SOUTHERNMOST HOCKEY CLUB
PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK
Key West, Florida | Revised September 2026
A guide for youth athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, officials, volunteers, and Southernmost Hockey Club participants.
Rink Location: 1713 Bertha Street, Key West, Florida 33040
CONTENTS
Mission Statement
Participation
Protective Equipment & Uniforms
Activities & Schedules
Volunteers
Participant Safety
Participant Conduct
Handbook Acknowledgment
Mission Statement
Established 1994 | Key West, Florida
The mission of Southernmost Hockey Club is to build on the foundation established by our league’s founders in 1994 by growing inline hockey in Key West and making the sport accessible year-round for children, adults, and families throughout Key West and the Lower Keys.
We are committed to providing a safe, affordable, welcoming, and family-centered program where players of all ages, abilities, and experience levels have opportunities to learn, play, compete, and develop a lifelong connection to hockey. Through quality instruction, recreational and competitive opportunities, clinics, camps, tournaments, and community partnerships, we strive to develop hockey skills while promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, character, confidence, responsibility, respect, and mentorship.
Our goal is to bring inline hockey to Key West year-round and build a sustainable hockey community where players can progress from youth hockey into adult participation and remain involved as teammates, coaches, mentors, volunteers, and leaders. By honoring what our founders started in 1994 while creating new opportunities for today’s players, Southernmost Hockey Club seeks to ensure that hockey remains a lasting part of the Key West and Lower Keys community for generations to come.
Objectives
Ensure participation is safe, positive, and worthwhile.
Maintain an atmosphere that promotes learning, development, and good sportsmanship.
Prepare athletes for the next level of challenge in play and in life.
Support participants in an uplifting and encouraging manner.
Build a community where every member is treated with courtesy and respect.
Philosophy
SMHC believes team sports teach character, community, accountability, fitness, self-confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset.
Youth who meet registration requirements should have the opportunity to participate, subject to safety, roster capacity, and available coaching.
SMHC will strive to offer programs at a reasonable cost.
The focus of youth sports is development, enjoyment, teamwork, and life lessons—not solely winning.
Every participant brings value to the Club and should be treated with consideration and respect.
Club leaders are expected to lead by example.
Participation
A successful club takes the cooperation of everyone involved. All SMHC participants are expected to become familiar with Club expectations and fulfill their responsibilities in a timely manner.
Athlete & Parent/Guardian Expectations
Attendance: Families should make reasonable efforts to attend scheduled practices and games and notify the coach when an athlete will be absent.
Player Equipment: Families are responsible for required protective gear and for reasonable care of any SMHC equipment that is borrowed.
Player Safety: Athletes and families must follow SMHC concussion, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), emergency, and other safety protocols.
Required Documents: Families must provide required registration, age-verification, insurance, waiver, medical, or membership documentation.
Payments: Registration fees and approved charges are due when stated unless a scholarship or payment arrangement is approved.
Citizenship: Players should support coaches and teammates, demonstrate sportsmanship, give their best effort, and help keep the rink clean. Families are encouraged to volunteer when possible.
Player Registration & Insurance
Athletes must maintain any registration, membership, insurance coverage, waiver, or other documentation required by SMHC or the sanctioning organization designated for the applicable season or event.
Club Rules
SMHC programs follow the inline/roller hockey rules adopted for the applicable league, division, tournament, or event. Participants are responsible for complying with those rules and SMHC policies.
Protective Equipment & Uniforms
Properly fitted protective equipment is required for all practices and games.
Skaters
HECC-approved hockey helmet with required face protection, chin cup, and securing straps
Mouth guard, when required
Hockey gloves
Elbow pads
Pelvic protector/cup or appropriate protective garment
Hockey knee/shin pads
Inline hockey skates and any additional equipment required by the applicable rules
Goalies
HECC-approved goalie helmet/mask with required face and neck protection
Mouth guard, when required
Goalie glove and blocker
Goalie shoulder/chest protector
Goalie pants/girdle
Pelvic protector/cup or appropriate protective garment
Goalie leg pads and skates
Officials or SMHC representatives may prohibit any equipment, clothing, or accessory reasonably determined to be unsafe or inconsistent with applicable rules.
