Amateur Hockey Association Illinois

ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP, REGISTRATION AND ROSTERS

A. The membership of AHAI shall be comprised of all amateur hockey teams meeting the definition stated in ARTICLE I, SECTION C, of these Rules and Regulations, headquartered in Illinois, or who regularly participate in league play occurring in Illinois, who shall have filed with the AHAI Registrar an AHAI approved registration form and paid the required fee as specified in ARTICLE III hereof by the date of the playing season, set out under ARTICLE III of these Rules and who shall have filed an AHAI-approved roster, when applicable, with the AHAI Registrar by the date stated in ARTICLE I, SECTION D, hereof.

B. Associate Members shall be comprised of Leagues, Ice Rinks, Manufacturers Representatives, and the Officials Association. Associate Members shall not be entitled to a vote in the Corporation. No players or teams may register as Associate Members.

1. Team: A team shall consist of a group of players that, having complied with all the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations of AHAI, must have played at least 20 games during the season as a unit and each rostered player must have participated in at least 15 games with that team unit, except High School Teams. High School Teams (i) must have played at least 20 games as a high school unit or as many games as the league/division has in its schedule during the season and each rostered player must have participated in at least 15 games with that team/unit or (ii) must have played in a High School league or division and (iii) during that High School league or division schedule, including playoff games, each rostered player must have participated in at least 75% of those League games with that team/unit. Participation shall be defined as being on the bench and in uniform for the entire game unless injury prevents this participation. Note: Girls High School participation shall be sixty percent (60%) of the teams league games, inclusive of league playoff games.

2. House League “B” Level Team: Teams playing against other teams meeting “B” or “C” level standards. Exceptions being exhibition games and/or tournaments with Tier II teams. Elsewhere herein, House League may be referred to as Tier III or Tier III Hockey.

House “Plus” Team: The “house plus” team is defined by the following criteria:

a. The teams and all players must currently be on a team in a single organization/club/government entity House League program.

b. The program must be fully described (x practices, x games/tournaments and x dollars cost) prior to becoming a member of the team.

c. The program must be openly publicized within the organization/club/government entity.

d. A specified number of positions must be noted (x players maximum per age classification).

e. The program has a specific sign up date.

f. The program is “first come, first served”, no exception.

g. There is no tryout and no “cuts”.

h. If there is to be more that one team at an age level, the teams must be balanced through evaluation.

3. House League “C” Level Team: Teams play exclusively in one rink, or facility or under the auspices of a single hockey club, association, or government entity (e.g. Park Districts) against other teams who play exclusively in the same rink, or facility or under the auspices of a single hockey club, association, or government entity. Exceptions being exhibition games and/or tournaments as approved by the AHAI House League Committee.

Except as set out under House “Plus” Team, the program must follow the standards for “B” and “C” Level House League Teams,

The following are the standards for “B” and “C” Level House League teams that must be met to qualify as a House League team.

a. Teams participate in a club that has a no cut policy, and has a first come, first serve registration procedure that may give preference to returning players and their family members. Governmental entities (e.g. Park Districts) may give preference to residents.

b. No tryouts. Player evaluations are used to determine draft levels. The draft procedure must be used to achieve balanced teams.

c. A philosophy of equal playing time for both games and practices.

d. Players are not limited by AHAI Tier II requirements.

e. Games played for recreational enjoyment, fitness, and sportsmanship.

f. Equal emphasis on skill development, team concepts, fair play, and competitiveness.

4. House League/Tier II/ Girls Applicant Team:

a. Where a sub-affiliate of AHAI has made a reasonable written application to become a Tier II/Girls Member Association in accordance with the AHAI By-Laws and Rules and Regulations, (“Tier II/Girls Applicant”) and complied with the requirements for submitting that application, that organization may request permission from the Tier II and/or Girls Committee to form Tier II/Girls Applicant Teams for the season in which the application is pending. The request to form Tier II/Girls Applicant Teams must be in writing, meeting the requirements and procedures of the Tier II and/or Girls Committee and approved by the Tier II and/or Girls Committee. Once granted, the authority to field Tier II/Girls Applicant Teams may be withdrawn by the Tier II and/or Girls Committee upon reasonable notice and an opportunity for the Tier II/Girls Applicant to be heard. Each Tier II/Girls Applicant Team must meet the criteria set out in this Rule and be approved by the Tier II and/or Girls Committee.

b. The Tier II/Girls Applicant Teams shall comply with all By-Laws and Rules governing Tier II/Girls Teams.

c. The Tier II Applicant shall use its best efforts to field Tier II/Girls Applicant Teams from within its own organization or feeder organization and not from any other Tier II/Girls Member Association Teams.

d. No player on a Tier II/Girls Applicant Team shall have used his/her Two Choices as set out in By-Law Article VIII Tier II.

e. The Tier II/Girls Applicant Team shall not be eligible for the Tier II State Tournament.

f. The Tier II/Girls Applicant cannot advertise that they are a Tier II Team, but can state that they are a travel Tier II/Girls Applicant Team.

g. It is the intent of this Rule to permit the Tier II/Girls Applicant the opportunity to select competitive teams and play other Tier II/Girls Teams, including in any Tier II/Girls leagues in Illinois, even on a trial basis.

5. Tier II Team: A team that fulfills the requirements of ARTICLE VIII, of the AHAI By-Laws, and ARTICLE I, SECTION C, 1 of these Rules and Regulations. If an association or club has a single Tier II Team at a particular age level Mite through Midget it shall be rated “AA”. If an association or club has two or more teams at a particular age level Mite through Midget its first team shall be rated “AA” and the other(s) shall be rated “AA” or “A”. It is the obligation of every association or club to place its best players on its “AA” (first) team. In order for an association or club to maintain a Tier II Association, it must have at least three (3) registered Tier II Teams in age divisions Mite through Midget. Tier II team tryouts and/or team selection for Tier II teams shall not begin until September 1 of the current Playing Season.

Tier II/III teams may not participate in Tier I or Tier II leagues, showcases, tournaments or games above 20% of their published game count for the current playing season.

Midgets 60 max = 12 max outside tier level

Bantams 50 max = 10 max outside tier level

Pee Wee 45 max = 9 max outside tier level

Squirt 40 max = 8 games outside tier level

Mites 30 max = 6 games outside Tier level

Explanation:  Tier II/III teams shall only be allowed to play 20% of the total amount of the maximum published game limits against any Tier I or Tier II team, respectively.  For example, the squirt maximum game limit is 40, therefore no squirt Tier II team may play more than 8 games (20%) against any Tier I team.  Tournament weekends, no matter the number of games played shall count as 3 games played, at that tournaments’ registered level.  All Showcase events count for the exact number of games actually played.  No Tier II or Tier III team may participate in any Tier I or Tier II league, respectively.  League playoff and state tournament games are NOT included in determining maximum game counts.  Violation of this rule shall disqualify the team from participating in any AHAI state tournament.

Penalties: Clubs violating the 20 % Rule will be referred to the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee along with the coach from the team violating the 20 % Rule.  The recommended
consequences include disqualification from the state tournament and referral to the their Tier II league for further penalties.

6. Tier I Team (Open): A Tier Team (sometimes called “AAA” or Open) is one from a “Tier I Organization” as defined in ARTICLE XVI of these Rules which has requested and been granted “Tier I” status pursuant to ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 5 of the AHAI By-Laws and these Rules. A Tier I Team may not qualify as a House League Team or a Tier II Team.

7. Article I, Section 7. High School Team Definitions:

“PURE” or “REGULAR” Team: - A team made up solely of players attending the same High School.

“COMBINED” Team: - A team made up of players attending two or more High Schools. The following rules apply to Combined teams and to Combined Organizations:

a.    Combined teams are sponsored by a “Combined Organization” - which is an AHAI Affiliate that has been reviewed and approved by the High School Committee. The criteria for grouping players from multiple high schools together to form a Combined Organization will be:

a.     maximizing the “Essence of High School hockey” (based on school district, community and geographic proximity).   The first priority shall be to combine players representing High Schools within the same school district. All combined schools must be within a geographical proximity of one another.

b.      ensuring the long-term viability of the resulting Combined Organization based on a projection of an adequate number of players each year for the foreseeable future (Note: viability must not be confused with competitiveness).

b.    All eligible players from all the combined schools must be invited to try out for teams organized by the Combined Organization.  Any infractions of this rule will terminate Combined Organization status.

c.    There is absolutely no “cutting” of players that want to try out. 

d.    The minimum number of players in a Combined Organization will be 24.  Each Combined Organization will have a minimum of 2 teams: a Varsity and a Junior Varsity team.  Each team shall have a minimum of 12 unique players (players may be counted only on one team roster for the purposes of this calculation).  Additional teams may be formed by the Organization as needed. There is no maximum number of players in the Organization. 

e.     Organizations must annually submit a “Combined” status form to the Chairperson of the High School Committee for approval no later than June 1st of the upcoming Playing Season.

f.     A group of players representing a single high school within an existing Combined Organization that seek to become a separate Pure Team must
apply to the AHAI HS Committee for approval prior to June 1^st for the upcoming playing season.

g.    All Combined Organizations must have a Board of Directors with at least one (1) representative from each school included in that organization.

h.    All Combined Organizations must have a pre-season meeting with all their players, parents, coaches and administrators in attendance. A representative of the AHAI High School Committee will be present at such meeting, upon request.

i.       All “Combined” teams must enter the AHAI High School State Tournament unless an exception is approved by the High School Committee.

j.     Combined Organizations offering spring teams will be limited to the same schools as the preceding fall season.

 

D. AHAI Game Limits

The intent of this rule is to increase the practice to game ratio of all AHAI affiliate teams and to emulate the introduction of the USA Hockey American Development Model. Accordingly, AHAI has imposed team game limits at all USA Hockey age divisions. Game limits will be as follows.

♦Mite & Girls U 8 = 30 games maximum
♦Squirt & Girls U10 = 40 games maximum
♦Pee Wee & Girls U12 = 45 games maximum
♦Bantam & Girls U14 = 50 games maximum
♦Midget Minor & Girls U16 = 60 games maximum
♦Midget Major & Girls U 19 = 60 games maximum
♦High School = 60 games maximum

Game limits include all league, tournament and practice games. All tournaments, both local and out of area will count as three (3) games toward the teams game limit. All playoff games for USA Hockey and AHAI registered League, State and National competition do not count toward the team game limits. The AHAI team game limits shall be mandatory for High School, Tier II and Tier III / House / Recreation teams and recommended for Tier I teams. Any team violating the AHAI mandatory team game limits will be subject to disciplinary action at the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee. Penalty may include suspension of the offending team from State tournament play, suspension of the coach and possible forfeiture of an organization’s Affiliate membership or its Tier I, Tier II or Tier III status.

E. Team Membership Application

2. Each member association or organization shall make a good faith estimate of the number of teams it will field for each Playing Season and file an Application with the AHAI Registrar.

3. Each member association or organization or team shall make a good faith effort to field the number of teams for which it has filed an Application.

F. Insurance and Registration Requirements

1. A player shall not participate in any hockey related activity (including tryouts), until they have registered with USA Hockey and the appropriate fee has been paid.

2. A team may not participate in any hockey related activity until a USA Hockey Roster has been properly completed and filed with the AHAI Registrar.

3. In order to complete the registration process, a proper USA Hockey roster form must be filed with the AHAI Registrar by the applicable date as set out in Article II of these Rules. (Except House League teams as provided in Section F.2 of these Rules).

1. For Tier I, Tier II, Girls and High School Teams the roster form must be a USA Hockey form, the completed roster must be submitted to the AHAI Registrar and be approved by the AHAI Registrar.

2. For Learn to Skate, House League and Adults, the roster should be a USA Hockey roster form but other forms are acceptable provided they list each of the players names, addresses, telephone numbers, and date of birth. The organizations must roster all players for that playing year for proof of membership of the player on this specific team. The organizations must retain the roster for proof. AHAI may request a proof of this roster.

G. Rosters

1. All Tier I (Open) Teams, Tier II Teams, Girls Teams and High School Teams must submit to the AHAI Registrar a roster of Players on an AHAI-approved roster sheet for each team by the date of the Playing Season set out in ARTICLE II of these Rules.

2. All Learn to Skate, House League and Adults must comply with Section F-2 and must have and retain a copy of a roster that contains player’s name, address, telephone number and date of birth.

3. It is the responsibility of each organization/team and player to submit a correct roster which complies with the AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations. It is important to clarify, clear up and obtain a ruling on any roster question or fact that may cause someone to question a roster prior to submitting a roster to AHAI or any League or participation in any game, even if you believe you have it resolved. If there is any question about a roster, or there is information that may cause anyone to doubt or question the residence or any matter concerning the roster, the organization/team and player has an affirmative obligation to bring the matter to the attention of the AHAI Registrar, and obtain a ruling in writing, prior to submitting a roster but in no event later than immediately after the question or fact is known to the organization, team and/or player. It is not the responsibility of AHAI to initiate the review of nor initially review rosters but rather the responsibility of the organization/team and player to submit a true and correct roster. AHAI will review any roster question brought to its attention in accordance with its By-Laws, Rules and Regulations. It is also the responsibility of each organization/team and player to be familiar with and comply with all AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.

