WELCOME TO THE 2021 IHAAZ SEASON!
The 22nd season of IHAAZ aims to be our best yet, featuring five monthly qualifier events, January through May, and ending with a historic and exciting IHAAZ State Finals in June at the soon to be opening Wheelhouse facility in Prescott Valley, AZ. This new, state-of-the-art, sports complex will feature two floors in the same building, allowing IHAAZ to offer an expanded experience, including an All Star Game in each age group, and all new Skills Competition events and structure.
As our local COVID-19 situation continues to be ever-changing, IHAAZ is prepared to face any challenges as we look towards the 2021 season. IHAAZ will make every attempt to safely host each of our events as scheduled at each venue, on the dates planned below. If conditions prevent us from being able to use specific dates/locations as planned, IHAAZ will revaluate make up dates, rules for State Finals qualification, and costs based on the whatever path forward circumstances provide.
Due to the uncertainty we all face with COVID and the next few months, IHAAZ has made changes to the regular season format, participation requirements, and State Finals qualification processes. During the upcoming 2021 season, each event will be treated as a stand-alone tournament, rather than part of a series. State Finals qualification will be awarded based on the number of qualifier tournaments each team participates in. Keep reading for more in-depth information.
IHAAZ will continue to promote the safety precautions recommended by health experts, along with state/local guidelines, as well as those of each tournament hosting facility. IHAAZ asks that all participants be prepared to do the same. We also ask that parents and fans be understanding of any limitations that our facilities or local ordinances might require, which may dictate mask-wearing, social distancing, and even the number of individuals allowed inside each building.
WHAT'S NEW?
Starting this season, teams and programs will be participating in IHAAZ events in one of two categories: as an "independent team/club" or a "member program", described in detail below.
Regardless of category, because IHAAZ is limited in the size of divisions we host and the amount of teams we can accept for each tournament, all teams will be asked to commit to all of 2021 tournament dates they intend to participate in at the time of registration (December, 2020). All teams will be required to pre-pay for their first event during the registration period, with future tournament entry fees due approximately 30 days prior to their next tournament.
All team registration, roster entry, waiver agreements, AAU member number identification, and payments will now be done via the IHAAZ website. (See below for more info).
We're very excited to enter into what could be one of the largest IHAAZ seasons on record. As always IHAAZ is here to promote the stability and growth of inline hockey, working together with the great coaches and families that come together each season to provide such an incredible Arizona inline hockey community.
AGE DIVISIONS FOR THE 2021 IHAAZ SEASON
Age cutoff date in January 1st, 2021.
Whatever age a participant is on that date will dictate where their primary qualifying age division is for the 2021 season.
| Age Division | Birth Years | Eligibility |
|---|
Midget ages 14-18 | 2002* - 2007 | *High school enrollment required |
Bantam 14u | 2006– 2007 | Girls – 2 additional years |
Pee Wee 12u | 2008– 2009 | Girls – 2 additional years |
Squirt 10u | 2010 – 2011 | Girls – 2 additional years |
Mite 8u | 2012 & younger | Girls – 2 additional years |
*-ALL players must still be enrolled in high school during the current school year the series is playing in.
MEMBER PROGRAMS VS INDEPENDENT Programs/TEAMS/CLUBS
- Member Programs are required to enter at least one team in each IHAAZ age group (8u, 10u, 12u, 14u, Midget), with each of those teams attending at least four (4) of the five (5) IHAAZ 2021 season tournaments to be eligible for State Finals. If member program requirements are met, that member program will receive a partial rebate of entry fees at the end of the season. To apply to be a Member Program contact us at theIHAAZ@gmail.com.
- Independent teams and clubs are all entrants into IHAAZ tournaments who do not meet the member program requirements or do not choose to commit to the membership program guidelines. These clubs may play in any IHAAZ events they choose, but must play in at least three (3) of the five (5) IHAAZ tournaments to qualify for State Finals. (See below).
- All teams, regardless of member or independent status, pay the same entry fees at each event.
2021 IHAAZ STATE FINALS QUALIFICATION
Team Participation
- Member program teams must play in four (4) of the five (5) IHAAZ Qualifier events to be eligible for State Finals, with attendance at Prescott and Yuma being mandatory. Teams are encouraged to play all five (5) IHAAZ events and are free to do so.
- Independent programs must play in three (3) of the five (5) IHAAZ Qualifier events to be eligible for State Finals, with attendance at either Prescott or Yuma being one of their three events. Teams are encouraged to play all five IHAAZ events and a free to do so.