Uniform Orders
Uniform ordering instructions, deadlines, costs, and sizing information will be communicated during registration. Families are responsible for verifying customized order information before submission.
Social Media Policy
Photos and videos from SMHC events may be used for Club communications, promotion, website content, or social media. Parents/guardians may use any registration opt-out provided by SMHC. The Club cannot control content independently created or posted by third parties.
Activities & Schedules
Youth activities should, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, include at least two approved adult coaches, administrators, or volunteers. Adults serving in covered youth athletic roles must satisfy applicable screening and training requirements before participation.
Registration
Registration will be completed through the system designated by SMHC. Scholarship or financial-assistance opportunities may be offered when resources are available.
Divisions
6U
8U
10U
12U
14U
16U
18U
Age placement will follow the rules adopted for the applicable season or sanctioning organization. Divisions may be combined or adjusted based on player safety, registration, skill balance, roster needs, and coach availability.
Player Assessments
Coaches may conduct skill assessments to support safe division placement and balanced teams. Assessments are not pass/fail tryouts unless specifically designated for a travel or select program.
Practices & Games
Schedules depend on registration, coach availability, facility availability, weather, and league needs. Final schedules will be distributed through the Club’s designated communication system.
Cancellations
Activities may be canceled, delayed, or rescheduled because of weather, unsafe rink conditions, emergencies, facility closures, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Events & Tournaments
SMHC may offer clinics, skills events, scrimmages, tournaments, travel opportunities, community events, and other hockey activities. Tournament rosters may consider skill, safety, attitude, conduct, attendance, development, and roster needs.
Volunteers
SMHC depends on volunteers. The Board may require registration, approval, screening, or training depending on the volunteer role and contact with youth athletes.
Score, Stats & Timekeepers
Volunteers may track game time, intermissions, time-outs, penalties, goals, assists, saves, and scores as assigned.
Concessions & Event Support
Volunteers may assist with concessions, registration, rink cleaning, fundraising, special events, parking, setup, breakdown, and other approved activities.
Participant Safety
Emergency Action Plan
Rink Address: 1713 Bertha Street, Key West, Florida 33040
Call 911 or direct another person to call 911.
Remain with the injured person and provide First Aid/CPR/AED assistance within the responder’s training until emergency personnel arrive.
Keep emergency access routes clear and provide responders with the rink address and best entrance point.
Accident & Incident Reports
Significant injuries, incidents, safety concerns, and serious complaints should be documented and provided to the Board or designated safety representative as soon as practical. Catastrophic injuries, serious illness, emergencies, or suspected abuse must be escalated immediately.
SCA & Concussion Protocol
SMHC will provide concussion/head-injury and sudden cardiac arrest information and require annual acknowledgment when applicable. If an athlete faints, passes out, is suspected of concussion, or displays concerning symptoms:
Remove the athlete from play for the remainder of the day.
Call 911 for an unresponsive or non-breathing athlete, suspected cardiac arrest, seizure, loss of consciousness, or severe/worsening symptoms.
Notify the parent/guardian promptly.
Complete an accident report.
Do not allow return to practice or games until the medical clearance required by SMHC policy and applicable law is received.
Common SCA Warning Signs
Fainting or seizure during or immediately after exercise
Repeated fainting
Unexplained excessive shortness of breath
Racing, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat
Repeated dizziness or lightheadedness
Chest pain or discomfort with exercise
Unexpected or excessive fatigue
Common Concussion Signs & Symptoms
Headache or pressure in the head
Nausea or vomiting
Balance problems or dizziness
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light or noise
Confusion or memory problems
Appearing dazed or stunned
Loss of consciousness
Changes in mood, behavior, or personality
Mandatory Reporting
Florida law requires immediate reporting of known or reasonably suspected child abuse, abandonment, neglect, sexual abuse, or other reportable conduct to the Florida Abuse Hotline. SMHC participants and volunteers must comply with Florida law and Club policy.
Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE)
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
Reports should be made directly to the proper authorities; notifying SMHC does not replace a legally required report.
After making a report, notify the SMHC Board or designated safety officer when appropriate and when doing so does not interfere with the report or investigation.
Reference: Florida Statutes 39.201 and 39.101.
