usa hockey age rules

Question
trying to find out what are the rules for usa hockey on players playing down age groups, my son is an 02 birthday playing on a mite minor team and i'm wondering if he can stay with his team next year.ex can a squirt minor play down on mite major team. thanks for any help

Answer
Nope!  According to USA Hockey rules.  No player is allowed to play down an age.  This player, if played down, has now make the team the same age category up.  Example...If a squirt play's down on a Mite team, this Mite team, regardless of players ages must now play in the Squirt division category.  In other words a player can play up an age group, but can not play down an age group.

I have checked in the USA Hockey Rule book and did not see this stated within the rule book.  However, there is also a USA Hockey Refereee Case Book, that is a supplemental to the main rule book that referees have the ability to follow.  I have downloaded this book and I will check to see if I can find it here as well.
If interested, you can find this Case Book here:
http://www.usahockey.com/uploadedfiles/usahockey/menu_officials/menu_rulesequipm...

Plus, I have also contact several officials within USA Hockey to please locate and reference this rule.  I should hear back from them within a couple of days.  At this time, I will recontact you with the results.

Thank you for writing me
Rob Lopez - CEO
Pass the Puck, Inc.
www.passthepuck.net

Ok, I have located this rule:
http://www.usahockey.com/southeast48/default.aspx?NAV=AF_59_07&ID=187850

Here's the rule:
In order for a player (of any age), regardless of physical size or skill level, to 憄lay down? it must be shown by the child抯 physician that it is medically necessary for the child to do so.

The doctor must detail the specific medical condition that causes the child to incur this medical necessity of 憄laying down?  Players who are granted permission to 憄lay down?should be limited to participation in house leagues and are not eligible to compete on a team bound for a National Championship Tournament.

Additionally, an 揂typical Medical Condition?waiver and release form will be required to be completed and signed by the parents or guardian before any such 憄lay down?permission can be considered.  Most of the atypical medical conditions which have been permitted to 憄lay down?involve mental, physical or emotional impairments that create a handicapping situation for the player to have to overcome.  

Simply being 搒mall for their age?or 搉ot very skilled?are not considered to be adequate reasons for granting a 憄lay down?exception, since they do not rise to the level of a handicap under the definitions and current court decisions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).