• All coaches must be registered with USA Hockey as a coach before participating in any team practices, games or other activities.
• All coaches must complete (or have previously completed) the correct age appropriate module for the team they will be coaching prior to be being added to the team roster or participating in any team practices, games or other activities.
• All coaches, Head and Assistants must complete the SafeSport certification prior to be being added to the team roster or participating in any team practices, games or other activities..
• Coaches must have a background screening completed every two years. See the RI Hockey screening page for details. Please check with your association registrar if you are not sure when your last screening was completed. DO NOT HAVE A SCREENING COMPLETED IF YOU HAD ONE COMPLETED LAST SEASON!
• All coaches must have the correct level CEP Certification by the following deadlines; full season teams, December 31 of the current season; split season teams, October 15 of the current season. Coaches can only take one clinic in a given season. If a coach has an expired certification they cannot restart from the beginning, they should complete the next level (e.g. A coach has an expired Level 1 certification. They should take a Level 2 clinic.)
• New Coaches to the Coaching Education Program (CEP) must attend and complete a Level 1 clinic.
• A coach that has a Level 1 certification that expires on or before December 31 of the current season must attend and complete a Level 2 clinic. EXCEPTION: If a coach is only coaching an 8U Mite team they may remain at Level 1 until they move up to an older team. A similar coach can remain at their current level of certification (Level 2 or Level 3) even it has expired. It is the coach’s Association that is responsible for monitoring this exception.
• A coach that has a Level 2 certification that expires on or before December 31 of the current season must attend and complete a Level 3 clinic.
• A coach that has a Level 3 certification that expires on or before December 31 of the current season has two options:
– Complete the on-line recertification Track 1. This would be good for two seasons.
– Attend and complete a Level 4 clinic. A coach with a Level 4 certification does not need to attend additional clinics.
• A coach that has a Level 3 on-line recertification Track 1 that expires December 31, 2015 has two options:
– Complete the on-line recertification Track 2. This would be good for two seasons.
– Attend and complete a Level 4 clinic. A coach with a Level 4 certification does not need to attend additional clinics.
• If a Level 3 coach has recertified twice (Track 1 and Track 2) they must attend and complete a Level 4 clinic. A coach with a Level 4 certification does not have to attend additional clinics.
• A coach that has a Level 4 certification can obtain a Master Level if they attend a Level 5 clinic when available.
IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: If a coach is coaching a National Bound team and currently has a Level 3 certification they must attend and complete a Level 4 clinic in their 4th year in the CEP.
NOTE: All coaches, Head and Assistants (anyone helping to coach the
team on the bench or in practice), must be properly certified and complete
the requirements outlined above.
What a Coach Should Do Before the December 31 Deadline
(Note that the Split Season deadline is October 31)
Register as a coach with USA Hockey for the current season.
Attend the clinic that you need to stay current by the December 31 Deadline (Split Season by October 31). If you are not sure what clinic you should attend go to the USA Hockey’s website Coaches Certification List to check you current certification and the expiration date.
Register for the clinic. The clinic season runs from September to December. Clinics are usually posted by early August. Coaches may attend clinics in any USA Hockey District/Affiliate.
Complete all the Age-specific Modules for each age group you are coaching by the December 31 deadline. Coaches only need to complete each module once. If you are coaching the same age group and previously completed the module, you do not need to complete the modules again.
Complete the Safesport Certification.
Complete a background screening (screenings are valid for two seasons). Contact your association registrar if you are not sure if you have a current screening. Do not complete a screening if you had one completed last season!