In accordance with USA Hockey and AAHA Rules and Regulations, the information provided by your Association shall serve to document your intent for consideration of the awarding of the above-referenced status for the upcoming season. This application, and any additional supporting documentation requested, shall be reviewed by the Tiering Committee to determine your Association’s compliance with these rules and regulations. The AAHA encourages all those applying for the above-referenced status to be completely familiar with the Tiering Rules and Regulations, which include participation percentage maximums.
Within this application, there is a reference to AAHA "Sanctioned" Leagues. These leagues are AYHL, MAWHA, DVHL and NJYHL.
This Annual Tiering Application must be completed for each Tier Level (i.e. Tier I Youth, Tier I Girls, Tier II Youth and Tier II Girls).
Changes to the commitments on this application must be reported to the Affiliate President by April 1st and may be subject to the approval of the AAHA Executive Committee.
USA Hockey has currently frozen the review and acceptance of new Tier I Associations through 2027. Applications received from new Associations will not be reviewed. All existing Tier I Associations must submit this application for the 2025-2026 season.
Associations that were previously approved for Tier I for the first time shall be required to operate as Non-Tournament Bound for three (3) consecutive seasons as a provisional period, subject to all rules required of Tier I Associations and Teams, with its first age level of operation being 12U, and adding one (1) birth year each subsequent season.
Criteria for Determining Tier I AAA Designations. Tier I AAA hockey is the highest level of youth/girl’s hockey within the Affiliate. Associations with designated Tier I AAA teams should be those that have demonstrated the highest level of competence based on past tournament performance, organization, league schedule, and development of players that advance onto NCAA college hockey, National Team and USA Hockey Festival Teams. The Affiliate Tier I designations shall be based upon the following National and Affiliate adopted criteria:
For Tier I Youth Teams. The number of Tier I Youth teams in the Affiliate, in each age classification, shall be limited by the number of players registered in the Affiliate, in that age classification. In each classification, the Tier I Teams shall not exceed 12% of the total players registered in that age classification in the Affiliate during the preceding season, provided that, subject to Affiliate approval, the Affiliate shall have at least one team per age classification. For the purposes of this 12% calculation, each team shall be presumed to have twenty (20) players. The total number of players in that age classification shall be multiplied by 12% and the product shall then be divided by 20 players which shall determine the number of Tier I team permitted in the Affiliate. For example, If the Affiliate has 480 players in an age classification then 12% of that number would equal 57 players eligible for Tier I in order to have teams of 20 players, the Affiliate would be limited to three (3) Tier I teams at that age.
Notwithstanding the use of the 20 players per team in the calculation of the number of teams that may registered in the Affiliate at the Tier I Level, all teams at the 13O, 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U must have minimum of 15 players (including goalkeepers). Associations must be able to provide proof, if requested by the Affiliate, that the Association’s Tier I Teams have at least twelve (12) players under contract by May 15 for the foregoing season. Failure to provide such proof, may result in the loss of Tier I status, minimally for that coming season.
For Tier I Girls Teams. The number of Tier I Girls teams in the Affiliate, in each age classification, shall be limited by the number of players registered in the Affiliate, in that age classification. In each classification, the Tier I Teams shall not exceed 12% of the total players registered in that age classification in the Affiliate during the preceding season, provided that, subject to Affiliate approval, the Affiliate shall have at least one team per age classification. For the purposes of this 12% calculation, each team shall be presumed to have eighteen (18) players. The total number of players in that age classification shall be multiplied by 12% and the product shall then be divided by 18 players, which shall determine the number of Tier I Girls teams permitted in the Affiliate.
Notwithstanding the use of 18 players per team in the calculation of the number of teams that may registered in the Affiliate at the Tier I Level, all teams at the 14U, 16U and 19U must have minimum of 15 players (including goalkeepers). Associations must be able to provide proof, if requested by the Affiliate, that the Association’s Tier I Teams have at least twelve (12) players under contract by May 15 for the foregoing season. Failure to provide such proof, may result in the loss of Tier I status minimally for that coming season.
For All Tier I Teams (Youth and Girls):
Minimum Period of Operation. In order for any Association to be eligible to apply for Tier I National Tournament status, the Association must have been in existence and registered with the Affiliate for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years.
Current Tier I Associations that have maintained Tier I Status for more than three (3) consecutive seasons, and have demonstrated high operational and competitive standards overall, may receive sanctioning for a period of up to three years, if recommended by the Tiering Committee and approved by the President.
Associations that are filing their first application for Tier I or are not currently sanctioned as Tier I and making application shall be required to operate as Non-Tournament Bound for three (3) consecutive seasons as a provisional period, subject to all rules required of Tier I Associations and Teams, with its first age level of operation being 12U, and adding one (1) birth year each subsequent season. This provisional period shall require the recommendation of the Tiering Committee. (Note: This requires a provisionally approved Association to operate successfully, both administratively and competitively for three seasons, with its fourth season being sanctioned for Tier I National Tournament levels at the 14U and 15P levels of play.) The President shall have the authority to shorten the Non-Tournament Bound provisional period for currently sanctioned Tier I Girls programs in order to benefit the growth of girls' hockey in the district.
