Proposed Amendment to Bylaw 511.0:Hockey – Boys’ & Girls’ 

Hockey, Adapted – Co-Educational 

Submitted by:  Minnesota State High School Coaches Association 

Bylaw 500.00 

Current:Hockey172/2.525 

Proposed:Hockey182/2.527 

Boys hockey is requesting that the season be extended by one week to allow participating schools to schedule up to 27 games.   

Rationale 

USA Hockey, the National Governing Body (NGB) for amateur hockey, recommends under their Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, that competitive athletes of high school age get 125 ice sessions each year.  These sessions consist of 80-85 practices and 40-50 games.  By taking advantage of the summer waiver period, the three allowed scrimmage dates, and the proposed season extension, Minnesota High School players can reach the minimum threshold while still allowing the athletes to participate in multiple sports.   

Continual modernization and updating is required to keep our athletes playing high school hockey.  Competing leagues across the USA and Canada actively recruit Minnesota high school players and their pitch always portrays our season as too short.  USA Hockey and Hockey Canada sanctioned youth and junior leagues typically run from September through March, plus playoffs.  In recent years up to 40 varsity players have left their programs early to play for one of these organizations.  Even a small extension like the one we are requesting can help negate this trend. 

Approval of this proposal will help our student-athletes spend more time with a coach that believes in the education-based athletic model and has the best interests of the student at heart.  That is a “win” for everyone. 

Proposed Amendment to Bylaw 511.0: Hockey – Boys’ & Girls’ Hockey, Adapted – Co-Educational

Submitted by: Minnesota State High School Coaches Association

Boys hockey requests the addition of a conditioning week prior to the start of the season. Contact would be limited to two on-ice and two off-ice sessions, each of 1.5 hours or less in duration. Student attendance at these sessions is optional. Rationale Many high school hockey teams hire outsiders to run their preseason conditioning/captain’s practice. These instructors are not vetted by the local school officials, no background information is attained, and the training is not monitored by competent authority. By allowing the high school coaching staff minimal contact, the students will be supervised by a school-approved staff.