Coaching youth sports can be one of the most fulfilling experiences – the best part is, we’re always looking for volunteers who love the game and want to give back! USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program aims to develop the skills of our coaches so they in turn can develop our youth players to their full potential.

USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require registration and certification to be eligible to coach.  This ensures that our coaches are both educated and safe to coach our youth hockey players.

All coaches must register with USA Hockey. They will then be able to access their profile through the Learning Center to complete other requirements: a background check, SafeSport training, coaching education clinics, and age-specific modules.

Players who are between the ages of 13-17 and are currently registered with USA Hockey may serve as a student coach for teams at least one full age level below them. They cannot act as the Head Coach or Assistant Coach.

Once they turn 18, Student Coaches must comply with all USA Hockey requirements as outlined above for all adult coaches. This will then qualify them to act as an assistant or head coach.

In the USA Hockey Annual Guide the following paragraph outlines the requirement.

All ice hockey coaches and instructors of registered USA Hockey Youth 18 & Under and below, high school, girls’/women’s 19 & under and below, and disabled programs must properly wear an approved ice hockey helmet during all on-ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and all Coaching Education Program clinics and/ or workshops. Failure to comply will result in a 30 day suspension from all activities involving USA Hockey registered programs.