USA Hockey requires that all affiliates and/or districts shall establish the following requirements without modifications for all coaches (head and assistant).  All coaches must have the required certification level and the age-specific module completed.

Certification Level
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 3.

EXCEPTION: Coaches of 8U or younger players may remain at Level 1 or their current level.

A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year (not including age-specific requirements). Coaches who do not coach in consecutive years must re-enter the program at the next level when they resume coaching responsibilities.

Once Level 3 is achieved, periodic renewal is required for coaches who have not achieved Level 4. Coaches who attain Level 4 certification are not required to attend any further certification clinics but must adhere to the age-specific requirement.

Level 3: Coaching certification at Level 3 is valid for two (2) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date.  A coach whose Level 3 is due to expire must take the online Level 3 Recertification Track 1 curriculum or they may move up to Level 4. Level 3 Track 1 Recertification is valid for two (2) seasons.  A coach whose Track 1 Level 3 recertification is due to expire must take the online Level 3 Recertification Track 2 curriculum or move up to Level 4. Level 3 Track 2 Recertification is valid for two (2) seasons.  Coaches whose Track 2 Level 3 Recertification is due to expire must attend a Level 4 clinic prior to the expiration of their Level 3 Recertification.  Coaches must complete the online recertification program in order to recertify their Level 3 certifications. Attending a clinic or workshop is no longer valid for recertifying any certification level.

Age-Specific Module

In addition to the training in the paragraph 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. 

USA Hockey SafeSport Program is the online training/education that is available to help our USA Hockey members become aware of the information necessary to help prevent abuse from occurring in our sport.  All USA Hockey registered coaches, officials, employees and volunteers are required to take the training at no cost. The training is comprised of short video segments that take approximately 90 minutes to complete. 

SafeSport link: http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining

SafeSport Training is valid for 2 seasons and must be completed prior to participation of the current season.