Individual Player Requirements
- Rosters for State Finals, regardless of Member or Independent status, will consist of only players who attended at least three (3) of the five (5) IHAAZ qualifier events. Players must play in at least two (2) games of any qualifier tournament in order to receive credit for having participated in that tournament. Exceptions for injury or illness can be applied for by contacting the IHAAZ board.
2021 IHAAZ DATES AND LOCATIONS
| Date | Rink | City, State |
|---|
| QUALIFYER EVENTS |
January 22nd, 23rd, 24th
| Peoria Sportsplex | Peoria, AZ |
| February 19th, 20th, 21st | Kennedy Park Rink | Yuma, AZ |
| March 12th, 13th, 14th | Tucson Indoor Sports | Tucson, AZ |
| April 9th, 10th, 11th | Pioneer Park Rink | Prescott, AZ |
| May 8th, 9th (8u, 10u, 12u, 14u) | Barney Family Sports Complex | Queen Creek, AZ |
| May 21st & 22nd (14u/18u) | Peoria Sportsplex | Peoria, AZ |
| STATE FINALS |
| June 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th | Peoria Sportsplex | Peoria, AZ |
ENTRY FEES AND REGISTRATION PROCESS
Registration process: All teams (regardless of Member or Independent status) will be required to register their team online during the 2021 season enrollment period of December 1st to December 15th, 2020. See the "2021 Season Registration" section starting 12/1 for more info. To register team reps will need the following:
- The official team name and/or designator they wish to be referred to for the season; for example "AZ Warriors" would be a team name. If the team has multiple teams in the same age group there will need to be a designator such as a color or some other way to differentiate the two teams. So, if the AZ Warriors have two teams they could be called "AZ Warriors Red" and "AZ Warriors White." If there is only one team playing in that age group no designator is needed.
- Each player, coach, and manager's full name (first and last). Player names must match the names used for registration with AAU.
- Each player and coach's date of birth (day/month/year).
- Each player's jersey number. No two players may use the same number.
- The best contact email address for each player, coach, and manager. For 8u through 14u players, this must be a parent email address.
- Each player and coach's current AAU number, purchased after Setpember 1, 2020 (see below for more info on AAU), and the zip code for the address used for their AAU registration
- The specific qualifier tournaments each team commits to playing in.
- The ability to pay online for their first event. NO PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN PERSON AT TOURNAMENTS.
Entry fees: Unlike past seasons, there will no longer be a "team registration fee" collected at the start of the season, nor will teams be paying at each festival. Instead all entry fees will be prepaid in full online at least 30 days prior to each event, no exceptions.
- Qualifier entry fee - $475.00
- State Finals entry fee - $595.00
Adding new players to the roster after registration period ends: Once the registration period is completed IHAAZ.com will have a page set up to add a player to an existing roster. That player add will require the same information as described in the "registration process" info above.
ARE OUR PLAYERS PROTECTED WITH INSURANCE IN CASE OF INJURY?
OBTAIN AAU MEMBERSHIP
Any player intending to participate in the IHAAZ must obtain a membership with AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) prior to participating in any festivals. The AAU youth athlete membership fee is $16.00 and is good for all IHAAZ festivals and State Finals. This AAU membership will provide thorough insurance coverage for injuries that may occur during competition.
Coaches or any adult that will be present on their teams' bench during festivals must obtain an adult, non–athlete membership with AAU. Teams may have a maximum of three (3) adult coaching personnel on their teams' bench during any festival game.
CHECK AAU INSURANCE COVERAGE
The AAU membership provides the best insurance coverage for competing amateur athletes in the United States.
IS THERE ANY POINT DURING THE SEASON WHERE WE CANNOT ADD NEW PLAYERS?
Both Member Programs and Independent Programs may add players to their entry roster at any tournament throughout the season. Please be mindful of the number of events a player must attend to be eligible for State Finals however.
- ALL PROGRAMS have until the third event in Tucson, AZ (March 12th-14th) to roster a player and still have them be eligible to play at State Finals, assuming the team/program is planning on playing in the March, April, and May qualifying tournaments. If a team intends to miss one of those final three tournaments, new players would have to be added before the February tournament in Yuma.
- As an example; a team may add a player to the final event in Queen Creek so they have enough players to participate in that event and get the team credit for attending, however those players added for only that event will not qualify for State Finals as they have not played in enough events to qualify (no exceptions).
RULES
