ACHA Registration and Compliance: What Club Teams Need to Know

Running an ACHA club hockey program means navigating rules, deadlines, and paperwork. Miss a deadline and players can't play. Violate eligibility rules and you forfeit games. This guide keeps you compliant.

Key Takeaways

Start registration process in spring for fall season

Eligibility verification is ongoing—not one-time

Keep meticulous records of everything

When in doubt, ask your regional commissioner

ACHA Structure Overview

Divisions

| Division | Level | Typical Commitment |

|----------|-------|-------------------|

| Men's D1 | Highest | Near-varsity level |

| Men's D2 | Competitive | Strong club programs |

| Men's D3 | Recreational competitive | Most common entry point |

| Women's D1 | Highest women's | Competitive programs |

| Women's D2 | Developing women's | Growing programs |

Regional Structure

ACHA is organized by region:

Each region has commissioner(s)

Regions set schedules within ACHA framework

Regional commissioners are your first contact for questions

Registration Timeline

Spring (Before Next Season)

**February-March**:

Express intent to participate

Submit preliminary roster

Pay initial registration fees

**April-May**:

Confirm school/university verification

Submit insurance documentation

Finalize division placement

Summer

**June-July**:

Roster building

Recruiting compliance

Schedule coordination with region

**August**:

Final roster submission approaching

Eligibility verification

USA Hockey registrations

Fall (Season Start)

**September**:

Final roster deadline

All players USA Hockey registered

Eligibility verification complete

Season begins

Eligibility Requirements

Academic Eligibility

All players must meet:

**Full-time enrollment** at member institution

**Minimum GPA** (typically 2.0, varies by division)

**Good academic standing** per school policy

**Progress toward degree** (not indefinitely enrolled)

USA Hockey Registration

Every participant needs:

Current USA Hockey number

SafeSport certification (age-appropriate)

Annual registration (not lifetime)

Eligibility Verification

Your school must verify:

Enrollment status

GPA meets minimum

Player is in good standing

**When**: Before first game and ongoing through season

**Documentation**: Keep verification records—you may need to produce them

Transfer Rules

Players transferring between schools:

May have sitting periods

Must be released by previous program (if applicable)

Need new school eligibility verification

Semester Limits

Players have limited semesters of eligibility:

Typically 8-10 semesters (varies by division)

Clock starts when first enrolled at any institution

Medical/hardship exceptions possible

Roster Management

Roster Size

Typical limits:

25-30 players maximum

Minimum varies by division

Goalie requirements (usually minimum 2)

Roster Deadlines

**Fall roster deadline**: Usually late September

**Roster freeze**: Mid-season date after which no additions

**Mid-season additions**: Must be eligible, added before freeze

Adding Players Mid-Season

Process:

Verify eligibility (academic, USA Hockey)

Submit to regional commissioner

Receive confirmation before player participates

Update team roster on ACHA system

Removing Players

If player leaves team:

Update roster immediately

Document reason (quit, academic, discipline)

May affect minimum roster requirements

Game Day Compliance

Required Documentation

Have at every game:

Current team roster

USA Hockey numbers for all players

ID verification ability (in case of challenge)

Game Sheets

Complete accurately:

All participating players listed

Jersey numbers correct

Final scores reported promptly

Reporting Results

Submit game results as required:

Timeline (usually 24-48 hours)

Format specified by region

Include scores, suspensions, incidents

Common Compliance Issues

Ineligible Player Participation

If discovered that ineligible player participated:

Games may be forfeited

Team may face sanctions

Player may face suspension

Program may face probation

**Prevention**: Verify eligibility before every game, not just start of season

Unreported Incidents

Fighting, ejections, and misconduct must be reported:

Report to regional commissioner

Complete required incident forms

Serve any automatic suspensions

Academic Ineligibility

When a player becomes academically ineligible:

Remove from active roster immediately

Player cannot practice or play

May return if eligibility restored next term

Working With Your School

Club Sports Office

Your club sports office likely:

Provides insurance coverage

Verifies academic eligibility

Handles travel approvals

Manages funds

Building Relationship

Good relationship with club sports office helps:

Faster paperwork processing

Support for funding requests

Flexibility on policies

Advocacy when issues arise

Required Approvals

Many schools require:

Travel approval for away games

Driver certification for team vehicles

Budget approval for tournament entry

Waiver collection for all participants

Financial Compliance

ACHA Fees

Expect to pay:

Annual team registration fee

Per-player fees (varies)

Tournament entry fees

Late fees for missed deadlines

Budget Tracking

Document all:

ACHA-related expenses

Player dues collection

Sponsorship income

Travel expenses

Auditing

Some schools audit club finances:

Keep receipts for everything

Separate team funds from personal

Use school-approved processes

Tournaments and Postseason

Tournament Eligibility

To participate in ACHA tournaments:

Team must be in good standing

All players eligible

Fees paid in full

Minimum game requirements met

Regional and National Championships

Qualification requirements:

Regional placement/results

Academic eligibility verification

USA Hockey registration current

No outstanding suspensions

Travel Compliance

Tournament travel may require:

University travel approval

Insurance verification

Emergency contact information

Medical release forms

Resources and Contacts

ACHA Website

Primary source for:

Rules and regulations

Forms and templates

Deadlines and announcements

Contact information

Regional Commissioners

Your regional commissioner helps with:

Scheduling questions

Eligibility interpretations

Incident reporting

General guidance

USA Hockey

For registration issues:

Player registration portal

SafeSport certification

Insurance questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: A player's GPA dropped mid-semester. Are they immediately ineligible?

A: Depends on your school's policy. Some schools check only at term start; others have continuous monitoring. Verify with your club sports office.

Q: Can a graduate student play?

A: Generally yes, if enrolled full-time and within semester limits. Verify with ACHA rules for your specific division.

Q: What if a player's USA Hockey registration expires mid-season?

A: They cannot play until renewed. Monitor expiration dates and require renewal before participation.

Q: How do we handle a player suspended in another league?

A: Report to regional commissioner. USA Hockey suspensions typically carry over. Other league suspensions may not.

Q: Can we play non-ACHA teams?

A: Yes, but games don't count for ACHA standings. May still require proper insurance and registration.

Compliance Checklist

Pre-Season

[ ] ACHA registration complete

[ ] Fees paid

[ ] School verification on file

[ ] All players USA Hockey registered

[ ] All players academically verified

[ ] Insurance documentation submitted

[ ] Roster submitted by deadline

During Season

[ ] Roster updates submitted promptly

[ ] Game results reported on time

[ ] Incidents reported immediately

[ ] Mid-season eligibility verified

[ ] New players properly added

Post-Season

[ ] Tournament eligibility confirmed

[ ] All obligations fulfilled

[ ] Records archived for future reference

[ ] Next season planning begun

Conclusion

ACHA compliance isn't glamorous, but it's essential. One missed deadline or eligibility error can cost your team games, reputation, and tournament eligibility.

Build systems to track deadlines, verify eligibility, and document everything. When you're unsure, ask—regional commissioners exist to help.

For more college hockey guidance, see our [starting a club team guide](/blog/starting-club-hockey-team-university) or [fundraising ideas](/blog/college-hockey-fundraising).