Alternate Season Hockey

Any organization (MHA or otherwise) wishing to register skills camps, development programs and/or hockey schools with Hockey Alberta may inquire about eligibility by submitting a completed Alternate Season Program Sanction Request to the Hockey Alberta office.

• "Skills camps" consist of on-ice training/ development sessions that take place over a period of one to three days (ie – weekend skills camps);
• "Development programs" consist of mostly on-ice training/ development sessions within a defined schedule taking place over the course of weeks and/or months;
• "Hockey schools" consist of on and off-ice sessions that take place over a period of three or more days and engage players in various skill development opportunities;
• Skills camps, development programs and hockey schools must have an established athlete development plan specific to the target age group(s) and must strive to offer multi-sport training that falls in line with the long-term athlete development philosophies;
• Operators must have a process in place to screen potential team officials and program operators;
• Skills camps, development programs and hockey schools can operate from April 1 to August 31;
• Registration will take place through the branch and insurance will be provided through the Hockey Canada program;
• Participants that were registered with a sanctioned, member MHA during the traditional season will not have to pay the insurance fees again for the Alternate Season.

Player Registration

• Prior to participating in any sessions, operators must register all participating players with Hockey Alberta;
• A player’s registration must include his/her full name, date of birth and legal residential address.

Instructor Registration

• Prior to participating in any sessions, operators must register all participating instructors with Hockey Alberta;
• Instructors are required to have completed coaching certification in the following courses:
  • Respect in Sport – Activity Leader                     All team officials
  • Hockey Canada Safety Program                       One (1) team official / 10 players

Any organization (MHA or otherwise) wishing to register a team program with Hockey Alberta may inquire about eligibility by submitting a completed Alternate Season Program Sanction Request to the Hockey Alberta office.

• "Team Programs" operate between April 1 - July 15 and consist of practices, games and/or tournaments;
• Programs must adhere to all Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada rules, regulations and policies;
• Programs are eligible to operate teams at the U11 division or above only (programs will not be approved for U7 or U9 age groups);
• Programs must have an established athlete development plan specific to the target age group(s) and must strive to offer multi-sport training that falls in line with the long-term athlete development philosophies;
• Operators must have a process in place to screen potential team officials and program operators;
• Registration will take place through the branch and insurance will be provided through the Hockey Canada program;
• Participants that were registered with a sanctioned member MHA during the traditional season will not have to pay the insurance fees again for the Alternate Season.

Team Registration

• Prior to participating in any games or practices, operators must file all their teams in accordance with the regulations as set out by Hockey Alberta;
• Teams may register at one time a maximum of 19 players. Of those 19, two (2) must be goaltenders;
• Each player can be registered to only one (1) team at a time;
• Players can be picked up from one program registered under the Alternate Season model to join another registered program for a tournament (not available for exhibition games). Proof of registration is required.

Player Registration

• Prior to participating in any ice sessions, operators must register all their players in accordance with the regulations as set out by Hockey Alberta;
• A player’s registration must include his/her full name, date of birth and legal residential address;
• Participants can be registered at any time throughout the Alternate Season;
• There are no boundaries or registration regulations pertaining to where players participate in relation to where they live. Players are able to register with a sanctioned Alternate Season program anywhere within the western branches (BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Hockey Saskatchewan, Hockey Manitoba).

Team Official Registration

• A program may register as many team officials as they wish with the understanding that, as per Hockey Canada Playing Rules, a team may only have five (5) team officials on the score sheet and the bench during a game;
• Team officials are required to have completed coaching certification in the following courses:
  
  • Respect in Sport – Activity Leader                     All team officials
  • Coach 2 – Coach Level or Development I                   One (1) team official
  • Hockey Canada Safety Program                       One (1) team official

Tryout Procedures

Alternate Season programs that operate teams are permitted to host “tryouts” at any time, provided the Alternate Season program does not interfere with the traditional minor hockey season. Alternate Season programs must conduct meetings, ice sessions, dryland sessions, etc. in a time and manner that does not conflict with regular season events.

Program operators, team oficials and/or players that violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action such as fines and suspensions. The following are potential minimum sanctions:

• Program: $500.00 Fine
• Team official: Six (6) month suspension
• Player: One (1) month suspension

Sanctions & Permits

• Alternate Season programs that operate teams are permitted to play exhibition games, however, permission must be obtained in writing from Hockey Alberta for all exhibition games.
• Permission may not be granted for exhibition games against any team or teams which are not registered members of Hockey Canada, USA Hockey or another IIHF member federation.
• International games, other than games with USA Hockey, must have permission granted by Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada in accordance with Hockey Canada’s regulations pertaining to international trips and tours.
• All game sheets must be submitted to Hockey Alberta within 24 hours of the completion of all games.

Alternate Season programs that operate teams are permitted to travel to and play in or host tournaments, provided all applicable fees have been paid and permission has been obtained in writing from Hockey Alberta prior to travelling to or participating in any games. Permission may not be granted for a team to attend a tournament that is not a registered, sanctioned tournament of Hockey Canada, USA Hockey or another IIHF member federation. International tournaments, other than those within USA Hockey, must have permission granted by Hockey Alberta and Hockey Canada in accordance with Hockey Canada’s regulations pertaining to international trips and tours.

All game sheets must be submitted to Hockey Alberta within 24 hours of the completion of all games.

Discipline

The Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta Minimum Suspensions will apply, depending on the type of game or tournament. Suspensions will be applied to all sanctioned hockey (traditional winter season as well as the Alternate Season).

REGISTRATION FEES

The Hockey Canada Participant and Insurance Fee will not be applied to any participants that were registered with a sanctioned, member MHA or club team during the regular season immediately preceding the current Alternate Season.

Alternate Season Sanction Request