COACHES' CHECKLIST
As the season is set to begin, try to kick it off with a team meeting including the parents. Explain your vision for the months to come, expectations, rules/regulations/obligations/responsibilities/etc. Most of all though, create a warm and welcoming environment from the start. Offer some ownership of the team to the parents as jockeys for video, photos, locker room monitor, penalty box attendant, social planner, travel coordinator, etc., so that they are able to feel the part.
Furthermore, depending on the area of expertise a parent may have earned, invite him/her to make a presentation to your team or multiple teams on matters like motivation, injury prevention and recovery, nutrition, fitness, and so on. Guarantee this will have a positive impact on those talking about you, the coach, behind your back at the rink and in the car.
Be an honest leader on your team. Do not over-extend yourself with promises that you are not able to keep. Anything you say, follow with actions. All this will lead into creation and development of trust between you and the players (families). Once you succeed with this, your audience will not only listen, but also follow your lead.
Coaches' Checklist for the Upcoming Season in the Order Listed:
- Register with USA Hockey online. Hold on to your registration number because you will need it at numbers 2 and 3.
- Cover the SafeSport initiative online. Each association/rink should have a SafeSport Administrator in place, if you have questions about it. Once finnished, you are to pass the proof of completion to the administrator/coaching director/rink director for verification.
- Take age-appropriate coaching module(s) online, e.g. if you coach PWs, take the PW module. If you have already taken one in the past, you need not repeat it. Proof again to the appropriate personnel.
- Sign up for a coaching clinic. Only if needed, as per your current level and the year obtained. You are allowed to participate at only one clinic level per season. Levels 1, 2, and 3 in Oklahoma and Texas will be set and posted in late-August. Clinics will be held September through December.
Proper certification is a must for all coaches on the bench so Associations need to be sure that their coaches are attending coaching clinics. Each coach should be certified at the proper level for the division he/she is coaching.
Coaching CERTIFICATION
- Would you like to review the steps to become a certified USA Hockey coach? Many requirements can be completed before the season even begins.
Click on this listed link: https://www.usahockey.com/coachingcertification - Would you like to check your Coaching Certification? This includes checking your clinic expiration date, age modules completed and ability to print CEP cards.
Click on this listed link: https://cepsearch.usahockey.com/
Most clinics will be virtual (online) clinics. You can attend any clinic hosted by any District/Affiliate across the country if it works with your schedule. There will be a variety of available clinic dates and times which will fit to every coach’s schedule. Clinics are first come, first serve, and not guaranteed to have seats available when you click on them.
Click on this listed link (there may be a spinning wheel for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before the clinics available are able to be seen): https://coursesearch.usahockey.com/ - When will more clinics be posted?
Clinics will be posted in scheduled phases throughout the first half of the 22-23 season. If you do not see a clinic that works with your schedule, keep checking back to see if another one is posted and available for you to register by December 31, 2022. New clinics can be posted throughout the month, but typically the majority of them will be posted on the 1st of Sept, Oct, Nov, and Dec. - Are you looking for available Level 1, 2 or 3 Coaching Clinics?
Coaching clinics will be posted after September 1, 2022 on the USA Hockey website. Coaches have until December 31st each season to complete the Coaching Clinic requirement. - Are you looking for available USA Hockey Level 4 Clinics?
Level 4 Coaching Clinics have been posted online. When they are hosted by the National Office, the course title includes the letters N-O at the beginning. It is an abbreviation and NOT the word no. There are very few in person Level 4 clinics and be aware that ALL Level 4 Coaching Clinics hosted by the National Office are online and are going to be virtual. - When and where is the Level 5 Symposium?
May 4-7, 2023 at Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Mass.
Registration Link: https://myevents.usahockey.com/2023level5 (-> nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com) - Are you having issues with your certifications, including SafeSport?
Please reach out by email to Member Services at: memberservices@usahockey.org with a screenshot and description of the issue you are having. - Would you like to see who your District Coach-in-Chief is?
Click on this listed link: https://www.usahockey.com/coachesinchief - Would you like to see who is your District’s Player Development Manager?
Click on this listed link: https://www.admkids.com/regional-managers
We appreciate all that you do for the hockey community and the players you coach.
Good luck to you and your team this season!
Coach-in-Chief
Kelly Clymer
Phone: 214-546-4913
