Coaching FAQ

USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require both certification and registration to be eligible to coach. Registration is done online on a yearly basis at www.usahockey.com. Certification is also required.

A few basic steps are as follows:

• Register as a member of USA Hockey
• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. You can only attend one clinic per season. A current list of clinics can be found by clicking here (The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 officially runs from September 1 to December 31): http://www.usahockey.com/viewallclinics.aspx
• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (The online modules are only available from September 1 to December 31.)
• Must attend the required clinic and complete the necessary online age-specific module(s) by December 31 of the current playing season to continue coaching on January 1.
• Please also read the FAQ section under Coaches where most of your questions will be answered as well: http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=CO_01&ID=19440

All coaches must adhere to the new Coaching Education Program guidelines that go into effect on September 1, 2011. The new standards require you to attend one clinic every year for Levels 1-3. In an effort to begin educating coaches, we made the 2010-11 stickers reflect the need to attend a clinic next season in accordance with the new standards that will go into effect on September 1, 2011.

All coaches must adhere to the new Coaching Education Program guidelines that go into effect on September 1, 2011. The new standards have the Level 3 certification valid for two seasons. In an effort to begin educating coaches, we made the 2010-11 stickers reflect the need to attend a clinic during the 2012-13 season in accordance with the new standards that will go into effect on September 1, 2011.

USA Hockey no longer requires a specific certification level based on the age level of play coaching. A coach must progress through the education system every year and have completed the online age-specific module for each age level coaching.

USA Hockey allows coaches to attend only ONE clinic per season. A coach must also complete the online age-specific module for each age level he/she is coaching that year. A coach can complete more than one online age-specific module in a season if he/she is coaching multiple age levels.

You must attend a Level 2 clinic AND complete the online age-specific module for each age level you are coaching if not previously taken prior to December 31 of the current playing season.

You must attend a Level 3 clinic AND complete the online age-specific module for each age level you are coaching if not previously taken prior to December 31 of the current playing season

You must complete the online Level 3 recertification or attend a Level 4 clinic AND complete the online age-specific module for each age level you are coaching if not previously taken prior to December 31 of the current playing season. Coaches of Tier I and Tier II (National Tournament Bound) 14U, 16U, and 18/19U teams must complete Level 4.

You may complete Track 1 and Track 2 of the online recertification program. The program should automatically recognize if you have previously registered for one of the tracks and will direct you to Track 2. If you have already taken the recertification twice, you must attend a Level 4 clinic and complete the online age-specific module for each age level you are coaching if not previously taken.

Your certification is still valid for life and requires no recertification. With the advent of the American Development Model all coaches are required to complete the online age-specific module for the age level of play they are coaching. This online component provides information specific to the age of your players in accordance with the ADM and Long Term Athlete Development program.

The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 officially runs from September 1 to December 31. Level 4 clinics are typically held from April to August with some districts holding them as late as September/October. A current list of clinics can be found by clicking here:

http://www.usahockey.com/viewallclinics.aspx

If you don’t see one near you right away, continue to check the website as clinic instructors add clinics on a weekly, if not daily basis. Most clinics have been held by the end of November or beginning of December. If you do not see one in your area, you may need to travel to a neighboring state to locate a clinic before the end of the calendar year or the start of the next clinic season. Clinics are posted by clinic instructors at their discretion. Please contact your District Coach in Chief for more information. All of the contact information for each Coach in Chief can be found here: http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=CO_03&ID=19526

