FPHL Board of Governors Establishes New Spectator Safety Policy and Transaction Clarifications

Binghamton, NY – The Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) today announced a newly adopted policy addressing spectator safety, along with clarifications to league transaction designations, following action taken by the League’s Board of Governors.

 

Spectator Safety Policy Update

The FPHL Board of Governors recently convened an emergency meeting to address conduct that places spectators at risk, specifically actions in which a player intentionally directs a puck or other object into the spectator area during stoppages in play or after the conclusion of a game.

 

This action follows a recent incident in Port Huron in which a fan was injured after a puck was sent out of play following a goal. Notably, this marked the second such spectator injury incident at that venue within the past calendar year.

 

The FPHL and its Board of Governors want to be unequivocally clear: the safety of our fans, arena staff, and game personnel is of the highest priority. Spectators do not attend games expecting to be exposed to avoidable risk arising from non-play-related actions or player frustration.

 

As a result of the Board’s discussion, the league has adopted a new, clearly defined policy establishing a zero-tolerance standard for conduct that endangers spectators. This policy introduces stronger, graduated discipline and expanded accountability to ensure players, coaches, and teams fully understand the seriousness of these actions and the consequences for failing to meet league standards.

 

The Board believes this policy sets a strong precedent and reinforces the league’s commitment to providing a safe environment for everyone who attends or works FPHL games.

 

The full text of the new rule and enforcement framework, as approved by the Board of Governors and administered by the Department of Player Safety, is provided below.

Rule 75.7 – Spectator Safety: Objects Directed Into the Spectator Area

 

75.7.1 Prohibited Conduct

Any player, coach, or team personnel who intentionally directs, propels, flips, throws, or otherwise sends any object (including, but not limited to, a puck or equipment) from the playing surface into the spectator area after play has stopped or outside of normal hockey play shall be deemed to have committed a serious spectator-safety violation.

 

This rule applies regardless of:

  • Intent to cause harm
  • Method used to propel the object
  • Whether an injury occurs

 

The standard is the act itself, not the outcome.

 

75.7.2 Independent Accountability

Accountability under this rule is independent and tracked separately.

 

  • Players, coaches and team personnel are disciplined based on their individual offense history, regardless of team affiliation.
  • Head Coaches (Who are themselves, not the actual violator) are disciplined based on offenses committed by players while under their supervision, regardless of player identity or prior history.

 

No individual shall be subject to escalated discipline based on offenses committed outside their period of responsibility.

 

75.7.3 Discipline (Individual-Based)

All violations are reviewed by the Department of Player Safety and subject to Board of Governors (BOG) oversight.

 

Player, coach or team personnel – First Offense

  • Suspension: Four (4) games
  • Fine: $250
  • Subject to supplemental discipline review

 

Player, coach or team personnel – Second Offense (Same individual)

If the same player commits a subsequent violation, regardless of team:

 

  • Suspension: One (1) year suspension or league ban
  • Fine: $500
  • Subject to supplemental discipline review

 

75.7.4 Coach Discipline (Team-Supervision-Based)

Coach discipline applies only to offenses committed by players or team personnel while under that coach’s supervision. Team personnel shall only apply to personnel on the players bench. Any management or other team affiliates who are not on the bench who commit an infraction under this rule will be subject to Supplementary discipline by the DoPS and Executive Board

If the head coach is himself the violator of this rule, then the penalties imposed on him shall be under rule 75.7.3

 

Coach – First Offense

  • When any player or team personnel on the team commits a violation under this rule
  • Head Coach: Placed on probation

 

Coach – Second Offense

  • If a second violation under this rule occurs on the same team within one (1)  year, regardless of which player or team personnel commits the act
  • Head Coach: Suspended four (4) games

 

75.7.5 Definitions and Tracking

For purposes of this rule:

 

  • Player Offense Count follows the individual player across teams.
  • Coach Offense Count follows the individual coach and applies only to violations occurring during their tenure with a team.
  • A player changing teams does not transfer offense history to a coach.
  • A coach changing teams does not inherit offense history from a prior team.

 

75.7.6 Supplemental Discipline Authority

The Department of Player Safety and the Board of Governors retain full authority to impose supplemental discipline where warranted based on severity, injury, or aggravating circumstances.

 

75.7.7 Non-Appealable

Discipline imposed under this rule is final and non-appealable.

 

75.7.8 Permitted Conduct – Fan Interaction

Nothing in this rule shall prohibit or penalize controlled, non-reckless fan interaction involving the delivery of an object (including, but not limited to, pucks, sticks, or other game-related items), provided all of the following conditions are met:

 

  • The object is delivered with minimal force
  • The player maintains clear visual awareness of the intended recipient
  • The intended recipient is aware of and reasonably expecting the interaction at the time the object is delivered
  • The action does not occur during or immediately following active play
  • The action does not arise from frustration, retaliation, or an emotional response to game events
  • The delivery is performed in a controlled and deliberate manner that does not create foreseeable risk to surrounding spectators

 

Examples of permitted conduct include handing an object directly to a spectator at the boards or gently delivering an object during warmups, after the conclusion of a game, or during organized fan-recognition moments.

 

75.7.9 Reckless Conduct Standard

For purposes of this rule, prohibited conduct shall be evaluated based on whether the player’s action:

 

  • Occurred after play had stopped or was otherwise unrelated to hockey play; and
  • Involved a non-essential, discretionary decision; and
  • Created a foreseeable risk of harm to spectators due to force, direction, timing, or lack of control

 

Actions meeting this standard shall be deemed violations regardless of intent to cause harm.

 

League Transaction Designation Clarification

The FPHL also wishes to clarify how player transactions are categorized and communicated.

 

The FPHL is recognized in North America as a Single-A Minor Professional Hockey League. There are four primary tiers of professional hockey in the United States:

 

  • Top Tier: National Hockey League (NHL)
  • AAA: American Hockey League (AHL)
  • AA: ECHL
  • A: FPHL and SPHL

 

The FPHL remains fully committed to advancing players to higher levels of professional hockey, including the ECHL, AHL, NHL, and select European leagues. When players move to a higher-tier league, they are designated as “Loaned To” in league records, as those leagues directly contact FPHL teams to utilize our players.

 

The FPHL does not maintain contractual affiliations or partnerships with the SPHL. When a player voluntarily chooses to move laterally to a league at the same professional tier, such as the SPHL, that player is designated as “Inactive – Voluntary Departure.” In these cases, the player’s FPHL rights remain with their current member club.

 

These designations do not indicate that a player has quit, been released unfairly, or been treated improperly by their team. Rather, this reflects individual career decisions made by players in what they believe to be their best professional interest.

 

The Federal Prospects Hockey League is proud to be operating in its 16th season during 2025–26 and remains committed to building one of the premier Single-A professional hockey leagues in North America.