From the MAHA Annual Guide Pages 33-35
IV. Youth Age & Division Classifications
B. 14U - 18U (Bantam and Midget) Tier II Category and AA Division (Note: in the 16 and Under Age Classification, Tier II is “A”) and 10U – 12U (Squirt and PeeWee) Travel Category and AA Division.
1. The Tier II category and the Travel Category AA Divisions are the next level of competitive hockey in Michigan. Teams in this category include teams which plays in a declared Tier II or Travel AA league or any team playing an independent schedule, registered as a Tier II or Travel
AA team. The recognized Youth age classifications shall be the Youth 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. (or Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget) The 14U, 16U and 18U age classifications are national bound classifications and the teams must meet all national bound eligibility
requirements. Teams in the Youth 10U and 12U age classifications are eligible for MAHA Stateplayoffs and must meet all requirements to be eligible for MAHA State playoffs.
2. Has no more than three (3) players who reside outside the District in which the team is registered. In the 18U (Midget) classification teams will be allowed six (6) players who reside outside the district in which the team is registered. The State Playoff Committee has no
authority to consider or grant an exception to this rule.
3. Michigan resident players of any age classification are permitted to play for an Association/Club that has the rink closet to their residence based on the shortest distance by roads calculated by Google Maps and will not be counted as an out of District player if it is beyond District boundaries. Player residence documentation must be provided at the time of team registration with MAHA/USA Hockey and approval received from both the respective districts.
4. Teams in organizations not approved by the State Playoff Committee as Tier 1 organizations that play more than 30% of their games against Tier I opponents shall be ineligible for District and States Playoffs in any classification.
5. All teams playing in this classification are restricted to a maximum number of games per season. (Rule III,D)
6. At the 14U classification, no team may roster any player 12 years of age or under.
7. A team may pick up a substitute goalie from within its own Association or District if it does not already have a spare goalie registered. For a non-National bound category, the substitute
goalie must be registered in the current season on a team of equal or lower age classification and equal or lower team category/division. For the National bound category, the substitute goalie must be registered in the current season on a lower category team.
8. A substitute goalie, under such circumstances, may be used only in the case of an injury to the regular goalie. If a team elects this method for a substitute goalie, the team may have only nineteen (19) players registered at any time so as not to exceed the maximum number
of players allowed.
9. Tryouts for Tier II and Travel AA Youth Teams.
10. No Tier II or Travel AA team may recruit or solicit players, offer contracts, hold tryouts, conditioning skate, or any activity that could be construed as a tryout/solicitation or recruitment or player evaluation until the specific date outlined below:
(a) All teams in National bound categories for the current season (not post season), shall not begin tryouts until 48 hours after the completion of the National Tournament for their respective age classification.
(b) All teams in Travel (A/AA) non-National bound categories for the current season (not post season), shall not begin POST Season (Spring) tryouts until after 4 pm on the Monday following the conclusion of the final State Tournament games of ALL age brackets and categories.
(c) All teams in Travel (A/AA) non-National bound categories may begin tryouts on the 3rd Monday in May for all REGULAR SEASON (Fall/Winter) teams.
C. 10U - 18U (Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget Classification) Travel Category and A Division.
1. The Travel category is a level of select hockey in Michigan. Teams in this category include teams which play in a declared Travel A Division league or any team playing an independent schedule, registered as a Travel A team. The recognized Youth classifications shall be the
Youth 9U, 11U, and 13U age classifications. (or Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam) The Travel category will be the A Division. Teams in this classification are eligible for MAHA State playoffs and must meet all requirements to be eligible for MAHA State playoffs.
2. A 14 and under, 12 and under and 10 and under team in this classification shall not have players who are in their last year of eligibility. In the (Midget) 15/16 classification, no players
from the (Midget) 17/18 classification are allowed.
3. May have no more than three (3) players who reside outside the District in which the team is registered. In the 16U (Midget) classification teams will be allowed six (6) players who reside
outside the district in which the team is registered. The State Playoff Committee has no authority to consider or grant an exception to this rule.
4. Michigan resident players of any age classification are permitted to play for an Association/Club that has the rink closet to their residence based on the shortest distance by roads calculated by Google Maps and will not be counted as an out of District player if it is
beyond District boundaries. Player residence documentation must be provided at the time of team registration with MAHA/USA Hockey and approval received from both the respective districts.
5. To remain eligible for District and States Playoffs, teams may not play more than 30% of their games against teams in higher classifications.
6. If no A league is available, teams may apply to the District Council and State Playoff Committee for authorization to participate in a Tier II league without losing their A status for District/State Playoffs.
7. All teams playing in this classification are restricted to a maximum number of games per season. (Rule III,A,e)
8. A team may pick up a substitute goalie from within its own Association or District if it does not already have a spare goalie registered. For a non-National bound category, the substitute
goalie must be registered in the current season on a team of equal or lower age classificationand equal or lower team category/division.
9. A substitute goalie, under such circumstances, may be used only in the case of an injury to the regular goalie. If a team elects this method for a substitute goalie, the team may have only nineteen (19) players registered at any time so as not to exceed the maximum number
of players allowed.
10. Each Association and team must notify their District Council in writing of their intent to enter the State Playoffs no later than November 1.
11. Tryouts for Travel Category and A Division Youth Teams.
No Tier II team may recruit or solicit players, offer contracts, hold tryouts, conditioning skate, or any activity that could be construed as a tryout/solicitation or recruitment or player evaluation until the specific date outlined below:
a. All teams in Tier II (A/AA) non-National bound categories for the current season (not post season), shall not begin POST Season (Spring) tryouts until after 4 pm on the Monday following the conclusion of the final State Tournament games of ALL age brackets and categories.
b. All teams in Tier II (A/AA) non-National bound categories may begin tryouts on the 3rd Monday in May for all REGULAR SEASON (Fall/Winter) teams.
