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Coaching Education

Coaching Education for 2022

April 2021

Dear USA Hockey Level 4 & 5 Coaches,

Beginning this season (2021-22), USA Hockey passed the below new requirements for coaching education.  

All coaches must have the required certification level by January 1 of the current season, unless earlier deadlines are established by the district and/or affiliate.  All coaches must complete the online age-specific modules PRIOR to participating with their team. 

  1. All coaches must enter USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program at Level 1, and must continue their education with a coaching clinic each year until, at a minimum, they achieve Level 4. Coaches of only 8 and under players should remain at Level 1 until such time as they are coaching any older age level of play.

    A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year. Once Level 4 is achieved, coaches will need to complete 5 credit hours of continuing education within each subsequent three-year period [as outlined in Paragraph (c) below].

     
  2. In addition to the training in paragraph (a) above, coaches must also complete online age-specific training modules specific to the level of play they are coaching, if they have not already taken that module. This requirement applies to all coaches at all levels, 1 through 5. Coaches may complete more than one age-specific module in any given season.
     
  3. Effective in the 2021-22 season, coaching certification at Levels 4 and 5 is valid for three (3) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date. Before the expiration of their level, coaches must accumulate 5 credit hours of continuing education by either taking Level 5, or by attending other USA Hockey continuing education clinics. The USA Hockey clinic listings will indicate all continuing education offerings and the credit value of each. The Coaching Education Program retains the responsibility for defining continuing education credit values, including clinic or online course work.
     
  4. Grandfather Clause
    For those coaches who received Level 4 or Level 5 PRIOR TO January 1, 2021, only coaches of Tier I and Tier II teams are required to do continuing education as required in (c) above.

     
  5. Previous/Expired Certifications Coaches with any expired certification will retain their previous certification levels provided the certification can be verified. Coaches may re-enter the certification system at that previous level and be subject to the certification guidelines in (a) through (c) above. 

In summary, for grandfathered Level 4 and 5 coaches, you could be subjected to the continuing education as explained above. If you coached an approved roster at the Tier I or Tier II classification, for any age level, during the 2020-21 season your CEP expiration has been changed from 12/31/2099 to 12/31/2025.  If changed you are now on the continuing education path needing to earn five credits over the next three seasons. You can view your coaching profile at https://courses.usahockey.com/public/  to see this change.

Currently, courses are being developed that will be available in the 2021-22 season to earn continuing education credits. Credits can be earned by taking specific coaching clinics or learning modules that will be in the e-learning system. Additional information on these courses and how to access will be available in near future.

Yours in hockey,

USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program

 

CEP Guidelines

The document below has the Guidelines for the Coaching Education Program, including a flow chart for clarity.

Coaching Education

Chuck Gridley is the New York State District Coach in Chief. His contact information and his Sectional staff contact information is listed below.


NYS District Coach in Chief/Coaching Education Coordinator

CHUCK GRIDLEY

Phone: (315) 569-2778

COACHING EDUCATION SECTION COORDINATOR Central Section

Herb Griffith

Phone: (607) 341-6036

Coaching Education Section Coordinator North Section

Jeff Wood

Phone: (518) 572-3486

NYS District Goalie Coach in Chief - Male

Kevin Kreutzer

Phone: (716) 449-0697

NYS District Goalie Coach in Chief - Female

Kelsey Neumann

Phone: (608) 215-1085

COACHING EDUCATION SECTION COORDINATOR West Section

DAVE HAYMAN

Phone: (716) 830-7065

Coaching Education Section Coordinator & Female CI East Section

Stacey Wierl

Phone: (914) 261-9474



How do I become a Coach

   5 steps to becoming a USA Hockey Coach

  1. Register as a member of USA Hockey (Cost is $50).https://membership.usahockey.com
  2. Complete USAH Screening -   http://www.usahockey.com/backgroundscreen  $30.00
  3. Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. (Cost is $50) You can only attend one clinic per season. To register go to https://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics
  4. Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (Cost is $10 per module) https://www.usahockey.com/agespecificmodules 
  5. Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training (required every two years).  http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining This is free!


Coaching Program

Below are links to the Coaching resources and Frequently asked questions. If you have any questions contact the respective individual listed above.

Age Specific Practice Planners

Follow the link below to go to USA Hockey's age specific practice plans.

http://www.usahockey.com/practiceplannerguides

Mobile Coach Tutorial

Tutorial for Mobile Coach Application