Coaches are required to have the Basic Coach certification as prescribed by the CIF. For new coaches, this certification is needed before Dec. 31st of their first season. (see Rules for mandatory coach certification).


Some Frequently Asked Questions....

Q. Does the season fee also include a coach fee?
A. The season fee (League Fee) does not include any coach-related fees. 

Q. Do coaches get paid or are these coaches volunteer coaching?
A. Coaches in the IHF League vary by individual club as to whether or not the coach is paid or is a volunteer. Some clubs rely solely on paid coaches while others call on a volunteer parent or other qualified coach.

Q. Do the IHF coaches and managers have to have an AAU membership? 
A. Yes. All coaches, and any adult member who takes to the bench, must have an AAU non-athlete membership. To help clarify, AAU membership is needed to begin the IHF season. Players need Athlete membership ($12/year) and Coaches need non-Athlete ($14/year) unless opting for the additional coverage of $2.00 per. For IHF Players who are also members of The 949, the annual 949 membership fee of $40 includes the $12 AAU insurance fee. This program is available at the 949's front counter. For Coaches, and others who are not 949 members, AAU insurance is available online by visiting their site at: http://aauhockey.org/

Q. How does a player join a team?
A. Any student from a public or private school is eligible to join a high school roller hockey team. If the (school) club is presently in the League, a reference can be made to the current coach and/or manager contact to obtain information pertaining to their respective schedules, tryouts, etc. "IF" your student-athlete is from a school that does not presently have a high school roller hockey club, your options are twofold:
- Call on the League for assistance in helping to recruit others and form a new club; or
- Call on the League for referral to other players who may also be without a club to represent their respective school and form a new "Combo" (co-op) team to compete in the Combo Division.

Q. We have a player on our team who will now be attending an alternative HS affiliated with our district, but would be attending to our school under other circumstances. He may even yet return to classes here. He has played on this team last season and wants to continue on to the IHF season. What are the rules for this?
A. While the Rules are clear for eligibility, a case such as this may petition the Board for an exception ruling regarding eligibility and merit on a case-by-case basis. If the student-athlete, for example still possesses an ASB card and is in good standing with the school, there is no need to petition the Board. However, if that is not the case, a petition from the player and/or family is produced to show cause and then communicated to the Team. It is then the Head Coach’s task to substantiate and certify the petition before formally submitting it to the Board. The Board will then make its determination and respond in due process.

Q. I know we went over this in the Coaches Meeting, about a home-schooled student, does the same rule apply to a Independent Studies Student? One of our players from last season decided to go into Independent Studies this year. He still lives within the school boundaries and everything is the same except he's not enrolled in the school. He wants to play for the team, so will he be able to?
A. See Answer above.

Q. Do players become ineligible at any time during the season based on their performance in their classes at school (minimum GPA, etc.)?
A. At present, the IHF does not monitor or base eligibility on academic GPA minimums. There are, however scholastic clubs participating in our organization who do set and enforce standards of their own. 


More information about the IHF and team requirements are available online at our website: www.ihf-hockey.org, and we're on Facebook - Like us at our Fan Page , and/or Friends with "Ihf Hockey" 



FAQs about Petitions
As a starting point, the IHF Petition Process does not presently have a form per se, but does have some guidelines as has been practiced and described below.

As a starting point, the IHF Petition Process does not presently have a form per se, but does have some guidelines as has been practiced and described below.

Reference 1. 
SECTION III. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY, Para. 12. Any exception to the IHF rules may be appealed through written petition by the affected party(s) and presented to the IHF Board President by the duly appointed club representative who will in turn present it to the Board for their decision. The Board will confer and render a decision in as timely a manner as possible. The Board’s decision is final.

The process for a petition begins with a parent or guardian to make the request for their student-athlete and [cite the condition] to the School Club's management (Head Coach, Team Manager, or Board as may be the case) and provide the necessary details and background to frame the petition. 

In cases of Eligibility, the petitioner(s) should: Set the condition(s) of the student's attendance at the school; Establish the affiliation of the school within the school district; and Describe the objectives and desire(s) for the student-athlete. Establishing the factual conditions should be supported through the inclusion of documentation in the form of Letter(s) from the school and its authorized representative(s), ASB card and/or other instruments that provide proof of attendance or its intent. In cases where eligibility, or return thereof, is based on a health-related concern, a letter from the attending Physician is required. In cases of a home-schooled student-athlete, documentation should include proof of residence, certificates from the Home School association (if available), any attendance record of classes at the public school where the student may normally be enrolled, and others as may be asked by the Board. There are indeed other petition-related conditions and considerations by the Board.

The School Club's management will then present the formal petition to the IHF president to justify the conditions and make his/her request to the Board for a ruling exception to the eligibility and/or other rules as may be applicable.

Reference 2. 
SECTION IV. SUSPENSIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DISCIPLINE, Para. 11. All petitions, protests and appeals must to be submitted via email to the IHF Board president, by the Coach or Team Manager, and this action must occur within 24 hours of the game or suspension in question. The IHF Board will then deliberate the petition, protest or appeal and respond back to the team(s) and coaches prior to their next regularly scheduled game.

The petition process for matters of discipline is self-explanatory and there is no standard per se that the Coach or Team Manager should follow. Also to be considered in the above regards are Protests. While rare, protests over the results or influences of an IHF game have occurred and are on record. They should be treated in similar fashion as discipline-related petitions.


For more information about the IHF, please send your inquiries by email to us...
IHF Information Desk - For General Inquiries
IHF Registration Desk - For Information New Teams, Players and Payments
IHF Scheduling Desk - For Inquiries, New Schedules or Changes
IHF Administration Desk - For those little details 
IHF Petitions Desk - If you need an exception to an IHF Rule by the Board of Directors
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