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Approved Tier I and Tryout Memo

By AAHA, 03/19/22, 3:00PM EDT

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APPROVED TIER I YOUTH & GIRLS TEAMS FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON

The AAHA has completed its application process for Tier I  and Tier II Youth and Girls teams for the 2024-2025 season. Please review the chart of approved clubs and teams by level. Only these Associations* may offer programs that are approved as Tier I and Tier II are eligible for AAHA and USA Hockey Tier I or Tier II Championships. Any other programs claiming to offer Tier I  or Tier II Youth or Girls teams will not receive USA Hockey Approved Rosters.

AAHA Approved Tier I Associations offering player agreements or contracts during the AAHA Tier I Tryout period, where the Association attempts to field more than one team at that birth year will not receive an approved USA Hockey roster for the additional team(s) and will face additional sanctions. 

USA HOCKEY PILOT PROJECT: TIER I YOUTH – 13ONLY CLASSIFICATION

In January 2023, the USA Hockey Board of Directors approved a two-year pilot project to create a Tier I Youth classification at 13-Only, similar to 15-Only. Only those players with a 2011 birth year are eligible for the 13-Only classification for the 2024-25 season. There are no exceptions or waivers to this rule.

2012 BIRTH YEAR PLAYERS AND YOUNGER

USA Hockey prohibits the rostering of any player 12 years of age and younger on any District or National-Bound Roster.  To codify that for the 2024-2025 season and beyond, the AAHA will not approve any roster at the 13-Only, and older that seeks to roster a player still eligible for 12U or younger age category as defined by USA Hockey. The only exception is for legitimate non-check, in-house or middle school team programs, subject to the written approval of the AAHA.

Simply stated, a 12-year-old and younger may not “play up” above the 12U age category. This does not prevent an 11-year-old from playing on a 12U team.

RECRUITING, “ID SKATES" AND “PRE-TRYOUT” SESSIONS

USA Hockey and the AAHA prohibit pre-tryout recruiting, ID Skates, offering of contracts and similar activities designed to serve as recruiting for the upcoming season until 48 hours after the USA Hockey National Championships. (NOTE: USA Hockey modified this provision to be 24 hours after nationals this year due to the religious holiday.)

USA Hockey created an FAQ to address many questions on the in-season recruiting issues. The FAQ document is listed below.

It is essential for hockey parents to understand how illegal recruiting can impact their child’s eligibility and the consequences your Association can face for violating AAHA and USA Hockey recruiting rules.  In simple terms, bona fide complaints of illegal recruiting activities by AAHA Associations will be investigated. If the complaint is verified as a recruiting violation, the Association will face significant sanctions, including loss of Tier status.

It is important to note that even taking a “private lesson” with a coach from a different association than your current one, including activity in a non-USA Hockey setting, can make your child ineligible to participate with the USA Hockey association in which the “private lesson” instructor serves as a coach. The following is an excerpt from the USA Hockey FAQ on Recruiting:

9) USA Hockey programs, coaches and administrators should not be permitted to operate a program outside of USA Hockey as a means of avoiding the prohibitions on tryouts or recruiting prior to the Open Period. While USA Hockey does not restrict a coach’s private business, if a coach runs a private camp, meeting, event, skate, etc., outside of USA Hockey, for one or more players prior to the Open Period, then the Affiliate should prohibit any players attending that event from being rostered on any Tier I or II team or program for which that coach is affiliated within USA Hockey. Likewise, some USA Hockey programs have affiliated junior programs that operate outside of USA Hockey; if a player attends a tryout prior to the Open Period for a program outside of USA Hockey, then the player should not be permitted to be rostered on a USA Hockey Tier I or II team that is affiliated with that non-USA Hockey program/team.

It is incumbent upon parents, coaches, and Association leaders to be familiar with USA Hockey and AAHA rules, particularly those rules that impact player eligibility and recruitment.

If you have any questions regarding these rules, please email us at Info@aahahockey.org