The purpose of this guide is to help educate associations, coaches, and managers about the expectations and restrictions required by District 8 and MN Hockey. It is positioned as “developmental” ONLY.
Associations that make up District 8: Apple Valley, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Eastview, Farmington, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Johnson-Como/N St Paul, Lakeville, Red Wing, Rosemount, Sibley Area, South St. Paul, Woodbury.
Resources:
District 8 – Rule Book starting on pg 19; Minnesota Hockey Handbook starting on pg 25
I. Girls 8U Specific Information
Girls 8 & Under (8U) hockey became a formal ALL girls age division in the 2003-04 hockey season. Given the huge success and growth when the girls 10U age division was formed, it is believed extending girls hockey to 8U would further fuel the growth of girls’ hockey.
- Your association player registration form should include Girls 8U as well as Mites
- When declaring your roster, DO NOT register them as Mites, it is important that you register them as Girls 8U. This will help the district and Minnesota Hockey better track girls’ hockey growth at this level and it will allow you to scrimmage other 8U teams within the district.
- 8U and under teams are allowed to scrimmage other Mite and younger registered teams within your association with association approval. Before doing so, parents and players must be made aware of these scrimmage scenarios.
II. 8U/Mite teams within your associations
- To help ensure focus on skill development. Target practice to game/scrimmage ratios should be no less than ~3 to 1.
- Coaches are required to have a USA Hockey Level 1 CEP certification, Background Check, SafeSport, and Mite/8U specific online module. CEP certification can expire and still be eligible to coach at the Mite/8U level and lower.
- Note that rosters are approved by the Associate Registrar. DOB/Citizenship must be verified before a player is allowed on the USA/MN Hockey official roster.
III. 8U/Mite scrimmage opportunities outside your association
- YOU MUST GET APPROVAL FROM YOUR ASSOCIATION BEFORE PLANNING SCRIMMAGES OUTSIDE YOUR ASSOCIATION.
- District 8 does not provide an 8u/Mite Traveling league. However, you are permitted to scrimmage 8U/Mite teams from associations within District 8.
- To ensure continued emphasis on development, the standard playing surface for all scrimmages is cross-ice or half-ice. After December 31st, up to TWO full-ice scrimmages are allowed with the District Director’s approval. The Director’s decision is final.
- Any scrimmages outside of the district require prior approval from the District Director of each district. If the scrimmage is more than 1 hour away from your home association, it is likely that your request will be rejected. This rule includes jamborees outside of the district. (see MN Hockey handbook “Levels of Play” paragraph “F”. Page 26)
- Scrimmaging or doing Jamborees outside of MN (e.g. River Falls, Hudson) teams must fill out and submit the interstate travel request form before approval is given.
- 8U and under teams CANNOT play Mite teams outside of your association.
- Rest-time for Mites can be reduced to 1.25 hours for on-ice activities of 60 minutes or less. For half/cross-ice activities of 45 min or less, up to four on-ice team activities can occur in a day, with a min of 45 min rest between activities. is required between the ending and beginning of the next on-ice event of 60 min or less.
IV. District 8 – Organized Scrimmaging & Jamborees
- We would like to see an 8U/Mite jamboree(s) hosted by associations in District 8 with invitations extended to all District 8 8U teams (i.e. end of February or early March). See rule book (pg 37) for running jamborees. If enough teams, D8 recommends an upper division and lower division jamboree (or more as appropriate). Emphasis will be on fun and promoting hockey at this level.
- MH does not allow for full ice Mite Tournaments. Cross/half ice Mite tournaments are allowed with restrictions