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Skater Waivers

Minnesota Hockey's Participation Rule states players must play for the association in which they are zoned to attend public high school.

NEW CHANGES TO THE 2024-25 SEASON

St. Paul, MN – January 22nd, 2024 – Following Minnesota Hockey’s January 20-21, 2024 Winter Meetings, it was announced today that rule change modifications with regards to school waivers for Youth and Girls hockey players in Minnesota will be adopted and go in to effect prior to commencement of the 2024-2025 hockey season.  These changes are statewide and will be implemented across all of Minnesota Hockey’s (13) Districts and (130) plus member Associations.

According to Minnesota Hockey President, Steve Oleheiser, “The most recent rule modifications to our existing waiver process(es) are the direct result of a changing landscape and the need to continue supporting our Districts and Associations who are the backbone of our community based developmental model we are so fortunate to have here in the great State of Hockey.  This modification provides some balance, stability and certainties to both families and local Associations as well as preserving our discretionary waiver process that allows Associations and Districts to address unique and/or extraordinary circumstances on an individual case-by-case basis as they may arise.”.

The rule modification allows players the ability to waive into a Minnesota Hockey Association (outside their own Association as determined by residence) whose boundaries incorporate the school in which that player is enrolled and attending.  This waiver must now occur prior to the start of the player’s first year of Squirts or 10U level. Should a player stop attending school within that association’s boundaries, they will revert to their Association of residence for participation.  Players who have not obtained a school attendance waiver prior to being eligible for Squirts or 10U, may only play outside their association of residence by obtaining a discretionary waiver.

Any player previously granted a school-based waiver prior to the changes adopted by Minnesota Hockey at the January 20-21, 2024 Winter Meetings will be “Grandfathered” in and allowed to continue to play in the association of school attendance where the player attended at the time of receipt of the waiver.

For the official rule change, see highlighted below:

Youth Rules and Regulation Change

IV. Participation

3. With the exception of Junior Gold and 19U Players, prior to a player’s first year of Squirts or 10U a Mandatory Waiver shall be granted to any player in good standing other than a Mite or 8U and under, without conditions except as described below, who wishes to participate in the MH association whose boundaries incorporate the school in which the player is enrolled and is attending, as follows:

b. Players waived based on school choice shall be deemed to be members of their Association of School Attendance and shall have full rights and privileges accorded to all members of that association, including voting rights. (Exception – see "Changing Schools" below.)

c. Players receiving a waiver based on school attendance shall register with their Association of School Attendance for as long as they continue to attend that school (including the first year). If they stop attending school in that association's area, they revert back to their Association of Residence for participation or waiver.

d. If a player has obtained a waiver based on this section, they shall be allowed to continue to play with their Association of School Attendance. If a player has not obtained a waiver based on school attendance prior to being eligible for Squirts or 10U, they may only play outside of their Association of Residence by obtaining a discretionary waiver.

e. Any player granted a school-based waiver prior to the changes adopted by MH at the January 2024 meeting will be allowed to continue to play in the association of school attendance where the player attended at the time of receipt of the waiver.

RAHA's Waiver Policy

Updated July 2024

RAHA follows Minnesota Hockey and District 8 Hockey rules regarding attendance participation and waivers. Subject to this Policy, Members in good standing must participate on teams from their local association based on the residence of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) unless a waiver is granted by RAHA.
 
RAHA will only grant waivers into RAHA from players that attend a Rosemount-based K-12 school but live in another city (“School Attendance Waiver”). School Attendance Waivers will only be accepted by RAHA immediately following the last day of the Youth State Hockey Tournament and before September 1st during the calendar year where the player enters the Squirt/U10 level per the MN Hockey requirement, and no such waivers will be accepted by RAHA after a player has played at the Squirt/U10 levels. Additionally, any player waiving into RAHA under a School Attendance Waiver will be subject to team assignment at the lowest team level for the age classification for that player’s first year in RAHA, unless special circumstances apply as determined by the Board. Proof of school attendance is required for a School Attendance Waiver prior to registration and/or tryouts with RAHA.
 
Exceptions to School Attendance Waivers (Discretionary Waivers) are limited to the following: (1) if a player has an older sibling that currently plays for RAHA, or has or is currently attending Rosemount High School; or (2) if a player is a second-year Squirt/U10 player or older and has previously played for RAHA for at least one (1) season at the traveling team level. In such instances, that player may be eligible for a Discretionary Waiver into RAHA and may participate at the highest team level for that player’s age classification based on tryout evaluations and the Board’s discretion.
 
Any other waiver (Discretionary Waiver) may be accepted by RAHA to make a complete team at the lowest level of competition as determined by the Board in a manner consistent with Minnesota Hockey and District 8 Hockey rules. The Board further reserves the right to impose any additional requirements for any players that seek to participate in RAHA based on a Discretionary Waiver request, and such players will be required to satisfy all RAHA registration and payment requirements. Any waivers relating to Junior Gold players will comply with applicable Minnesota Hockey rules.
 
RAHA reserves the right to make co-op teams with other associations at the traveling team levels. A Co-op Team is typically made as a last resort based on registration numbers and is usually made at the lowest level of the traveling team age classification subject to the Board’s discretion.

Completed forms or forms needing the RAHA President's signature can be emailed to the President.

RAHA President Mike Staloch

mikes@rosemounthockey.org