Steps to Become a USA Hockey Coach

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. Certification is also required. A few basic steps requirements are as follows:

USA Hockey Requirements (Must be completed before participating in any team activities)

• Register as a member of USA Hockey. (Cost is $46 plus any affiliate fees if applicable). Click here for more information.
   
• Complete the background screening. (Found on your affiliate website and some affiliates require approval before you can be added to a roster).
   
• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training. (Required every two years and cannot be added to a roster until completed). Click here for more information.
   
• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (Cost is $10 per module and only needs to be completed once per age level. Must be completed PRIOR to participating in any team activities and cannot be added to a roster until completed) Click here to register for the modules.
   

Coaching Education Program Certification Clinic Requirements (Must be completed by Dec. 31)

• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. (Cost is $45 plus any lunch fees if applicable) You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches start at Level 1. (The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 officially runs from September 1 to December 31). Click here to locate a clinic.

MIRROR

Coaching Education Program 

This page serves as the start for all things related to USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program. Click on any of the menu items to the left to find out more information about that subject.  

• Rules and Requiements: Outlines the standards all USA Hockey certified coaches must meet. 
   
• Coaching Clinics:  Requires a USAHockey.com login (this login is NOT related to your USA Hockey member registration, modules, or level 3 recertification).
   
• Age-Specific Modules: Links to the online program for this CEP requirement  
• Level 3 Recertification: Links to the online Level 3 recertification. This is NOT the age-specific module 
• Online Certification List: Search for a coach’s certification and completion of an online age-specific module, and print a CEP card 
   

USA Hockey SafeSport

The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Hockey.  USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety.

USA Hockey has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth hockey players and other participants.  These include without limitation Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators.  The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook is intended to update and collect USA Hockey’s various policies to protect its participants from all types of misconduct and abuse.

ATTENTION: USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program has been updated as of June 19, 2019. Please click here for a letter sent to all members of USA Hockey with an overview of these changes, and click here for a copy of the revised USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook.        

USA Hockey has ZERO TOLERANCE for abuse and misconduct.

This SafeSport Handbook includes the various Policies that apply to all USA Hockey Member Programs.  Those Policies address

• Sexual Abuse
• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Bullying, Threats and Harassment
• Hazing

The Policies also address areas where misconduct can occur and are intended to reduce the risk of potential abuse, including:

• Locker Room Policy
• Electronic Communications Policy
• Travel Policy
• Billeting Policy

In addition to Policies, the SafeSport Handbook includes information about  the available and required Training of USA Hockey and its Member Programs’ employees, volunteers, administrators, coaches, parents and players on recognizing and reducing circumstances for potential abuse to occur; information on USA Hockey’s Screening and Background Check Program; the availability and procedures for any person to Report suspected abuse or misconduct (including protections from any retaliation or repercussions for such reporting); the procedures and means by which USA Hockey and its Member Programs should Respond to allegations of abuse and misconduct; and how USA Hockey and its Member Programs will Monitor and Supervise the SafeSport Program to help ensure its effectiveness.

By combining all of these elements into a comprehensive SafeSport Program, USA Hockey intends to create the safest possible environment for participation in hockey.

Screening– for the 2019-20 must be accomplished using NYSAHA’s background screening partner, Commercial Investigations LLC.  Successful screening results are automatically included in USA Hockey’s Registration database.

The Direct Link is >>> https://ciware.commercialinvestigationsllc.com/pub/ushockey.html

Screening is valid for two seasons. If you screened after April 1, 2018, it is still valid this season.