Canton Minor Hockey

5 steps to becoming a USA Hockey Coach

• 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(Cost is $30). Click here.
• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training. (Required every year and cannot be added to a roster until completed). Click here for more information. (Coaches will need to create/log in to their profiles, click the link under the home tab to the coach eLearning site.)
• Complete the Foundations of Player Development Pre-requisite. (Coaches will need to complete the Foundations of Player Development module before purchasing their age-specific module. Once a coach completes the Foundations of Player Development module there will be a 15-minute window before they can purchase and complete their age-specific module).
• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (Cost is $20 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 each season)

• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. The Cost is $60. You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches start at Level 1. You can take clinics from April 1-Dec. 31 each season. Click here to locate a clinic.

Canton Minor Hockey coaches come from a variety of backgrounds, but all share two important characteristics; they are ALL volunteers and they all care deeply about the development of all the players on their teams.  Our coaches require the support of the player’s parents.  Anything parents can do to help with off-ice responsibilities is encouraged. 

All head coaches will be selected by the President.  All assistant coaches will be selected by the head coach.  Selection criterion for becoming a coach becomes more rigorous as the age and level of competition of the players increases. 

All coaches must obtain the USA Hockey certification appropriate to the level at which they are coaching.  Head and Assistant coaches must be fully familiar with this handbook, NYS Amateur Hockey Association’s annual guidebook and all USA Hockey rules and regulations.

USA Hockey provides training and certification to individuals who wish to coach through the Coaching Educational Program (CEP).  This program is administered through USA Hockey in the form of clinics and online modules.  These clinics and modules are specifically designed to supply each coach with the knowledge of his/her responsibilities and skills that will equip him/her to do the best possible job at any level of play.  USA Hockey and Canton Minor Hockey require all persons interested in becoming coaches to be compliant with USA Hockey coaching certification requirements.