Player Participation Eligibility, Restriction, and Denial Policy

MIHC reserves the right to limit, restrict, suspend, or deny participation in any or all MIHC activities when the Club reasonably determines that such action is necessary to protect:

• Player safety and welfare.
• Other participants, coaches, volunteers, officials, and families.
• Compliance with USA Hockey, SafeSport, MAAPP, TAHA, TSHL, tournament, facility, insurance, or legal requirements.
• MIHC’s nonprofit mission, resources, and operational capacity.
• The integrity and reputation of the organization.

A restriction or denial of participation may apply to one specific activity or to all MIHC-affiliated activities, depending on the circumstances.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• A player may be permitted to attend practices but restricted from travel or overnight events.
• A player may be permitted to participate in development activities but restricted from competitive games.
• A player may be denied participation in camps, tryouts, evaluations, or team selection activities.
• A player may be removed from a roster while remaining subject to additional participation restrictions.
• A player or family may be restricted from attending Club events when necessary to protect safety, compliance, or organizational operations.

Participation in MIHC camps, clinics, tryouts, evaluations, and development programs does not guarantee roster placement, team assignment, or future participation.

MIHC may deny participation in these programs when:

• Participation would create a safety or compliance concern.
• The player or family has failed to satisfy registration, documentation, payment, or conduct requirements.
• Participation would create an undue administrative or operational burden.
• The Club determines participation is inconsistent with the purpose, structure, or standards of the program.
• Prior conduct or circumstances indicate participation may negatively impact the environment for other athletes.

MIHC retains sole discretion regarding player evaluations, team selection, placement, and participation decisions.

MIHC may restrict participation in practices, games, tournaments, showcases, and team events when necessary to address:

• Safety concerns.
• Injury, medical, or return-to-play requirements.
• Conduct issues.
• Compliance deficiencies.
• Team environment concerns.
• Failure to meet Club expectations.
• Violations of MIHC, USA Hockey, SafeSport, MAAPP, TAHA, TSHL, or tournament requirements.

Participation in travel, tournaments, showcases, and overnight events requires compliance with the MIHC Travel and Overnight Policy and all applicable USA Hockey SafeSport and MAAPP requirements.

MIHC may deny participation in travel-related activities when:

• Required supervision requirements cannot be satisfied.
• Transportation or lodging arrangements cannot comply with MAAPP.
• Documentation or permissions are incomplete.
• The player or family has failed to comply with prior travel expectations.
• Participation creates an unreasonable burden on coaches, volunteers, staff, or Club resources.

Travel participation is a separate privilege and may be restricted independently from regular season participation.

Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that players comply with all MIHC requirements, including:

• Registration obligations.
• Safety requirements.
• Communication expectations.
• Conduct standards.
• Travel policies.
• Facility rules.
• Governing-body requirements.

A player's participation may be restricted based upon parent or guardian conduct when such conduct materially impacts:

• Player safety.
• Team operations.
• Volunteer capacity.
• Coach effectiveness.
• Club compliance.
• Organizational reputation.

MIHC is required to comply with USA Hockey SafeSport and MAAPP requirements. These requirements establish mandatory standards involving:

• Adult-minor interactions.
• Locker room supervision.
• Electronic communications.
• Transportation.
• Travel.
• Overnight lodging.
• Monitoring and reporting responsibilities.

MIHC may restrict participation when circumstances prevent the Club from maintaining MAAPP-compliant operations without unreasonable additional burden, including situations requiring:

• Additional supervision personnel.
• Additional monitoring procedures.
• Modified travel arrangements.
• Additional documentation or administrative oversight.
• Increased compliance staffing beyond available Club resources.

Safety requirements established by SafeSport and MAAPP cannot be waived by MIHC, coaches, parents, or participants.

When evaluating whether participation creates an undue risk, burden, or cost, MIHC may consider:

• The nature and severity of the safety or compliance concern.
• The resources reasonably available to MIHC.
• The impact on volunteers, coaches, staff, and other participants.
• Insurance and legal requirements.
• USA Hockey, SafeSport, MAAPP, TAHA, TSHL, and tournament obligations.
• The financial and operational impact on the organization.
• Whether reasonable alternatives exist.

When practical and legally permissible, MIHC may communicate concerns and seek additional information from the player and family. However, MIHC may take immediate action when necessary to protect safety, compliance, organizational operations, or its nonprofit mission.