Situations about Teams (Section 200)       

TOTAL players include: goalies and skaters ready to play, and goalies/skaters who are dressing for play.
If additional players, not originally counted, arrive to play after the game has started in 4-on-4 format, the game shall continue to be played in 4-on-4 format. 
If there are fewer than 10 total players at the end of the warm-up period, the game will be suspended.
If at any time during the game either team, due to injury or penalty, is not able to place the proper number of players on the ice, that team shall forfeit the game.
This new rule applies to Green Division ONLY, as the other divisions have opportunities to recruit substitutes from lower and same division players.

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Situation: Composition of Teams
A team arrives with only five players, but is willing to play the entire game short-handed.  Should the game be played? 

Response:  No.  Rule Reference 201 (a).  
A team is defined as having six players.  If a team cannot put six players on the ice at the start of the game or if the team is reduced to less than four players during the game, the "team" is not considered a "team" and must forfeit the game to its opponents.

See also NCWHL amendment for USAH Rule 201 (a), pertaining to Green Division games only (effective 4/18/05).

Situation: Players in Uniform
Shall a team be allowed to participate in a game with several players who are wearing sweaters that are a different color than those of their teammates?

Response:  No. NCWHL Rule reference 203. (This supercedes USA Hockey Rule 203d.)
Players who have been issued league jerseys must wear the appropriate league jersey while on the ice and participating in a game (including warm-ups, intermissions and post-game handshakes). For a violation of this rule, the player will be assessed a 10 minute misconduct. Having served her penalty, she may then participate in the game provided she wears and appropriately colored jersey. Goalies are exempt from this rule, but must should wear an appropriately colored jersey, if her league jersey is not available.

NOTE: This does not apply to new players, or players who have changed divisions, who are waiting for their new jerseys, but these players must wear an appropriately colored jersey.

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Situation: Playing Line-Up
Is it possible for a team to start a game with six players, none of whom is a designated goalkeeper?

Response:  Yes. Rule Reference 204(a).
The six players shall be listed as such on the playing roster and the Referee shall notify the opposing team of the situation.

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Situation: Change of Players
Are all players, including the goalkeepers, bound by the “at the bench” criterion when they are substituted for by another player?

Response:  Yes. Rule Reference 205(a) Note.
On any player change, the retiring player or players, including goalkeepers, must be at the bench and out of the play.
When, in the course of making a substitution, either the player entering or retiring from the game deliberately plays the puck in any manner or checks or makes any physical contact with an opponent while both players are on the ice, the infraction of "too many players on the ice" shall be called.

Situation: Change of Players
In the course of making a substitution, while play is in progress, the player entering the game is accidentally struck by the puck while the retiring player is still on the ice. Has an infraction of the rules occurred?

Response: No. Rule Reference 205 (a Note).
If the puck accidentally strikes either player in the process of a change, play must continue without a penalty, provided that the player who was struck by the puck makes no attempt to play the puck until the player change is complete.

Situation: Change of Players
What constitutes a "legal" line change?

Situation: Change of Players
The play is stopped due to the injury of a goalkeeper. After recovering quickly, she skates to her players' bench to wipe her face with a towel. Is this action permissible or must she be replaced?

Response:  The goalkeeper must be replaced or a bench minor penalty assessed.  Rule References 205 (e & f) and 206 (b).
Any time that a goalkeeper goes to her players' bench during a stoppage of play, she must be replaced or penalized.

Situation: Change of Players
If a player on the penalty bench remains there after the expiration of her penalty (while her team is entitled to return to full strength), may her team place another skater on the ice as long as the originally penalized player remains on the penalty bench?

Response:  No. Rule reference 205 (d).
A team may replace the penalized player only after she has left the penalty bench by way of the ice and returned to her players' bench. If she elects to remain on the penalty bench, either by intent or error, the team must continue to skate short-handed until the player returns to the ice. For a violation of this rule, a bench minor penalty must be assessed to the offending team.

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Situation:  The goalkeeper goes to her bench during a stoppage of play. The Referee sees this and advises the Coach that a substitute for the goalkeeper must be made prior to the ensuing face-off, which is done. May the team substitute for the replacement goalkeeper with the original goalkeeper during the following play?

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Situation: Adjustment to Clothing & Equipment
During a stoppage of play, may a goalkeeper go to her players' bench for a drink of water without being substituted for?

Response:  No. Rule References 205 and 602 (c).
During a normal stoppage of play, a goalkeeper may not go to her players' bench for any reason other than being substituted for. If an unusual delay in the game occurs, such as a required rink or equipment repair, the Referee may give the goalkeeper permission to wait out the delay at her bench. A properly secured water bottle on the top of the gal is permitted.