USA Hockey has adopted a new Participant Eligibility Policy that effectively bans transgender athletes from participating in many sex-restricted programs, marking a significant rollback of protections previously provided under the organization’s transgender inclusion guidelines.
The policy was approved in November and is scheduled to take effect either after the conclusion of national championships for each age group or by April 1, 2026. Under the change, USA Hockey’s 2019 Transgender Athlete Eligibility Policy has been suspended and replaced with rules that require participation in sex-restricted programs to be based solely on sex assigned at birth.
According to the policy language, most USA Hockey programs are technically co-ed and not restricted by sex, meaning athletes may participate regardless of gender identity. However, the policy includes clear carve-outs for sex-restricted teams and leagues, including girls’ hockey for players 19 and under, sex-segregated high school programs, and adult male or female leagues.
In those programs, athletes are only permitted to compete in divisions that align with the sex listed on their original birth certificate. The policy further states that athletes assigned female at birth may be excluded from female-only programs if they have undergone any form of male hormone therapy.
The policy applies broadly across the organization and includes USA Hockey national team development programs that compete under the jurisdictions of the International Ice Hockey Federation, the International Olympic Committee, and World Para Ice Hockey.
The changes were not widely announced at the time of approval and have only recently drawn public attention, prompting backlash from athletes, advocates, and members of the hockey community. Former professional women’s hockey player Madison Packer criticized the move publicly, arguing that the removal of transgender-specific language from the policy signals an effort to exclude transgender athletes from the sport altogether.
USA Hockey has not publicly detailed how the new policy will be enforced at the local or regional level, nor has the organization clarified how many athletes may be affected. Requests for comment seeking further explanation on implementation and compliance have not yet been answered.
The decision comes amid a broader national shift toward restrictive policies governing transgender participation in sports. Several athletic governing bodies have revised eligibility standards in response to political pressure and federal policy changes, particularly targeting youth and amateur athletics.
Advocacy organizations argue that such bans disproportionately harm transgender youth by limiting access to organized sports, social development, and physical activity. Supporters of the policy contend the changes are necessary to preserve competitive fairness in sex-segregated leagues.
As legal challenges and public debate continue nationwide, USA Hockey’s decision places the organization among a growing number of sports bodies moving away from inclusive participation models for transgender athletes.
