SIYHA Play-Up Policy

The South Indy Youth Hockey (SIYHA) Board recognizes that in rare and specific cases it can be appropriate and beneficial to a player’s development for him or her to play-up to the next age classification.  However, a balance needs to be struck to avoid placing the desire of a player above the legitimate opportunity for that individual to be successful in an older age classification.  Equally important, the short and long-term best interests of SIYHA must be given consideration. 

There is an increased risk of injury for participants playing outside of their designated age classification. However, USA Hockey allows movement in certain situations if specific guidelines are followed. You should carefully consider the increased risk involved and follow the guidelines below when making a request to move a participant into an older age classification.

• A participant will not be permitted to move up more than one year in age. For example, a first year Squirt cannot be moved to the Pee Wee level. A second year Squirt may advance to Pee Wee. This will apply at Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam Levels.

• Only requests submitted to the SIYHA Board and Director of Coaching in writing by the participant’s parents, legal guardians or coach will be considered. This request must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the designated tryout date.

• Criteria for allowing play-up participants will be based on, but may not be limited to, the evaluation of the participant’s skill and ability to contribute to the older team and the participant’s maturity level as it relates to the older team.

• Participants requesting to play in an older age classification must demonstrate a level of ability significantly above their current age group. As a general guideline, the participant should project as being among the top 25–33% of players within their age classification based on skill evaluations and coach assessments.

• Participants requesting to play-up must have been rostered with the South Indy Youth Hockey Association (SIYHA) during the previous season.

• Allowing participants to move from a non-checking division to a checking division represents the greatest risk and will only be granted under rare circumstances. This may require a signed risk acknowledgment when moving into checking divisions.

• Play-up requests can be made for either House or Travel program participants. 

• The SIYHA Board of Directors specifically reserves the right to reverse any decision allowing a participant to play-up at any time. If a participant that has moved up is experiencing difficulty, as determined by the SIYHA Board of Directors and or the player’s coach, the board may reverse the decision allowing the participant to play-up. In this case every attempt will be made to place the participant on a similar level team within the participant’s proper age classification. There are no guarantees that the participant will be placed on another team. Parents and players should carefully consider this outcome prior to making a request to play-up.

• Travel program requests, if a play-up request is granted, participants are not guaranteed placement on the team. Approval to try out for an older division does not guarantee team placement on the team and may be denied if the participant’s ability level does not clearly exceed their current age group.

• The SIYHA Board of Directors will make the final decision on allowing a player to Play-Up, based upon the collective recommendation by the Director of Coaching and respective coaches. Alternatives may be recommended, including movement between travel and house categories at the age-appropriate level. The decision will be final.