Minnesota Hockey

USA Hockey - Minnesota District

Basic Policy: Players play within their defined age group.

The decision of the District Registrar is the final decision.  There is no appeal process.

Moving down
Normally, only players with a severe disability are allowed to move down.  Being small in size, a first year player or an otherwise inexperienced player does not, in-itself, qualify as a justification for moving a player down.

Playing a player down, while appearing to be a solution to today’s problem, often creates additional problems in later seasons.

Moving a player down should not be considered if such a move is for the convenience of the player, the player’s parents or guardian or the local association.  Also requests that are focused on achieving a more dominant competitive advantage for the player involved will not be approved. 

It is important to know what team the player will be assigned to play on at the lower level if the play down is approved.  If it is an A or B traveling team, it would be hard to justify the request. I would normally expect a player moving down to play on a C or house team.

Note: Nothing in this memo should be construed to mean that we will unduly expose a challenged player or a player with an existing medical condition to potential injury or harm beyond that which is normal for a contact sport. In other words, if there is a really valid reason, let’s pursue it.

Procedure for obtaining approval for a player to play down
• The local association would normally be expected to recognize or be informed of the need to move a player down. However, a parent or guardian may bring it to the attention of the association.  Regardless of the original source, the local association must first make a decision as to whether it recommends that the player be allowed to play down.
• If the local association does not support the move, the matter ends there. If the local association wants to allow or desires to have the player play down, it then documents that decision in a letter to the cognizant MN Hockey District Director stating same and listing the factors that prompted that decision.  A letter from the player's Medical Doctor stating the medical reason for the request is required.
• It is important to know what team the player would be assigned to if the move down is approved.
• The MN Hockey District Director should review the situation.  If the MN Hockey District Director feels that the move is appropriate, then a copy of the documentation should be forwarded to the USA Hockey District Registrar and then a final determination will be made and notification sent to the local association.
• A player that receives approval to play at a lower level will be eligible to participate in all games played by that team.
• The approval to play down is valid only for the current season. It is expected that the player would normally play at the proper level in subsequent seasons.
 • Written approval of the play down from the District Registrar must be in the team book at the time of roster verification and remain with the book as part of the team's credentials.