USAH has released their guidelines for Tier I hockey across the USA.

Number of teams will be based upon a % of players at a certain age level Organizations will need to apply in writing for the Tier I State Bound status and this may change yearly A committee will be set up to oversee the organizations and monitor games Teams will be required to play a home and home across the state with each state bound team 75 games maximum per season (most likely including the state tournament and Nationals) Cannot recruit until after the National tournament (will tryouts need to be changed?)

Some of the actual verbiage is quoted below

3. Each Tier I organization may field a maximum of six (6) teams with no more than one team at each level, Major and Minor (i.e. 18U Midget Major,19U girls, 16 & Under Midget Minor, 14 & Under Bantam Major, 14 & Under Bantam Minor, 12 & Under Pee Wee Major and 12 & Under Pee Wee Minor).

(the way I understand it is that this is all the travel teams that they can field and should only concentrate on the Tier I elite not other teams)

A. Guidelines for determining the number of Tier I teams shall include, but not be limited to the following:
1. Not more than 10% of the total registered Players, in the Affiliate, at any Age Level (12 & Under (Major and Minor), 14 & Under, (Major and Minor), 16 & Under and 18 & Under) should play Tier I Hockey; (this percentage may be decreased by the Affiliate or District if deemed appropriate).
2. Each Tier I organization must field at least two Tier I teams (that are TB at different levels); (e.g. 12 & Under, 14 & Under, 16 & Under; 18 & Under) at a minimum in at least two different Division classifications – Pee Wee (Major/Minor), Bantam (Major/Minor), or Midget (18U or 16U).
3. Tier I teams are required to have a minimum practice to game ratio of 2:1. USA Hockey highly recommends a 3:1 ratio. For this purpose, a practice must average at least 60 minutes or more, of on-ice participation.
4. Tier I teams may play a maximum of 75 total games.
5. Tier I Season: The Tier I Organization season shall commence on August 15th of each year and end on the last day of the Nationals Tournament of each year unless otherwise unanimously approved by the Tier I Committee.

A. Application: All Tier I associations must submit their Tier I application to their Affiliate and Tier I Committee no later than February 15th, or as extended by the Affiliate Tier I Committee, but at least 30 days prior to any Tier I organization scheduled Tier I Team tryout. Each Application shall comply fully with the requirements set forth by the Affiliate. Tier I associations may not have more than one team per birth year.

B. Notification: Beginning with the 2009-2010 Season, Tier I Organizations will be notified by April 1st in writing of the acceptance or denial of its application by the Tier I Chairperson, or his/her designee.
1. Minimum Requirements: Every authorized new or existing Tier I Organization shall comply with the minimum requirements set forth in this Article, the Affiliate and USA HOCKEY By-laws, Policies, Rules and Regulations. Each organization may not have more than (1) team at each age level permitted.
II. Personal invitations for tryouts are permissible but tryouts must be announced publicly through a general publication or individual mailing to all players at each level, inviting any player who wishes to tryout. This announcement shall take place at least thirty (30) days prior to any tryouts. The announcement shall also be posted at the rink the tryouts will be held at for the 30 days prior to the tryout.

1. No player, Coach or Manager shall be solicited nor shall the possibility of playing Tier I hockey be discussed with any Player, Coach or Manager, prior to the conclusion of the USA HOCKEY National Tournaments, except for an existing Tier I Player for the particular Tier I Organization for which that Player played during the existing season and then only by that Tier I Organization. (see paragraph below on Tampering and Recruiting of any Player, Coach or Manager).

A. The authorized Tier I Organization’s in the Affiliate have agreed that competition among the Tier I Organizations and Teams will improve the standards and conduct of hockey in the Affiliate and further develop Tier I Players in the Affiliate. The authorized Tier I Organizations in the Affiliate shall play each other a minimum of two (2) games (not counting tournament) at every level each year within the Affiliate in a home and home series.

Is this the answer to over saturation? The way it was going there was more teams then players.
Are they doing anything for the watered down junior leagues? In PA there is more Junior teams then WAWA'S.