AAA District 14 Underage Player Policy

The following District 14 Underage Player Policy was released for the 2026-27 Season.

Member Home Associations have no say or approval process where it relates to Underage Players trying out in District 14.
These applications for consideration are submitted to the AAA Association where the player would normally tryout, based on the player’s residential address.

District 14 Underage Player Policy (effective 2026-27 playing season)

1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish clear and consistent requirements for considering and
approving underage player participation within District 14.

2. Definitions
Underage: one year or more below the applicable age category (i.e. player aged 11 in a U12
category, player aged 15 in a U18 category).
Compete safely: the player demonstrates, through evaluation, the physical readiness,
skating/playing competence, and decision-making required to participate at the higher age
category without creating an unreasonable risk of injury to themselves or other participants,
considering size/strength differentials, contact intensity, pace of play, and ability to protect
themselves.
Materially displace: an underage approval would reasonably cause an age-eligible player to lose
a roster spot or not be selected primarily because the underage player occupies a limited roster
position.
Competitive balance: the maintenance of fair and reasonably competitive conditions among
teams in a division such that no team gains an undue advantage or disadvantage from roster
composition (including approved underage players), that league outcomes are not predictably
skewed by concentration of exceptional players.

3. Guiding Principles
In alignment with the development principles of Hockey Canada, underage participation within
District 14 at any age group shall be considered an exceptional development opportunity and not
an entitlement.
Underage exceptional situations will only be permitted when a player demonstrates an elite skill
level over those of the same age category, is assessed as being among the top players in the
higher age category (top-half at minimum), has the ability to compete safely and when such
participation does not materially displace age-eligible players or compromise competitive
balance.
Underage participation shall normally be limited to one year above the applicable age category
and may be restricted in number per team, at the District’s discretion, to maintain competitive
balance and consistency across the division.

4. Determination Process
Associations will make the initial determination on whether to accept a tryout/evaluation request
from a underage player.
If an Association determines a request for underage exceptional status warrants consideration, a
request must be submitted in writing by the Association President to the District 14 Chair and
Vice-Chair at least 14 days prior to the commencement of tryout evaluations. The request must
include:
• number of age-eligible players registered for tryouts,
• details on the player’s previous playing experience including statistics (if available),
and
• any preliminary assessments of the player’s ability to compete safely.
Requests will be considered by the District Chair and Vice-Chair in consultation with the
Technical Director with a written ruling to allow/disallow the player to participate in tryout
evaluations provided at least 5 days before the first tryout/activities.
Formal written approval from District 14 with authorization granted must be received before the
Association can permit the player to participate in any sanctioned activities (includes warm up
skates, practices and games).
Any player participating without proper approval shall be deemed ineligible and may be subject
to discipline or sanctions by the District 14 executive.
If the underage player is permitted to participate in tryout evaluations, the Association must
arrange for the player to be evaluated by the Technical Director and/or a committee designated
by District 14 prior to the end of Association tryouts and before the Combine.

5. Rostering
The Technical Director will make the final determination on whether the underage player should
be selected for the roster and make a recommendation prior to the end of the Combine to the
District Chair and Vice-Chair for approval.
No underage player shall be permitted to be added to an official team roster in the Hockey
Canada Registry (HCR) without approval from the District 14 Chair.
It will be the responsibility of the District 14 Registrar to ensure policy compliance prior to roster
approval in HCR.