4. a. A limit of twenty (20) players at any one time may be registered per team except for High School, College and Women’s College who may roster thirty (30) players and may play twenty (20) players, and Junior, Adult and Women’s teams who may roster twenty-five (25) players and may play twenty (20) players. A player may be registered in only one (1) National Ice Hockey Federation. (Note: It is recommended that a team consist of a minimum of at least twelve (12) players).

All teams are required to identify two (2) goaltenders in order for their rosters to be certified by the AHAI Registrar. At least one of the goaltenders on the team must be a regular member of the team. The second goaltender may be an active member of the team, or may be a goaltender from within the same organization at the same division of play for a team at a playing level below (e.g., a Squirt A player may be double rostered as the BUG to the Squirt AA team).

House players (B or C) may not serve as the BUG for a Tier II or Tier I team. Tier II goalies may not serve as the BUG on a House or Tier I team. Tier I goalies may not serve on a Tier II or House team.

BUGs may only participate with the team in the event that the designated goalie(s) are injured or unavailable. The team must notify the AHAI Registrar or President if they will be using the BUG in a game.

The only exception to this rule will be at the discretion of the AHAI Registrar if both rostered goalkeepers are ill, injured or unable to participate. The AHAI Registrar has the ability to allow an exception for BUGs between divisions. Requests for an exception must be documented and sent to the AHAI Registrar, in writing, before an exception will be considered.

5. After the date for filing rosters, no additions/deletions may be made to any roster without the express written approval of the AHAI Registrar or as provided for under these Rules.

6. No player rostered on a Tier I, Tier II or Junior Team may be rostered on a House League “B” or “C” Level team without the written approval of the AHAI Board of Directors.

7. A. Players must sign the roster. Rosters may be submitted via fax or as an attachment to an e-mail. Rosters with original signatures are not required.

B. Rosters can not be “certified” until the Team has been registered with AHAI using the AHAI Web Tool.

8. Players may be added to a House League “C” level roster throughout the season with permission from the AHAI Registrar. House League "B" Level rosters are frozen as of December 31st of the current Playing Season.

9. Any team whose roster is found to be improper for failure to comply with the requirements of the AHAI By-Laws or these Rules shall be declared to be an “Improper Team” by the AHAI Registrar and referred to the Rules and Ethics Committee for other appropriate action. The AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee shall consider the following sanctions where appropriate: all previous games played against other teams shall be forfeited and the Team shall not be eligible to play in any AHAI League end of season or State Playdown which may or may not lead to the USA Hockey District or National Championship for the current Playing Season and no player appearing on an improper Team roster may be added to any Team roster the following Playing Season except on appeal to the AHAI Board of Directors.

10. No team shall practice or play any game unless it is properly registered with the AHAI Registrar.

11. High School Varsity

A. A player may appear on only one (1) Varsity roster filed with AHAI even though an Association fields two or more Varsity teams;

B. Players selected for the Varsity team will be designated with a “V” beside their name on the roster. Once this designation is made, players can then be double rostered to Varsity and Junior Varsity rosters, but must carry with them the “V” designation. 50% of the players named on a Varsity roster filed with AHAI (including the number 1 or only goalkeeper must be designated Varsity only. Those designated may not appear on a Junior Varsity roster or in a Junior Varsity game.

C. A non-frozen Varsity player may appear on a Junior Varsity roster, however, a seventh (7th) game or scoresheet appearance in a league game on the Junior Varsity scoresheet will freeze that player to the Junior Varsity roster for the remainder of the season, including the State Tournament purposes. Abuse of this rule may lead to disqualification of both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams from the State Tournament.

D. Tier I players may play for a High School Varsity team. Tier I players may play for a High School Varsity team but not play for a High School Junior Varsity Team. However, Tier I female players may double roster to either a High School Varsity or Junior Varsity team.

12. High School Junior Varsity

A. A player may appear on only one (1) Junior Varsity roster filed with AHAI even though an Association fields two (2) or more Junior Varsity teams.

B. A player may appear on a Varsity Roster, however, a seventh (7th) game or scoresheet appearance in a league game on the Varsity roster will freeze that player to the Varsity Roster for the remainder of the season, including the State Tournament.

13. Exceptions may be made to 11 & 12, particularly for goalkeepers, on a case by case basis by the High School Committee, upon written request to its Chairperson. A Goalie Exemption Form must be included with written submission.

14. Any High School that has more than three (3) teams must field at least two (2) teams at the Varsity level. The second team that is designated as Varsity will be allowed to participate in the State Tournament as a “White Division” team if they so desire. No team will be permitted to play as two (2) teams, at both Varsity and Junior Varsity levels, from a single roster. Each team, at each level, must have a separate and distinct roster of players.

15. Seven Up-Seven Down for High School Organizations with more than two (2) teams: (See Seven Up- Seven Down Rule Clarification).

a. Organizations with two (2) Varsity and one (1) Junior Varsity Teams - The number one Varsity team is frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the number two Varsity team and the Junior Varsity team.

b. Organizations with one (1) Varsity and two (2) Junior Varsity Teams - The number two Junior Varsity team is frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the Varsity team and the number one Junior Varsity team.

c. Organizations with two (2) Varsity and two (2) Junior Varsity Teams - The number one Varsity team and the number two Junior Varsity team are frozen for movement, however, there may be movement between the number two Varsity team and the number one Junior Varsity team.

16. There is no double of rostering of players (not any movement of players) between teams from the same high school when that high school fields both a “Pure” team and a “Combined” team at a different level than the Pure team. A player on the Pure team cannot play on a Combined team. When a set of high schools form a “Combined” Varsity and Combined Junior Varsity players must be from the same set of high schools and they can move within the 7 up/7 down rule for those teams. When there is a Combined Varsity and Junior Varsity with different sets of high schools there is no double rostering or movement between the two teams. If a set of high schools have either a Combined Varsity or a Combined Junior Varsity, but, have a second and different set of high schools for one of the two teams, then they cannot move between the two teams.

H. Resides: There are several general statements that can be made regarding residence and how AHAI will look at residency for the purpose of hockey in Illinois.

1. In an effort to reduce the potential of any problem regarding where a Player resides for any purposes the following Rule is applicable.

a. If the address on the roster is not the one where the Player “lives” with both parents, you must bring the matter affirmatively to the attention of the AHAI Registrar, in writing, and obtain a ruling as to where the Player resides prior to the Roster being submitted to AHAI. “Lives” for this purpose means: “eats, sleeps, attends school and performs normal daily activities from that address”. This is not the definition of “reside” for Tier II purposes, but is the definition AHAI uses to bring this matter to AHAI’s attention. Failure to comply with this Rule may result in suspension of the Player and/or Team and/or Organization.

2. The general rule is that AHAI looks to the residency of the players’ parents as the players’ residency. There may be exceptions to this rule but they must be reviewed by AHAI prior to the submission of a roster to AHAI or any League or participation in any game.

3. Divorce may pose additional considerations as to determining residence. Divorce situations should be brought to the attention of and clarified by AHAI prior to the submission of a roster to AHAI or any League or participation in any game.

4. In addition, and especially where there is a question or multiple residences are involved, AHAI will also look at other facts among which is where the player actually resides for normal day to day activities.

5. It is the general intent of the Rules that no player may have more than one residence for the purposes of hockey.

6. It is the general intent of the Rules that no player may create a residence for hockey purposes.

7. It is the general intent of these Rules that no player shall attempt to “play games” with residence, nor benefit from multiple residences or a question on residence, especially for purposes of or affecting hockey.

8. It is the general intent of the Rules that if a player’s residence is not with parent(s) and would benefit the player for purposes of hockey, the presumption is that the player does not reside at the non-parent residence for hockey purposes.

9. The player shall have the burden of proving residence, and AHAI Rule Article I, F-1 is especially important in this context.

I. High School: It is the general intent of the Rules to follow IHSA Rules regarding High School transfer students, Home School students, recruiting of high school athletes and high school foreign exchange student eligibility: specifically from the annually published IHSA Rules pertaining to transfer students, recruiting of High School athletes and High School foreign exchange student eligibility. It is the responsibility of the student, parent(s) of the student, coach and high school organization to raise any issues which may be in question and bring them to the High School Committee for resolution before the Playing Season begins.

Wherever appropriate, the Executive Director within IHSA shall by the AHAI High School Committee Chairperson, or in his/her absence, the individual so designated by the Chairperson.

Transferring students – Any student that transfers from any one school to any other after the start of the school year will :

1) have a thirty (30) day waiting period if the student had not tried out or played on the hockey team of the first school the same year or

2) have a one year waiting period if the student had tried out or played on the hockey team of the first school in the same year. This applies to transfers between any two schools whether they be public or private.

J. Cooperation: Each organization, team and player must cooperate fully with AHAI in any inquiry by AHAI.

K. AHAI encourages all teams to compete in Leagues which are IRS defined as 501(c)(3) Corporations.

A. No player may be rostered or play on more than one AHAI Tier II team during the same playing season, except as follows:

1. A goalie may be rostered on two teams within the same Member Association, provided that play on the second team is as a backup goalie only and it is designated on the roster that this is the player’s second team. No such backup goalie may play in any game, state tournament playoff or championship game for the second team unless that second team loses a goalie due to injury, illness or misfortune, and provided that the goalie who has been replaced must return as soon as he/she becomes available. Any such substitution using a BUG must be verified, in writing, by a physician as soon as practical.

B. No AHAI player, team or member shall:

1. Play any Illinois team that is not a member of AHAI and USA Hockey;

2. Participate in any game, practice, event or other activity with which a person or entity suspended by AHAI and/or USA Hockey is participating or otherwise involved;

3. Use any player not properly rostered to its team, and may not play any team using a player not properly rostered to the team it plays.

4. Not participate in any event that is not sanctioned by either AHAI or USA Hockey.

C. A Tier II player shall not participate on or with a team until that player signs a roster.

Once a Tier II player signs a roster and participates in any game for that team, the player is frozen on that roster and may not be deleted without the approval of the AHAI Registrar, except that a player may move from one team to another team within a single Tier II Organization in accordance with the policies and procedures of that Tier II Organization without approval from the AHAI Registrar up to the date for filing rosters.

A Tier II player may be added to a roster up to the date for filing rosters without the approval of the AHAI Registrar.

D. It is the intent of these Rules that a Player should play at the division level of the first two years set out after each division level in ARTICLE IV of these rules.

E.    MITE HOCKEY – Following the concepts of USA Hockey Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) and American Development Models (ADM), AHAI strongly encourages the skill level development of all players, especially at the entry level.
Cross-ice, 1/2 ice and small area games are recommended for U8 and U6 Mites to increase ice time, puck touches and skilldevelopment.

AHAI does not endorse full ice U8 Mite Tournaments. It is recommended that Mite teams do not participate in out-of-state tournaments. AHAI recommends geographical play (within a local area) for all U8 players.

Effective for the 2012/2013 season (9/1/2012 to 3/1/13), all U6 games will be Cross Ice or 1/2 ice hockey in accordance with the American Development Model (ADM).

No U6 Player may play on a full ice team unless they meet the criteria below for the 2012/13 season only.

No more than five (5) U6 players per Association and per Level (Tier II/ Tier III B) will be able to participate on U8 full-ice teams without requesting an exception from the Mite Task Force.

Explanation: For instance, a Tier II club fielding Three (3) U8 full ice teams may only have a total of five (5) U6 players between all 3 teams, not five (5) per team. The same holds true for a Tier III B club.

A club that has both Tier II and Tier III B levels can have up to five (5) U6 players at the Tier II level and five (5) U6 players at the Tier III B level.

Tier III C (complete in house programs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Exceptions can be made by the AHAI Mite Task Force for the 2012 – 2013 season to include a limited number of U6 Mites in excess of five (5) as stated in the rule if the association does not have enough Mites to field a team at the U8 level.

No exceptions will be made for the 2013 – 2014 season.

No U 6 teams will be granted AHAI Travel Permits. AHAI, NIHL, NWHL and SSHL will all co-host two (2) separate U8 and U6 Mite Cross Ice Jamborees for the 2012/13 season.
Mite Jamboree dates October 20 and 21st and December 22nd and 23rd, 2012.

Leagues will not schedule games on these weekends to assist in the implementation of the Jamborees.

The above policies will be monitored by each local association and AHAI. Failure to comply with the policies will result in sanctions against the respective association as determined by AHAI.

For U7 and U8 

Effective 2012/2013 season (9/1/2012 to 4/1/13)

Using the ADM model as a guideline, leagues and associations shall establish a maximum number of full ice games, not to exceed 30. (A full ice game is described as
two separate teams competing against each other, on a full, non divided surface. This includes games that are played without registered or non-registered Officials)

Full Ice Mite teams will be limited to one (1) out of state tournament travel permit per season. However, AHAI will not  issue travel permits to any Mite teams during AHAI
sponsored Mite Jamboree weekends. 

U8 players may not “play up” to the Squirt U10 or higher level.

F. Amateur Play- General Principles

1. Membership and Activities - Membership in the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois is limited to amateur hockey players on amateur teams in the AHAI affiliate organizations or participation with other USA Hockey approved teams. All activities must be consistent with AHAI amateurism and amateur play; those activities not in accord shall be prohibited and subject to the full spectrum of AHAI sanctions.

