2024 Summer playoff spare rules reminder and update
Absences are not to be used to get advantage
Guys this post is a update of the spare rules and a reminder of the current established policy which is something that we are always working on to improve the league.
There is no more bottom up spare rule. The idea is done and dusted.
Spare Rules
The spare rules have evolved in recent seasons for the betterment of the league and players.
The number one spare rule is that the captains collaborate looking at BOTH lineups to make sure we have the most competitive game possible.
This means you do not spare to advantage but spare to make sure the teams power scores are as close as possible.
Often this means sparing on par for who is missing but this must be a complete picture looking at the outcome for the game.
It might be subbing a guy who is in the middle of the missing players. Be collaborative and cooperative in coming to solutions as we do in the ranking system.
You might be missing a 2, a 4 and 6.
Your opponent might be missing a 2, both 5’s. So look at who is available for both teams and come up with a solution to get you to fair game with 9 or 10 players each.
This is about making sure the guys on both teams have a great experience and great chance to win.
A captain cannot force his opponent to sub lower for advantage. A captain should not be pushing to “sub up” either.
Captains must be thinking about how the game can be an even as possible so both teams can and every player is getting their money’s worth as a member.
Playoffs
Nothing changes in the playoffs.
Except you absolutely must play with at least 9 skaters.
Last winter we said you must have 10 skaters because we had 12 man rosters.
Last winter we also had rules for when you could have only 9 skaters and you can find them here.
This summer in the first game of the payoffs a precedent was set by the captains which is sparing up to 10 – even though we have 11 player rosters
In the first game the Seals added D Rock in the their game vs the Nords to hit 10 skaters.
This sub was agreed to by the captains as a fair swap for the players missing from the Seals (Moe and Randy)
In the second game the Whalers approved the Caps sparing up to 10 as well, but the Caps elected to go with 9 guys instead.
The scenario would have worked either way to make a fair game, and the captains could have negotiated fair rosters in a few different ways.
What this means is that going forward teams can play with 9 or 10 skaters or with their full squad. This call is coming from the head of the competition committee and is endorsed by the VP of Corruption.
If both captains agree they can play 9 v 9.
Or if both captains agree they can play 9 v 10 or even 9 v 11.
If both captains agree there is no rule against subbing up to 11.
The point is that when BOTH captains look at BOTH rosters they say yes – that’s a good and fair game because one team is suddenly stacked or wrecked by guys being away.
So captains communicate early and if you have a dispute Mel Dawg. the head of the competition committee will assess what is fair spare scenario is and make the call.
This means that we are going with a 10 player minimum roster for all teams and all games.
There are only three conditions under which a team can skate with only 9 players:
- both teams have 9 skaters and the captains agree the game is a fair match up
- one team has 9 and the opposing captains agree the game remains fair
- no spare was available, despite active and sincere efforts to find one and you have talked to your opposing captains.
Please consult with the competition committee executive Mel, Niner or Dunner if there is a an issue.
The situation that we most want to avoid is having 9 skaters vs 12 skaters.
That can lead to a game where high level players on the the short team are double shifting and getting a lot of chances to impact the outcome, while on the other side it’s hard for the team to find a rhythm.
So captains if you are playing the Nords, and the Nords have 12 coming out make sure you are on top of your attendance and in dialogue with Pags and Wedge about your spare plans to make sure it’s not a 9 v 12 game.
Spare Rules
The spare rules have evolved in recent seasons for the betterment of the league and players.
This year we are sparing to 10 skaters except as described above.
The number one spare rule is that the captains collaborate looking at BOTH lineups to make sure we have the most competitive game possible.
This means you do not spare to advantage but spare to make sure the teams power scores are as close as possible.
Often this means sparing on par for who is missing but this must be a complete picture looking at the outcome for the game.
You might be missing a 2, a 4 and 6. Your opponent might be missing a 2, both 5’s. So look at who is available for both teams and come up with a solution to get you to fair game with 10 players each.
Dunner will send the most up to date rosters with power scores to the captains this weekend.
This is about making sure the guys on both teams have a great experience and great chance to win.