USA Hockey Concussion Information and Acknowledgment

ding playing, officiating or participating in ice hockey. It is important that all participants and parents learn about concussion prevention, recognition, treatment and return to play.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury — or “TBI” — caused by a bump or blow to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. Bouncing or twisting of the brain in the skull can cause chemical changes and sometimes stretching of the brain cells. A concussion disrupts the way the brain normally works. Most concussions are mild, but all concussions should be taken seriously because permanent brain damage and death can occur from another injury. A concussion may be difficult to recognize. A person does not have to be “knocked-out” to have a concussion. Less than 10% of persons concussed actually lose consciousness. Signs and symptoms may show up right after the injury or can take hours or days to fully appear.
If a person reports one or more symptoms or demonstrates any signs of concussion after a blow to the head or body, they should be kept out of practice, play or training immediately and referred to a health care professional with experience in concussion management. A concussed brain needs time to heal and the person is much more likely to have another concussion if they return to soon. Repeat concussions are usually more severe and take longer to heal. Return to play, or officiating, is allowed only after the individual is without symptoms, has progressed through the USA Hockey concussion protocol and is cleared by the health care professional. USA Hockey provides all participants with information and educational
materials about concussions, including the risk of sustaining a concussion,
how to minimize these risks, concussion signs and symptoms, and USA Hockey’s program for returning to play following a concussion. USA Hockey’s Concussion Management Program can be found on the USA Hockey website at usahockey.com/safety-concussions. USA Hockey will be collecting de-identified data from concussion return to play forms into a database to track concussions in youth, girls and high school hockey.
By checking the box and placing my initials in the box below, participant, and participant’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) if participant is a minor, hereby acknowledges that (1) I have had the opportunity to review information on concussions provided by USA Hockey, including the signs and symptoms of a concussion, (2) participating in the sport of ice hockey involves the risk of sustaining a concussion and that I knowingly, freely and fully assume all such risks, (3) any participant suspected of possibly sustaining a concussion will be removed from practice, competition or other participation (and that I will remove myself from practice, competition or other participation) and not returned to practice, competition or other participation until cleared in writing by a licensed health care provider trained in the evaluation and management of concussions, (4) I shall follow USA Hockey’s Post-Concussion Return to Play Protocol (located at usahockey.com/safety-concussions and any applicable state law prior to returning to play, and (5) USA Hockey will enter de-identified data from the USA Hockey Concussion Return to Play form into a database to track concussions in youth, girls and high school hockey.
I have read and have voluntarily provided the electronic equivalent of my signature as provided below under penalty of perjury.

USA HOCKEY MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT, WAIVER OF LIABILITY, RELEASE, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS, AMONG OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS, A RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND WAIVER OF CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, AND A CLASS ACTION WAIVER.
For and in consideration of USA Hockey, Inc. (“USAH”) allowing me (“Participant”) to become a member of USAH, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Participant executes and submits this USA Hockey Membership Agreement, Waiver of Liability, Release, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity (this “Agreement”) and agrees as follows (and if Participant is a child under the age of 18 or a legally incapacitated adult, Participant’s parent or legal guardian, as applicable, executes and submits this Agreement and agrees as follows on behalf of the Participant’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and on behalf of the Participant).
1. Condition to Membership and Participation. Execution and submission of this Agreement is a condition of registration for and membership in USAH, and being allowed to participate in events and activities of USAH, its affiliates, local associations and member teams, including, without limitation, individual and member team events and activities (collectively, “USAH Activities”).
2. USAH Membership Governing Documents. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) agrees to abide by and be bound under the playing rules and governing regulations of USAH, including, without limitation, (a) the USAH Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, Policies, Codes of Conduct, and the mandatory dispute resolution and discipline provisions applicable thereto, as published in the USA Hockey Annual Guide, and (b) the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program, as published in the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook. Copies of the USAH Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, Policies, Codes of Conduct, including the mandatory dispute resolution, discipline and arbitration provisions, are available from USAH’s offices or may be found at www.usahockey.com/annualguide. The USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook can be found at www.usahockey.com/resourcesanddownloads.