Unsafe Weather
Rain / Wet Surface: Stop activity when rain, standing water, or slick conditions make the rink unsafe. Resume only when the playing surface is reasonably safe.
Lightning: Stop outdoor activity when lightning is observed or thunder indicates a nearby storm. Use a minimum 30-minute wait after the last observed lightning or thunder before resuming; restart the waiting period if lightning or thunder occurs again.
Heat: Because South Florida heat and humidity can be extreme, coaches should provide frequent water/rest breaks, monitor athletes for heat illness, and modify, postpone, or cancel activities when conditions are unsafe.
Air Quality: Reduce intensity, increase rest, or postpone activities when air quality is unhealthy or other environmental conditions create a safety concern.
Participant Conduct
SMHC Code of Conduct
Represent SMHC responsibly at all times.
Respect officials, coaches, volunteers, opponents, teammates, families, and spectators.
Display good sportsmanship and support all participants.
Help make SMHC programs a positive experience.
Avoid unnecessary rough or dangerous tactics.
Refrain from abusive, threatening, discriminatory, or harmful words or actions.
Fulfill responsibilities to the Club.
Learn and follow the rules of hockey and SMHC policies.
Communicate openly and respectfully.
Recognize and value the contribution of every member of the Club.
Grievances
Any SMHC participant may submit a written grievance concerning an alleged violation of the bylaws, Code of Conduct, or other official Club rule or policy. Grievances should be directed to a Board member and should include the date, persons involved, witnesses, and a concise description of the issue. Referee judgment calls are not subject to grievance review.
The Board or designated grievance committee may investigate, hold a hearing when appropriate, interpret Club rules and policies, and issue a decision consistent with the bylaws and applicable law.
24-Hour Rule
Participants should not confront coaches, officials, volunteers, or other participants at the rink. Concerns about ordinary game, coaching, or operational matters should generally wait at least 24 hours before being raised. Immediate safety issues, threats, suspected abuse, or violations of law should be reported without delay.
Bullying & Harassment Policy
SMHC does not tolerate bullying or harassment and seeks to provide an environment free from intimidation, humiliation, discrimination, abuse, and retaliation.
Belittling or non-constructive criticism intended to demean another person.
Rude, derogatory, discriminatory, or offensive remarks, jokes, slurs, taunting, or gestures.
Spreading rumors or sharing content intended to intimidate, embarrass, humiliate, or harm another person.
Stealing, damaging, or interfering with another person’s property.
Unwanted sexual or physical contact.
Intentional physical contact or threats beyond contact permitted by the rules of hockey.
Retaliation against a person who makes a good-faith report or participates in an investigation.
Legitimate coaching direction, safety instructions, appropriate discipline, and ordinary disagreements do not automatically constitute bullying. Coaches must recognize the power imbalance in the coach-athlete relationship and use that authority responsibly.
The Board may review documents, interview witnesses, take immediate protective action, impose discipline, or use other reasonable measures. SMHC will seek to protect confidentiality as reasonably possible, subject to legal and investigative requirements.
Expulsion
An authorized adult SMHC representative may remove a participant from an event for a serious violation of Club rules, safety requirements, or the Code of Conduct. A person directed to leave must do so promptly. Refusal may result in additional consequences and, when necessary, involvement of law enforcement or facility authorities.
Corrective Action Plan
Step 1 - Warning: A coach and/or Board representative may address unacceptable conduct and explain that continued misconduct will not be tolerated.
Step 2 - Suspension: The Board may suspend a participant for a period based on the nature and severity of the conduct and may require a meeting before reinstatement.
Step 3 - Expulsion: The Board may expel a participant from the program for repeated or serious violations. Refunds are not guaranteed when participation ends because of misconduct.
SMHC may bypass progressive discipline and impose immediate suspension or expulsion for serious misconduct, including violence, credible threats, abuse, discriminatory slurs, serious harassment, or conduct creating an immediate safety risk.
Handbook Acknowledgment
By participating in Southernmost Hockey Club activities, participants and families agree to follow this Handbook, the SMHC bylaws, applicable Codes of Conduct, safety policies, and rules adopted for the applicable program or event.
Athlete Name: ________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name: _________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Athlete Signature (when required): ________________________ Date: ____________