2. Permitted Aid -A scholarship, grant, or financial aid, administered by an Affiliate pursuant to a written policy of the Affiliate which grants assistance to players based upon the written evidence of financial need of the player based upon his family’s ability to pay which is available to all players that meet the criteria, and which is administered consistently with the directives of AHAI, is permitted and will not be considered pay in any form.

3. Permitted Benefits – Funds raised by an Affiliate organization or any of its subdivisions including individual teams to defray the expenses in organizational activities or in team activities is permitted; but those raised or earmarked for a particular player are prohibited. The benefits which inure to the team as a whole may be expended to reduce the expenses of each and every team player member equally; provided the benefit is available to all who meet the criteria within the participating group. Permitted expenses are limited to actual and necessary coaching, travel and per diem, equipment, team  equipment, including but not limited to: wearables, jerseys, and expenses for practice and competition. Further,  another player’s parent or another adult may make  donations directly to the club, as long as the decision as to how the money is used rests exclusively with the club. The donations may not be earmarked by the donator of the club for a specific individual (e.g. cannot be donated for a specific player). Other particular expenses approved by AHAI in writing may be permitted.

4. NCAA Provisions on Amateurism – Commencing with the first game played in the 9th grade, present NCAA regulations apply to all college-bound athletes and NCAA restrictions as to amateurism, may disqualify players from further participating at the college level. Special attention is called to the NCAA Amateurism Website: http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_ii_manual/2007-08/2007-08_d2_manual.pdf under Bylaw Article 12: Amateurism, etc., as amended from time to time. NCAA Amateurism Rules do not allow for an arrangement where an athlete is sponsored by anyone other than someone whom the athlete is naturally and legal dependant (i.e. parent or legal guardian) or an extended family member (e.g. uncle, aunt or cousin). Thus another player’s parent or another adult cannot provide money to cover player fees either directly to the player who cannot pay the fee or specifically to cover that player’s fees.

5. Waiver - An Affiliate club may waive the player fees provided the individual qualifies for the waiver under the club’s established waiver policy and athletics ability is not a part of the criteria under such a policy.

TIER II CHOICE RULES
(The purpose of this rule is to emulate the concept of
community based hockey in the State of Illinois).

SECTION 1. — For the 2012/ 2013 season, a player’s choice or choices are defined as any Tier II Association that the player  has played with up until the beginning of the 2012/ 2013 fall season. This does not include any spring or summer participation. A player currently playing or moving to the U16/ U18 (Midget level) will be allowed an additional choice as long as they meet the requirements outlined in the Two choice  By- Law / Rules.

Note: If players have already received a substitute choice before the 2012 /2013 season, they will not be eligible for an additional choice at the U16/ U18 level.

SECTION 2. — Players playing in the U16 and U18 level will be allowed One (1) additional choice in addition to their current choice Associations.  A player does not receive three new choices at the U16/ U18 level. If  a player has had a 3rd choice approval from the AHAI   Tier II Committee before the player reaches their U16/ U18 level, the player will not receive an additional choice and must choose between the players  current 2 choices and the players past association that was substituted.

SECTION 3. — RULE
1. A Request for a choice substitution shall be provided to the  Tier II Committee Chair in writing. The Chair will provide a link  to the Committee Form to be filled out on line.

2. That the predicament of the player is due to unique circumstances that were not created by the player; If a Substitution is based on a Organization’s R&E or any other issue, the petition must be  accompanied by the Associations R&E findings and supporting documentations

3. That the purpose in requesting the substitution is not based  exclusively upon a desire to be rostered on a team that is  perceived to be better;

4. That the granting of the substitution furthers the goals, objectives and policies of USA Hockey and the Amateur Hockey Association Illinois, Inc.

5. That the granting of the substitution is not detrimental to amateur Tier II travel hockey or undermining the "community based principles" of Tier II hockey;

6. If a player requests a substitution the player must give up a past choice; The choice that the players gives up then becomes the automatic 3rd choice at the U16 level

7. "Financial Hardship" is not a basis for substitution. Further, it is not intended that every player must have two (2) viable options at any given time. The rule states two (2) Choices, not two (2) viable options.

8. No additional 3rd choice or substitution shall be given to any  player in the U8 or U10 playing level without the approval of the AHAI Board of Directors or it’s designated representative. If the player and family move from the rink of the first choice which is within 10 mile of the home and the new residence is at a  distance of 20 miles or more from the prior choice, they may petition the Tier II Committee for a second choice. The two choices then become permanent until the player reaches the U16 level.

9. Players staying with in their two Association choices can move back and forth between those two Associations.

10. Players that were rostered on a Tier I or High School team do not count as a Choice.

SECTION 4 . — At the discretion of the Board of Directors, the substitute choice granted by the Board of Directors may be permanent or for a specific playing season.

SECTION 5. — COACHES

A. Coaches who move to a new Tier II Association cannot coach any of the same players from the past seasons AHAI / USA roster of the past Association for a period of one season with the new Tier II Association. (this includes even if the player is making its second choice)

B. Coach is any rostered Head or Assistant Coach for a Tier II  Association during the USA Hockey playing season. This will also include a coach that is not rostered, but, coaches the team or is on the bench for more than 33% of the season.

C. Players would be any player who was rostered on the same Tier II Association roster as the Coach,

D. The only exception would be a family member or relative of the coach.

E. An AHAI registered Hockey Director of a Tier II Association shall not count as a Coach, if listed on all Association rosters as an Assistant Coach. If a Hockey Director is listed as the Head Coach of a team, Section 4A rule applies. If there are unique circumstances that a hockey Director becomes a Head Coach of a team during the season, the new Association may petition the Tier II Committee for a ruling on the eligibility of the coach, before the next season.

F. The AHAI Board of Directors shall promulgate Rules and procedures establishing the criteria and circumstances for Coaches to coach players from a prior Association.

ARTICLE III
REGISTRAR ACTIVITIES

A. All teams joining AHAI are required to register their team with AHAI  using the AHAI Web Tool. Additionally, each team is required to submit  an AHAI Team Roster Registration Form (except Learn to Skate, House League and Adults) which must comply with Section (F-2) and to pay all fees in accordance with the schedules and regulations outlined in the AHAI Official Guide.

__________________________________________________________________________

DUE DATES FOR TEAM REGISTRATION AND ROSTERS

•  All Tier I, Tier II and House B teams must have a certified roster prior tp their first on ice activity. No games can be played without a certified roster.

•  House C and Adult teams must capture their players in Cybersport and send an uipdate to the AHAI Webtool prior to the player's first on ice activity.

•  Teams planning to participate in the State, Regional or National tournament must have a certified roster prior to their first game.

•  All Tournament teams must have a certified roster prior to playing their first game.

•  October 15th is the last date to submit a supplemental roster for High School, Tier I, Tier II and Girls teams.

•  December 31st is the last date to submit a supplemental roster for House teams. Adult and Women's teams may add players on a supplemental roster at any time during the Playing Season.

•  Adult and Women's teams may add players on a supplemental roster at any time during the Playing Season. 

2012-13 Fee Schedule

Individual Membership Registration.............................................................................$53.00/Player/Year
(All Age Groups)

Players with Date of Birth 2006 and After................................................................................................................................No Charge

Coaches Registration..................................................................................................$53.00/Coach/Year

Team Membership Registration.........................................................................................................None

Travel Permits: USA Travel Only............................................................................................$50.00/Team

Travel Permits: USA and Canada>......................................................................................$100.00/Team

Tournament Fees

USA Hockey  Member Teams Only...........................................................................$125.00/Tournament

Canadian or other Foreign Teams.............................................................................$175.00/Tournament

USA Hockey 3 on 3 Member Teams Only.................................................................$100.00/Tournament

B. All players and coaches participating on USA Hockey registered teams must be registered with USA Hockey by completing their individual member registration with USA Hockey. Registration is required once each year (September 1st through August 31st) regardless the number of teams the member participates on.

C. If a registered team wishes to travel and to play teams outside of Illinois it is necessary to apply to the AHAI Registrar for a Travel Event Permit for each travel event; either for the USA, a USA and Canada or an International Travel Permit. Travel Event Permits will be issued to House League teams only if those teams are AHAI Accredited House League teams as approved by the AHAI House League Committee, participate in an approved AHAI House League, and are actively participating at the House League Level. Travel Event Permits issued to travel teams will be issued to Tier II and Open teams only.

D. As per By-Law Article IV, Section 10, all Leagues in Illinois must register with AHAI and be approved by the AHAI Registrar.

E. It is also necessary to submit an application to the AHAI Registrar to have USA Hockey approve any amateur hockey tournament being contested in Illinois.

F. The Rules and Regulations governing amateur hockey in Illinois are  covered in the USA Hockey Annual Guide, USA Hockey Rule Book, and the AHAI Official Guide. It is the Registrar's responsibility to distribute  this literature and to help members complete the proper Registration  procedures.

SECTION 6. — 2/4/6/8 Rule
        All Mite Tier II teams are limited to a maximum of two players who played for another Illinois Tier II team the previous Fall/Winter season.

    A.    All Squirt Tier II teams are limited to a maximum of four players who played for another Illinois Tier II team the previous fall/winter season.

    B.    All Pee Wee Tier II teams are limited to a maximum of six players who played for another Illinois Tier II team the previous fall/winter season.

    C.    All Bantam Tier II teams are limited to a maximum of eight players who played for another Illinois Tier II team the previous fall/winter season.

    D.    There is no limit on Tier II player movement at the Midget level.

There are two exceptions to the 2/4/6/8 player limit :

    1.    Individuals who previously played with a Tier II club, as one of their Two Choices, will not count against the maximum, regardless of their club affiliation the previous Fall/Winter season.

    2.    Individuals who played for a club that does not field a team at a level will not count against the maximum for the club in which the player moves.

Penalties:
Clubs violating the 2/4/6/8 Tier II Rule will be referred to the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee along with the coach from the team violating the 2/4/6/8 Tier II Rule.
The recommended consequences include disqualification from the state tournament and referral to their Tier II league for further penalties.

ARTICLE III
REGISTRAR ACTIVITIES
    A.    All teams joining AHAI are required to register their team with AHAI using the AHAI Web Tool. Additionally, each team is required to submit an AHAI Team Roster Registration Form (except Learn to Skate, House League and Adults) which must comply with Section
(F-2) and to pay all fees in accordance with the schedules and regulations outlined in the AHAI Official Guide.

B.    All players and coaches participating on USA Hockey registered teams must be registered with USA Hockey by completing their individual member registration with USA Hockey. Registration is required once e ach year (September 1st through August 31st)
regardless the number of teams the member participates on.

C.    If a registered team wishes to travel and to play teams outside of Illinois it is necessary to apply to the AHAI Registrar for a Travel Event Permit for each travel event; either for the USA, a USA and Canada or an International Travel Permit. Travel Event Permits will be issued to House League teams only if those teams are AHAI Accredited House League teams as approved by the AHAI House League Committee, participate in an approved AHAI House League, and are actively participating at the House League Level. Travel Event Permits issued to travel teams will be issued to Tier II and Open teams only.

D.    As per By-Law Article IV, Section 10, all Leagues in Illinois must register with AHAI and be approved by the AHAI Registrar.

E.    It is also necessary to submit an application to the AHAI Registrar to have USA Hockey approve any amateur hockey tournament being contested in Illinois.

F.    The Rules and Regulations governing amateur hockey in Illinois are covered in the USA Hockey Annual Guide, USA Hockey Rule Book, and the AHAI Official Guide. It is the Registrar's responsibility to distribute this literature and to help members complete the proper Registration procedures.

Below are some key changes and activities that should be noted:
1.    Included in the USA Hockey portion of your registration fees is a mandatory liability and catastrophic injury insurance premium. For Midget/High School teams and younger,
this fee includes excess medical insurance.

2.    The USA Hockey registration fee includes a subscription to American Hockey Magazine for each player and coach.

3.    Each Association, League or team should designate one person to handle the required registration responsibilities and to receive all AHAI notifications concerning registration.

4.    Zero, Hat Trick and Playmaker awards will only be presented when the Player meets all of the qualifications outlined in the USA Hockey Annual Guide. All of these requests should be directed to the AHAI Registrar.

ARTICLE IV
CLASSIFICATIONS AND DIVISIONS

The following Classifications and/or Age Divisions are recognized by the AHAI and may be used to sanction leagues and tournaments.

1. Adult - limited to amateurs 18 years of age or older.

2. Junior - all players wishing to play Juniors must contact the AHAI Registrar BEFORE they are rostered or play on a Junior team to determine eligibility. No player may actively participate on a Junior team and be simultaneously rostered on a Youth team in Illinois.

3. College Student - restricted to amateurs who are full time, under graduate students enrolled and attending college, junior college or university designated on the team and player registration.

4. High School Student - restricted to amateurs who are full time students (grades 9-12), and under 20 on December 31st of the Playing Season, not to exceed eight (8) consecutive semesters starting with their freshman year, who are enrolled and attending the school designated on the team's and player's registration form.

(Clarification: Those High School students graduating mid-year, are no longer full time students and therefore, are not eligible to play on the High School hockey team, effective on their last day of attending classes full time as defined by the school).

5. Midget - 18 & Under – Players born between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1995.

6. Midget - 16 & Under – Players born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1997.

7. Bantam - 14 & Under – Players born between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1999.

8. Pee Wee - 12 & Under – Players born between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001.

9. Squirt - 10 & Under – Players born between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2003.

10. Mite - 8 & Under – Players born January 1, 2004 and later.

11. Mini-Mites - limited to amateurs who were born in 2003 or later.

12. Girls Division -

Nineteen & Under Born in 1993 -1995
Sixteen & Under Born in 1996 -1997
Fourteen & Under Born in 1998 -1999
Twelve & Under Born in 2000 -2001
Ten & Under Born in 2002-2003
Eight & Under Born 2004 or later

13. Old Timers - unrestricted as to citizenship and unlimited so as to include amateurs and/or reinstated professionals. Players shall be 35 years of age or older.

Special Note: Players under 21 who reside in the U.S. with Parent(s) working in the U.S. are eligible regardless of citizenship.

ARTICLE V
AHAI STATE TOURNAMENTS

A. All state tournament competitions shall be under the control and supervision of:

1. AHAI Youth Tournament Committee - responsible for all tournaments Mites through and including Midgets.

2. AHAI High School Committee - responsible for all High School related tournaments, including Boys High School teams and Girls High School teams. "State Tournament Official" as used hereafter means a member of the Tournament Committee, a person appointed by the Chairperson of the appropriate Tournament Committee or any other Officer or Director of AHAI.

3. AHAI Girl's Tournament Committee - responsible for all Girls' State Tournaments, except the Girls High School State Tournament.

4. AHAI Adult Women's Tournament Committee - responsible for all Adult Women's State Tournaments.

5. AHAI Adult Tournament Committee - responsible for all Adult Men's State Tournaments.

B. Complete state tournament bulletins containing fee schedules, playoff structures, methods of pairings, qualifications and deadlines shall be prepared by the appropriate tournament committee, approved by the Board of Directors, and distributed  to all member teams as early as possible.

C. Each team may dress a maximum of twenty (20) players including goalkeepers for each state tournament game. Each player must have participated in at least fifteen (15) games which the team has played, or if the team has played more than twenty (20) games, **then seventy-five percent (75%) of the teams total games played, as a part of the team that is rostered and plays in the State Tournament.

D. For High School Only: In order to qualify for the HS State Tournament a player must play in 75 % of the total amount of games that the team played from the last date that the player was certified to the team by the AHAI Registrar and also played in a minimum of 10 games with that team, except for Girls High School which shall be sixty percent (60%) of the teams league games (inclusive of League playoff games).

The deadline to be added to a roster and be eligible is December 31st.

E. Each team may select its players in any manner it sees fit, as long as it conforms to all of the AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.

F. Protests during tournaments must be made immediately and as soon as practical. Hearings and appeals must be conducted as soon as practical. Protests of Player eligibility must be filed in writing to the Tournament Committee Chairperson immediately upon knowledge of the protesting party. Protests on an event occurring during a game must be made in writing by noting the protest on the scoresheet of that game prior to signing the scoresheet at the end of the game with the protesting party providing the Tournament Committee Chairperson with a copy immediately. Protests on other matters must be filed in writing with the Tournament Committee Chairperson immediately but no later than twenty-four (24) hours after completion of the game or incident under dispute. All protests must be accompanied by a $125.00 protest fee that will be returned only if the protest is upheld. No protests of judgments, rulings by referees or linesmen shall be permitted. All protests will be decided by the Tournament Protest Committee appointed by the Tournament Committee Chairperson and the decision of the Tournament Protest Committee shall be final unless a notice of appeal is filed as set out below. Due to time constraints and the need to have an efficient tournament, decisions of the Tournament Protest Committee are final except appeals may be filed only if the grounds are:

(1) there is new evidence not known to the appealing party prior to the original hearing with the Tournament Protest Committee or

(2) there is no rational basis for the decision of the Tournament Protest Committee and there is sufficient time to hear the protest prior to the completion of the tournament without postponement or undue disruption of the tournament.

G. The playing of an ineligible player automatically forfeits the game he/she participated in and disqualifies the team on which he/she played from state tournament or USA Hockey competition and makes the player, team, coach, manager, and sponsoring organization (any or all) subject to possible suspension.

H. USA Hockey rules shall prevail at all state tournament games with any exceptions to be detailed by the State Tournament Committee.

I. The length of periods, both stop time and running time, shall be determined by the State Tournament Committee for each classification and category.

J. It is required that all teams entering State Tournament competition be properly uniformed, (i.e. each player in the same colored jersey with each jersey numbered).

K. No team shall play in more than one age division in the State Tournaments.

L. In order to compete in the State Tournament, a Tier II Team must be from an association or club having at least three Tier II Teams playing at three different age levels, Squirt thru Midget. In order to compete in the State Tournament, an Tier I Team must be from an association or clubhaving at least three Tier I Teams playing at two different levels, Squirt Major thru Midget.

M. Any team that enters the State Tournament shall fully participate. Any team not fully participating shall be referred to the Tournament Protest Committee and Rules and Ethics Committee for appropriate action.

N. Any school which "Boards" students is not eligible for State Tournament play. "Boards", for the purpose of this rule is defined as the school or housing provided by the school of which the student is attending.

O. The High School Tournament Committee shall have the final say as to the placement of teams in the "Red", White", "Blue" and Combined divisions.

P. The Divisions for the State Tournament are:

1. Club Division
All club organizations which have the following number of teams at a given age division:

3 Teams =
1st Team will play in the “AA” Division
2nd Team will play in the “A” Division
3rd Team will play in the “B” Division

4 Teams =
1st Team will play in the “AA” Division
2nd & 3rd Teams will play in the “A” Division
4th Team will play in the “B” Division

5 or more Teams =
1st Team will play in the “AA” Division
2nd & 3rd Teams will play in the “A” Division
4th & 5th and additional Teams will play in the “B” Division

“B” Exemption
You may apply for an exemption to play in the “B” Division if your organization has formed only two (2) teams at as level (Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam) and your team is the 2nd team.

“AA” Requesting to Play “A”
You are qualified to apply for an exemption to play in the “A” Division if: You are the only team formed at a level by your organization (Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget).

The judging criteria for all exemption requests will be developed solely by the Blackhawk Youth State Tournament Committee.

a. A team may participate in only one of the following club division tournaments and must declare which division it will participate in at the time the team files its tournament registration.

b. Red Division - USA Hockey District/National qualifying tournament. Champions of this bracket must represent Illinois in the USA Hockey District and National tournaments. All Open or Non-Tier II teams may enter only this tournament. Any association or club whose team registers for  the Red Division tournament and fails to fully participate therein or which qualified for the subsequent USA Hockey District and/or National tournaments and fails to fully participate therein will not be permitted to enter ANY team in the State Tournament at any age level in the succeeding Playing Season and shall be referred to the Rules and Ethics Committee for appropriate action.

In the event there is no Red Division Tournament at any age level, there will be no representative from Illinois in the USA Hockey District and National Tournaments unless otherwise approved by the AHAI Board of Directors.

c. White Division - This tournament shall be for all Tier II Teams which are rated "AA" and teams that are rated "A" who wish to participate in this tournament.

d. Blue Division - This tournament shall be for all Tier II Teams that are rated "A" and House League "B" & "C" level teams who wish to participate. All "A" rated teams must have played at least 75% of their games during the season against other "A" rated teams at the same age level or participated in an "A" level league.

2. High School Division
a. Red Division - Varsity State Championship. Open to all registered High School "REGULAR" Teams as defined in Article I, C-6.

b. White Division - Open to all "REGULAR" teams who are in the lower one-half of their Division or League at the time of the bracket placement meeting of the High School Tournament Committee and those  "REGULAR" teams who are in the upper half of their League or Division at the time of the High School Tournament Committee bracket placement meeting who have been approved by the High School Committee as being in the best interest of High School Hockey in Illinois to participate at this level.

c. Combined Varsity - "COMBINED" teams as defined in Article I, C-6.

d. Open to all registered "REGULAR" Junior Varsity Teams.

e. Combined Junior Varsity - "COMBINED" Junior Varsity Teams who have played 75% of their games against other Junior Varsity Teams, meet the definition of "COMBINED" teams as it appears in Article I, C-6 and have been approved for participation in the State Tournament after submission of their application to participate.

f. Girls Division - Open to all girls High School Varsity andvHigh School Junior Varsity teams. Girls High SchoolvCombined and Pure teams may be in one division.

Note: Teams will be ranked for placement in the Tournament at the High School Committee ranking meeting.

3. Girls/Women Divisions

a. Girls - Open to all girls teams 19 & Under, 16 & Under, 14 & Under, 12 & Under, 10 & Under and 8 & Under classifications.

b. Adult Women - Open to all adult women classifications.

4. Adult Men's Divisions

a. Red - Open USA Hockey National Qualifying Tournament. Champion may represent AHAI in USA Hockey National Adult Open Tournament. All Open Adult teams must enter this tournament. Each team must have played at least twenty (20) games during the season as a unit and each rostered Player must have participated in at least fifteen (15) of those games.

b. White - House League. Open to all registered House League teams. Each team must have played at least fifteen (15) games as a unit during the season and each rostered Player must have participated in at least ten (10) of those games.

c. Blue - Old Timers. Open to all registered "Old Timers" League teams. Each team must have played at least fifteen (15) games during the current season as a unit under "Old Timers" rules of No-Check No-Slapshot hockey and each rostered Player must have  participated in at least ten (10) of those games.

Q. Non-Illinois Residents Participation in the AHAI State Tournament.
It is the intent of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI) to focus on the development of the players and participants who are residents of and living in Illinois with their parents or guardians. (“Illinois Resident Players”) AHAI’s intent is the development of “our own” players. To that end, AHAI will not permit players who are not Illinois Resident Players to participate in the AHAI State Tournament, without an exception approved by the applicable Tournament Committee and AHAI Board of Directors.

Some types of potential exceptions to this Rule, not absolute, and require approval shall be (i) for Non-Illinois resident players from the states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky that are actually in closer proximity to rinks and club organizations in Illinois that they are to a rink or club organization in their own state. To be eligible for this exception the player must play for that rink and club organization in closer proximity, (ii) players who just recently moved into the State of Illinois with their parent or guardian and who have not had the time to become a residentafter reasonable efforts, (iii) foreign exchange students on an student exchange program attending school full time will be permitted to participate under USA Hockey Rules and Regulations, Article III Classifications, Sections Youth, Girls, Women.

ARTICLE VI
OTHER TOURNAMENTS

No tournament may be held within the jurisdiction of AHAI, without the procurement of a Tournament Permit for each age level participating in  the tournament as set forth by the Board of Directors of AHAI.

A tournament is designated as:

1. Any number of games played with teams outside of your normal league competition and/or teams from outside of Illinois.

2. An entry fee is required.

3. Playdown games required to determine a final winner in any division.

4. All invitational tournaments.

All Players participating in such tournaments must be on their  respective team, AHAI or other Affiliates roster and the Tournament  Chairperson must submit rosters of all teams in the tournament to the AHAI Registrar prior to the commencement of the tournament. All tournaments must be approved by the AHAI State Registrar and USA Hockey District Registrar. Mail tournament application to the AHAI State Registrar including  a copy of the following: a listing of participating teams and where the games are to be played and a copy of all rules and procedures of the tournament.

Note: The Tournament Chairperson/contact person does not have the authority to allow mixed or additional players on rosters. This practice will jeopardize a team's registration.

Fall/Winter Season Tournament Teams

When a AHAI/USAH Member Association has a properly registered team for the Fall/Winter season (“Original Team”) that does not have sufficient players that are rostered on the Original Team because of  absences (“Absent Players”) due to illness, injury or vacation conflicts, to attend a specific AHAI/USAH/CHA sanctioned weekend tournament  during the Fall/Winter season (“Tournament”) and wishes to substitute players for the absent player to enable the team to attend a specific Tournament, this Rule shall apply.

A new “tournament Team” may be formed during the regular Fall/Winter playing season from October 16th through March 31st to participate in an “in State or out of State” AHAI/USAH/CHA sanctioned tournament subject to the Rules set out in this Rule. (“Tournament Team”) (For International Travel, contact the AHAI Registrar for more information).

The following rules and restrictions will apply to all “Tournament Teams”:

1. The local Association Registrar of the AHAI/USAH member association must complete and submit the proper paperwork (Roster, Travel Permit Application and Player Registration), and the proper remittance fees for the “Tournament Team”. These forms must indicate that this is a “Tournament Team”. These forms and remittance fees must be submitted and approval given by the AHAI State Registrar before the team departs for the tournament.

2. A completed and signed roster with the original player’s signatures must be submitted to the AHAI Registrar with the above referenced forms and remittance. The roster must be submitted and approval given by the AHAI State Registrar before the team departs for the tournament.

3. The original players who will not be on the Tournament Team must be indicated together with the reason they will not attend the Tournament. This letter must be submitted and approval given by the AHAI State Registrar before the team departs for the tournament.

4. The Tournament Team shall be comprised of the Original Team, less the Absent Players, plus the substitute players  who will take the place of the Absent Players. The  Tournament Team shall not have a roster with more  players than the Original Team.

5. The “Tournament Team” Roster, and Travel Permit are valid only for the weekend dates of and for the AHAI/USAH/CHA sanctioned Tournament listed on the travel permit. It is not good for any other tournament. The tournament name and dates must be listed on the  remittance form when submitting the paperwork to the AHAI Registrar. This information must be submitted and approval given by the AHAI State Registrar before the team departs for the tournament.

6. A new Team Membership Application, signed roster, Travel Permit and remittance fee payment must be made for each AHAI/USAH/CHA sanctioned tournament that a “Tournament Team” plans to attend. These forms and remittance fees must be submitted and approval given by the AHAI State Registrar before the team departs for the tournament.

7. Officially “rostered players” on the Original Team may not be left home or removed from the official team roster in order to make room for other players on a “Tournament Team”.

8. Only players from within the AHAI/USAH member association of the Original Team may participate with the written permission of the Association President. All documentation must be submitted before a “Tournament Team” application can be approved.

9. Tier I Youth teams may only roster players from other Tier I Youth teams within their own AHAI/USAH member association. Tier II Youth teams may only roster players from other Tier II Youth teams within their own AHAI/USAH member association. Girl’s teams may only roster players from within their own AHAI/USAH member association. House League teams may only roster players from within their own AHAI/USAH member association. “Tier I Major players may not be rostered on Tier I Minor teams for “Tournament Team” purposes. Tier II “AA” players may not be rostered on Tier II “A” teams for “Tournament Team” purposes. Tier I “Minor” players may be moved up to Tier I “Major”. Tier II “A” players may be moved up to “AA”.

10. High School teams (“Pure” or “Combined”), may only roster players from other teams within their own AHAI/USAH Member Association and must be approved by the AHAI High School Committee Chairperson.

11. AHAI shall have complete jurisdiction over AHAI/USAH registered teams when they play inside Illinois or travel outside Illinois. No team leaving or playing outside the State of Illinois shall use any Player not on its official USAH or “Tournament Team” roster and all teams, players, coaches and organizations registered with AHAI USAH shall comply with all AHAI By-Laws, Rules and regulations and Policies whether they play in Illinois or out of State.

12. This “Tournament Team” will not be eligible for the AHAI State Tournament (Blackhawk Cup) or any District/Regional National Championship play.

13. A “Tournament Team” will not have the voting rights of a regular season team.

Any “Tournament Teams” formed for play in the Spring, from April 1st to August 31st, are governed by the rules found in the Rules & Regulations, Article XIII, Spring/Summer.

ARTICLE VII U.S.A. / CANADA TRAVEL PERMIT

The possession of a current season Travel Permit is necessary for any member team leaving the State of Illinois to play games. All teams and organizations requiring a Travel Permit shall apply to the AHAI State Registrar.

Any team that does not obtain the proper travel permit from the AHAI Registrar will be referred to the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee for appropriate disciplinary action.

AHAI shall have complete jurisdiction over USA Hockey/AHAI registered teams when they travel outside the State of Illinois any form of team activity, including competition.

A special CAHA and USA Hockey Travel Permit are required for  member teams traveling to Canada to play games. Application for such Permit should be made to the AHAI State Registrar, who will obtain the required approvals of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey District Registrars.

No team leaving or playing outside the State of Illinois shall use any Player not on said team's official USA Hockey roster and all teams, players and organizations registered with AHAI/USA Hockey shall comply with all AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations and Policies whether they play or are in Illinois or out of state.

ARTICLE VIII
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PERMIT

All teams, organizations, and individuals planning to travel to a foreign country other than Canada, or planning to host foreign teams other than Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Members shall apply to the AHAI State Registrar, in writing, for an International Travel Permit. Upon satisfactory completion of said application, an International Travel Permit may be granted upon receipt of international fees as established by AHAI and USA Hockey.

Applications must be received at least 100 days prior to any scheduled activities otherwise a $15.00 penalty shall be added to the normal fees.

International matches involving USA Hockey member teams will be played under the jurisdiction of the International Ice Hockey Federation and USA Hockey. IIHF Playing Rules shall be used.

ARTICLE IX
DISCIPLINARY ACTION

1. Violations of the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, Guidelines, decisions and/or requests of AHAI (including its Committees) and/or USA Hockey, and conduct deemed by the Rules & Ethics Committee of AHAI to not be in the best interests of amateur hockey, the purpose and/or intent of the By-Laws, Rules & Regulations. Guidelines, decisions and/or requests of AHAI (including its Committees) and/or USA Hockey constitutes conduct detrimental to and not in the best interests of hockey and makes the Player, Parent, Spectator, Coach, Manager, Team, League, Administrator, Minor Official, Referee and/or  Linesman, Person, Organization and/or Sponsoring Organization subject to disciplinary action with possible suspension(s) by the AHAI Board of Directors and/or its Committees so empowered constitutes conduct detrimental to hockey and makes the Player, Parent, Coach, Manager, Team, Minor Official, Referee and/or Linesman and/or sponsoring organization subject to a disciplinary action with possible suspension(s) by the AHAI Board of Directors and/or its Committees so empowered.

2. Normally, sanctions (other than playing rule sanctions) may be imposed only upon notice and a hearing, which is interpreted to be a reasonable opportunity to be heard. However, under certain circumstances, sanctions may be imposed without a hearing.

3. The general procedure for imposition of sanctions are: Notice; a reasonable opportunity to be heard which may be formal or informal, including discussions in person, by telephone or in writing; they may also include the statements or attendance of factual witnesses and the production of documents; and adecision which normally will be in writing, setting forth the sanctions and time periods as appropriate.

4. Sanctions may, however, be imposed without hearing:

a. where there is no factual dispute and the sanctioned party does not request a hearing, setting out facts supporting a factual dispute, in writing within seven (7) days of receipt of written or verbal notice of the sanctions.

b. where the Committee determines that the conduct is such that immediate sanctions are necessary in the best interests of hockey. Some examples of conduct that may require immediate sanctions are: physical, sexual or mental abuse of a player or person, physical striking of a player or person, fighting, causing a fight, use, sale or giving of non-prescription mind altering substance, violation of USA Hockey policies or AHAI policies of a comparable nature or the allegation of any of the above. These are examples but they are not exhaustive nor limiting in any manner.

The sanctioned party shall be advised of the sanction or sanctions verbally or in writing. If verbally, it shall be confirmed in writing together with the right to request a hearing. The sanctioned party may request a hearing in writing, in accordance with this Rule within seven (7) days of receipt of written notice of the sanction or sanctions. The request for a hearing shall set out facts and reasons supporting the need for a hearing and why immediate sanction(s) are not appropriate and shall be sent to the Chairperson of the Committee imposing the sanction(s). If the sanctioned party provides this notice requesting a hearing in accordance with this Rule, a reasonable opportunity for a hearing shall be provided within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice by the Committee Chairperson or the sanctions shall be suspended on the thirty-first (31st) day after receipt of the notice by the Committee Chairperson, until a reasonable opportunity to be heard is provided. Where a reasonable opportunity to be heard is provided, the sanction(s) shall remain in effect until the hearing is conducted and a decision by the Committee provided.

c. Playing Rules sanctions.

5. Notice requesting a hearing shall be sent to the Chairperson of the Committee imposing the sanctions.

6. Receipt of written notice of sanctions will be presumed three (3) days after deposit of the written notice, pre-addressed and correctly stamped in the United States Mail.

7. A Coach who allows a Player who has been suspended by virtue of a gross or match misconduct penalty, to dress or play or participate in practice shall be suspended from any further games until his/her case has been dealt with by the Suspension Review Committee. A reasonable opportunity to be heard shall be provided within thirty (30) days later of the incident or notice to the Suspension Committee or the Coach shall be automatically reinstated.

ARTICLE X
APPEALS

Appeals of any AHAI Committee decision, except the Tournament Protest Committee which are covered in Article V, may be made to the Board of Directors, or at the Board's discretion, an Appeals Committee of the AHAI Board of Directors' (which for the purposes of this Article may be referred to as "Board of Directors" or "Board") by the following procedure:

1. Appeals for consideration by the AHAI Appeals Committee must be submitted in writing to the President of AHAI by the affected individual, member teams' association officers and/or directors. The appeal must state the reason and basis for the appeal.

2. Must be accompanied by a $125.00 Filing Fee that shall be paid by "certified check" only.

3. Must be received by the President within ten (10) calendar days of the Committee decision.

4. Must complete and submit to the President of AHAI an "Appeal Form" within ten (10) days of submitting the appeal. The form must include a written statement of why the decision should be modified or reversed together with any documents to be considered on appeal. The Appeal Form, including the written statement and documents, shall be delivered by the appealing party, to the original decision making body Chairperson at the same time it is submitted to the AHAI President.

5. Only the evidence and theories explicitly presented to the initial decision making body for consideration prior to the rendering of its decision and made part of the Appeal Form shall be presented or considered for appeal.

6. The AHAI appeal authority (AHAI Board of Directors or the Appeals Committee) may hold a hearing, at its option, or consider the appeal on the written submissions of the parties to the appeal. If the appeal is only based on written submissions, the Board shall provide the original decision making body the opportunity to respond, in writing, to the appealing party's Appeal Form. Notice of a Hearing shall be given to all parties. In the event the AHAI Appeals Committee determines to hold a hearing, individual, member team officers, and/or directors and persons with knowledge, must appear before the AHAI Appeals Committee at the time and place specified by the Appeals Committee and present the appeal.

7. Decisions of the AHAI Board of Directors or the Appeals Committee will generally be given to the individual, member team officer and/or directors within seven (7) calendar days after the hearing.

8. An appeal is not a rehearing of the facts. An appeal is limited to why the decision of the initial hearing body should be modified or reversed. The burden of proof shall be on the person or party attempting to have the decision modified or reversed. Any disciplinary action as a result of the initial or any other hearing or decision shall remain in full force and effect until it expires or the appeal authority modifies it.

9. All decisions of the Board of Directors of AHAI are final.

ARTICLE XI
OFFICIALS

Each year, AHAI shall approve, by August 30th of the fiscal year one, (1) referee association to represent and act on behalf of the interest of AHAI in regards to officials. All officials (referees and/or linesmen) must be registered with USA Hockey and AHAI through that approved Referee Association and must wear the current USA Hockey Officials crest as prescribed.

ARTICLE XII
NON-RESIDENT LEAGUE PLAY WITHIN AHAI JURISDICTION

All non-resident teams participating regularly in league play, which occurs within the jurisdiction of AHAI, must be registered with USA Hockey through their respective Affiliates.

ARTICLE XIII
SPRING/SUMMER HOCKEY

The period from April 1 of the calendar year thru September 1 of the same calendar year is considered the Spring/Summer hockey season. All applicable AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations and Committee findings are in effect with the following exceptions:

1. A team specifically established for this period must register through an existing AHAI club or organization AHAI. A team may not register as an independent team.

2. A registered AHAI Player is free to skate with any Spring/Summer team provided said team/players are registered with AHAI.

3. A Player skating on a Spring/Summer team shall not be required to pay any fees in excess of actual ice costs and expenses.

4. Spring/Summer have no voting rights.

5. The period from April 1 to August 31 of the calendar year is considered the Spring/Summer Hockey Season. For the spring/summer season, the age classifications for the following fall season apply. The definition of the age classification for the following season can be found in the Cybersport program under USAH Forms, Age Chart (Next Season). AHAI affiliates may not register players on a spring youth team that do not comply with the age classifications for the following fall season. Spring Leagues may not waive this requirement and allow players that do not comply with the above age classifications. Any House, Tier I or Tier II teams or leagues that do not comply with these rules will be considered non-sanctioned by USAH and AHAI. If an AHAI affiliate does not follow the rules for age classification, the AHAI Rules and Ethics Committee may require a hearing with that affiliate’s board. Organizations that are registered with AHAI as a House, Tier I or Tier II Youth organization may not register High School (Varsity or Junior Varsity) Teams.

6. High School Organizations may only register Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. They may not register Youth teams (Bantam or Midget). The rules that govern the registration of High School teams in the Fall also apply to Spring teams. Specifically, pure high school organizations may only register players that are currently enrolled in their school. They may not use players that are not students at their respective school. Combined organizations must adhere to the combinations approved by the High School Committee for the previous Fall season. Any exceptions to the combinations from the previous Fall must be pre-approved by the High School Chair. Current seniors are not eligible to participate on a Spring high school team. Incoming freshmen (current 8th graders) may participate on a high school team on the condition that they are eligible to attend that school and have indicated their intent to attend the school in the Fall. Current 7th graders are not eligible to participate on a Spring high school team. Players may only participate on high school teams from one organization each season.

7. Girls may be on a girls’ high school team and a Varsity or Junior Varsity team within the same organization. Spring Leagues may not waive these requirements and allow players that do not comply with the above age classifications and rules. Any teams or leagues that do not comply will be considered non-sanctioned by USAH and AHAI. If an AHAI affiliate does not follow the rules for age classification, the AHAI Rules and Ethics Committee may require a hearing with that affiliate’s board.

ARTICLE XIV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

The AHAI Board of Directors meeting will be held once each calendar month. Further meetings may be scheduled at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XV
COACHES

AHAI has announced the Coaching Education Program Clinics for the 2011-12 season. All coaches are required to be certified at the appropriate level for the upcoming season.