3. Waiver and Release of Liability. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) forever waives, releases and holds harmless Releasees (as defined below) from and against, and relinquishes any and all, claims and demands for liability and cause(s) of action, including, without limitation, for personal injury, illness, wrongful death, property damage, or any other losses incurred by Participant (or Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable), arising out of participation in USAH Activities, the sport of ice hockey, and/or activities incidental thereto, including, without limitation, the premises, services or facilities, whenever or however they occur and for such period said activities may continue. Any such claims, demands, rights, and causes of action that Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) may have are hereby waived, released and relinquished, and Participant (and parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) does(do) so on behalf of Participant’s (and Participant’s parent(s)’/legal guardian(s)’, if applicable) heirs, executors, administrators and assigns.
IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION 3 FOR PARTICIPANT (AND PARTICIPANT’S PARENT(S)/LEGAL GUARDIAN(S), IF APPLICABLE) TO EXEMPT, WAIVE, RELEASE AND RELIEVE RELEASEES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR BODILY AND PERSONAL INJURY AND ILLNESS, INCLUDING WRONGFUL DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND ANY OTHER LOSS SUFFERED BY PARTICIPANT (AND PARTICIPANT’S PARENT(S)/LEGAL GUARDIAN(S), IF APPLICABLE) CAUSED BY OR ARISING FROM ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION, INCLUDING THE NEGLIGENCE, IF ANY, OF ANY RELEASEES, WHILE PARTICIPATING IN ANY ACTIVITY OR EVENT TO WHICH THE RELEASE SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 3 APPLIES.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Releasees” includes USAH, its districts, affiliate associations, local associations, member teams, event hosts and event operators, other participants, coaches, officials, sponsors, advertisers, and each of them, and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, volunteers and representatives.
4. Assumption of Risk. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) acknowledges, understands and agrees that the sport of ice hockey, USAH Activities and activities incidental thereto can be dangerous and involve inherent risks of injury, and assumes all risks relating to the sport of ice hockey, USAH Activities and activities incidental thereto, and understands that the sport of ice hockey, USAH Activities and activities incidental thereto involve risks to Participant’s person including bodily injury, partial or total disability, illness, paralysis and death, and damages which may arise therefrom and that Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) has full knowledge of said risks. Participant further acknowledges, understands and agrees that these risks and dangers may be caused by the negligence of the Participant or the negligence of others, including the “Releasees” identified in Section 2, and that these risks and dangers include, without limitation, those arising from falls, collisions, being struck by pucks, sticks or other objects, violations of the playing rules, and body contact with the ice, boards and other participants, including the risks of participating with bigger, faster and stronger participants, and these risks and dangers will increase if Participant participates in ice hockey and USAH Activities in an age group above that in which Participant would normally participate. These risks and dangers further include risks of sickness arising from any and all communicable diseases, germs, bacteria, viruses or infections, including, without limitation the virus responsible for COVID-19 and other similar viruses or infections whether now known or later discovered. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) further acknowledges that there may be risks and dangers not known or not reasonably foreseeable at this time. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) acknowledges, understands and agrees that all of the risks and dangers described throughout this Agreement, including those caused by the negligence of Participant, a Releasee and/or others, are included within the scope of the waiver, release and relinquishment set forth in Section 3 above.
Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) further acknowledges, understands and assumes the risks, if any, arising from the conditions and use of ice hockey rinks and related premises and acknowledges and understands that included within the risks assumed and the scope of the waiver, release and relinquishment set forth in Section 3 above is any cause of action (including any cause of action based on negligence) arising from the performance, or failure to perform maintenance, inspection, cleaning, disinfecting, supervision or control of said areas and for the failure to warn of dangerous conditions existing at said rinks, for negligent selection of certain Releasees, or negligent supervision or instruction by any Releasee.
5. Covenant Not to Sue. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) shall not sue or make any claim (or participate in any suit or claim) against any Releasees with respect to any released claim or any other matter addressed by this Agreement, including, without limitation, for injury, damage, death, or any other loss arising from or related to Participant’s participation in any USA Hockey Activities, and activities incidental thereto.
6. Media Grant and Publicity Release. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable), hereby (a) consents and agrees that USAH, its licensees and designees may make video and/or audio recordings of and/or otherwise film, photograph, record or memorialize in any form or media, whether now or hereafter existing, some or all of Participant’s participation in USAH Activities, and (b) grants to USAH, its licensees, designees, successors and assigns, a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, fully-paid, royalty-free, transferable and sublicenseable right and license to use, copy and disseminate Participant’s image and personal attributes, and to modify, use, copy and disseminate the same in any form, manner and media, now or hereafter existing, and for any purpose whatsoever.
7. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision in any other jurisdiction, and such provision shall be modified in such instance to the extent reasonably necessary to make the provision valid, legal and enforceable. If such provision may not be so modified, such provision shall be severable from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain enforceable. This Agreement affects Participant’s legal rights (and a Participant’s parents(s)/legal guardians, if applicable), and you may wish to consult an attorney concerning this Agreement.
8. Indemnification. Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) agree if any claim for Participant’s personal injury or illness or wrongful death or property damage is commenced against any Releasee, Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) shall defend, indemnify and save harmless Releasees, and each of them, from any and all claims or causes of action by whomever or wherever made or presented for Participant’s personal injuries or illness, property damage or wrongful death.
9. Dispute Resolution; Class Action Waiver. Any dispute, claim or cause of action regarding the terms of this Agreement or its subject matter, or participation in USAH Activities, shall be brought (a) individually, without resort to any form of class or collective action, and without joinder or consolidation of claims of third parties, and (b) exclusively in the manner provided in the applicable USAH rules (including, without limitation USAH Bylaw 10).
10. Representations and Acknowledgements. By executing and submitting this Agreement, I represent that I am, as applicable, (a) the Participant and 18 years of age or older, (b) the parent or legal guardian of the minor child who is the Participant, or (c) the legal guardian of a legally incapacitated adult.
Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) further represent and acknowledge they (i) have read this entire Agreement and understand its contents, (ii) have not relied upon any representations of Releasees, (iii) are fully advised of the potential dangers of ice hockey, (iv) agree that no oral representations, statements or inducements apart from this Agreement have been made, (v) execute and submit this document voluntarily, (vi) understand that this Agreement, including, without limitation, the waivers and releases set forth herein are necessary to allow amateur ice hockey to exist in its present form and (vii) significant exclusions may apply to USAH’s insurance policies which could affect any coverage (for example, there is no liability coverage for claims of one player against another player); read your insurance brochure carefully and, if you have any questions, contact USAH or a District Risk Manager.
11. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon Participant (and Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable) and my/their respective successors, assignees, subrogors, heirs, next of kin, legal and personal representatives, and anyone who obtains any rights from or through Participant (or Participant’s parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if applicable).
12. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its choice of law rules. Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement which is not subject to the dispute resolution provisions of Section 9 above shall be instituted in state or federal courts located in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action, or proceeding.

13. Acknowledgement of Electronic Signature. I HAVE READ AND HAVE VOLUNTARILY PROVIDED THE ELECTRONIC EQUIVALENT OF MY SIGNATURE AS PROVIDED BELOW UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

Acknowledgment of USA Hockey Safe Sport Policies

USA Hockey is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional, and social development and ensuring it promotes an environment free from abuse and misconduct. To help create a safe environment, USA Hockey has adopted a Safe Sport Program containing policies and procedures applicable to its programs. As the national governing body for ice hockey as certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”) under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, USA Hockey is subject to the requirements of the USOPC, the U.S. Center for SafeSport (“Center”), and federal law, including the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Authorization Act”).
Accordingly, by virtue of such person’s registration for membership, each member of USA Hockey agrees to abide by and be subject to (1) the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (the “SafeSport Code”) as adopted by the Center, (2) all requirements of the SafeSport Authorization Act, (3) and all USA Hockey Safe Sport Policies as set forth in the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook as each may be amended or modified from time to time. Each member of USA Hockey shall be subject (a) to the jurisdiction of the Center with respect to the investigation and resolution of any allegations that such person may have violated (i) the sexual abuse and misconduct policies of the Center, (ii) allegations of violations of USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Policies that are reasonably related to and accompany a report or allegation of sexual abuse or misconduct, and (iii) any other allegations of violations of the SafeSport Code over which the Center exercises discretionary jurisdiction, and (b) subject to any action taken by the Center as a result of such allegations, including without limitation, temporary or permanent suspension or ineligibility, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities, all as set forth in the SafeSport Code. Each member of USA Hockey shall also be subject to the jurisdiction of USA Hockey with respect to any allegations that such person may have violated policies of USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program and that are not under the jurisdiction of or addressed by the Center.
