SafeSport Training Program
SafeSport Training is required for all adults that have regular contact with or authority over minors. As explained more fully below, includes adult‐aged players on the same team with minor athletes. As of the 2022-2023 season, SafeSport is required annually.
All players, 2006 birth year and older, participating on a team with minor participants will need to complete Safe Sport training PRIOR to being allowed to participate in any program.
All coaches are required to have current/completed Safe Sport PRIOR to participation in your program.
Managers and volunteers must also complete Safe Sport prior to being placed on a team roster.
National Background Screening
National screening started in the 2020‐2021 season. USA Hockey has selected NCSI to provide its background screening, a company that is the gold standard in the industry.
Who has to get screened? All adult coaches, officials, board members, employees, volunteers, and anyone else who will have regular contact with, or authority over, athletes under the age of 18 are required to submit to a background screen before any such contact with those athletes.
Screening must be completed before a person begins having regular contact with minor athletes. You will not be able to add Team Staff (Coach or Manager) to a Youth/Girls/HS Roster until their Background Screen has been completed.
Screening is valid for two seasons. To start a background screen as well as additional information and FAQ go to:
https://www.usahockey.com/backgroundscreen
Members will receive an email after their screening has been submitted for processing which will provide them with an Applicant ID Number. This number or other identifiers can be used for the member to check their status online at www.ncsisafe.com and click on "check your background screening status". The status will indicate in process or completed. The screening process generally takes 10 business days to complete.
15 (Only) Teams
The 15-year-old age category shall be for the Tier I youth level only and shall be limited to players 15 (as defined in the age classification chart for the current season). Players that are NOT age 15 in the current season shall not be permitted to play at the 15-year-old age classification under any circumstances. For the current season this is the 2008 birth year.
15 Player Minimums Tier I/II
All Tier I teams, youth and girls are required to have a minimum of 15 players (including goalkeepers). Tier II teams are encouraged to have 15 players, but not required.
GIRLS 14U TIER II ONLY, Affiliates may permit up to 3 players that are 12 years of age for the current season to be rostered on a Girls 14U Tier II team intending or declared to compete in the District or National Championships or playoffs leading thereto if the Affiliate finds that:
a) The younger player(s) are from the same local geographic area as the team they intend to play for and are needed to field a Girls 14U Tier II team with a roster size recommended by the ADM, OR
b) There is no 12U girls team available in the player’s home local geographic area.