Tryouts. Tryouts for Tier I teams must be published and advertised. No Tier I team may recruit or solicit players or offer contracts to players for the following season, or hold development camps, tryouts, make player selections, or any activity that could be construed as a tryout/solicitation or recruitment for the following season, until 48 hours after the last game of Youth National Championships (both Tier I and Tier II Nationals must be completed). (i.e. If the National Tournament ends at 4 PM on Monday, tryouts can begin after 4 PM on Wednesday). Any violation of this prohibition may subject the coach, team, program and/or responsible administrators to appropriate discipline, ineligibility of the team or coach, or loss of Tier I status, as determined by the Affiliate.
Team Rosters. USA Hockey allows up to twenty (20) players to be rostered on any given team. An Association with approved Tier I teams is required to maintain and publish their roster, either on the Association’s website, or a League website in which the team participates. Each Team’s Tier I Roster must be identical to its USA Hockey Tier I Roster, at all times, without exception. Players dropped from a Tier I roster, shall be deemed “Cut” from the team, and eligible to participate and join with any other Tier I team, and shall not be bound to the “One Team/One Season” Rule. This determination, in no way, makes any determination on the financial obligations of the player to the Association that has dropped the player. No Association shall roster a player on any approved Tier I Roster, without that player’s consent, and if a minor, parental consent is required.
All Tier I Teams must play a full season, have a minimum average of two (2) on-ice practices on different nights weekly, plus one off-ice training session, between September 1 and March 1 of each season.
Each Association with approved Tier I Teams shall keep accurate records, including practice schedules, which may be requested for review by the Affiliate at any time during the season, and as part of the Tier I approval process.
The Association must have at least two (2) National Tournament Bound Teams in either the Tier I or Tier II Tournament Bound class of 14U through 18U for Boys, and 14U and 19U for Girls, each of which must have a minimum of fifteen (15) players per team. To be compliant with this rule, if the Association was fielding two Nationally Tournament Bound Teams, both rosters must have 15 players each, for a total of 30 different players.
Highest Level of Quality and Proficiency. Associations and their Prospective Tier I AAA teams must demonstrate their willingness and ability to perform at the highest levels of proficiency both on the ice and in their administration, including, each of the following: (
On Ice Quality and Proficiency. Teams must demonstrate the highest skill level(s) and the ability to compete at the highest level and to develop high-level players in the future; and
Coaching. Teams must have qualified high-level coaches, in good standing and demonstrate effective training and player development standards and protocols; and
Responsible Organizational Governance. Teams must demonstrate that they are part of a responsible organization with a willingness and ability to consistently adhere to USA Hockey and Affiliate bylaws, rules, regulations and policies, including those of any league of which they are a member; and
Financial Responsibility. Teams must demonstrate their willingness and ability to meet their financial obligations; and
Access to Suitable Facilities. Teams must demonstrate consistent and reliable access to suitable facilities; and
Other Requirements. Teams must meet such other requirements as the Affiliate shall from time to time adopt.
Association Affiliation. Every prospective Tier I AAA team must be part of an Association and demonstrate a viable feeder program. Tier I Associations that fail to follow the requirements of all rules indicated for Tier I Associations and Tier I teams shall be subject to sanctions, which may be immediate loss of Tier I status, fines not to exceed $10,000 and future ineligibility for Tier I status.
Each prospective Tier I AAA team shall have a minimum of three (3) age level teams below the requested level so as to demonstrate an established feeder program. (Example: If applying for 14U level a team would be required to have the following feeder teams, 8U-10U-12U or similar combination, within its Association or a working relationship with another Association that has its primary home within the same rink facility).
Transfer Players. No prospective Tier I AAA team may add more than two (2) players who were rostered on any single Tier I AAA team or more than four (4) players who were rostered on the same Tier II team the previous season. Associations with provisional approval, shall be limited to no more than three (3) players total who were not part of their Association their previous season, and no more than two (2) players who were rostered on any single Tier I AAA team from the previous season. The 2/4 player rules set forth in this paragraph shall not apply to those players who:
(1) Participate at the 18U Youth or 19U Girls levels; or
(2) Move up or transfer from within the same Association, or from the prospective Tier I AAA team’s feeder team(s) provided the player(s) were part of the same Association or feeder team’s roster from the previous season; or
(3) Legitimately tryout with their original Association and are subsequently cut or who are not offered a player contract
It is each Tier I Association’s (or Provisionally approved Association) responsibility to manage their rosters and know the previous Association of new players. Failure to follow 2/4 Player Movement rule may result in sanctions including loss of Tier I status upon discovery of the violation, following an appropriate hearing. It is appropriate for the Tiering Committee to consider these or any other violation for its Recommendations.
ADM/AAHA Affiliate Compliance. All prospective Tier I AAA teams must provide evidence that their affiliated Association is ADM/AAHA Affiliate compliant.
Please direct questions to: info@aahahockey.org
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