DATE:   April 4, 2024

TO:         AAHA Travel Hockey Families

Since the start of 10U and 12U tryouts for the 2024-2025 season two weeks ago, we have received a steady stream of complaints and questions from Association leaders, coaches, and parents. Our Associations are fortunate that our hockey families love the game more than they dislike some of the issues surrounding the tryout process, the recruiting, and “secret skates.”

We want to share a few important bullet points and conditions to be aware of during the next round of tryouts for 13Pure and older:  

1.      Only Clubs and teams listed in the “2024-25 Approved Tier I Youth and Girls Clubs” can claim “Tier I AAA ” status and hold tryouts during the designated Tier 1 tryout date. Only these clubs can use the terms “Tier I” or “AAA.” Any other associations claiming they are “Tier I” or “AAA” violate AAHA rules and will be sanctioned, including the loss of a verified USA Hockey roster.
 

2.      The AAHA has posted tryout dates, which our clubs are bound to follow. We’ve been made aware of non-USA Hockey operators allegedly fronting for approved AAHA Member Clubs and offering contracts during pre-season skates well in advance of AAHA-approved tryout dates. They may claim their contract is transferable to a particular AAHA-approved club IF the approved Club later selects the player. This sounds like a scam. However, if we find that the AAHA Club is involved in such a scheme to circumvent the contracting period, the AAHA will sanction the Club.

CAUTION: Do not sign a contract for any Club before the approved date. If you are aware of contracts being offered to your child or another child before the official tryout period for each level, please contact the AAHA immediately. Contract offers are tied to each Tier level’s approved tryout date.

3.      The AAHA does not allow split-season Tier I teams. Tier I teams must operate as full-season teams with no exceptions.
 

4.      All Tier I teams must have a minimum of two practices weekly held on different nights. The AAHA will perform audits this season to ensure compliance with this rule.
 

5.      Players 12 years of age and younger are not eligible for travel youth of 13Only and older or Girls 14U and Older. Exceptions are found on page 8 of the AAHA Rules.
 

6.      AAHA Associations shall offer only one (1) Tier I team in each birth year. Offering more than one team at a given birth year will result in a governance violation and subject your Association to sanctions, including losing Tier I status.

NOTE: The AAHA does not use the vernacular “Premier,” “Elite,” “National,” or “American” to determine a team’s Tier classification or caliber. We award Tier I AAA Major and Tier I AAA Minor. Leagues and associations create and use other terms to connote competitiveness.
 

7.      Contracting players for a second "Minor" or “Major”  team at a given birth year cannot happen during the Tier I tryout period. If Associations imply or otherwise offer a second Tier I team in the same birth year, it will jeopardize your Tier I tournament-bound status in the future.
 

8.      48 hours after the USA Hockey Nationals, all AAA associations are permitted to “commit” to a player. However, they may only offer a player agreement or contract during the appropriate tryout period for that level.

If you have concerns about an AAHA Club's offering, the validity of a Club’s status, or related concerns, please email the AAHA at Info@AAHAhockey.org.