A. COACH REGISTRATION. All ice hockey coaches as well as instructors of USA Hockey programs shall be registered for the current season (before the start of the season) in order to be eligible to coach/instruct in any regular-season activities (practices, clinics, games, tournaments, try- outs, etc.), state, district, regional playoff, national championships or in the USA Hockey Player Development Programs. There will be an annual fee to register the coaches (head coach and assistants) and instructors. Coaches who also play on a USA Hockey registered team are required to pay this registration fee only once per year. Coaches may register as participants online at usahockey.com or through a local association/member program. Junior coaches shall register with and through their teams with the junior registrar.

Note 1: All USA Hockey Coaching Education Program Instructors and National Player Development Camp coaches will be exempt from the annual participant registration fee, but must complete the participant registration process.

Note 2: The head coach and all assistant coaches of each disabled hockey team must complete the required CEP registration and proper level of certification. Those volunteers or employees who assist with helping disabled hockey teams (i.e. interpreters, pushers, on-ice mentors, etc.) must be properly registered with USA Hockey but are not required to attend a CEP clinic and otherwise comply with these rules and regulations.

All ice hockey coaches and instructors of registered USA Hockey Youth 18 & Under and below, High School, Girls’/Women’s 19 & under and below, and disabled programs must properly wear an approved ice hockey helmet during all on-ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and all Coaching Education Program clinics and/or workshops.

B. COACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
1. Required Coaching Education Program Levels for Ice Hockey USA Hockey requires that all affiliates and/or districts shall establish the following requirements without modifications for all coaches (head coaches and assistants). All coaches must have the required certification level by January 1 of the current season.
 

a. All coaches must enter USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program at Level 1, and must continue their education each year until, at a minimum, they achieve Level 3. A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year (not including age- specific requirements). Coaches who do not coach in continuous years must re- enter the program at the next level when they resume coaching responsibilities. Once Level 3 is
achieved, periodic renewal is required for coaches who have not achieved Level 4. Coaches of Tier 1 and Tier II

(National Tournament Bound) 14U, 16U, and 18/19U teams must complete Level 4 in their fourth season of coaching. Coaches who attain Level 4 certification are not required to attend any further certification clinics but must adhere to the age- specific requirement as outlined in Paragraph (b) below.

b. In addition to the training in paragraph (a) above, coaches must also complete age specific training components specific to the level of play they are coaching, if they have not already taken that component. This requirement applies to all coaches at all levels, 1 through 5. Coaches may complete more than one age-specific component in any given season.

c. Coaching certification at Level 3 is valid for two (2) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date on the Level 3 sticker. A coach whose Level 3 is due to expire must take the online Level 3 Recertification Track 1 curriculum or they may move up to Level 4. Level 3 Track 1 Recertification is valid for two (2) seasons. A coach whose Track 1 Level 3 recertification is due to expire must take the online Level 3 Recertification Track 2 curriculum or move up to Level 4. Level 3 Track 2 Recertification is valid for two (2) seasons. Coaches whose Track 2 Level 3 Recertification is due to expire must attend a Level 4 clinic prior to the expiration of their Level 3 Recertification. Coaches must complete the online recertification program in order to recertify their Level 3 certifications. Attending a clinic or workshop is no longer valid for recertifying any certification level.

d. Grandfather Clause. For coaches who enrolled in the Coaching Education Program prior to May 1, 2011, their entry into the above program will be at their current certification level. Level 1 and 2 coaches must adhere to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, effective May 1, 2011. Current Level 3 coaches must adhere to paragraph (b) and (c) above; effective with the season their Level 3 expires.

1. The chart below outlines the progression for a new coach. Coaches with pre-existing certifications will enter the new program at the current certification level and must adhere to paragraphs 1(a) and (b) above.

YEARS OF COACHING
Year 1 (ex: 2011-12)
Year 2 (ex: 2012-13)
Year 3 (ex: 2013-14)

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Level 1 clinic + age-specific component

Level 2 clinic + age-specific component
(if not previously taken for current age level)

Level 3 clinic (expires Dec. 31, 2015) + age-specific component
(if not previously taken for current age level)

Year 4 (ex: 2014-15)
Year 5 (ex: 2015-16)
Year 6 (ex: 2016-17)
Year 7 (ex: 2017-18)
Year 8 (ex: 2018-19)
Year 9 (ex: 2019-20)
Year 10 and beyond

2. Evidence of Level. No Level certification required but can attend a Level 4 clinic + age specific component if not previously taken for current age level.

ARTICLE XVI
TIER I YOUTH (OPEN or AAA) TEAMS

A. Tier I Committee:
The President shall establish and appoint a Tier I Committee and Chairperson ("Tier I Chairperson"). Each member and the President of every AHAI authorized Tier I organization shall be entitled to vote on the Tier I Committee.

B. Authority:
The Tier I Committee shall have advisory responsibility for all matters pertaining to Tier I Member Associations, Tier I Organizations, Tier I Teams and Tier I Hockey, subject to the AHAI Board of Directors review, direction, change and approval. This shall include, but is not limited to, recommending the following: (i) granting or terminating of authority to organize and/or operate a Tier I organization, club or association (“Tier I Organization”) and/or field a Tier I/AAA Team (“Tier I Team”); (ii) the total number of Tier I Teams permitted in any age division; and, (iii) establishing guidelines which shall be used to carry out the purpose of the Committee.

C. General Intent:
The general intent of Tier I Hockey in Illinois is to provide an opportunity for youth Players to develop and compete at the highest level of hockey available in the United States at 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 16 & Under and 18 & Under age level by and through USA HOCKEY and the Affiliate while being guided by the fundamentals and principls set foth in USA Hockey's American Development Model (does not include 8 & Under or 10 & Under age levels). Tier I Hockey in Illinois is limited to those youth players who have the desire and ability to play at a higher level and wish to continue to develop as players by playing Tier I Hockey. Tier I Hockey is not intended to place pressure on any Youth Player to play Tier I Hockey.

D. Guidelines for Determining the Number of Teams:
Guidelines for determining the number of Tier I Teams shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. The number of rostered Players in a USA Hockey age division;

2. The number of rostered Players in the USA Hockey age division who will play Tier I hockey;

3. Not more than four (4) Tier I Organizations fielding not more than eight (8) Tier I Teams at any age level except for Squirt Major which shall have not more than four (4) teams;

4. Not more than 15% of the total rostered Players at any age level should play Tier I hockey;

5. No Tier I Organization will be granted Tier I authorization if they fail to field a Pee Wee Minor Team;

6. No Tier I Organization shall have more than one (1) team at an age level, except where the AHAI Rules authorize Major and Minor levels at that age level and then the Tier I Organization may have two teams at that age level (i.e. one team at Major and one team at Minor). A Minor player is defined specifically as one that is at the first year of that age level, except at the midget (16 & under - U-16) age level. At the Midget (16 & under - U-16) age level, a Minor player is a player within the first two (2) years of the age group (i.e. no 17 year old player may play on a Midget Minor team).

7. No Tier I Organization may have a Squirt Minor or Mite team.

8. Beginning in Spring 2012-13, No Player may play on any Tier I Team unless that player is of at least Squirt Major age (under USA Hockey age classifications) for the upcoming season. No Mite or Squirt Minor age (under USA Hockey age classifications) players are allowed to play Tier I Hockey.

9. All youth team players shall play at the age appropriate USA Hockey Age Classification with the exceptions for Midget Major which may roster no more than three U16 age youth players.

E. Tier I Organization:
1. General: A Tier I Organization is an organization duly organized and operating in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and Policies of AHAI and authorized annually by AHAI to field, govern and control Tier I Teams organized by that Tier I Organization in the State of Illinois on a season by season term and which authorization expires annually at the end of the authorized season.

2. Limitation: Tier I Organizations must be an entirely separate and distinct entity and operation apart from a Tier II Organization. A Tier I Organization or Tier I Team cannot be part of or affiliated with a Tier II Team or Tier II Organization and no person shall be an Officer, Director, Hockey Director, Coach, Coaching Director, Manager, etc. of a Tier I Organization and hold any of the above positions in an Tier II Organization, except any Tier I coach may be an assistant coach on any team that he/she has a AA rostered child. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to preclude an Independent Contractor who is offering his/her services to the public at large from offering and providing his/her services as a skating or skills instructor to any Tier I or Tier II Team. The Independent Contractor shall not be an employee, full-time instructor or representative of either organization nor participate in any manner, directly or indirectly, with the evaluation of players, recruiting or offering Players the opportunity to play for the Organizations which hire the Independent Contractor.

3. Responsibility: Each Tier I Organization shall govern, control and be fully responsible for its organization, the actions, inactions and/or infractions of its teams, players, coaches, managers, parents, and personnel. This responsibility shall include debts incurred by or in the  name of the Tier I Organization or any of its Tier I Teams.

F. Tier I Season: The Tier I Organization season shall commence on August 15th of each year and end on the last day of the Nationals Tournament of each year unless otherwise unanimously approved by the Tier I Committee.

G. Tier I Authorization Procedure:
1. Application: New Tier I Team Organizations and any existing Tier I Organization who has met all of the Tier I requisites for the previous season ("Existing Tier I Organization") shall complete and deliver to the Tier I Chairperson, no later than April 1st of each year, or as extended by the Tier I Chairperson, but approximately 30 days prior to any Tier I Organization proposed Tier I Team tryout, the AHAI Tier I Application along with an application fee determined by the AHAI Tier I Chairperson. Each application shall comply fully with the requirements set forth in paragraph G (3) below. No new or existing Tier I Organization shall have the authority to operate or otherwise participate in Tier I Hockey in any capacity unless it has received its authorization in writing. The Tier I Committee and the Tier I Chairperson shall recommend to the AHAI Board of Directors the acceptance or denial of the application. The recommendation shall be in writing and shall clearly state any and all reasons.

2. Notification: Existing Tier I Organizations will be notified in writing of the acceptance or denial of its application by May 1st by the Tier I Chairperson, or his/her designee. New Tier I Organizations will be notified in writing of the acceptance or denial of its application by June 1st by the Tier I  Chairperson, or his/her designee.

3. Minimum Requirements: Every authorized new or existing Tier I Organization shall comply with the minimum requirements set forth in this Article, AHAI and USA Hockey
By-Laws, Policies, Rules and Regulations, which include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

a. A Tier I Organization must have at least one Pee Wee Minor Youth Team and at least one additional Youth Team from one of the following divisions: Squirt Major, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget.

b. No Tier I Organization may apply for or have more than one Minor and one Major team at any given age level authorized by AHAI. A Minor team must consist of all Minor age Players.

c. No authorization will be given for any Mite or Squirt Minor teams.

d. A list of Officers and Directors, the number of Tier I Teams at each level and the names of the Coaches for each team with written proof that each Coach has obtained the appropriate Coaching Certification level and has complied with AHAI’S Screening requirements or has the ability to and will obtain those by the applicable deadline.

e. Financial and Historical information demonstrating that the Tier I Organization is financially solvent and stabile with the ability to finance the next season.

f. Documentation demonstrating that the Tier I Organization is able to procure sufficient ice to support an appropriate number of home games and practices consistent with the size of its program, its season and this Article.

g. A Fact Sheet as defined in Paragraph H (11) below.

h. Written information setting out the structure, organization and responsibilities of the Tier I Organization and each Tier I Team, its coach, manager and any administrators.

i. Written By-Laws, Rules and Regulations.

j. Current compliance and a statement of future ability, intent and procedures to comply with the USA Hockey and AHAI By-Laws, Policies, Rules and Regulations as well as the Guidelines and Policies established by the Tier I Committee.

k. Internal Revenue Service 501 C 3 tax exemption status under the Internal Revenue Code.

l. All Tier I games played in Illinois must have officials assigned by IHOA assignors authorized for Tier I Hockey.

m. The Tier I Organizations shall be committed to USA Hockey’s American Development Model which integrates training, competition and recovery programming with relation to biological development and maturation. Tier I Organizations and coaches promise to offer equal  opportunity for recreation and competition as opposed to the “win” at all cost approach.

n. Tier I Organizations agree to voluntarily comply with the recommended maximum   game limitations per year as follows:

Squirt Major = 45 games maximum
Pee Wee = 45 games maximum
Bantam = 55 games maximum
Midget Minor = 65 games maximum
Midget Major = 70 games maximum

o. Tier I Organizations shall institute a minimum 3 to 1 practice to game ratio. Practice hours shall include all on and off ice sessions.

p. All Tier I Organization coaches shall sign a coaching code of conduct and coaching ethics form mandating principals and mandatory guidelines for coaching conduct promulgated by the AHAI Tier I Chairperson.

q. Coaches shall have the responsibility to develop equally all players chosen for the team with a de-emphasis on winning.

r. Any and all other information or requirements determined to be necessary by the Tier I Committee or Chairperson, or his/her designee.

s. Failure to strictly comply with the requirements set forth above, especially as to minimum ice practice hours, minimum off-ice practice hours, game counts or de-emphasis of winning at all costs at the Squirt and Pee Wee level shall be the basis to deny any team the right to participate in the Tier I State Championship Tournament and/or renewal of the Tier I Organization’s charter for the following season.

t. Each Tier I Organization shall make monthly reports as to game counts and practice times on October 31, November 30, December 31 and January 31 of each playing season.

