Rink Regulations & Code of Conduct
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club is proud to be a volunteer-run, community-focused organisation. Our match nights are designed to be exciting, welcoming, and safe for supporters of all ages.
By entering The Den – Deeside Ice Arena, all spectators agree to comply with:
- The Deeside Dragons Rink Regulations and Code of Conduct
- Gwella’s own Arena Rules and Venue Conditions of Entry
- Any reasonable instructions issued by Gwella venue staff, stewards, volunteers, club officials, emergency services, or authorised event staff
Where Gwella’s arena rules or conditions of entry differ from Deeside Dragons regulations, Gwella’s venue rules shall take precedence at all times.
These regulations exist to protect supporters, players, volunteers, officials, venue staff, and the future of the club.
1. Respect and Community Standards
Deeside Dragons is built on community support and mutual respect.
All supporters are expected to:
- Treat others fairly and respectfully
- Support the team in a positive manner
- Follow the instructions of stewards, volunteers, Gwella venue staff, club officials and authorised event staff
- Help keep The Den welcoming, safe and family-friendly
We want The Den to remain a place where families, young fans, new supporters, and lifelong Dragons fans can enjoy the game together.
2. Zero Tolerance Behaviour Policy
The club operates a strict zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour.
The following will not be tolerated:
- Aggressive, abusive, or threatening conduct
- Racism, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind
- Harassment of players, officials, volunteers, venue staff or supporters
- Bullying, intimidation or targeted abuse
- Excessive intoxication or disorderly behaviour
- Throwing objects onto the ice, into the crowd, or towards any person
- Damage to property, fixtures, seating, signage or venue equipment
- Any behaviour that places others at risk or damages the reputation of the club
Anyone acting in breach of these standards, or in breach of Gwella’s arena regulations, may be:
- Refused entry
- Removed from the venue
- Reported to the appropriate authorities
- Banned from future fixtures
- Subject to further club action
Removal under this policy will result in no refund being issued.
3. Safety Inside The Den
Ice hockey is a fast-paced contact sport. Supporters attend fixtures knowing that match play can be unpredictable and that pucks, sticks, players or equipment may move quickly and unexpectedly.
Flying Pucks
Pucks may leave the playing surface without warning.
Supporters should take extra care:
- When seated near the glass
- When attending with children
- During warm-ups
- During live play
- When moving near viewing areas
Supporters are responsible for remaining alert to live play, warm-ups and the movement of the puck at all times.
Nothing in these Regulations excludes or restricts liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, where such liability cannot legally be excluded.
4. Spectator Movement During Play
For safety and courtesy, supporters must not move around the arena while the puck is in play.
This includes:
- Walking along aisles or stairways
- Standing in viewing areas
- Leaving seats during live play
- Returning to seats during live play
- Blocking walkways, steps, exits or viewing areas
Supporters should always wait until a stoppage in play before moving.
Movement during play may:
- Block the view of other spectators
- Create hazards on steps and walkways
- Distract other supporters
- Increase risk during fast-paced match action
Persistent offenders may be asked to leave the venue without refund.
5. Emergency Evacuation and Venue Procedures
In the event of an emergency, including a fire alarm or evacuation incident, all supporters must:
- Remain calm and act responsibly
- Immediately follow all instructions from Gwella staff, stewards, volunteers, club officials and emergency services
- Leave the arena via the nearest safe fire exit or escape route
- Not delay to collect belongings where doing so may place themselves or others at risk
- Not block exits, corridors, walkways or emergency access routes
- Not re-enter the building until instructed that it is safe to do so
For the safety of everyone in attendance, all supporters must follow evacuation instructions immediately and cooperate fully with venue staff and emergency services.
Failure to follow emergency instructions may result in removal from the venue and further action.
6. Children and Supervision
Children are welcome at Deeside Dragons fixtures.
Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring children:
- Remain supervised throughout the event
- Do not enter restricted areas
- Behave safely and respectfully
- Do not run around the arena, steps, walkways or viewing areas
- Follow instructions from stewards, volunteers, Gwella staff and club officials
Children should not be left unattended at any point during the event.
If a child becomes separated from their parent or guardian, supporters should immediately notify a steward, club official or Gwella venue staff member.
The club reserves the right to require children to be accompanied by a responsible adult where necessary.
7. Safeguarding and Welfare
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and family-friendly environment.
Any safeguarding, welfare, bullying, harassment or safety concern should be reported to a steward, club official, Gwella venue staff member, or through the club’s official contact form as soon as possible.
