DOPS
What is the DOPS?
The Department of Player Safety is a body appointed by the ten Elite League teams to independently control the disciplinary process in the league.
DOPS Panel
DOPS review all Major penalties automatically, along with any incidents of body contact resulting in an injury.
Once an incident has been reviewed, the affected Elite League clubs are notified of DOPS decision along with any supplementary discipline that has been assessed.
While appointed by the the EIHL Board, DOPS operates independently so there is no chance decisions can be influenced.
Automatic Reviews
DOPS will automatically review the following situations that occur within any EIHL sanctioned game;
- All Match penalties.
- All Major and Game Misconduct penalties.
- All Checking to the Head or Checking from Behind penalties.
- All Misconducts and Game Misconducts.
- Abuse of Official penalties.
- Any ‘extraordinary situations’ (before, during or after the game) that are reported by the Match Night Officiating Team or EIHL Situation Room
- All injury situations regardless of on-ice call.
Notification To Clubs
DOPS will liaise with all affected clubs as soon as an automatic review is triggered.
Once the review has taken place, DOPS release information relating to all reviews that have been undertaken to all clubs.
DOPS will then liaise with the EIHL Media team to release the information publicly.
Any review which takes place following games on either a Friday night or Saturday night which result in a suspension will see a note advising of that suspension posted on the Elite League website and Facebook page, and Elite League Department of Player Safety Twitter account (@eihldops) the following day.
This is to ensure all parties – including our fans and media partners – are kept informed of any suspensions before the affected team plays its next game.
Can Teams Appeal?
Yes, if the suspension is eight (8) games or more, then the club and player in question can request an appeal. To do this they must lodge an appeals fee with the league, which is refunded if the appeal is successful.
A ban of seven (7) games or less cannot be appealed. This is a decision taken by the Elite League board because the appeals process can be both complex and expensive. This was agreed by all teams making up the board.
Late Provision of Evidence
All teams ask DOPS to make the decision with the information they have in front of them prior to the deadlines. To consider evidence later sets a precedent, which could allow teams to withhold information until the last possible moment to gain an advantage. All clubs agree that it is crucial the deadlines are kept by all parties.
