Coaches Corner

Every season, District 3 has a mandatory coaches meeting that the head coach and team manager must attend. All meetings are at the Brooklyn Park Community Center. The meetings for the 2024-25 season are shown below:

• Bantam/PeeWee/15U/12U: October 21, 2024 - 7:00pm
• Squirt/10U: November 11, 2024 - 7:00pm

It is extremely important for our coaching volunteers to become certified each season. Steps 1-4 below MUST be met before a coach can be rostered and be on the ice with their team. If you have not completed Steps 1-4 you cannot be on the ice or behind the bench for an on-ice team event.

Steps 5-6 should be completed as soon as possible. Step 7 must be complete by December 31.

STEP 1: USA HOCKEY REGISTRATION

• Required annually. Save your confirmation code / USA Hockey # as you will need it for the additional requirements.
• LINK: USA Hockey Registration

STEP 2: WYHA COACH REGISTRATION

• You must register with WYHA using the link below. Once you have registered and provided us with your USA Hockey #, we will be able to help you track your other requirements.
• LINK: WYHA Coach Registration 

STEP 3: USA HOCKEY BACKGROUND SCREENING

• Background screening is required and valid for two (2) years. 
• Coaches need to complete the background screening BEFORE allowed on the ice. 
• USA Hockey's national background screening process requires a $30 fee. This means if you completed a screening anytime after 4/1/2023, it should be good for the 2024-2025 season.  
• It is your responsibility to confirm a valid screening.  
• The eight digit self-registration ID number for USAH to initiate your screen is 35615801
• LINK: USA Hockey Background Screening 

STEP 4: USA HOCKEY SAFESPORT TRAINING

• ALL Head and Assistant Coaches, Managers, Locker Room Volunteers and Board Members need to complete the USA Hockey SAFESPORT online training.  SafeSport training is free, and in some cases all that is required is a quick "refresher" course that can be completed in 15-20 minutes.
• LINK: USA Hockey SafeSport Training

STEP 5: CONCUSSION CERTIFICATION SCREENING

• Minnesota Hockey requires all coaches to complete concussion training. Training received from other sports will satisfy the training required for this certification.  
• You must provide a copy of your concussion certification by emailing it to Timothy Smith <tpsmith78@gmail.com>  before team rostering . This certification is good for ONE year only.
• LINK: Concussion Certification Training  

STEP 6: ONLINE AGE SPECIFIC MODULES

• You must complete an Age Specific Module for EACH playing level you will be coaching.  If you have completed an online specific age module in a previous year, you do not have to re-take that module. 
• Coaches completed modules can be found in the USA Hockey Online Coaches Certification list.
• LINK: Online Age Specific Modules 

STEP 7: USA HOCKEY CEP TRAINING

• Your Coach Education Program (CEP) level certification must be up-to-date and appropriate for the level you are coaching.
• If your CEP is expiring you MUST find the next available class online and complete prior to 12/31/2024.  
• EXCEPTION: Coaches of Mite, 8U or younger may remain at Level 1 or their current level even if it has expired. 
• For Travel team coaches, if your level 1 and 2 have expired, you need to proceed to the next level.  
• Review your current CEP level with the USA Hockey Online Coaches Certification list. 
• Register for an available clinic at USA Hockey Coaching Clinics. CEP Levels 1, 2 and 3 clinics are now provided virtual!
• IMPORTANT - If you do not complete the required CEP level before December 31st  you will be removed from your roster and will no longer be eligible to coach for the remainder of the season.
• LINK: Register for a USA Hockey Coaching CEP Clinic 

STEP 8: CHECK ON YOUR CURRENT CERTIFICATIONS

• Want to know where you are with certification requirements, check out this page.
• LINK: Coaching Requirements Report 

If you have any questions, contact Tim Smith, WYHA Coaching Compliance.

Please see the USA Hockey Coaching FAQ's regarding CEP requirements. 

In no circumstances may a player who is not on the team's roster and has not been approved as a student be on the ice for practices, in the locker or behind the bench for games. This means no older or younger siblings may take the ice with teams they are not rostered on.

In some cases, older players or siblings may be approved by WYHA as official student coaches. There are strict USA Hockey guidelines that must be followed, including:

• Must be between the ages of 13 and 17 years old or SafeSport certified if 18 years or older.
• Must be officially registered through USA Hockey
• May only work with players at least one full age level down from their own.
• Must always be under the supervision of a carded, screened adult coach during all practices, clinics, try-outs, and in the locker room.
• May help out at practices, clinics, or tryouts only.
• May not act as the head coach or an assistant coach during practices or games.
• May be on the bench during games with an adult. The student coach will count as one of the maximum of four Team Officials allowed on the bench.
• Must complete WYHA student coach training, which includes reviewing the Student Coach Presentation and submitting a Student Coach Model Form to WYHA.
• Once completed, this form must be dropped off at the WYHA Registration dropbox inside of PIC, Rink A.

To request replacement or extra equipment, complete this form: Replacement / Extra Equipment Request Form

To request different jersey(s) for sizing needs, complete this form: Jersey Request Form