Canton Minor Hockey

5 steps to becoming a USA Hockey Coach

• Register as a member of USA Hockey (Cost is $40 plus any affiliate fees if applicable).​​
  • https://www.usahockeyregistration.com/login_input.action​​

• Complete NY Screening
  • http://www.commercialinvestigationsllc.com/VSSNYSAHA​

• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. (Cost is $40 plus any lunch fees if applicable) You can only attend one clinic per season. (The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 officially runs from September 1 to December 31):​
  • http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/892976-coaching-clinics

• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (Cost is $10 per module) (The online modules are available from September 1 to December 31.)
  • http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/892966-age-specific-modules

• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training (required every two years).  
  • http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining

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 of the players on the teams they are coaching.  Our coaches require the support of the players’ 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 become more rigorous as the age division 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 our 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 their Coaching Achievement Program.  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.  

A Head Coach or Team Manager should coordinate all team meetings.  Each team should have a “team meeting” prior to the start of the season.  The goal of this meeting should be to open lines of communication and outline expectations for the season.  Only certified coaches are approved to be on the ice during practices and on the bench during games.