House League Affiliation Policy (Revised September 2025)
Overview
The NMHA strongly supports the affiliate program and encourages its use whenever appropriate. Teams must always obtain permission from the affiliate player’s head coach before using the player for any game or practice. Home team games/tournaments are the players' priority. Using an affiliate without permission is considered use of an ineligible player and results in a 5‑game suspension for the head coach.
19‑Player Affiliation System
- Affiliations must be approved by the Division Convenor before being submitted to the Registrar.
- Teams may affiliate up to 19 players, including two goaltenders.
- A player must appear on the affiliating team’s official roster with “approved” status before participating.
- Only one affiliation is permitted per player at a time (by division or category).
- Affiliates may be added at any point in the season until February 10.
- Coaches must request permission from the player’s regular coach before approaching the player. This must be done for each use.
- Only players expected to be used should be affiliated.
- Skaters may play up to 15 total affiliate games (regular season + playoffs). Goaltenders have no limit.
- Teams and players will be notified when approaching the limit.
Using an Affiliated Player
- Permission from the player’s regular coach is required before each game or practice.
- Suspensions must be served with the player’s home team, except in special circumstances for out‑of‑town tournaments (contact the District Chair if needed).
- House League players may only affiliate to the lowest Competitive level within the Association; Competitive players may not affiliate to House League teams.
NMHA House League–Specific Rules
- Skaters may affiliate in age, category, or both (e.g., U13B → U13A or U15B).
- House A skaters may not affiliate to higher‑age House B teams.
- In any game, the total number of skaters (including affiliates) may not exceed the number on the team’s official roster.
- Coaches must obtain the affiliate player’s coach consent before contacting the player or parents.
- U21 teams may affiliate from both U18 House A and House B.
- For NMHA House League games, affiliates do not need to appear on the affiliating team roster. For games outside the NMHA, they must be rostered. All affiliations must still be reported.
Affiliation Procedure
- Coaches must notify and receive agreement from the affiliate player’s regular coaching staff prior to using the player.
- Coaches must also inform the regular coaching staff after the game if any injuries or suspensions occur.
- Coaches and team officials must not discourage players from participating as affiliates.
How to Report an Affiliate?
Before each game in which an affiliate will be used, coaches/managers must enter the affiliation in TTM and email [email protected], copying both team coaches.
Email subject: Affiliation – Team Name – Game Date – Game #
Email content must include:
- Team affiliating to (e.g., U15A Team A)
- Name of player being replaced
- Player’s jersey number
- Reason for absence (injury, illness, etc.)
- Affiliate player’s full name
- Affiliate player’s home team (e.g., U13A Team A)
- Date of the affiliation/game/venue
- Type of game (League/Playoff/Tournament/Exhibition)
- Game number (for league games)
Coach Affiliation Checklist
Before Contacting an Affiliate Player
☐ Confirm the player is eligible to affiliate under NMHA/HEO rules.
☐ Ensure the player is listed as an approved affiliate on your roster when required (non‑NMHA games).
☐ Request permission from the player’s regular head coach before contacting the player or their parents.
☐ Confirm the player has not exceeded the 15‑game affiliate limit (skaters only).
☐ Ensure adding the affiliate does not exceed the maximum number of skaters listed on your official roster.
When Using an Affiliate for a Game or Practice
☐ Obtain permission from the player’s regular coach for each use.
☐ Confirm the player is not suspended; all suspensions must be served with their home team.
☐ Ensure the affiliation complies with category/age rules (e.g., House A skaters cannot affiliate to higher‑age House B teams).
Before the Game
☐ Enter affiliation in TTM and email [email protected], copying both team coaches, before the game.
☐ Use the required subject line format: Affiliation – Team Name – Game Date – Game #
☐ Include all mandatory details:
- Team affiliating to
- Name of player being replaced
- Jersey number
- Reason for absence
- Affiliate player’s full name
- Home team
- Date and venue
- Type of game
- League game number (if applicable)
After the Game
☐ Inform the player’s regular coaching staff of any injuries or suspensions.
☐ Confirm that suspensions will be served with the home team.
☐ Ensure the affiliation is recorded if required.
General Expectations
☐ Use affiliates only when they will meaningfully
☐ Respect the affiliate player’s home team commitments.
☐ Do not discourage players from participating as affiliates.
☐ Maintain coach‑to‑coach communication before involving players or parents.