H. Team Selection Process:

1. Procedures: Each Tier I Organization shall institute procedures to select the best Players available. Guidelines for team selection process shall include, but not be limited to the following:

a. Each Tier I Organization shall hold open tryouts. Tryouts may not be announced or advertised until the Tier I Organization has received written notification of acceptance of its application for the ensuing season by the Tier I Chairperson.

b. Personal invitations for tryouts are permissible but tryouts must be announced publicly through a general publication or individual mailing to all Players at each level and website, inviting any Player who wishes to tryout. This announcement shall take place at least thirty (30) days prior to any tryouts.

c. The announcement must contain a minimum of at least the following information:

1) Organization name
2) Levels of tryouts and Coaches name, if known
3) Contacts with phone numbers
4) Dates, Location, and Times of tryouts
5) Brief statement about the program
6) A Tier I invitation
7) The date contact is permitted
8) Costs

d. Each Tier I Organization shall provide a Fact Sheet that shall be provided to anyone who makes an inquiry.

e. No Player, Coach or Manager shall be solicited nor shall the possibility of playing Tier I Hockey be discussed with any Player, Coach or Manager prior to the conclusion of that player, coach or manager's playing season or the USA Hockey National Tournaments whichever occurs first, except for an existing Tier I Player for the particular Tier I  Organization for which that Player played during the existing season and then only by that Tier I Organization.

f. If a Tier I Player initiates contact with another Tier I Organization, the Tier I Organization will advise it cannot discuss the matter and will advise the individual/individuals of the date after which contact is permitted.

2. Player Card - Parental Consent: Players must sign a "Player Card" and the Player's parents must sign an "Acknowledgment Form" that they have received a Fact Sheet and have been fully informed of all terms and conditions, including financial, required for play on that Tier I Team.

3. Submission to Tier I Chairperson: The signed Player Card and Parental Acknowledgment Form must be submitted to the Tier I Chairperson by the dates set out in these Rules or designated by the
Tier I Chairperson.

4. Rosters: USA Hockey Rosters must be submitted to the Tier I  Chairperson by the dates set out in these Rules or designated by the Tier I Chairperson.

5. Number of Players Cards:
Each Tier I Organization shall be permitted twenty (20) Player Cards per Team.

6. Issuance of Player Cards:
Player Cards (which must be signed completely or returned  to the Tier I Committee Chairperson) will be issued to all Tier I Organizations on the last day of tryouts for each level of the upcoming Playing Season.

7. Player Commitment:
Any player who signs a Player Card is irrevocably committed to that Tier I Organization and Tier I Team for the ensuing Playing Season and cannot play for another team, Tier I or otherwise, except Girls, High School, Juniors, Junior College, College or University. Any player who  signs a Player Card for any Tier I Organization shall not be recruited by or on behalf of any other Tier I Team or Organization and cannot be removed from that Tier I Organization Team’s roster without the approval of the AHAI Board of Directors.

8. All Player Cards Return:
All “Player Cards” and parental Acknowledgment Forms shall be returned to the Tier I Team Chairperson by August 15th (5:00 p.m..) of the current playing season for Squirt Major, Pee Wees and Bantams and by November 15th (5:00 p.m.) of the current playing season for Midgets, after which date NO PLAYER may be signed or deleted from a Tier I Team except by approval of the AHAI Board of Directors.

9. Roster - Return:
USA Hockey rosters for Tier I Teams must be submitted to the AHAI Registrar by September 10th for Squirts, Pee Wees and Bantams and September 15th for Midgets of the ensuing Playing Season.

10. Commitment Date:
Aside from tryouts, no Tier I Player shall be required to participate in ANY Tier I activity prior to August 15th of the ensuing Playing Season.

11. Fact Sheet:
Tier I Teams and Tier I Organizations shall post on its website and furnish each Player and his/her parent(s), in writing, before any tryouts and prior to signing a Player Card, a Fact Sheet, providing full disclosure about Tier I Hockey by the Tier I Organization indicating all costs, (which shall, at a minimum, include coaches' salaries, fund raising requirements, any additional funds or monies due from the player) number of games and practices, amount of travel, any "rules" of the Tier I Organization/Team, and the actual costs of playing for the Tier I Team and Tier I Organization.

I. Competition Among Tier I Organizations and Teams:
1. The four (4) authorized Tier I Organizations in Illinois shall play each other a minimum of two (2) games (not counting tournament games) at every level each year within Illinois in a home and home series.

In addition, in an effort to showcase the Tier I Organizations and Tier I Teams, the final two (2) State Tournament games shall be played at the AHAI designated Blackhawk Cup Championship game site.

ARTICLE XVII
PLAYING RULES

The Amateur Hockey Association Illinois, Inc. shall follow the Official  Playing Rules of USA Hockey. Any exceptions or additions to these  Playing Rules must be approved by the AHAI Board of Directors. The AHAI Board of Directors enacted the following playing rule for all 8 & Under games played after September 8, 2003:

A Blue Puck (weighing between four and four and one half ounces) must be used for all games (league or practice) in the State of Illinois. Failure to use a Blue Puck in Illinois, either in a league game or a practice game, will result in the referee completing an Incident Report, naming all adults on the Home team bench and forwarding the Incident Report to the AHAI Rules and  Ethics Committee for appropriate action.

ARTICLE XVIII
REFEREE REGISTRATION

A referee who is properly registered with USA Hockey/AHAI and the AHAI approved referee association will be eligible to officiate any and all games played between USA Hockey/AHAI properly registered teams. Teams not properly registered with USA Hockey/AHAI will not be allowed to use the services of the AHAI approved referee association. Any official, who provides his/her services to a non-registered AHAI team, will be suspended from AHAI and the AHAI approved referee association; will be ineligible to officiate any future AHAI sanctioned games, and will be referred to the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee for further disciplinary action.

ARTICLE XIX
AFFILIATE AGREEMENT

1. Affiliate Definition
1. Affiliate: Affiliate means group of Members as defined in AHAI By-Law Article IV that comprise at least three (except High School and Juniors which may have one team) Member teams in an organization (“Organization”) that is authorized on a nonexclusive basis as an “Affiliate Association” under AHAI.

2. Authority-Jurisdiction
1. Affiliate Status/Authority:
An Affiliate is to develop players and teams in Illinois and intended to do so primarily of Illinois players, and conduct the affairs of the Affiliate in order to promote the sport of amateur hockey in Illinois within the level authorized by AHAI in accordance with the
By-Laws, Rules & Regulations of AHAI and USA Hockey (“Authorized Level”).

3. Authority:
a. Separate Organization: Affiliate is and shall be a separate organization and entity from AHAI.

b. Conduct Its Affairs and Programs: Affiliate is the organization who shall have initial authority to and shall conduct its affairs and programs and be responsible for the conduct of its affairs and programs, including, at least, the conduct of its directors, officers, officials, players, parents, coaches, referees, administrators, fans, participants, and members in accordance with the By-Laws, Rules & Regulations of AHAI and USA Hockey.

c. Annual Basis: The Affiliates authorization shall be on a year to year basis, but at all times shall be subject to disciplinary action including suspension or termination for failure to comply with the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations and decisions of AHAI (including its Committees) and USA Hockey.

d. Subject to AHAI and USA Hockey: Affiliates must comply with By-Laws, Rules and Regulations and decisions of AHAI, (including its Committees) and USA Hockey (including conduct that is not detrimental to hockey) whether within the State of Illinois or anywhere in the world. The By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of AHAI and USA Hockey and their decisions shall take precedence over and supercede all similar governing documents, authority and/or decisions of the Affiliate.

4. Fees and Fund-Raising: The Affiliate is authorized to do the following:

a. Fees: to assess and charge a reasonable fee for participants/members within its Authorized Level for  participation in the Affiliate’s program, in addition to the regular AHAI and USA Hockey fees. The amount of any charge shall be communicated in writing to  each participant/member prior to tryouts/evaluations and any obligation of the participant/member.

b. Fund-Raising: to operate fund-raising programs to support its functions as an Affiliate Association of AHAI, including special charge on paid gate tournaments, games or events sponsored by the Affiliate but not on events sponsored by AHAI, nor may such events conflict with AHAI events, unless specifically authorized by AHAI.

5. Authorized Services:
a. Affiliate is authorized to perform and/or provide other services functions to promote and regulate the play of the sport of amateur hockey as an Affiliate of AHAI in the Affiliate’s Authorized Level.

6. AHAI Cooperation/Name
1. AHAI Recognition of Teams: AHAI will accept the recognize only those individuals and teams (i) within an Affiliate’s Authorized Level which hold and continue membership in good standing with an Affiliate or (ii) those that are authorized in an AHAI sanctioned league, all of which must be in good standing with AHAI and USA Hockey.

2. Cooperation: AHAI and Affiliate will cooperate with each other in the administration of the sport of amateur hockey within Affiliate’s Authorized Level. It is understood, however, that the initial responsibility is with the Affiliate.

3. AHAI Name: Affiliate has no right to the name Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, AHAI, or their logos (“AHAI Names”) and shall not use AHAI Names or any affiliation with AHAI except as approved, in
writing, by AHAI. Use of the words “Sanctioned Affiliate of AHAI” is approved.

7. By-Laws and/or Policies That Must Be Adopted By The Affiliate:
1. By-Laws or General Guidelines: Affiliate shall have written  By-Laws or General Guidelines of the governance and authority of the Affiliate. It is recommended that they be By-Laws or a Constitution.

2. Operating Policies, Rules & Regulations: Affiliate shall have written Operating Policies, Rules, Regulations and Policies that will inform the participants/members (which in most instances when those terms are used shall include any potential member/participant) of the organization, of its day to day operating procedures, including any concept that Affiliate wishes to enforce and shall make them reasonably available to its participants/members prior to the earlier of (i) tryouts/evaluations of (ii) selection of any team. “Reasonably  available” shall mean (i) if requested or inquiries are made, (ii) at tryouts evaluations or at registration and (iii) at conditioning clinics. The fact that an Operating Policy, Rule, Regulation or Policy is not in writing will not necessarily make it unenforceable, but will be taken into consideration.

8. Organization Structure of Affiliate
1. Organizational Structure: Affiliate shall prepare a written organization structure with sufficient detail of responsibilities on a REGISTRATION FORM, provided by AHAI and register the Affiliate on or before August 1 (or a date set by AHAI) of each hockey season. The REGISTRATION FORM shall be reasonably available to its Members.

2. Corporation 501(c)(3) Status: Except as set out in the AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, each Affiliate shall have a corporate structure and at all times maintain a tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Codeor other acceptable and comparable IRS category and/or have a good faith application for IRS 501(c)(3) pending that shall be approved by the IRS within 180 days of submission of the application or other comparable IRS category status. It is recognized that High School Affiliates may have some difficulty obtaining 501(c)(3) status. High School Affiliates shall be an Illinois Not-For-Profit corporation and it is strongly recommended to be a 501(c)(3) corporation. The High School Affiliates shall use reasonable efforts to become a 501(c)(3) corporation.

It is recognized that Tier III or Adult Affiliate structures may vary between governmental, not for profit and for profit organizations. If any Tier III Affiliate (House League) or Adult structure, because of its structure, believes the governance requirements do not fit with their structure, the Affiliate should contact the appropriate AHAI Committee prior to any issue being raised to resolve the matter.

2. Protecting Affiliates: Based upon the special skills, expertise and background in hockey and sports administration of the AHAI Board of Directors, it is determined that it is vital to maintain the independence of 501(c)(3) and Not-For-Profit Affiliates from undue influence, potential conflicts of interest, inappropriate financial dealings, undermining of their IRS status or adversely influencing the Affiliate’s compliance with the AHAI and/or USAH By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and Policies. The intent of this Rule set forth in this Section 5, shall govern and control over any specific language set out as restrictions. Therefore, except as set out in the AHAI By-Laws, Rules and Regulations, no Affiliate shall suffer (submit to or tolerate) or permit an officer, director, coach, hockey director or similar position, or team manager, directly or indirectly, by attribution or otherwise, to have any relationship as, nor shall such person or entity be, an officer, director, elected official, landlord, ice provider, an interest holder, or have a financial interest, investor or loan or debt holder relationship of another Affiliate nor in any business entity of whatsoever nature that interacts with the Affiliate operations other than an arms length business relationship or adversely influences or attempts to influence or control the Affiliate.

An Affiliate with any existing such relationship shall immediately advise AHAI in writing, identifying the person(s) or entity(ies) and the relationship and take reasonable steps to comply with this Rule, but, shall comply with this Rule within 90 days from the effective date of this Rule.

An exception to this Section 5.3 shall be that a Tier II or Girls Affiliate can be affiliated with a Learn to Skate, House League Affiliate, which affiliation shall be reported to AHAI in writing prior to implementing any such affiliation.

Another exception is the operation by the Affiliate of the Affiliate’s rink owned by the Affiliate, or the Affiliate’s rink in joint rink-ownership with other Affiliates who own the rink, each as approved in writing by the AHAI Board of Directors.

