The Rules and Ethics Committee is convened to review appropriate action as it relates to suspensions and other disciplinary matters.  The Committee consists of an elected chairperson and four other members of the Board of Directors.  For the 2007 - 2008 season the chairperson of  the Rules and Ethics Committee is Cathy Madison.

Rules and Ethics Committee Guidelines

The Committee will use, but not be limited to, the Atom's Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance policies as it's primary guidelines.  Policies and rules established by USA Hockey, Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, (AHAI), and Northern Illinois Hockey League, (NIHL), and Central States Development Hockey League, (CSDHL), will also be used by the Committee to supplement the primary guidelines set forth above. The Committee must follow the rules set forth by these governing bodies when setting minimum responses to infractions.  However, should the Committee decide the action warrants a more severe penalty, they may impose such penalty in its sole discretion.  The Rules and Ethics committee will not "second guess" or evaluate decisions made by on-ice officials but rather enforce appropriate responses to those decisions. If recurring or documented complaints about a given official are presented to the Committee, the Committee reserves the right to refer these matters to the Illinois Hockey Officials Association (IHOA) or other appropriate governing bodies.

Meetings and Hearings

Formal hearings shall convene according to need. Sufficient notice will be given all interested parties and notice will be posted at Rink Side Sports.  Hearings should be "formal" in the interests of the Committee and all participants, in accordance with Atom's by-laws.

Each case will be heard separately. Only those individuals associated with a particular case will be in the hearing room at a given time.  Coaches and Parents of a playing member charged with an offense must attend their child's hearing.  

Hearing Process

·        A member of the Rules & Ethics Committee recites the charges or offenses alleged.

·         Individual(s) involved with the charges or offenses will be expected to make a brief statement regarding the charges or offenses.

·        Coaches, Managers and parents will also be permitted to make statements, but only as they are recognized by the Committee.

·        The Rules & Ethics Committee may make inquiries of all parties involved for clarification of charges or offenses.

·        The Rules & Ethics Committee will meet in closed session to decide what actions, if any, the Atoms shall take.

·        The individual(s) involved will be advised of the Rules & Ethics Committee's decision.

·        All actions and decisions taken by the Rules & Ethics Committee will be documented in writing and distributed to the individual(s), Parents, Coach, the Atom's President, Rules and Ethics Committee members, and appropriate governing bodies (i.e. AHAI, NIHL).

·        In the event that a Rules and Ethics Committee member or family member is the subject of a charge or hearing, that member will not participate as a member of the Committee for that particular deliberation. The Atom's President shall appoint a replacement for that deliberation.

 Team Liaisons:

Potential Rules and Ethics violations can be reported to the board through your team liaison, which are listed below:

Mites - Jeff Moore
Squirts- Jenine Buchanan
PeeWees - Cathy Madison
Bantams - Rich Koukol
Midgets - Janet Smith

The team liaison may also assist in the investigation by gathering witnesses and people involved in the incident for the Rules and Ethics committee to interview. They may also be involved in communicating information (including suspensions) back to the team and/or the person(s) involved in the incident.