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Team/Player Exceptions; Credential Requirements (12/1/2023)

There were a few rules passed at the 2022 MAHA Summer Meeting that pertain to District / State eligibility that already are causing some confusion. A rule was passed to remove player game counts. The removal of the player game count does not supersede the District / State / National eligibility requirement a player must minimally attain. All minimum game counts for national and non-national bound district / state eligibility are still enforced.

Another rule passed was the removal of a league requirement for district / state eligibility. Regardless of if you play in 0, 1, 2 or more leagues, the requirement is now the majority of your games must be against teams in the same age classification, category, and division by the start of Districts / States. For example, a youth 12U Tier II AA team, who plays 40 games before Districts, must have played 21 games against other youth 12U Tier II AA teams to be eligible. All other rules pertaining to eligibility are still in affect (30% rule, minimum game counts, etc.).

Finally, while not a rule change, one more point of clarification around District / State eligibility. If a team chooses not to participate in Districts / States it does not preclude them from having to follow District / State eligibility requirements. The MAHA requires that all teams maintain District / State eligibility even if they choose not to play in the tournament and therefore must go through the credentialing process.


Team/Player Exceptions

Completed on line and due by November 15.

Click here to be directed to file.

see below for examples for exceptions needed 

Game Count

Additional Information For Tier 2 Teams Regarding Game Count

From Joe Barone; MAHA VP of Youth; November 2021

If a Tier 2 team plays "Tier 1" teams, keep in mind as it pertains to game count:

1 - Game count is based off of the opponent’s rostered age / division classification and not how they market themselves.  

2 - All games count towards the 30% rule. The reduction of game count for more than 4 tournament games only counts towards the team’s total game count, not against the percentage of games against Tier 1 opponents.

Credentialing Requirement Forms (Districts/States)

Required documentation for Tier 2 teams to Credential for District or State Playoffs are distributed by Compuware Youth Hockey typically the last week in December.  Forms for Tier 1 teams are distributed mid-January.



1) Will be sent to you by Compuware; you need to complete
2) Will be sent to you by Compuware; you need to complete
3) Will be sent to you by Compuware
4) Will be sent to you by Compuware
5) Not required as shown on the roster if needed
6) You need to gather; these were all part of the rostering package in August
7) You need to complete using the correct form
8) You need to provide a hard copy of ALL scoresheets



Shown in the center of your roster


Sample Completed Credential Deck


MAHA video on how to complete the header document and the verification sheet click here [bottom of the page]



- examples for exceptions needed -


15 Only Game Count

Beginning in the 2016-2017 season, teams trying to qualify for 15 Only Tier 1 Boys Nationals will be able to count games against 15 Only and/or 16U for purposes of the 17/10 rule.


13 Only Game Count

Beginning in the 2023-2024 season, teams trying to qualify for 13 Only Tier 1 Boys Nationals will be able to count games against 13 Only and/or 14U for purposes of the 17/10 rule.


Approval for exceptions for house teams (Tier 3) which exceed the out of district player limit

Requestors must show that for more than one team in the same division, the out of district players were balanced among the teams.
The District 4 Council may or may not approve these exemptions.


Approval for exceptions for house teams (Tier 3) that do not comply with the sliding age scale

Number Of Players     20       19       18       17       16       15       14        13       12       11       10
Max Second Year       13       12       11       10       10        9         9         8         8         7         6

Teams must identify how many second year players are on the team.
Requestors must show that for more than one team in the same division, the second year players were balanced among the teams.
As a general practice these are approved without prejudice.


Approval for players who played less than 10 games (non-national bound divisions 7 games)

Requestors need to provide the date when the player was registered or declare the dates the player was injured. Requestors must provide appropriate rational as to why the exception is needed. For purposes of this rule, Round 1 games of the D4 Districts cannot be counted toward the 10 (7 non-national bound divisions) games.
As a general practice these are approved without prejudice.


Approval for teams with less than 17 games (14 for non-national bound and girls)

Requestors need to provide the date when the team was rostered.  Requestors must provide appropriate rational as to why the exemption is needed.
For purposes of this rule, Round 1 games of the D4 Districts cannot be counted toward the 20 (17 for non-national bound and girls) games.
As a general practice these are approved without prejudice.