YOUTH
Seventeen (17) and Eighteen (18) (18U)
Fifteen (15) and Sixteen (16) (16U)
Fifteen (15) (Tier I only)
Thirteen (13) and Fourteen (14) (14U)
Eleven (11) and Twelve (12) (12U)
Nine (9) and Ten (10) (10U)
Eight (8) & Seven (7) (8U)
Six (6) & Under (6U)
GIRLS
Seventeen (17) through Nineteen (19U)
Fifteen (15) and Sixteen (16U)
Thirteen (13) and Fourteen (14U)
Eleven (11) and Twelve (12U)
Nine (9) and Ten (10U)
Eight (8) & Seven (7) (8U)
Six (6) & Under (6U)
A youth or girls player may play on a team in an older classification only if the applicable Affiliate’s rules or decisions, and the applicable local program’s rules or decisions, permit that player to do so. A youth or girls player residing in one Affiliate may not play on a team in an older classification in a different Affiliate unless both the Affiliate where the player resides and the Affiliate where the player desires to play have granted permission to play in an older classification. In the event a youth or girls player has been denied the permission to play in an older classification in an Affiliate other than the Affiliate where the player resides, the player may appeal such denial to the USA Hockey Player Development Committee.
Note: Girls/Women who participate must comply with the age requirement of the classification in which they compete.
HIGH SCHOOL Restricted to amateurs who are enrolled as full time students (grades 9-12), and under 20 years of age on December 31 of the Playing Season. Eligibility shall not exceed eight (8) consecutive semesters starting with the player’s freshman year (9th grade).
For home schooled students, the term “attend” shall mean that the student is enrolled at a high school and is designated as carrying sufficient credits to be considered a full time student for which credit toward high school graduation will be granted by the high school upon the student’s completing and passing the courses. The school which enrolls the student shall be exclusively responsible to verify the student’s compliance with all of the eligibility requirements.
Clarification: Those High School students graduating mid year are no longer full-time students and, therefore, are not eligible to play High School hockey, effective on their last day of attending classes full time as defined by the school.
High School/Prep School Division I
Formal high school and prep school teams or non-varsity teams consisting of full time students attending the same high school or prep school or full time students that are eligible to play sanctioned varsity sports at that school.
High School/Prep School Division 2
Formal high school and prep school teams or non-varsity teams consisting of full time students attending more than one high school/prep school.
Girls’ High School/Prep School Division 1
Formal high school and prep school teams or non-varsity teams consisting of full time students attending the same high school or prep school or full time students that are eligible to play sanctioned varsity sports at that school.
Girls’ High School/Prep School Division 2
Formal high school and prep school teams or non-varsity teams consisting of full time students attending more than one high school/prep school.
Note: The intent of the above descriptions is to make Division 1 the designation for “pure” high school teams and Division 2 for “combined” teams. Tournament eligibility requirements will remain the same with each Affiliate determining its representative for the tournament. To encourage the growth of “pure” teams, any Affiliate with Division 1 teams would have to send a Division 1 team to the tournament before being allowed a slot in the Division 2 Tournament. Besides meeting Division 2 team requirements, all Division 2 teams must play a regular season schedule in a high school league as a team and shall not be an all-star team formed for the purpose of attending the National Tournament.
Any Affiliate with “pure” teams that cannot field a “pure” team for the Division 1 side of the tournament can petition the USA Hockey High School Section for a waiver of the Division 1 requirement. Waivers will be considered on an individual basis.
WOMEN'S Divided into A, B and C classifications (additional recreational classifications of Adult Women 30 and Over, 40 and Over, and 50 and Over will be organized under the Adult Council). All players must be 18 years of age or older. Under special circumstances, players may submit a written request prior to December 31 of the current playing year for a one-year waiver to their Girls’/Women’s Section Representative for waiver committee review to play in this classification in accordance with registration guidelines.
Women’s Senior A: This category is for elite teams and players. Restricted to legal U.S. residents.
Women’s Senior B: This category is for established teams and skilled players. Restricted to legal U.S. residents.
Women’s Senior C: This category is for established teams. In the case of national tournament-bound teams, players may not be current or past Olympic or National Team players. Teams are allowed to roster up to four (4) former NCAA college players. Restricted to legal U.S. residents.
ADULTS International/Canadian transfer forms or resident documentation is not required for these classifications.
Adult U.S.
Open to all U.S. citizens, non-U.S. residents are eligible on a limited basis. Excludes players that have participated during the current season at any elite professional level (NHL, AHL, and European) or on an NCAA Division I and/or III team. Players that have participated in the following leagues before November 30 of the current season are eligible on a limited basis: (ECHL, CHL, IHL, UHL, SPHL, AAHA, and any Major Junior (other leagues may apply). Players that participated during the current season at any level of the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) are eligible for this classification. All players must be 18 years of age or older by December 31 of the current season. However, only 25% of an Adult U.S. registered team may be under the age of 20 unless approved by the Vice President, Adult Council Chair.
