Tournaments
Your team may decide to enter in-town or out-of-town tournaments. Typically, it's best to sit down with your coach and identify tournaments that the coach would like to play in. Tournaments do not require a vote and are the coaches' choice. It is recommended that availability is determined prior to registering for holiday weekend tournaments such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
Once you have a plan, present the plan to the team.
If a coach opts out of choosing a tournament(s), the process defaults to a vote. Tournament(s) may be proposed by the Manager or an Assistant Coach. For non-coach decisions, all tournaments require 75% of the team to vote yes, to participate in a tournament. The coach retains the ability to make the final decision.
Every family (even those who choose not to play in the tournament) is responsible for its share of tournament expenses.
You may not pull players from other teams to participate in a tournament, even lower-level teams. The only possible exception is if a goalie is needed for a tournament. With permission from your team and the goalie's coach, you may use a goalie from an even- or lower-level team. This roster update must be approved by the club registrar (Sean Hazelton), who will also coordinate with Missouri Hockey as required.
Tournament Participation Recommendations
All A-Level Teams
- In-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 2
- Maximum: 4
- Out-of-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 2
- Maximum: 3
All B-Level Teams
- In-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 2
- Maximum: 4
- Out-of-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 1
- Maximum: 2
All C-Level Teams
- In-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 1
- Maximum: 3
- Out-of-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 0
- Maximum: 1
All 8U/6U Teams
- In-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 2
- Maximum: 4
- Out-of-Town Tournaments:
- Minimum: 0
- Maximum: 2
Travel Permits
If a team travels outside of the Missouri Hockey district, they must obtain a travel permit from Missouri Hockey.
The cost for the permit ranges from $12 to $50, depending on when you order the permit.
Non-Parent Coach Expenses
Like all other parents, parent coaches are responsible for their own travel expenses. However, if a team books enough hotel rooms, a coach's room may be comped by the hotel.
Non-parent coaches travel expenses must be provided for coaches for any travel event of 100 miles roundtrip or greater.
Meals per Diem: $65 per full day, $50 for less than a full day
Mileage Reimbursement: aligned with the IRS standard mileage rate for the travel date. For 2026, the rate is 0.73 cents per mile.
Lodging Reimbursement: 100% of all nights of required lodging for the event, if not comped by the tournament company/hotel.
Tournament Preparation
Once your team has agreed on a tournament, you will need to do the following things:
- Complete Tournament Application: You should submit your tournament application ASAP so space doesn't fill up. Never assume that you are in the tournament just because you sent in the application. Always verify with a human that your spot in the tournament is secured.
- Submit Your Down Payment
- Submit Hotel Preferences: Most tournaments require you to stay at a tournament-approved hotel, "Stay to Play." You should send those to the tournament director ASAP. All players must stay at the required hotel. Families cannot use hotel points, book through a discount site, etc.
- Collect Hotel Reservation Information: Some tournaments handle this differently, but most require the team manager to enter parent/player contact information which the company then uses to send the hotel reservation information to directly.
Miscellaneous Tournament Information
Plan Team Outings: Often teams will plan dinners or activities while out of town. This is an excellent opportunity for team building. Also consider looking into getting a banquet room one night at your hotel for your team to gather. If they are unused, the hotel will often give you one for little to no cost.
Door Posters: Some teams prepare door signs for each player. Good practice is to only use first name or their jersey number on these signs. This helps the kids and parents know where everyone's rooms are. If you're doing multiple out of town tournaments, you can collect them before everyone goes home so you can re-use them or have players bring them each time you travel. Be mindful of what you use to hang them as to not damage hotel room doors. Parents have the option to not display signage.
Goodie Bags: When you have early games, the kids may not have time for breakfast so you may ask the parents to donate healthy snacks like granola bars for a quick bite before or between games.
Volunteers: Tournaments provide workers for running the clock and keeping the scoresheet. You may need to provide a volunteer for the penalty box.
Policies: Many hotels/tournament companies will publish guidelines for behavior and policies to be followed by players and parents during the tournament and at the hotel. Policies could include quiet hours, no shiny (knee hockey), arrival time to rink, etc. Remember that you and your team represent the Affton Americans Hockey Club.
Tournament Resources
Most tournaments are hosted by a few large companies, linked below. Take time to investigate discount programs for each of the tournament companies! Beyond these tournaments, some clubs host their own tournaments.