by R Jablonski posted 03/22/2012
On March 5th 2012 Mass Hockey approved a new rule regarding out of town players on hometown Mite-Bantam and Girls travel team rosters. The rule is largely unchanged from the previous rule. Rosters must still have three or fewer out of town players or they will be subject to a District roster exemption vote. Some of the highlights of the new rule are as follows:
1. The requirement that players from a city/town with no program must join a program in an abutting town is eliminated. Children from a city/town with no local association are free to join any program and they will not be considered an out of town player in their original/first program.
2. A player may remain a member of the city/town association he/she has played for if the player’s family relocates to another city/town and that player will not be considered a nonresident player in that program, however, once that player no longer participates in that original association he/she would be considered a nonresident player if he/she subsequently returns to the original association (and doesn’t reside in the city or town).
3. A meeting held for a roster exemption vote must occur on or before October 15th. In such a case, a vote shall be held for each individual roster not a group of rosters. A simple majority vote is required for approval. There shall be no absentee voting. District Directors and Association Representatives may attend a meeting held for such a vote in another District to state their opinion on the roster exemption; however, these individuals shall have no vote. The District Registrar shall give at least 7 days notice of a meeting held for such a vote, however, the Registrar is not required to communicate this to other Districts.
4. An association must receive and retain a form signed by all nonresident players and their parents/guardians indicating that they are aware that they are a nonresident participant and that the association may be applying for a roster exemption (which may be denied). The blank form will be available on the Mass Hockey web site. The signed forms must be included with all roster exemption requests. There are four groups not required to sign this form.
5. A decision regarding a roster exemption is valid for the current playing season only. No decision carries over into future seasons.
What does this mean to you? The 3 out of town per roster rule has been in effect for years. The rosters exemptions vote has been held every year for out of town players. Mass Hockey is now requiring that you signed a form indicating that you a aware that you are nonresident. Midgets do not need to sign this form.
If you live in a city/town that has it's own program, click on the link below for the form and please mail it in with your registrations.
Non Resident Player Form
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