The SafeSport Code may be found at uscenterforsafesport.org. The USOPC, USA Hockey and its Affiliates and Member Programs must comply with the policies and procedures as described in the SafeSport Code. Additionally, all members of USA Hockey are responsible for knowing the information, policies and procedures outlined therein. The USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook and other information and materials regarding USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program may be found at usahockey.com/safesportprogram. As a member of USA Hockey, you are encouraged to review all Safe Sport Program materials and information available at USA Hockey’s website. All Adult Participants of USA Hockey, including all coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, and board members, are considered mandatory reporters under federal law and must report any perceived sexual misconduct or child abuse to the Center and law enforcement (as applicable) within 24 hours.
Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
The USA Hockey Safe Sport Program Handbook contains Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies consistent with those required by the Center, and as applied to USA Hockey Programs, also includes other policies, procedures and requirements that USA Hockey considers important to its mission to provide a safe environment within USA Hockey programs. These policies include prohibitions one-on-one interactions between minor age participants and (i) adult members of USA Hockey (including all adult players, coaches, officials and manager/volunteers), (ii) any adult authorized, approved or appointed by USA Hockey or a member program to have regular contact with or authority over minor Participants, and (iii) any adult employee, staff or board members of USA Hockey or a member program. These policies apply in areas or situations with an increased risk of abuse or misconduct, including prohibitions or specific requirements for locker rooms, electronic communications, during travel locally to and from practices or games and during overnight team travel, in meetings or individual training sessions, and in out-ofprogram interactions.
To best protect athletes from abuse or misconduct in our sport, it is critical that parents of minor athletes are familiar with the policies of USA Hockey and monitor to help ensure that interactions between their children and adults in USA Hockey programs are in compliance with the rules and regulations for those interactions. USA Hockey strongly encourages parents to make their children aware of the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program policies concerning interactions between adults and minors.
PARENTS SHOULD NOT PERMIT THEIR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERACTIONS THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH USA HOCKEY SAFE SPORT POLICIES. PARENTS SHOULD, AND ALL ADULT MEMBERS OF USA HOCKEY ARE REQUIRED, TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF THE USA HOCKEY SAFE SPORT PROGRAM POLICIES AS SET FORTH IN THE USA HOCKEY SAFE SPORT PROGRAM HANDBOOK.
SafeSport Training
Many persons that are members of USA Hockey are required by federal law and/or the USOPC, the Center or USA Hockey, to complete SafeSport Training as a condition of their participation in USA Hockey programs. Even if you are not required to complete SafeSport Training, you are eligible to do so at no cost and USA Hockey strongly encourages you to complete the training. The training is available online and can be accessed at usahockey.com/safesporttraining.
United States federal law and the Center require that all adults who have Regular Contact with or Authority over Minor Athletes must complete SafeSport Training on an annual basis. This includes all coaches and officials, and all administrators, volunteers and employees with Regular Contact with or Authority over minor-aged hockey players. In some USA Hockey age classifications, there may be both adult age (18 and over) and minor age hockey players permitted on the same team, and those players that are or will become adults during the season will have regular access to minors and are required to complete SafeSport Training. To comply with law and to avoid being required to remove players from a team in the middle of a season, USA Hockey also requires that players and officials 17 years old during this season (all players/officials born in 2009) must also complete SafeSport Training. Accordingly, all players and officials born in 2009 or earlier must complete SafeSport Training prior to being permitted to participate or be on a roster in any Youth, Girls, High School, Junior, Disabled and Flex hockey classifications. SafeSport Training is valid for 12 months, and persons required to complete training must complete the next applicable SafeSport course on an annual basis (every 12 months) following completion of the previous course. A person with expired training shall be ineligible to participate (even if in the middle of the registration season) as a coach, official, administrator, volunteer, employee or in any role where they have Regular Contact with (including as a player) or Authority over Minor Athletes, and may be removed from a roster, until they have completed the requisite SafeSport Training.
Because some players and officials required to complete SafeSport Training are still minors at the time the training is required, USA Hockey is required to obtain parental consent for them to complete SafeSport Training. If your child is under 18 years of age at the time of this registration, then your signature below constitutes your permission for your child to complete SafeSport Training.
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I HAVE READ AND HAVE VOLUNTARILY PROVIDED THE ELECTRONIC EQUIVALENT OF MY SIGNATURE AS PROVIDED BELOW UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY