May a COACH who participates within AAU Hockey programs, later participate within USA Hockey?
YES The Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act [Title 36 USC 220522(a)7] doesn't merely protect the membership rights of youth players. The Act protects all Individual Participants and requires that an amateur sports organization is eligible to continue to be recognized as a national governing body only if it:
… demonstrates that its membership is open to any individual who is an amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official active in the sport for which recognition is sought, or any amateur sports organization that conducts programs in the sport for which recognition is sought, or both… ”
May an entire TEAM participate within AAU Hockey programs and USA Hockey programs at the same time?
YES and NO. Obviously, this answer needs some further explanation. It is important to note that from an AAU Hockey perspective this is fine.
However, USA Hockey and/or its District affiliates currently prohibit a TEAM rostered within their organization from participating within programs that are not sanctioned by USA Hockey (at least as that same TEAM). Yet as previously addressed, INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS may compete within both organizations, ever during the same season. The distinction apparently being that INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS have individual rights, yet a TEAM rostered within USA Hockey is an affiliate.
Of course, despite the distinction mentioned above, nothing prohibits a group of INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS from banding together to also form as a group outside of USA Hockey. So clearly a group of PLAYERS and COACHES may become USA Hockey members and participate on their USA Hockey rostered team, in accordance with USAH procedures and rules. Likewise, the entire group of INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS (or a portion of them) may also become members of the AAU, form their own CLUB (team) and then participate on their AAU rostered CLUB (team), in accordance with AAU Hockey procedures and rules.
When such a group of INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS competes within a USA Hockey sanctioned practice, game, league or tournament then they are doing so as a USA Hockey rostered team and should comply with the rules and regulations of that organization.
When such a group of INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS competes within a AAU Hockey sanctioned practice, game, league or tournament then they are doing so as a AAU Hockey rostered CLUB and should comply with the rules and regulations of that organization.
May an AAU CLUB (team) compete against a USA Hockey rostered TEAM?
YES and NO. Obviously, another explanation is needed. From the perspective of an AAU team, YES, provided that the AAU players and coaches have elected the extended benefits (AB) membership option. There is no rule within AAU prohibiting an AAU Hockey team from competing against a USA Hockey-rostered team. In addition, the AAU extended benefits (AB) membership option provides insurance benefits to an AAU CLUB (team) and its properly registered AAU members during competitions, including non-sanctioned events - such as while playing against a USA Hockey rostered team or against Canadian teams, tournaments, etc.
However, USA Hockey and/or its District affiliates currently prohibit a USA Hockey-rostered team from competing within a non-sanctioned event. Therefore, it is important that USA Hockey may not insure a team rostered within that organization while playing against an AAU CLUB.
May an AAU CLUB (team) compete against a Canadian team and/or on Canadian soil?
YES, provided that the AAU players and coaches have elected the extended benefits (AB) membership option. Any Canadian team, league or tournament willing to compete with an AAU CLUB may do so. Some rostered and/or sanctioned through Hockey Canada may refuse to play against AAU teams. However, there are other governing bodies operating within Canada.