If a child, young person or adult at risk is believed to be in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted immediately.
Supporters must not behave in a way that places children, young people, vulnerable adults, players, officials, volunteers, staff or other supporters at risk.
The club may take action where behaviour creates a safeguarding, welfare, safety or reputational concern.
8. Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club wants The Den to be welcoming and accessible for all supporters.
Supporters who require reasonable adjustments, accessible seating, carer support, assistance with entry, or permission to bring essential medical items should contact the club or venue in advance where possible.
Assistance dogs are not classed as pets and will be accommodated in line with applicable equality law and venue safety requirements.
The club and Gwella venue staff will take reasonable steps to support disabled supporters, carers and visitors with additional needs, while also maintaining the safety and operational requirements of the venue.
9. Restricted Areas
For safety and operational reasons, supporters must not enter restricted or staff-only areas.
This includes:
- The ice surface
- Player benches
- Penalty boxes
- Officials’ areas
- Changing rooms
- Medical or treatment areas
- Control booths
- Staff-only zones
- Media or livestream areas unless authorised
- Any area marked as restricted, private or staff only
Unauthorised access may result in removal from the venue, refusal of future entry, and further action where appropriate.
10. Tickets and Entry Conditions
All supporters must hold a valid ticket for entry.
This applies to all tickets issued by or through Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club, including digital tickets, printed tickets, QR code tickets, season tickets, physical tickets, complimentary tickets, sponsor tickets, tickets purchased online, and tickets purchased at the gate or on match night.
Tickets may be checked or scanned at any time.
The club and Gwella venue management reserve the right to refuse entry where:
- Tickets are invalid
- Tickets have already been used
- Tickets have been misused
- Tickets have been transferred or resold in breach of club rules
- Concession eligibility cannot be proven
- Behaviour standards are not met
- Arena rules are breached
- Entry would create a safety, security or operational concern
Supporters must use the correct ticket type for their age, concession status, seating area or entry category.
The club reserves the right to cancel, refuse, or restrict ticket access where a ticket has been obtained or used improperly.
11. Concession Ticket Checks
Concession tickets are available only to eligible supporters.
Valid proof may be required at the point of entry, during ticket checks, or at another reasonable point in the ticketing process.
Proof may include:
- Student photo ID
- Age verification
- Disability entitlement where applicable
- Carer documentation where applicable
- Any other proof reasonably required for the relevant concession category
Supporters unable to provide proof may be required to upgrade their ticket or may be refused entry.
Misuse of concession tickets may result in entry being refused, ticket cancellation, account restrictions or future ticket access being restricted.
12. Photography, Filming and Media
Match nights may be photographed, filmed, live streamed or recorded.
By attending, supporters acknowledge that their image may appear in:
- Club livestreams
- Social media posts
- Promotional materials
- Match highlights
- Website content
- Printed or digital club materials
- Media coverage
If you have concerns about being photographed or filmed, please contact the club prior to the fixture where possible.
Supporters must not film, photograph or record in a way that:
- Invades the privacy of others
- Targets children or vulnerable individuals inappropriately
- Disrupts the match
- Blocks views
- Interferes with club media, livestream or venue operations
- Breaches any instruction from Gwella staff, club officials or event staff
13. Prohibited Items and Venue Safety Rules
To protect all supporters and ensure a safe match-night environment, the following are strictly prohibited inside The Den unless expressly authorised.
Noise Devices
The following are not permitted:
- Air horns
- Compressed horns
- Gas-powered horns
- Any noise device considered unsafe or disruptive by Gwella staff or club officials
Pump or blow horns may be allowed only in dedicated sections, where approved by the club and venue staff.
Alcohol and Substances
Bringing alcohol into the arena is prohibited.
Anyone attempting to enter while intoxicated, carrying alcohol, or acting in a disorderly manner may be refused entry or removed.
Illegal substances are strictly prohibited.
Smoking and Vaping
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the arena.
Vaping is also strictly prohibited indoors.
Supporters must follow Gwella’s venue rules regarding smoking and vaping areas.
Pyrotechnics and Dangerous Items
The following are banned without exception:
- Flares
- Smoke bombs
- Fireworks
- Pyrotechnics of any kind
- Laser pens
- Weapons
- Sharp objects
- Any item deemed dangerous by Gwella staff, club officials or authorised event staff
General Safety
Supporters must not bring or use any item that may:
- Cause injury
- Obstruct views
- Disrupt the match experience
- Create a safety risk to others
- Damage property
- Interfere with match operations, media, livestream, staff or volunteers
Bags, clothing or personal items may be checked by Gwella venue staff or authorised officials where required for safety, security or operational reasons.
