Under PVAHA Bylaw 14.0; 14.1(C) — Adopt, amend, revise or regulate the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and Polices of PVAHA, PVAHA has authority to create temporary rules out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis which has caused cancellations of activities and authorizations that would otherwise govern the below referenced matters. The following are temporary rules and will expire at midnight on Monday, August 31, 2020 unless extended or amended in part or in whole by a vote of the PVAHA Board of Directors.

All Tier II Youth 10U–18U/Tier II Girls’ 10U–19U

Beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U–18U teams and Girls’ 10U–19U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020–2021 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts without on-ice evaluations/tryouts to only those players who were rostered within their respective organization last season (2019–2020). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference for only those players who were rostered within their respective organization last season (2019–2020). Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

On Monday, July 20, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U–18U teams and Girls’ 10U–19U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020–2021 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts to all players, irrespective of where they were rostered last season (2019–2020). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

All Travel/House/Rec Youth and Girls’/8U Cross-Ice

Beginning on Saturday, August 1, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth and Girls’ travel/house/rec/8U cross-ice teams rostered as Travel/House/Rec (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020–2021 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts without on-ice evaluations/tryouts to all players, irrespective of where they were rostered last season (2019–2020). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

NOTICE

The following language MUST be included in any player agreement offered to any player/family. Failure to not include this language will result in the Affiliate deeming the player agreement null and void:

COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy Effective for the 2020–2021 Season Only

Member Association Player Agreements/Contracts shall be required to include a COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy. Parents/Guardians of players signing agreements may petition the association for relief under the following guidelines:

• Under this policy, hardships must be related to the COVID-19 pandemic, where a family’s financial status changed after signing the Player Agreement/Contract.
• Member Associations are allowed to charge for the following:
  • Durable goods that cannot be repurposed (i.e. team uniforms, etc.)
  • Ice fees, coaching fees, and expenses prorated to what has actually been used by the player, up to the date the association received a written request.
• Participants/families exercising this option will not be permitted to roster with another PVAHA member association or with an association in the other three Affiliates of the Southeastern District — CAHA, SAHA, SAHOF, at the same, or higher, competitive level for the 2020–2021 season.
• Participants/families may exercise this relief option on, or prior to, October 31, 2020.

Failure to adhere to the policy guidelines above may result in disciplinary action, due to violation of the following rules:

• PVAHA Bylaws – 8.2 Membership

Please note: The following statements from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, may be used in guidance to help determine applicable COVID-19 Financial Hardships:

• Family experiences adverse financial consequences due to being furloughed, laid off, or having work hours reduced due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19;

and/or

• Family experiences adverse financial consequences due to closing or reducing hours of a business that is owned or operated due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

If a player is released by a member association due to COVID-19 Financial Hardship, the player information should be sent to the PVAHA president at pvahapresident@gmail.com.