• Registrants for Levels 1-3 will be allowed to transfer their clinic fee to another posted, open clinic up to 48 hours before the start of the originally scheduled clinic. We are unable to “hold” registration fees. You must select a clinic to transfer to or apply for a refund. Transfers can only occur between clinics of the same level and only to clinics held during the same clinic season.
• Please send the date, city, state, and level of the original clinic and the clinic you want to transfer into to Alison Raines at  alisonr@usahockey.org">alisonr@usahockey.org.
• Level 4 clinic fees are non-transferable and will be subject to the refund rules below.
• A processing fee of $10 will be deducted from all credits/refunds.
• A full refund, minus the processing fee, will be granted if requested in writing at least two weeks before the start of the original clinic.
• A 50% refund, minus the processing fee, will be granted if requested in writing 2-14 days before the start of the original clinic.
• No refunds or transfers will be granted if the request is made within 48 hours of the start of the originally scheduled clinic or after the originally scheduled clinic has started.
• ALL REFUND REQUESTS REQUIRE THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL ONLINE TRANSACTION AND THE TRANSACTION ID. Both of these items are found on the Clinic Confirmation Receipt you receive immediately after registering. You are asked to print out this receipt and keep for your records. NO REFUNDS WILL BE PROCESSED WITHOUT THIS RECEIPT.

Click the link below for the Clinic Refund Form: http://wwa.usahockey.com/uploadedFiles/USAHockey/Menu_Coaches/Menu_FAQ/CLINIC%20REFUND%20FORM.pdf

If your name does not appear on the coaches list or the information does not accurately reflect your current certification level please contact USA Hockey’s National Office. Fax or email a copy of the front and back of your Coaching Education Program card. Please ensure the CEP number, your name, and certification stickers are all visible and legible. Also include your full name, date of birth, current address, telephone number, and email address. Please send to Alison Raines via fax at 719-538-1160 or email to  alisonr@usahockey.org. It will take a minimum of 3-5 business days to process your update. Please check the online certification list for verification of when your information is updated. We appreciate your patience during the busier times of the year.

Please be patient. flexxCOACH submits a report to USA Hockey. USA Hockey personnel then verifies the eligibility of all participants listed, updates the database and then sends stickers to eligible recipients. This whole process can take up to four weeks. You can use your flexxCOACH certificate as proof of your Level 3 re-certification until your sticker arrives.

Yes. USA Hockey does not distinguish between an assistant and head coach in regards to required certification level. All coaches participating in ALL team functions (i.e. games, scrimmages, practices, try-outs, tournaments, off-ice training, etc.) must meet the same coaching certification level, based upon the level of play coaching.

A player between the ages of 13 and 17 who is currently properly registered with USA Hockey may serve as a student coach under the following conditions:

• Must attend a training session conducted by the local hockey association. Student coaches are not eligible to attend a CEP certification clinic for certification. They may audit a clinic but they do not receive certification credit, nor are they required to pay for the clinic. He/she will need to contact the instructor directly as he/she will not be able to register online due to the age restriction in place.
• Must always be under the supervision of a carded, screened adult coach during all practices, clinics, try-outs, and in the locker room.
• May help out at practices, clinics, try-outs only. (May not participate as a player in scrimmages or games when acting as a STUDENT COACH).
• May not act as the head coach or an assistant coach during practices or games.
• May be on the bench during games with an adult. The STUDENT COACH will count as one of the maximum of four Team Officials allowed on the bench.
• Must wear a helmet with full face shield, gloves, and skates while on the ice. Must wear helmet during games while on the bench.
• May only work with players at least one full playing age level down (e.g., a Bantam age player may act as a STUDENT COACH at the Pee Wee, Squirt or Mite level).
• The organization that is using the STUDENT COACH must provide a form indicating on what team he/she is participating as a student coach, and, if applicable, what team he/she is properly registered/rostered as a player. A model form can be found here: http://www.usahockey.com/LinkedDocs/c/8/f/c8f2fa88-dbb8-48d7-964c-e27b6c8bdfce.pdf
• Upon reaching the age of 18, the STUDENT COACH must comply with the USA Hockey Screening Program and meet the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program requirements which will qualify him/her to act as an assistant or head coach.

District Coach in Chief contact information is located here:

http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=CO_03&ID=19526

All coaches must be certified and have completed the online age-specific modules prior to December 31st in order to continue coaching the remainder of the season. The Coaching Education Program offers a Request for Temporary Card for the certification clinic if a coach is unable to attend a clinic. This must be requested in accordance with district policies. Please check your district website for information specific to your area. If your district does not grant temporary cards after December 31 then you will be ineligible to coach the remainder of the current season.