Over the course of the season, players may ask to be ‘released’ from their team for a variety of reasons. When that occurs, the Association/Club administrators should seek to determine the underlying cause and if there is any likelihood that the reason can be mitigated. If not, then the following is the process to be employed. A MAHA release document must be completed.

The release form needs to be completed in full. There is a section covering the player’s financial obligation to the team; a section on game count; and signatures for the player, his/her parent, and the releasing organization. Many times, the most difficult portion of the document to complete is the financial obligation section and getting the releasing Association/Club and the player’s parent(s) to agree on the obligation if any. Some teams may have specific player contracts with players and others may not.

 

From the MAHA Annual Guide Page 26 ; Section II. Registration and Rostering: Participants and Teams:

1. Player releases, unless requested by the player, cannot be made later than November 30 of the current playing season to be eligible for District, State and National tournaments. No players can be added to a team’s roster after December 23rd of the current playing season to be eligible for District, State and National tournaments. Exceptions to this provision, for District and States, may be made in extraordinary circumstances by a two-thirds majority approval of the State Playoff Committee prior to December 31st.
2. A player signed to an approved team roster must secure a release in writing from that team before signing with another team. A player receiving a release must be signed to the new team roster, and approved by the USA Hockey Associate Registrar, at least 72 hours in advance of playing in a game. A player requesting a release must be granted that request if he/she is current on their fees as outlined in their Association / team player contract. In absence of the contract a prorated amount must be determined based on participation at the point of the player’s release. That prorated amount must be paid before the release will be granted. Any and all equipment belonging to the team must be returned prior to the release as well. The District Council has the authority to release a player who is refused a release by his/her team or Association

MAHA Player Release Form

LINK TO MAHA BY LAWS

MAHA Annual Guide: Rules and Regulations
II. REGISTRATION AND ROSTERING: PARTICIPANTS AND TEAMS
Q. A player signed to a certified team roster must secure a release in writing from that team before signing with another team. A player receiving a release must be signed to the new team roster, as certified by the USA Hockey Associate Registrar, at least 72 hours in advance of playing in a game. A player requesting a release must be granted that request if he/she is current on their fees as outlined in their association / team player contract. In absence of the contract a prorated amount must be determined based on participation at the point of the player’s release. That prorated amount must be paid before the release will be granted. Any and all equipment belonging to the team must be returned prior to the release as well. The District Council has the authority to release a player who is refused a release by his/her team or Association.
Each Association/Club signs an ‘Affiliate Agreement’ each year with the MAHA. Included in that Agreement is the following to which all Association/Clubs must adhere-

1. Payment policies for all fees, costs and expenses related to participation shall be clearly outlined in an Affiliate’s Bylaws or Operating Rules. Policies for all fees, payments, late payment fees, equipment costs and injury credits shall be clearly identified in writing. An Affiliate may not collect
   fees from a Registered Participant Member or his or her legal guardian in excess of the chart below:
   After contract is signed but never participated in any activities with the affiliate $300
   After September 1st 25% of total yearly fee stated in player contract.
   After October 1st 50% of total yearly fee stated in player contract.
   After November 1st 75% of total yearly fee stated in player contract.
   After December 1st 100% of total yearly fee stated in player contract.

Your District 4 Representative can also guide you in adjudicating disputes between the Association/Club and the player’s parents. When a contract is not available, often times a team budget or other Association/Club/team documents used to define the financial obligations to the team can suffice.
In the case where the Association/Club and the player’s parents agree on the financial obligation, the MAHA release can be completed upon payment of the parent. In the case where the parent claims a refund is due, The District 4 Representative can provide leadership, if needed, on the amount of the refund that is due to the parent and direct the Association/Club to provide that refund. The MAHA release should not be held up while the amount of the refund is being determined.
In the case where the Association/Club claims monies owed, and the parent(s) disagrees, the amount outstanding claimed by the Association/Club should be recorded on the MAHA release. The release should not be signed until there is an agreement on the outstanding monies owed. The
MAHA release should not be held up for non payment.
Where a parent has chosen not to pay the amount owed as determined by the Association/Club, the Association/Club can take the parent to small claims court for recovery. The Association/Club can also seek to block the player from rostering on another team by invoking the member in good standing’ clause in both the MAHA and USA Hockey Annual Guides. An Association/Club seeking to block a player from rostering on another team, should follow the “Financial dispute Policy” in the MAHA Annual guide.

MAHA Annual Guide; ByLaw 4: MEMBERSHIP, Section B3
B. All members as defined in Bylaw 4, A. must be members in good standing with USA Hockey and the MAHA. Members not in good standing are ineligible to participate in MAHA. A member in good standing is defined as a member that (1) has not been convicted of a felony within the past 10 years, (2) is not currently serving a suspension or on probation under the authority of USA Hockey / the MAHA or any local hockey association, or (3) has no financial obligations to USA Hockey, the MAHA or any local hockey association.

USA Hockey Annual Guide; Rules and Regulations; Section III: TEAM MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION
A. Membership
Except for Juniors, all teams of USA Hockey member programs must register with USA Hockey in a manner prescribed by the appropriate district registrar. All national championship bound teams shall be required to use the official USA Hockey roster registration form (1-T). Affiliates
and leagues may also require the USA Hockey roster registration form (1-T) for specified teams. In some instances, a simple listing of players and coaches may comprise an approved roster. All applicants for team membership must be members in good standing of an affiliate.

Throughout the process, the Association/Club can depend on their District 4 Representative for guidance. Copies of the release are filed with the Association/Club, the parent, and the MAHA Associate Registrar. The Association/Club should use the MAHA Release to have the player in question removed from the current team roster.