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2020-2021 Player Agreement Process

By AAHA, 05/02/20, 10:00PM EDT

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To AAHA Travel Youth & Girls Hockey Families,

On behalf of the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) and its Executive Committee, we hope you and your family are safe and healthy. We are fortunate that the number of COVID-19 cases are beginning to decline in our region as we continue planning for the 2020-2021 season.

Over the last several weeks, the AAHA solicited feedback from its membership regarding the upcoming season. The AAHA is a multi-state Affiliate of USA Hockey including Delaware, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and a portion of Rockland County, New York. This composition means the AAHA is impacted by the “re-opening” plans of these States, which undoubtedly will have different timelines for when our municipal and private rink facilities can resume operations. Sporadic facility re-openings adds more challenges. Ultimately, our goal was to create balanced solutions based upon direct participant family feedback as well input from our Leagues, Clubs and Facilities.

Effective the date of this release, the Executive Committee is authorizing its Tier I, Tier II and Independent Member Clubs to commence the offering of Player Agreements according to the schedule indicated below.

AAHA Approved Player Agreement Schedule For The 2020-2021 Season

Description

Approved Tier I
Youth & Girls

Approved Tier II
Youth & Girls

Non-National Bound
and Non-Tiered Travel

Issuing Player Agreements (with
refund policy)

Monday, June 1, 2020

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Monday, June 22, 2020

Roster Publish Date

Sunday, June 7, 2020

NOT APPLICABLE

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Roster Minimum Headcount

10U = 9 skaters/ 1 goalie

10U = 9 skaters/ 1 goalie

10U = 9 skaters/ 1 goalie

12U = 11 skaters/ 1 goalie

12U = 11 skaters/ 1 goalie

12U = 11 skaters/ 1 goalie

14U and higher =
12 skaters/ 1 goalie
14U and higher =
12 skaters/ 1 goalie
  14U and higher =
  12 skaters/ 1 goalie

Player Count Reporting Date

NOT APPLICABLE

Saturday, June 20, 2020

NOT APPLICABLE

Roster Minimum Deadline

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Date

Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

Issuing Player Agreements (without refund policy)

Monday, August 3, 2020

Monday, August 3, 2020

Monday, August 3, 2020


The AAHA is moving forward with permitting Member Clubs to offer Player Agreements without a tryout at this time to allow for the planning of the 2020-21 season. This planning includes determining team counts, ice requirements, scheduling, uniform orders, etc. It also permits our rinks to better plan for other activities within their buildings. The following Rules have been approved by the AAHA Executive Committee:

  1. The AAHA recommends that all clubs conduct on-ice player evaluations when facility operations allow for this activity to be scheduled.
  2. All Clubs that issue Player Agreements prior to August 3, 2020 shall be required to include a COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy, which may be exercised by the participant/family through July 31, 2020. A hardship under this policy must be related to the COVID-19 pandemic, where a family’s financial condition changed after signing a Player Agreement, and on or prior to July 31, 2020. A participant/family exercising this option will not be permitted to roster with another club at the same tier level, or with a similarly ranked Non- National Bound and/or Non-Tiered Travel team for the 2020-2021 season.
  3. Clubs that issue Player Agreements without a COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy may do so on or
    after August 3, 2020, as per the schedule indicated above.
  4. The Affiliate’s current Tier I Player Movement rules, and the “Tier I – One Team/ One Season” policy remain in full force and effect. This includes the prohibition of any sanctioned Tier I Team from rostering more than four (4) Players from any other Tier II Team’s roster of the 2019-20 season.
  5. The “Roster Publish Date” requires Tier I Clubs and Non-National Bound and Non-Tiered Travel Clubs to provide a list to those player/families that have committed to a Club team. In addition each team list will be provided to the AAHA in a method and procedure that will be communicated to the Clubs.
  6. For a travel youth or girls team to be considered viable for the 2020-21 season, it must reach the abovestated roster minimum headcount by the roster minimum deadline date. Those Clubs with teams that do not meet the roster minimums will be reviewed by the Affiliate or its Designee (in most cases, the AAHA sanctioned league) to determine the course of action for all effected players, so as to best preserve each player’s ability to participate at the appropriate level.
  7. Tier II Clubs will not need to submit initial rosters to the Affiliate, however will provide player count totals per age level to the Affiliate.
  8. The AAHA has approved those Clubs that are authorized to field Tier I teams at specific age levels. Tier I Player Agreements may be issued by Tier I Clubs on or after June 1, 2020, and ONLY for those teams and age-levels as specified by the AAHA. Example: A Tier I Club is approved for at 14U Major Team and 14U Minor Team. The Club shall not make any offerings or players agreements for teams that should otherwise be offered during the Tier II or Non-National Bound & Non-Tiered Travel team time period.
  9. The AAHA has approved those Clubs that are authorized to field Tier II teams as determined by the AAHA. Tier II Player Agreements may be received by Tier II Clubs on or after June 11, 2020. The Tier II Club shall not make any offerings or players agreements for teams that should otherwise be offered during the Non-National Bound & Non-Tiered Travel team time period.
  10. Teams and Clubs classified as Non-National Bound & Non-Tiered Travel team, or similar vernacular, shall not offer or issue Player Agreements until Monday, June 22, 2020, or otherwise utilize Player Agreement dates reserved for approved Tier I or Tier II designated teams.
  11. Any Club found to be in violation of these approved Player Agreement dates listed above will be subject to the revocation of all approved Tier statuses and declared ineligible for AAHA post-season participation inclusive of USA Hockey National Championships, if applicable. Violations can also result in the loss of Tier status for the 2021-2022 season, and the Club and responsible individuals involved shall be sanctioned, which sanctions may include:
         a. Suspension from all AAHA activity for a period not to exceed two (2) years. 
         b. Revocation of rostering privileges with AAHA for period of time not to exceed two (2) years.
  12. Other issues and exigent circumstances may be reviewed by the AAHA Executive Committee or its designee, which may be a panel of three reasonably disinterested persons, and/or referred to its AAHA Sanctioned League in which the Club participates.
  13. Participant Families who become aware of potential violations of these rules are encouraged to contact the Affiliate immediately at: Info@AAHAHockey.org

We strongly encourage each participant family to be proactive and contact the head coach at the Club(s) where you are interested in playing. This process is new for everyone, so it is in everyone's best interests to communicate your interest and ensure that you are properly considered for the team you prefer to play for.

This information has been disseminated to your respective Clubs. Please contact your Club Leadership first, with any questions. We appreciate your time and dedication to the sport of ice hockey.

Stay Healthy,
Glenn Hefferan, AAHA President
And for the AAHA Executive Committee