A) TEAM CLASSIFICATION STATUS

The A/B Tournament was established in order to allow the single team organizations to compete amongst themselves. The envisioned result would be that the larger associates would still be classified as A teams their second teams would be B teams and the smaller organizations would be classified as A/B...This of course, is in simplest terms but the intent was, and still is, obvious.
In order to return to the premise and make the State Tournament pairing procedures as simple as possible the following classifications are in place.*

CLASSIFICATIONS

* MIDGETS AND GIRLS NOT APPLICABLE
These classifications were arrived at by evaluation of the number of registered teams and players as well as historic competitive results.

All Association Teams will be automatically placed in the appropriate level and this list must be generated and made public for the first State Meeting each September.

1. Appeals due to extenuating circumstances will be heard prior to the December State Meeting by the Tournament Committee and ruled upon immediately.

A) Exceptions to the guidelines must be based on (but not limited) to failure to be competitive with the possibility of creating a negative environment for participating teams.

VSAHA STATE TOURNAMENT TIMETABLE

1) AUGUST V.S.A.H.A. MEETING
Date to declare which Tournament each Association team is going to participate in. This list will be generated by the tournament committee as established by the State Board Format.

2) NOVEMBER V.S.A.H.A. MEETING
Date for each Association to return the Tournament Form to the Tournament Committee reflecting how many teams will be participating and at what levels. This should reflect any possible appeals. Also, bid packages making requests to host a State Tournament will be due at this time.

3) DECEMBER 1
Date by which any challenges must be filed with the Chairman of the State Tournament Committee, in writing.

4) DECEMBER 1-12th
State Tournament Committee will review all challenges and either deny them or bring them before the Board of Directors at the December meeting. Both parties involved in any challenge will be notified by phone one week prior to the December meeting to allow them adequate preparation for argument before the Board. December 12th is the latest date in which an Association may drop a team from the Tournaments, without facing possible sanctions.

5) DECEMBER V.S.A.H.A. MEETING
V.S.A.H.A. December meeting at which time any challenge recommended for hearing will be reviewed and decided by V.S.A.H.A. Board of Directors.

6) JANUARY 1, 2002
* Entry fees are due to Host Organizations
* Tournament trees are due to Brian Collamore for scheduling of officials and the Chairman of the Tournament Committee (Jeff Riendeau). Trees should include dates and times.

7) JANUARY V.S.A.H.A. MEETING
State pairing meeting for all teams whose fee is paid, and whose organization has paid V.S.A.H.A. annual dues and fines. All organizations must at this time provide State Tournament Directors with rosters of all eligible players (including jersey number) and bring with them Game sheets to prove eligibility of both player and team (20 games for team/10 games for player).

FEE: To be determined.

ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES

Trophies 1st - 3rd place teams, 1st and 2nd place players. All trophies must be purchased from the VSAHA by the Host Association.

Goal judges required in the Semi-Final and Final game.

No games to start prior to 7AM. The earliest team that has played at 7AM one day shall play on the following day is 9AM. There shall be 12 hours between the start of the 1st game the next day for the same team. No game to start after 9PM.

Failure to complete tournament within date and time guidelines will have site lose consideration to host for one year.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER

High School players are not eligible for play in Vermont State Bantam and Girls Tournament. They are eligible for Regional play if they have met USA Hockey requirements.

Midget & Level I Women’s Teams Regional Seeding Tournament format to be announced.

State Tournament Directors must notify the State Registrar of teams qualifying for regional play. The State Registrar will then certify that the team and players are eligible to compete in regional play. Any team which qualifies for regional Play is required to attend the respective Regional Tournament.