02 AAA Sharks reason for opting to go AA was mentioned in the Norcal forum:
Several players decided to move down to AA due to the amount of practice and travel involved with playing AAA and demands of their new high schools next year. Although they had enough kids at tryouts, the new kids trying out didn't have the skills. The AAA families were offered a team with a short bench, but two of the skaters decided to tryout out of state. The end result: One skater is playing 16AAA and one goalie made the 14AAA Ducks. The Jr. Sharks decided to have two 14AA teams (14AA National and 14AA American) The remaining AAA players are on the 14AA National team and will be treated like a AAA team with the exception of playing in the T1EHL.