Parent's Guide to USA Hockey 10U Ice Hockey 2026-27

Not by rule at 10U, but it's strongly recommended.

• A colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece covering all the remaining teeth of one jaw (usually the upper) becomes required at 12U and stays required through 18U, high school and girls' 19U.
• USA Hockey strongly recommends that every player at every level wear an internal mouthpiece, ideally one fitted by a dentist.

No. Body checking is prohibited at 12U and below and in every girls' and women's classification. These are USA Hockey's Competitive Contact levels.

What's penalized:

• A body check (deliberately using hip, shoulder, forearm or torso to separate an opponent from the puck with no effort to play it): minor penalty.
• A body check that recklessly endangers an opponent: major plus game misconduct, and a match penalty is possible.

What's still allowed (competitive contact):

• Angling: steering the puck carrier toward the boards to close the gap.
• Physical engagement: two players leaning into each other while both are going for the puck.
• Collisions when a player holds their established position. No one has to move out of an oncoming player's way.

Competitive contact doesn't mean "no contact." USA Hockey encourages it at every age to build the skills that lead to body checking, which starts at Youth 14U.

USA Hockey strongly recommends the lightweight blue puck for all 10U games (boys and girls):

Both are 1 inch thick and 3 inches across. At 10U, whether the blue puck is used is up to your league or event.

Bleeding:

• A player who is obviously bleeding causes an immediate stoppage of play.
• They must leave the ice and can't return until the bleeding has stopped and the cut is covered.
• Any blood-affected equipment or jersey must be properly cleaned or swapped.

Helmet or facemask comes off:

• The officials stop play immediately.
• The skater must leave the ice and can't return until the next face-off has been completed.
• A player who deliberately takes off their helmet or facemask during play gets a minor penalty for delay of game.

Injury: if a player is hurt and can't get to the bench, play is stopped right away unless the other team has the puck, in which case play stops when possession changes. Officials may stop play immediately for an obviously serious injury. A player whose injury stopped play must sit out until the next face-off is completed.

Under the USA Hockey Concussion Management Protocol (and most state laws), a player must be removed from any practice, training or game if they show any sign, symptom or behavior consistent with a concussion, or are suspected of having one.

Signs coaches and parents may see: appears dazed, confused about position or plays, unsure of score or opponent, moves clumsily, answers slowly, loses consciousness (even briefly), behavior changes, can't recall events before or after the hit.

Symptoms players report: headache or pressure, nausea, dizziness or balance problems, blurry or double vision, sensitivity to light or noise, feeling foggy or "not right," trouble concentrating.

Returning to play:

• The player may not return to physical activity until a qualified medical provider has evaluated them and given written clearance.
• That clearance goes on the USA Hockey Concussion Return to Play Form, signed by the health care professional (with license number), then by you as parent or guardian. The coach signs to confirm receiving it.

Don't try to judge how serious the injury is yourself.

USA Hockey penalty times are actual playing time. Minor penalties are pro-rated by the length of the periods your league plays:

Affiliates or governing bodies may also shorten majors (3:00 / 4:00 / 5:00) and misconducts (6:00 / 8:00 / 10:00) on the same scale. A USA Hockey game is at most three 20-minute periods. The actual period length is set by your league or tournament.

Ejections and suspensions:

• A youth player who gets four penalties in one game receives a game misconduct.
• A game misconduct ends the player's game and suspends them for the team's next scheduled game.
• A player's second major penalty in the same game brings a game misconduct plus a two-game suspension.

During a suspension the player can't be with the team, in the locker room or near the bench, from 45 minutes before the game until 30 minutes after it.

USA Hockey's Zero Tolerance Policy applies to parents and spectators at every sanctioned game.

The officials will stop the game when a spectator's behavior interferes with the game or other spectators, including:

1. Obscene, profane or abusive language to anyone.
2. Taunting players, coaches, officials or other spectators (baiting, ridiculing, threats or violence).
3. Throwing any object into the stands, benches, penalty box or onto the ice in a way that creates a safety hazard.

The officials point out the violator to the coaches, who must have that person removed from the viewing area. Lost time is not replaced, and the local association may discipline the person further.

The Parent's and Spectator's Codes of Conduct also ask you to:

• Cheer good plays by both teams and never yell at players, coaches or officials.
• Not lean over or pound on the glass. It's part of the playing area.
• Stay alert for flying pucks.
• Treat locker rooms as private areas for players, coaches and officials.

USA Hockey recommends each team name a parent volunteer as a spectator monitor to defuse problems early.

USA Hockey requires every coach to be both registered and certified.

Before any team activity (practice or game):

• Register as a USA Hockey member (every season).
• Pass a background screening. They cannot coach until it has cleared.
• Complete USA Hockey SafeSport Training, required every year. A coach can't be added to a roster until it's done.
• Complete the online age-specific module for the level they coach (only needed once per age level).

By December 31 of the season:

• Attend a Coaching Education Program (CEP) clinic. Coaches entering the program at 10U or above start at Level 1. Clinics run from June 15 to December 15.

On game scoresheets, each 10U coach must also sign and list their CEP card number, CEP level and the year they earned it.

• Sexual misconduct or child abuse: report it directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. If you report it to USA Hockey instead, USA Hockey must refer it to the Center under federal law.
• Other SafeSport concerns (physical or emotional misconduct, bullying, hazing, harassment, or breaches of the one-on-one, locker room, electronic communication or travel policies): report to USA Hockey by:
  • the online reporting form at usahockey.com/makingareport (it can be anonymous)
  • email: usahockeysafesport@usahockey.org
  • phone: 800-888-4656

Reporting is free and can be anonymous.

Not SafeSport matters:

• Complaints about referees go to your local, state or district referee supervisor.
• On-ice rule incidents between players (checking from behind, fighting, slashing) go to your local program or USA Hockey Affiliate.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first.