AHAI may from time to time set out specific examples or clarifications of prohibited conduct under this Section 5.3 and publish them on the AHAI web site and those are incorporated by reference in this Rule. However, if there is any question to the application or compliance with this Rule, the Affiliate and/or the person interacting with the Affiliate has the affirmative duty to inquire in writing from the AHAI Board of Directors prior to entering into any such relationship.

9. Governance
1. Government and Responsibility: The government and authority of Affiliate (other than a official governmental entity) shall be vested in a Board of Directors composed of at least five (5) representatives, as determined by Affiliate, who shall be representative of the Affiliate and its programs and fundamentally fair to all the participants members of the Affiliate. For Tier I, Tier II, High School and Girls Affiliates, the Board of Directors shall be composed of parents who have or have had a child in the program, (except for High School, which may have representative(s) who are employed by the High School) as set out in the Affiliate’s By-Laws, Rules and Regulations. It is recommended that  there be multiple representatives for each level of the Affiliate’s program. The burden of proving fundamental fairness is on the Affiliate. It is recommended that the terms of directors and officers be staggered. It is required there be one person ultimately responsible for the Affiliate  as an officer and that there be a Treasurer, (or someone responsible for the financial aspect of the Affiliate), a Registrar, (or someone responsible for the registration of the Affiliate, its players and teams and other similar activities), a Coaching Manager (or someone who is  responsible for all coaching aspects of the Affiliate), and a Referee Coordinator (someone who is responsible for coordinating and scheduling referees).

2. Annual Meetings: The Affiliate shall hold an annual meeting of its participants/members with reasonable notice of suchmeeting given.

3. Communication: The Affiliate shall establish reasonable methods of communication with its participants/members.

10. Minimum Principles
1. Affiliate Reflect Principles:
Affiliate’s organization, structure, policy, By-Laws and/or operation of Affiliate shall reflect, and shall not violate, the following principles:

2. Team/Player Members:
All registered teams, players and coaches of Affiliate, as a consideration of membership in good standing or participation with Affiliate, shall also be required to be “Registered Team Members”, players and coaches in good standing of AHAI and USA Hockey.

3. Overview of Program: Affiliate shall prepare and distribute to its members/participants and overview of its program, including its philosophies and associations (i.e. with Learn to Skate or Park Districts) the teams, ice times, team selection, and individual fees and costs, how team and individual fees and costs were determined and Grievance Procedure. This Overview shall be available and provided to participants/members prior to the earlier of (i) tryouts/evaluations of (ii) selection of any team.

4. Financial Reports/Dues and Assessments:
a. Financial Stability: Affiliate shall be able to prove financial stability.

b. Financial Overview: each participant/member must be provided in writing prior to any participation or obligation, a description of what will be provided to participant, the total cost to participant and any payment deadlines or rules.

c. Fees, Dues and Assessments: All fees, costs, dues and assessments by Affiliate shall be reasonable in relation to the programs it offers to its participants member.

5. Publication of Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations: Affiliate shall make its Constitution, By-Laws and other governing documents, including all amendments, available to its participants/members. Copies shall also be available upon reasonable request.

6. Equal Opportunity/Discrimination:
a. Advise AHAI: In the event of any allegation of discrimination, Affiliate shall notify the AHAI Rules and Ethics Committee (AHAI R & E) in writing immediately upon knowledge of any allegation and keep AHAI R & E advised, in writing, (including but not limited to any investigation, action taken or recommended).

7. Abuse:
a. Advise AHAI: In the event of any allegation of abuse or potential abuse, (including but not limited to ethnic, racial, sexual, physical or mental) Affiliate shall notify the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee ("AHAI R & E"), in writing, immediately upon knowledge of any allegation and keep AHAI R & E advised, in writing (including but not limited to any investigation, action taken or recommended).

8. Mood Altering Substances/Advise AHAI: In the event of any allegation of consumption, use, sale, gift or abuse of mood altering substances, the Affiliate shall advise the AHAI Rules & Ethics Committee (“AHAI R & E”) in writing immediately upon knowledge of any allegation and keep AHAI R & E advised in writing (including but not limited to any investigation, action taken or recommended).

9. Grievance/Suspension Procedure: Affiliate shall provide a written grievance procedure for the prompt and equitable resolution of grievances of its participants members. This procedure shall include, as a minimum, accordance with the Rules of AHAI and USA Hockey and generally provide for fair notice and an opportunity to be heard.

10. Turnover Files: Affiliate shall use reasonable efforts to prepare and have available “turnover” files for each of its operations with the intent of smooth transitions of personnel.

11. Availability of Ice
1. Show Availability: Affiliate shall be able to show sufficient availability of ice to support its program and promote that program in accordance with the By-Laws and Rules of AHAI and USA Hockey.

2. Ice Contracts: Affiliate shall have each ice contract it anticipates entering into or enters into reviewed by the USA Hockey Risk Manager for Illinois prior to entering into each contract.

12. Insurance
1. General Liability: Affiliate shall, at all times, obtain and be covered by the general liability insurance policy maintained by USA Hockey. The limited of that policy may be made by USA Hockey at its sole prerogative. Affiliate may also obtain whatever additional insurance overage it may desire, at its own expense, but agrees to name AHAI as an additional insured of any such policy. By purchasing and maintaining the USA Hockey general liability insurance policy, USA Hockey and AHAI do not assume, and indeed disclaims, any liability for any actions or omissions of Affiliate.

2. Officers and Directors Liability: Affiliate shall use reasonable efforts to purchase, acquire or provide, and maintain in full force and effect at all times, directors and officers’ liability insurance, and (to the extent such insurance is not obtained through USA Hockey) name USA Hockey and AHAI as an additional insured under any such policy.

13. Cooperation In Any Litigation
1. AHAI and Affiliate Cooperate: AHAI and Affiliate shall reasonable cooperate with each other in any litigation and provide reasonable support in connection with that cooperation, including but not limited to advice and testimony upon reasonable request; provided, however, that such cooperation shall not require AHAI to incur any out of pocket expense not reimbursed by Affiliate.

14. Responsibility
1. Every Affiliate shall be fully responsible to AHAI for including, but not limited to, the actions and/or infractions of its teams, players, coaches, managers, parents and personnel. This responsibility shall include, but not be limited to, debts incurred by or in the name of the Affiliate or any team of that Affiliate.

ARTICLE XX - SCREENING

A. General: AHAI has implemented a screening program. For the  1998-99 playing season (including Spring and Summer) and thereafter all ice hockey coaches, managers and on-ice officials ("persons to be screened") (and AHAI recommends that all member association's administrators) must consent to be screened, complete an Authorization to Release Information, be fingerprinted at an AHAI authorized Fingerprint Service Center, retain and produce upon inquiry by AHAI or the organization for which the individual persons to be screened, a Receipt stamped by the authorized Fingerprint Service Center showing that the person to be screened was fingerprinted and provided the Authorization to Release Information Form.

B. Deadlines: All Tier I and Tier II Coaches will complete the  Authorization to Release Information Form and be fingerprinted by October 15 of the current playing season. All High School and House League Coaches will complete the Authorization to Release Information Form and be fingerprinted by November 15 of the current playing season. All others and those persons to be screened who become a person to be screened after the applicable deadline must complete the Authorization to Release Information Form and be fingerprinted within thirty (30) days after beginning any coaching, manager or on-ice official activity, which includes clinics, power skating, and any other “on ice” or “off ice” hockey activities. All on ice officials must be screened upon their 18th birthday and will be suspended and names placed on a Temporary Suspended List (not allowed to schedule games) until compliance with Screening Policy. In compliance with the USA Hockey Central District Policy: any adults on a Men’s or Women’s team that roster a player under the age of 18 must all be Screened by the AHAI Screening Program. The exception to this would be any Special Needs Hockey Teams (i.e. teams such as the Tomahawks or Hornets Sled Hockey teams).

C. Screening Results and Procedure: Each person to be screened will be advised in writing regarding any adverse information as a result of the screening process and of the person’s options. Certain adverse information may result in immediate suspension with the opportunity to have a hearing with the AHAI Screening Committee in accordance with USAH ByLaw 10 "Summary Suspension". Other adverse information may result in the person being screened being advised and provided the opportunity to have a hearing with the AHAI Screening Committee and action taken to and including suspension.

D. Compliance: Each member association and person to be screened shall comply with the forms and instructions issued by AHAI.

E. Procedures To Implement: The AHAI Screening Committee may prepare and distribute additional rules and procedures to implement this policy. For instance, if the coach has not resided in Illinois for a reasonable period of time, the Screening Committee may request a screen from the State of prior residence.

F. Refusal to Be Screened: Any individual required to be screened who does not consent to be screened and complete the Authorization to Release Information Form shall not be allowed to participate in amateur hockey in Illinois or in any sanctioned USA Hockey event and will be placed on permanent suspension until they comply with this Policy and  have a hearing with the AHAI Screening Committee.

G. Non-Compliance: Any member association and/or person to be screened not complying with this Rule other than those covered under Section C and F will be referred to the AHAI Screening Committee for appropriate action up to and including suspension.

ARTICLE XXI – WOMEN'S & GIRL'S

Unless otherwise specified in this Article, the Rules & Regulations in  Articles I through XX shall apply.

A. Classification of teams comprised only of females 8 & Under, 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 16 & Under, 19 & Under and Adult Women.

B. Tryouts
1. All Girls’/Women’s teams and organizations fielding those teams shall institute procedures to comply with all By-Laws, Rules & Regulations of AHAI and USA Hockey. Guidelines, not all inclusive, for team selection:

a. Tryouts must be announced publicly. This announcement shall take place at least thirty (30) days prior to tryouts but in no event prior to the conclusion of the USA Hockey Women’s and Girls’ National Tournament.

b. The announcement must contain at a minimum the following information:

1) organization name
2) age level of tryouts
3) coaches’ names, if known
4) contacts with phone numbers
5) dates, location and time of tryouts
6) brief statement about the program
7) an open invitation
8) cost of tryouts

c. Each team shall create a fact sheet that shall be provided to anyone who makes an inquiry. Fact sheets must also be provided to each player at her first tryout/pre-tryout skate.

Fact sheets shall include the following information:

1) all costs for the season and a list of items that will cause additional assessments to be collected

2) approximate number of games and practices

3) approximate amount of travel (e.g. number of out of town weekends and destinations if known)

4) any organization policies

5) any other information reasonably necessary to inform the player about the program and the player’s obligations or responsibilities.

2. Each Girls’ team (19 & Under, 16 & Under, 14 & Under, 12 & Under, 10 & Under, 8 & Under) shall hold tryouts for the subsequent playing season no earlier than August 15 prior to such playing season; thereafter no organized team activities relating to such season shall commence prior to September 1.

3. Women's Adult teams may hold tryouts for the subsequent playing season only after the completion of the current season’s USA Hockey Women’s and Girls’ National Tournament.

4. All teams must submit the name and contact information of all players who did not make a team or were cut from their team to the AHAI girls' Committee within seven (7) days of the conclusion of the tryouts. These names and contact information may be provided to other Girls’/Women’s teams.

C. Dual rostering
1. Players may not roster on an Adult Women’s team and a Youth or Girls’ (19 & Under, 16 & Under, 14 & Under, 12 & Under, 10 & Under or 8 & Under) team except as otherwise permitted by the AHAI Girls’ Committee and the AHAI Women's Committee.

2. Dual rostering is an exception to regular registration procedures and is intended to provide a female player with supplemental opportunities for development and to assist in developing female teams. Dual rostering is not meant to provide female players with advantages not afforded to other Youth players. Players may not be rostered on more than one team except in the following instances:

a. Players may be rostered on one Girls’ (19 & Under, 16 & Under, 14 & Under, 12 & Under, 10 & Under or 8 & Under) team and one Youth team.

b. Players may also play on one High School team (either Girls’ or Boy’s) if not prohibited by the High School Club.

c. Adult players may roster with multiple Adult Women’s teams.

NOTE: All female players must be at the age of majority to play on an Adult Women’s team. There is a provision for a one year waiver under special circumstances if approved by a Waiver Committee after a review of each case.

3. In the event a player is registered on more than one team that participates in games leading towards a USA Hockey National Tournament, she must declare in writing by December 31 to the District Registrar for which tournament bound team she wishes to be eligible to advance. If the player does not indicate which team she wishes to advance with by such deadline, the District Registrar shall have the  final authority to certify the eligibility of any such player solely on the basis of the date on which the effective date of the earliest Team Roster Registration (Form 1-T) is received.

D. Girls’ High School
1. Girls’ High School will follow the rules governing High School programs (Article I, Section C7):

2. Questions dealing with Girls’ High School programs shall be directed to the AHAI High School Committee.

E. Adult Women’s Teams
1. Adult Women’s teams may not actively solicit or recruit players under the age of 18.

2. Adult Women's teams must submit a roster before they play any games.

F. State Tournament Procedures and Eligibility
1. A Women’s State Tournament Committee and a Girls’ State  Tournament Committee will be appointed and will be responsible for the AHAI Women’s and Girls’ State Tournaments, respectively.

2. All deadlines and Tournament rules will be published, as warranted, by the AHAI Women's State Tournament Committee or Girl’s State Tournament Committee.

Note: Additional rules which may be required to be enacted by the AHAI Board of Directors in the best interest of amateur hockey may not be included in this publication. Please consult the AHAI website at www.ahai.org for the most current information.