Minnesota Hockey

Minnesota Hockey To Consider Updating Participation Rule

At its 2009 Summer Board Meeting, Minnesota Hockey (MH) replaced its Residency Rule with a Participation Rule, effective for this 2009-2010 Season.  Based on inputs received and internal discussions, MH will consider updating the rule at its 2010 Winter Meeting in St. Louis Park for the 2010-2011 Season.

Effective for this 2009-2010 season, association participation changed to school attendance rather than residency.  A grandfather clause allowed most players to make a one-time choice to remain with their association of residency.  Mite players were able to register by either school location or residence.

The proposed modified rule will make several changes, including:

·         Revert default association membership back to residence

·         Mandate waivers requested from players enrolled and attending school in another area

·         Define "Home Association" as either the Association of Residence or the Association of School Attendance to which a player has been properly waived

·         Further define options for players changing schools

The changes are being proposed by MH's Discernment Committee, co-chaired by Dave Bakke - Planning VP and Greg Nagan - District 2 Director.  After passing the new Participation Rule for the current season, the committee pledged to follow the process closely and take additional corrective actions as needed.

The 12 District Directors discussed the rule at length during MH's Fall Meeting, and worked out the proposed language in a subsequent teleconference meeting.  The intent is to acknowledge open-enrollment while preserving the community-based foundation of Minnesota Hockey.

The text of the new Participation Rule is included below.

If you have comments on this initiative, please contact your District Director or e-mail us at info@minnesotahockey.org.

 IV. PARTICIPATION

 (proposed rule for 2010-2011 season)

A. RESIDENCY POLICY

MH is a community-based amateur hockey program. Members in good standing are to participate on teams from their local association (local affiliate) based on the residence of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The boundaries of the geographical area served by each local association are determined by MH and recorded in the Affiliate Agreements. In some circumstances, players may participate in another association by requesting a formal waiver from this policy.

B. RESIDENCY RULE

1.  Youth Hockey players must register and participate with the association whose boundaries incorporate the player’s residence. If a player desires to participate on a team from any other association, the player must obtain a waiver.

a.  All waiver requests must be submitted on a current Waiver Form provided by MH.

b.  The Waiver Form must indicate the reason for the waiver request.  (school attendance, cut from Home Association's travel program, co-op team, etc.).

c.  Any conditions that apply to a waiver must be indicated on the Waiver Form and initialed by all parties executing the waiver.

d.  Waiver Forms must be signed by the releasing and receiving association presidents before being submitted to the District Director for approval.  If the releasing and receiving associations are in two districts, the waiver form must be submitted to both District Directors for approval.

2.  Definitions

Association of Residence – the association whose boundaries incorporate the player's residence.

Association of School Attendance – the association whose boundaries incorporate the location of the school the player attends.

Home Association – either the Association of Residence, or the Association of School Attendance to which a player has been properly waived.

3.  A waiver shall be granted to any player who wishes to participate in the MH association whose boundaries incorporate the school in which the player is enrolled and is attending.  For schools with multiple campuses, the "main" campus shall prevail unless agreed otherwise by the affected District Director(s).  Players waived based on school choice shall be deemed to be members of their Association of School Attendance and shall have full rights and privileges accorded to all members of that association, including voting rights. (Exception – see "Changing Schools" below.) Players receiving a waiver based on school attendance shall register with their Association of School Attendance for as long as they are qualified students of that school (including the first year).

4.  Players waived for non-school attendance reasons shall be subject to the receiving association's policies in accordance with MH governing documents (e.g. may not be eligible for "A" team, may be assigned to lowest available team, etc.). They shall remain members of their Home Association, not the association they were waived into, with full rights and privileges accorded to all members of their Home Association, including voting rights.

5.  Changing Schools

a.  Players whose Home Association has been based on residence:

Players who newly enroll in a school outside of the boundaries of their Association of Residence without a corresponding change of residence, shall elect one of the following:

1.  Retain full eligibility to compete at any classification in their Association of Residence; or

2.  Be eligible at the "B" classification or lower in their new Association of School Attendance for one (1) year beginning with the first day of attendance in the new school (a waiver is required).

b.  Players whose Home Association has been based on school attendance:

Players who newly enroll in a school outside of the boundaries of their Association of School Attendance without a corresponding change of residence, shall elect one of the following:

1.  Have full eligibility to compete at any classification in their Association of Residence; or

2.  Have full eligibility to compete at any classification in their new Association of School Attendance if they completed the grades of school offered at their former Association of School Attendance; or

3.  Be eligible at the "B" classification or lower in their new Association of School Attendance for one (1) year beginning with the first day of attendance in the new school if they did not complete the grades of school offered at their former Association of School Attendance.

c.  Unusual circumstances may be submitted to the District Director for determination.  The District Director's decision is final.

6.  A player that participates without a necessary waiver is considered an ineligible player. Refer to the Section entitled Eligibility Provisions. A waiver must be obtained before a player can participate outside of their Home Association. During a season, a player that registers or participates with one association cannot participate with any other association without a waiver (applies to players with dual residency).

7.  A player denied a waiver by his/her Home Association may appeal in writing to the District Director having jurisdiction over the Home Association, who after investigation will issue a ruling. The decision of the District Director is final. Also see Section entitled Eligibility Provisions.

8.  Players having dual citizenship, one being the United States, must also conform to the residency rule.

2010-2011 residency rule version 3b         12/07/09