The Raging Pylons is not a league-managed team, but rather a privately managed team. Our intention is to run the team efficiently, fairly, and completely transparently. Here's how we operate:
On the ice and in the locker room
- We play for fun; everyone gets a fair share of ice time, regardless of abilities. We don't use special teams. We've tried special teams in the past, with the result that it was too difficult for players to regain their lost ice-time.
- This team tries to play with three full lines (16 players) at all times, insofar as possible. When that isn't possible, line combinations are rotated in such a way as to ensure an as equal as possible share of ice time for all players.
- Good sportsmanship is a must. We expect players to behave respectfully towards officials and opponents, and to be helpful and encouraging to teammates.
- Everyone is encouraged to share ideas and opinions about strategy and skills improvement. We have generally succeeded in reaching consensus on such issues, but if need be, the Captain will make a final decision.
Money matters
- All team money matters are recorded on the "money matters" web page of our web site, and password-protected so that only team members may access the information.
- Team fees are paid in advance. The same goes for uniforms (new players). In return, the team pays its fees to the league in advance.
- Please pay the Accountant (Anne). If you need a tax receipt, let her know, and she will ask the DWHL to supply one.
- All sparing fees collected (see below) go into the team fund.
- Any excess collected (due to rounding up for fees and uniforms, for example) also goes into the team fund.
- The team fund is used to pay for supplies, such as jerseys for spares, replacement of broken water bottles and lost pucks, DVDs for game videos (if relevant), and so on. If the team fund is doing very well, it can also be used for team activities such as training sessions, or extra ice time or games.
- Free beer coupons, should the team earn any, will be used at a time suitable to as many players as possible.
- We hope to avoid any fines related to suspensions etc.; in the past, the team fund has paid the (very rare) fines incurred, but if someone is being stupid, then they will be required to pay their own fines.
- At the end of the season, any amount remaining in the team fund belongs to the regular players equally. If the amount is small, it is likely to be rotated to the following year's account.
Communication
- We use an e-mail list to communicate among team members. This is used for announcements, but also for discussions. Everyone on the team is very welcome to participate.
- Another list is used for announcements to potential spares. Please do not assign your own spares for any games. It may result in our having too many spares for a game, and we don't want to have to turn anyone away.
- Let's talk to each other on and off the ice, in the room, on the bench, and on our mailing list.
Game announcements, absences, and spares
- Schedule changes, additions, and reminders are announced to the player mailing list as soon as the team management is aware of them. Sometimes (thankfully not often) announcements are made with very short notice, but in those cases, players can be sure that we also received very short notice.
- If you can't make it to a game, let us know (via the "rpmanagement" address) as soon as possible, so we can arrange for a spare. Please don't try to arrange for a spare yourself. If you want someone particular to spare for you in a game, let them know to keep an eye on their e-mail (and be sure that they're on our spares mailing list, of course) for a call for spares, and that they should respond to that call for spares as soon as they know they'll be available. We try to accommodate players' wishes, but we also need to keep an eye on playoff qualifications.
- We charge $20/game for spares; this money goes into the team fund.
- All spares are arranged directly by the team management (Syl and Anne) only. If you have someone in mind who would like to spare for us, please put him or her in touch with us, so that the person can be added to our spares mailing list.
- Sparing opportunities are announced to the spares mailing list, and games assigned by the team management to spares roughly on a first-come, first-served basis, especially at the start of the season. Toward mid-season, we make an effort to "qualify" appropriate spares for the playoffs: in order to be allowed to play during the playoffs, spares must have played a certain number of games with us already, and must have demonstrated that their caliber is consistent with the caliber of the team and of the division.