Membership & Online Registration
- Details
- Written by NY Registrar NY Registrar
C. Youth, Girls/Women
Age/Team Classifications
YOUTH
Seventeen (17) and Eighteen (18) (18U)
Fifteen (15) and Sixteen (16) (16U)
Fifteen (15 ONLY) (Tier I National Bound Teams 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 (19) (19U)
Fifteen (15) and Sixteen (16) (16U)
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)
Any USA Hockey Affiliate, league or local program may provide for or allow a non-checking category in any of the above age classifications.
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 (except that appeals of eligibility to play on a National Championship bound team shall be to the National Championship Appeal Committee).
NOTE: The 15-year-old age category shall be for the Tier I Youth level only and shall be limited to players age 15 (as defined in the age classification chart for the current season). Players that are not age 15 in the current season shall not be permitted to play at the 15-year-old age classification under any circumstances.
WOMEN
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.
NOTE: Girls/Women who participate must comply with the age requirement of the classification in which they compete.
HIGH SCHOOL
The High School National Championship will be divided into two divisions, with Division 1 and Division 2 separated and each division competing for their own National Championship. The tournaments will be held in the same place at the same time. Following are the definitions to be used for each division:
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.
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 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 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. 132 2016-17 USA Hockey Rules & Regulations 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.
COLLEGE
WOMEN’S COLLEGE
These classifications apply completely and without modification to all interleague and interstate or interdistrict series in USA Hockey regional playoffs and national championships.