Policy
USA HOCKEY REQUIREMENTS
Every coach must be registered with USA Hockey (register every season) and have a VALID CEP number. This number designates a level of completion and subsequently, the level you qualify to coach. You need to attend local USA Hockey events to earn your level and must keep the level current through USA Hockey and future courses. For more information, please go to http://www.usahockey.com. CEP levels are valid for up to 3 years and expire on Dec 31st. Make sure you plan ahead so your certification does not expire in the middle of the season. Without a valid CEP, you will not be considered for a coaching position at CHA. Click here for USA Hockey Registration
AGE SPECIFIC MODULES
In addition to the CEP requirements, each coach must complete AGE SPECIFIC MODULES through the USA Hockey on line system. A coach must complete the module for the current age group(s) they wish to coach. If you will be coaching multiple teams in different age groups, you must complete the AGE SPECIFIC MODULES for each age group. For more information, please go to http://www.usahockey.com/coaches/age-specific_modules.aspx. Modules open up Sept and close Dec 31st and can take up to 6 hours to complete. Without a certificate of completion for the Age Specific Modules, you will not be considered for a coaching position at CHA.
BACKGROUND CHECK
Every coach must complete a background check. This is for the safety and security of both players and coaches. This is a series of questions controlled by a 3rd party and a report will be provided to you directly. Any infractions will be reported but at no time will your name be released. CHA takes child abuse very seriously and weight this verification heavily into our decision for placement. Background checks are valid for 2 seasons. The link for this is Click here to visit the USA Hockey Screening Program.
SAFESPORT
Every coach must complete Safesport Training. This annual, required training is free and helps coaches, managers, volunteers become aware of the information necessary to help prevent abuse from occurring in our sport. If you are a first time coach, the training will take about 90 minutes to complete. The yearly refresher takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. The link for this is Click here for link to Safesport Training
CHA DEVELOPMENT POLICY
While every youth sport--including hockey--is played in a competitive environment, at CHA, we place player development ahead of winning. There is a very slippery slope when we balance winning vs. development and we monitor this and take this very seriously. This is not to say that we don't play to win but again, player development is goal #1. We expect that each time a CHA team takes the ice for a game, they are prepared and play at a level that produces a winning attitude. Teams will have basically a 3:1 practice: game ratio and that is where the development is critical--in practice. We will provide coaches with minimum skating and skill protocols (based on the age and level of the team) that will be required to be integrated into the practice plans. These techniques and skill development are proven in the required development for the next level of the player’s career. These specific skating and skill drills are designed to complement the other drills in your practice plan.
ICE TIME
CHA has a policy of "equal ice time for the season" and not a policy of "equal ice time per game". A coach has to balance winning vs. development. A coach has the ability to shorten his bench at a specific point of a game if it is in the best interest of the team. However, Coaches are required to then make up that time to players at another game. While this is not a precise process, it is in the best interest of the player’s development to give them action in all aspects of a game--even strength, power play, shorthanded and the last minute of a close game. It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure that all players are exposed to all game situations and ultimately have similar ice time over the balance of the season.
COACH EVALUATIONS
The CHA board and Coaching Director take time to watch each team and its player’s growth. We base future coaching placement on past performance IN PLAYER DEVELOPMENT--not wins. Hanging banners is great for the team, the organization and the coach BUT development of our players is how we evaluate our coaches. Measuring success in wins\losses in our Tier II program is a recipe for certain failure.
HEAD COACH SELECTION
All Head coaches are assigned their coaching assignments. Recommendations are made by Operations Directors and then require the approval of the Coaching Director and the CHA Boardl. No one person has the power to appoint coaches. Head Coach candidates are interviewed in person to confirm qualifications and commitment. Head coaches are given assignments based on their specific experience levels and credentials and are placed at an age group that matches their experience. We do permit parent coaches but will not assign a head coach position to a parent of a player until that player has gone through tryouts and been placed. We do not place coaches in positions and then move their son\daughter to that team unless, again, that son\daughter has made the team on their own merits.
CHA has expectations of time commitment for all coaches--especially Head Coaches. While we understand life's other commitments, coaches are required to achieve a 95% attendance record.
ASSISTANT COACHES
After team selection and Head Coaches are named, the Head Coach will provide CHA with their recommendations for Assistant Coaches. If you are a non-parent assistant, you will be placed with the team officially then. Assistant coaches are held to the same standards as Head Coaches particularly-- commitment to developing all players on the team. Assistant coaches are not simply puck pushers at CHA--we have expectations of every coach on the ice being a valuable source for that team--with direction from the Head Coach.
BENEFITS
Our Tier II and Recreational League coaches are strictly volunteer and do not receive payment, any reduction of fees, or travel cost reimbursement. In addition, all costs associated with obtaining your coaching CEP, modules or background check are also not reimbursed. We do provide each Coach\team access to our equipment shed with practice equipment, pucks, etc...