“The USA Hockey Board of Directors adopts this Participant Eligibility Policy following directives from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”) whereby the USOPC requires that each sport’s national governing body (“NGB”) must update and adopt their own policies to follow federal guidance. USA Hockey is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. USA Hockey will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., USOPC, IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C. § 22501, et. Seq. The USOPC has advised that the NGB policy must apply in all aspects of the NGB’s programs.
USA Hockey has previously followed athlete eligibility policies set forth in its “USA Hockey
Transgender Athlete Eligibility Policy,” which was adopted by its Board of Directors in January 2019. That policy is now superseded by this Participant Eligibility Policy.
Effective on the latter of the (i) conclusion of the USA Hockey National Championships for each age classification in the 2025-26 season, or (ii) April 1, 2026, eligibility within USA Hockey player classifications must follow the requirements as follows:
1. Programs Not Restricted by Sex: The vast majority of USA Hockey’s programs are co-ed and not restricted by sex, and therefore all hockey players are eligible without regard to their sex, gender identity, transgender, non binary or other status or forms of gender expression. Programs available to all players include:
Youth hockey at all age levels and team classifications;
Disabled hockey programs;
High School and Prep School co-ed hockey*; and
Adult co-ed or “open” hockey*
*Note that some High School/Prep Hockey, and some Adult teams, leagues or events are restricted by their internal rules to males or females.
2. Hockey Programs Restricted by Sex. Some hockey programs are restricted by sex, including Girls’ hockey programs that are restricted to female athletes in the age classifications 19 and under and below, high school programs that are restricted to either male or female players, and adult hockey teams, leagues or events that are restricted to male or female players. In all programs where participation is restricted by sex, athletes are only permitted to participate in such programs based on their sex assigned at birth, except that a female (as assigned at birth) may not play in programs restricted to females if they have undergone any male hormone therapy. Approved November 15, 2025
3. International Competition. As the NGB for ice hockey in the United States, USA Hockey selects and fields teams to participate in events governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (“IIHF”), the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) and World Para Ice Hockey (“WPIH”). Any athlete that competes or seeks to compete on teams participating in events governed by the IIHF, IOC or WPIH must also adhere to the compliance requirements set forth by said organization’s eligibility policies.
4. Locker Rooms. As set forth in USA Hockey’s Co-Ed Locker Room Policies, to best promote inclusion on a hockey team and to respect the privacy of all players on the team, USA Hockey strongly recommends that any teams that are co-ed and not restricted by sex apply a locker room policy requiring all players to wear certain
“minimum attire” at all times in the locker room. This means that the players should arrive at the rink wearing their base layer (e.g., shorts and t-shirt, compression shorts and shirt or sports bra) and then all players can dress in the same locker room without any player seeing another player in a state of undress. A player not wearing their “base layer” can use a restroom to change into the base layer and then enter the locker room with the other players. Use of showers (especially when showers are not separate from the locker room) shall be permitted in a manner that respects all players’ privacy. In some cases, state or local law could apply to restroom or locker room usage, and programs should consult and apply applicable law.
5. Anti-Doping Requirements Remain Applicable. Nothing in this policy shall affect the requirement that all athletes comply with the Anti-Doping Policy of USA Hockey and the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”), the IIHF, and the USOPC, including the USOPC National Anti-Doping Policy and of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”), including the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and all other policies and rules of WADA, the IIHF, the USOPC and USADA. If you have questions or are seeking resources regarding this Participant Eligibility Policy, please contact Stephanie Jackson at [email protected].”