Any supporter refusing a reasonable safety check may be refused entry or removed from the venue without refund.
Any prohibited items may be confiscated, and entry may be refused.
14. Flags, Banners and Supporter Displays
Supporters are welcome to bring flags and banners, provided they are safe, respectful and appropriate for a family-friendly environment.
The following are strictly prohibited:
- Offensive content
- Abusive content
- Discriminatory content
- Political messaging
- Hate speech
- Content targeting players, officials, volunteers, staff, supporters, sponsors or other clubs in an abusive manner
Flags, banners and displays must not:
- Obstruct walkways
- Block exits
- Cover signage
- Block the view of other spectators
- Interfere with venue operations
- Create a safety risk
Gwella staff and club officials reserve the right to remove any display deemed inappropriate, unsafe or unsuitable.
15. Drums and Organised Support
Atmosphere is a huge part of ice hockey, and organised support is encouraged where appropriate.
However:
- Drums or musical instruments may only be used in designated areas, with venue approval
- Excessive or disruptive noise may be restricted at the discretion of Gwella staff or club officials
- Support must remain respectful and family-friendly at all times
- Organised support must not interfere with safety instructions, announcements, match operations or the enjoyment of other supporters
Any supporter or group using drums, instruments or organised displays may be asked to stop if they are considered unsafe, disruptive or inappropriate.
16. Ticket Resale and Misuse
Unauthorised resale of tickets is not permitted.
Supporters must not:
- Resell tickets above face value
- Misuse concession tickets
- Use another person’s ticket improperly
- Attempt to duplicate, copy or alter tickets
- Transfer tickets in breach of club rules
- Use tickets for competitions, promotions or giveaways without club permission
Supporters found reselling tickets above face value or misusing ticket categories may have:
- Their ticket cancelled
- Their account removed or restricted
- Entry refused
- Future access restricted
- Further action taken where appropriate
No refund will be issued where a ticket is cancelled due to misuse, misconduct or breach of these Regulations.
17. Online Conduct Connected to Club Events
Supporters must not use social media, online platforms, direct messages, emails, website accounts or other digital channels to abuse, threaten, harass, intimidate or target:
- Players
- Coaches
- Officials
- Volunteers
- Club staff
- Gwella venue staff
- Supporters
- Sponsors
- Affiliated groups
- Other clubs or their supporters
Where online conduct is linked to Deeside Dragons fixtures, ticketing, volunteers, players, officials, club operations, supporter groups or match-night activity, the club may take action under these Regulations.
This may include:
- Warning the individual
- Restricting ticket access
- Removing account privileges
- Refusing entry
- Issuing a temporary or permanent ban
- Reporting the matter to relevant authorities where appropriate
18. Club Authority, Ejection and No Refund Policy
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club reserves the right to take any action necessary to protect:
- Supporter safety
- Children, young people and vulnerable adults
- Volunteers
- Players and officials
- Gwella venue staff
- The reputation of the club
- The match-night experience for all
- Club operations
- Venue safety and security
All decisions made by club officials, Gwella venue staff and authorised event staff regarding entry, conduct and removal are final.
Supporters may be required to leave immediately if instructed to do so by Gwella staff, club officials, stewards, volunteers, emergency services or authorised event staff under venue safety procedures, operational requirements or these Regulations.
Any supporter removed or ejected for misconduct, safety reasons, ticket misuse, or breach of venue rules will not be entitled to any refund under any circumstances.
Where a supporter is removed, refused entry, or found to have breached these Regulations, the club may restrict or cancel future ticket access, suspend or remove website account access, cancel ticket privileges, prevent future purchases, or issue a temporary or permanent ban from Deeside Dragons fixtures.
The club may share relevant information with Gwella, event staff, emergency services, governing bodies, relevant authorities, and officially recognised Deeside Dragons affiliated groups where necessary for safety, security, safeguarding, disciplinary, legal, operational or supporter welfare reasons.
This may include sharing information with officially recognised supporters’ groups where the information is relevant to supporter conduct, safety, event access, welfare, club operations or the protection of volunteers and supporters.
19. Changes to These Regulations
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club may update these Rink Regulations and Code of Conduct from time to time.
The latest version will be published on the club’s official website.
Where necessary, the club may also bring important changes to supporters’ attention through website notices, ticketing messages, social media, email or match-night announcements.
20. Contact
For questions regarding these Regulations, please use:
General Contact Form
Deeside Dragons Ice Hockey Club