Adult Non-Checking
Unrestricted as to citizenship, and unlimited so as to include amateurs and/or reinstated professionals. National championship rosters are limited as to: Exclude any player who plays that current season as a professional player or on an NCAA (Div. I, II, or III) or junior college, or college club team. Players shall be 18 years of age or older.
Adult Non-Checking (30 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship, and unlimited so as to include amateurs and/or reinstated professionals. Limited as to: Exclude any player who plays that current season as a professional player, or on an NCAA (Div. I, II, or III) or junior college, or college club team. Players shall be 30 years of age or older. Exception: goalkeepers (2) may be 25 years of age or older before December 31 of the playing season.
Adult Non-Checking (40 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship, and unlimited so as to include amateurs and/or reinstated professionals. Limited as to: Exclude any player who plays that current season as a professional player, or on an NCAA (Div. I, II, or III) or junior college, or college club team. Players shall be 40 years of age and older.
Adult Non-Checking (50 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 50 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 45 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under the direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific playing year.
Adult Non-Checking (60 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 60 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 55 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under the direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific playing year.
Adult Non-Checking (65 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 60 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under the direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific playing year.
Adult Non-Checking (70 and Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 70 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under the direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific playing year.
Adult Women’s Recreational (30 & Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 30 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 25 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific year.
Adult Women’s Recreational (40 & Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 40 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 35 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific year.
Adult Women’s Recreational (50 & Over)
Unrestricted as to citizenship. All players shall be 50 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season; Exception: Goalkeepers (2) may be 45 years of age or older by December 31 of the playing season. Under the direction of the Adult Council, these requirements may be modified for a specific year.
DISABLED Classifications:
*Sled (Sledge) players over the age of 18 may be allowed to play on a youth sled (sledge) team if their skill level and age prevents them from playing in the adult sled (sledge) division, upon approved waiver.
Local associations register teams with USA Hockey using the Official Team Roster form, 1-T. Local associations sponsoring teams to compete in District Playoffs and National Championships should review the information on the Credentials web page.
USA Hockey has multiple categories and classifications that identify each team's competitive level and participation grouping. Local associations determine the level and grouping for all teams being sponsored by electing each team's category and classification. Detailed descriptions are provided below.
Tier I (AAA) The highest competitive level of ice hockey in Youth and Girls' age classifications. Teams registering at this level should timely notify their affiliate so that playoffs can be scheduled. Tier I teams are eligible to participate in District Playoffs and National Championships at the Youth 14 & Under, Youth 15(Only), Youth 16 & Under, Youth 18 & Under, Girls 14 & Under, Girls 16 & Under, Girls 19 & Under age classifications. Tier I rosters have date and membership restrictions. Tier I teams are required to provide the USA Hockey Official Team Roster, 1-T Forms, as part of their Southeastern District registration. Player changes, additions or deletions, are prohibited after December 31 of the current playing season.
Tier II (AA and below) A highly competitive level of ice hockey in the United Youth and Girls' age classifications. Tier II teams are eligible to participate in District Playoffs and National Championships at the Youth 14 & Under, Youth 16 & Under, Youth 18 & Under, Girls 14 & Under, Girls 16 & Under, Girls 19 & Under age classifications. Tier II rosters have date and membership restrictions. Tier II teams are required to provide the USA Hockey Official Team Roster, 1-T Forms, as part of their Southeastern District registration. Player changes, additions or deletions, are prohibited after December 31 of the current playing season.
Travel A competitive level of ice hockey in the United States, Travel is for teams that travel to play other competitive teams, or teams that play other competitive teams registered by the same local association. Teams in this category are not eligible to participate in District Playoffs and National Championships; often, these teams are created to participate in invitational tournaments throughout the season. These rosters are not bound by the date and membership restrictions that apply to Tier I and Tier II teams.Travel teams may be created at any time during the season and players may be added to rosters within USA Hockey's roster size rules. Formerly known as RECreational.
House/Rec Teams formed by a local association for skill development and intramural competition. House/Rec teams teach basic skills such as skating, shooting, stickhandling, and passing, the rules of hockey, team work, discipline, respect and sportsmanship in a fun, organized setting of practices and games.
A limit of twenty (20) players at any one time may be registered per team except for high school, girls' high school, college and women's college who may roster 30 players and may dress 20 players and junior, adult and women's teams who may roster 25 players and may dress 20 players.
A player may be registered in only one (1) national ice hockey federation.
