Rules you should know

Hockey has rules on and off the ice. While game rules are familiar, policies off the ice are just as important. They are designed to:

Grow participation in hockey across the country
Support player development at levels that match each athlete’s skills
Provide a safe playing environment
Encourage long-term involvement in the game

Many policies come from USA Hockey, but AHAI also has rules specific to Illinois. These rules create structure, guide player movement between Member Organizations or Clubs, and help families make thoughtful decisions about where their child plays.

Some youth sports allow players to move freely between teams without limits. Hockey takes a different approach. By placing boundaries around movement, AHAI works to maintain competitive balance, prevent instability within programs, and ensure fairness statewide.

Understanding these rules helps families, coaches, and Member Organizations navigate hockey in Illinois.

You can find the full list of AHAI rules, regulations, by-laws, and policies here:

By-Laws, Rules & Regulations, Policies

Who Oversees Hockey in Illinois?

Hockey in Illinois follows the framework set by USA Hockey and AHAI:

USA Hockey is the national governing body for amateur hockey. Every player must register with USA Hockey to be rostered on an official team, and every coach must complete required certifications. USA Hockey registration ensures players are covered under insurance, teams are eligible for sanctioned play, and rosters are recognized nationwide.
AHAI (Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois) is the Illinois Affiliate of USA Hockey. AHAI administers all levels of hockey in the state, including:
Tier I (AAA)
Tier II (AA)
Tier III (house/rec)
High School
Girls
Adult
Disabled hockey

Think of USA Hockey as the federal government and AHAI as the state government. AHAI follows all national rules and adds policies specific to Illinois.

AHAI is led by an elected Board of Directors (link) and supported by committees (link) that develop and maintain state-level policies. AHAI bylaws support the structure of the organization. AHAI rules and regulations manage the day to day operations.

To amend AHAI Bylaws, a two-thirds vote in favor of the amendment is cast by the Member Organizations (clubs).

AHAI rules and regulations are voted on by the AHAI Board of Directors and need a majority vote to be adopted.

Who Oversees Hockey in Illinois?

Hockey in Illinois follows the framework set by USA Hockey and AHAI:

USA Hockey is the national governing body for amateur hockey. Every player must register with USA Hockey to be rostered on an official team, and every coach must complete required certifications. USA Hockey registration ensures players are covered under insurance, teams are eligible for sanctioned play, and rosters are recognized nationwide.
AHAI (Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois) is the Illinois Affiliate of USA Hockey. AHAI administers all levels of hockey in the state, including:
Tier I (AAA)
Tier II (AA)
Tier III (house/rec)
High School
Girls
Adult
Disabled hockey

Think of USA Hockey as the federal government and AHAI as the state government. AHAI follows all national rules and adds policies specific to Illinois.

To amend AHAI Bylaws, a two-thirds vote in favor of the amendment is cast by the Member Organizations (clubs).

AHAI rules and regulations are voted on by the AHAI Board of Directors and need a majority vote to be adopted.

Key AHAI Rules to Know

Tier II Two-choice rule

This rule applies to players at the 10U through 14U levels:

Players may roster with only two Tier II Member Organizations or Clubs during this age range.

The first official roster counts as a player’s first choice. Moving to another Tier II team is the second choice.
After that, players must remain with one of those two Organizations or Clubs.
To join a third, families must apply to AHAI during the Tier II Choice Application window (usually mid-summer through early season).
Exceptions: If a Member Organization folds or cannot field a team at a player’s age level, the player may receive a new choice after filing with AHAI.
At 16U and older, players receive a third choice automatically, unless they have previously been granted an early substitute choice during the 9U through 14U seasons.

An official USA Hockey roster will not be approved by AHAI if it includes players who have exceeded their choice limit. Each Club is responsible for tracking the playing history of its athletes and confirming how many choices a player has used before adding them to a roster.

Tier II Import Rule

The import rule limits how many players from outside a Member Organization or Club may be added to a Tier II team roster each season. Limits are set per team, not per Member Organization or Club:

10U: 2 imports
12U: 3 imports
14U: 4 imports
8U and 16U–18U: no limit

Notes:

Players moving up from 8U into Tier II for the first time do not count as imports.
Players moving from Tier I or Tier III to Tier II also do not count as imports.

An official USA Hockey roster will not be approved by AHAI if a team exceeds its import limit. Each Member Organization or Club is responsible for monitoring roster composition and ensuring that the number of imports added to a team complies with AHAI rules for that age level.

Coaching movement rule

If a head coach moves from one Tier II Member Organization to another, players from that coach’s roster may not follow them to the new program the next season. This prevents players and their coach relocating as a group.

Residency Rule

A player may only have one official residence for hockey.
Players cannot “game the system” by claiming multiple addresses for the purpose of joining a different club.
Residency is determined by where the player lives day-to-day (eats, sleeps, attends school).
If a rostered address doesn’t match a parent’s residence, it must be reported to the AHAI Registrar for review.
Violations can result in suspension of the player, team, or club.

USA Hockey Play Down Policy

Players cannot “play down” an age classification in Tier I or Tier II.
Requests are only considered at the Tier III (house/travel C) level.
To be approved, families must submit:
A written request from parents
A physician’s letter showing it is medically necessary
Written support from the club’s Hockey Director
Being “small for age” or “less skilled” is not considered a valid reason.

Spring/Summer Hockey Rules

Season runs April 1–August 31.
Players may skate with multiple clubs in spring/summer (unlike the regular season).
Clubs may not charge more than actual ice and expense costs.
Age classifications must follow the upcoming fall season (no playing out of level).
Seniors cannot play spring high school hockey, but incoming freshmen (8th graders) can if they are enrolled at the school.

Travel & Tournament Rules

Any Illinois team traveling out of state must obtain an AHAI Travel Permit.
Playing in unsanctioned events or with unregistered teams makes players and clubs ineligible for AHAI State Tournaments.
Sanctioned tournaments must follow strict rostering and SafeSport protocols.

High School & Girls Rules

High school players who transfer schools mid-year may face a 30-day or 1-year waiting period before becoming eligible, depending on circumstances.
Home-schooled or online students must show proof of enrollment in an accredited program and proof of residency to participate in high school hockey.
Tier I female players are allowed to “double roster” with a high school team.

Back-Up Goalie (BUG) Rule

All Youth and Girls teams must have two goaltenders on their roster. One must be a regular goalie, and the second may be an Identified Goalie (IG) from the team or a Back-Up Goalie (BUG) from within the same Club.

BUGs must come from a lower-level or same-level team within the Club (for example, a 10U A goalie may serve as BUG for 10U AA, but not the other way around).
House goalies may serve as BUGs for other House teams at their level or lower, but cannot be BUGs for Tier I or Tier II teams.
BUGs may only play if the rostered goalies are unavailable due to injury or absence, and the Club must notify the AHAI Registrar or President before using a BUG in a game.
Any exceptions require written approval from the AHAI Registrar.