If you are interested in helping out this season on the ice with coaching, you will need to complete the following:

• Current USA Hockey Membership (completed annually)
• Safe Sport Training (completed annually)
• Background Check (completed every 2-years)
• Coaching Levels

•       Maintain a positive attitude toward referees, parents, players, and other coaches, including language use. 

•       Refrain from using tobacco products in the presence of players. 

•       Coaches are prohibited from using alcoholic beverages anytime that they are responsible for the direction, coaching or supervision of his/her players. A coach who arrives intoxicated for any practice or game will be asked to leave and will be subject to disciplinary action. 

All individuals interested in a coaching position should display good communication skills, understanding of hockey fundamentals and good teaching skills. All coaches are required to attend a coaches’ meeting, and USA Hockey coaching clinic (if card is due) to obtain full coaching credit. All coaches must register online with USA Hockey and pay appropriate fees. 

Responsibilities include, but may not be limited to: 

•       All coaches must meet current USA Hockey coaching criteria and be familiar with all rules and regulations of USA Hockey and HYHA. 

•        All coaches are required by USA Hockey, MAHA and HYHA to be background checked every 2 years and Safe sport certified annually.

•       All coaches will receive a copy of their USA Hockey roster from the Registrar in accordance with USA Hockey guidelines. Any changes to the team must be made immediately known to the Registrar and will generate a supplement roster.  Roster changes cannot be made after December 15 of the current hockey year.

•        •Final rosters are set in accordance with USA hockey guidelines and failure to comply with roster procedures will result in the team being declared ineligible for any further play. 

Head coaches or team managers must always retain the following (games and practice): 

1.     OFFICIAL Team roster 

2.     Player medical information and release form 

3.     USA Hockey rules 

4.     Discipline Guidelines 

5.     First Aid Kit (or access to a kit)

6.     Player/Parent/Coach signed Code of Conduct forms 

7.     Proof of Coach Certification 

•       All coaches must have a clear understanding of USA Hockey rules and HYHA rules, including Zero Tolerance. Furthermore, the coaches must read and sign the Coach’s Code of Conduct and include this with their application. Fighting off or on the ice, including locker room boxing, will not be condoned, or tolerated by any coach for any reason. To do so constitutes a breach of the Coach’s Code of Conduct and warrants appropriate action by the Disciplinary Committee (or at the direction of the SafeSport Coordinator) including the possibility of dismissal from their coaching position. 

•       Coaches, or at least one other responsible screened adult appointed by the coach, must be present to always provide supervision while players are in the locker room. No forms of horseplay are permitted in the locker room and must be actively discouraged by the coaches. 

•       All coaches must ensure that there is always a coach with proper credentials on the ice with players. 

•       All coaches must attend mandatory coach meetings called by the Coach in Chief. Assistant coaches are encouraged to attend. 

•       Travel coaches must adhere to MAHA guidelines for turning in score sheets and must provide copies of all league games and tournaments to the HYHA Coach in Chief to provide documentation for player discipline and/or recognition. Payment of any fines levied for late score sheets by any organization of which HYHA is affiliated, will be the ultimate responsibility of the team in violation. 

•       At all games (home and away) the Head Coach, must be the last person to leave the facility. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to clear the locker room before leaving. No player shall be left at the rink without the Head Coach present. If the parent(s) of player(s) are watching the next game played or watching others, the Head coach may leave the facility. 

•       All game score sheets must contain in legible writing, the game coach’s name and must be signed by that coach. 

•       Coaches must promptly notify the Coach in Chief of any Major penalties against players or coaches by the end of the next working day.

•       Coaches must ensure that game misconduct penalties, incurred by player or coach be served accordingly by USA Hockey rules. 

•       Coaches must plan and structure all practices to maximize ice usage. 

•       Coaches must hold a player-parent meeting at the beginning of the season and additional meetings as needed. This will be done to disseminate all pertinent association information to players, parents, and coaching staff. Parents must understand that they are also bound by the rules of Zero Tolerance, including inappropriate language or action toward coaches or parents. Anyone who engages in continued inappropriate language or action toward coaches or other parents will not be permitted to enter the rink until the SafeSport Coordinator reviews the situation. 

Concussion Policy Acknowledgement

• I understand that the Havre Youth Hockey Association, an affiliate of USA Hockey, has adopted concussion-related education, awareness and protocol into their policies and procedures. 
• I understand the following guidelines and protocol exist, and will respect them if they must be instituted for any athlete on the team: 
  1. An athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury shall be immediately removed from participation for the remainder of the day. Removal can be at the request of a coach, official, team manager, parent/guardian, or the athlete. 
  2. Athlete shall not be permitted to return to participation until he/she is evaluated and released by a medical professional trained in the management of concussions and acting within the scope of his/her practice. 
  3. An athlete removed from participation for evaluation shall not be permitted to return to participation until a medical release by an appropriate medical professional (trained in the management of concussions and acting within the scope of his/her practice) is provided to the coach and/or team manager.
• Should it be determined that an athlete needs to be removed from participation, I understand that the protocol outlined herein must and will be followed for the safety of the athlete.
• I understand that if a suspected concussion has occurred and protocol has been enacted for an athlete, there is no review period or negotiation as to the course of action and return to participation outside of the recommendations of the evaluating medical professional who has been selected to treat the athlete. 

USA Hockey Requirements (Must be completed before participating in any team activities)

• Register as a member of USA Hockey. Click here for more information.
• Complete your background screening. Click here for more information
• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training Click here for more information.

Coaching Education Program Online Age-Specific Requirements 

(Must be completed PRIOR to participating in any team activities and cannot be added to a roster until completed)

• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching Click here to register for the modules.

All coaches must have the required certification level by December 31st of the current season.

All Coaches must enter USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program at the 6U/8U clinic if coaching Learn to Skate, Learn to Play, and/or 6U/8U classifications or a Level 1 Clinic if they are coaching a 10U classification and above.

• Coaches at the 6U/8U Level do not need to progress any further until one of the following occurs:
  • The Coach moves up to another age classification, above 8U, OR
  • The Coach returns to 6U/8U for the fifth consecutive season and the level is now expired.
  • Coaches in the 6U/8U Level should NOT take the Level 1 Clinic until they start coaching at the 10U classification and above.
• As of the 2025-26 season, Level 1 Coaches must continue their education with a coaching clinic each year. A Coach may attend only ONE certification clinic per year. This does not include continuing education clinics or modules. 
• Effective in the 2022-23 season, Level 4 coaching certifications are valid for three (3) seasons, and Level 5 coaching certifications are valid for four (4) seasons, each as indicated by an expiration date.
• In addition, 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, 6U/8U through Level 5. Coaches may complete more than one Age-Specific module in any give season. As of the 2023-24 season, all coaches must complete the Foundations for Player Development and the Age-Specific modules PRIOR to participating with a team.

Coaching Education Program Certification Clinic Requirements (Must be completed by Dec. 31)

• Coaching clinics will be posted in June on the USA Hockey site.
• Coaches have until December 15th each season to complete their coaching clinic requirements.
• You can attend any clinic, hosted by any District / Affiliate across the country.
• Clinics are first come, first serve, and are not guaranteed to have seats available if the class roster is at full capacity.
• There will be a variety of available clinic dates and times which will fit to every coach's schedule.
• Coaches can only take 1 Clinic per season.
• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic.  You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches start at Level 1. (The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 officially runs from September 1 to December 31).