National Federation

National Federations are the national governing bodies of hockey in the various countries where hockey exists. Those federations often are in charge of the national championship of the country, and are in charge of the national teams.

National federations themselves are governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Federations apply for membership and depending on the countries' infrastructures, they are granted one of the three membership levels (full member, associate member, affiliate member (for the nations exclusively playing inline hockey)).