Coaching Education Recommended Guidelines
USA Hockey Coaching Education Program strongly recommends that the following set of guidelines be used as a minimum criteria for districts and/or affiliates establishing mandatory coaching education requirement policies.
It must be clearly understood that any coaching education requirement policies established by a district and/or affiliate must be administered and enforced by that district or affiliate.
Below are minimum criteria for districts and/or affiliates establishing mandatory coaching education requirement policies.
(1) Required Coaching Education Program Levels For Ice Hockey
USA Hockey requires that the following set of coaching education levels must be the minimum criteria for districts and/or affiliates.
All coaches must have the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program card by January 1 of the current season.
(2) Evidence of Level
All USA Hockey coaches will possess a USA Hockey Coaching Education Program card with a valid verification sticker. Coaches must have the CEP card in their possession for all USA Hockey games.
It is the responsibility of the local association to identify those coaches who do not meet the certification requirements. All coaches have until December 31 of the current season to attend a USA Hockey coaching clinic(s) to become properly certified at the level of play that they are coaching. During this time, and prior to the start of each game, coaches shall indicate their current coaching certification status on the scoresheet, regardless of their certification level.
Beginning January 1 of the current season, prior to the start of each game, all coaches present, from each team, are required to sign the designated area of the scoresheet in order to verify the accuracy of the playing roster, as it appears on the scoresheet, for that game. In addition, all coaches must include their USA Hockey Coaching Education Program (CEP) card number, their CEP level (levels 1-5) and the year their CEP level was attained. The CEP card number, level and year attained shall be printed legibly next to the coach’s signature (except for Juniors).
If a coach cannot produce his/her current USA Hockey Coaching Education Program Card prior to the start of the game, it must be noted on the official game scoresheet.
(3) Continuing Education Requirement
All coaches below Level 4 shall progress through the Coaching Education Program, attending a coaching clinic at least once every three years through Level 3. After a coach has completed Level 3, the coach shall do one of the following within three years to maintain certification: attend another Level 3 clinic, take a USA Hockey Continuing Education Course (i.e. attend a High Performance Workshop, complete the online Level 3 Recertification program) or attend a Level 4 clinic as per the Coaching Education Program Requirement chart. Once Level 4 is achieved, there is no further requirement for recertification.
If a coach’s certification below Level 4 was received more than 3 years from the current season, the card is rendered invalid/expired. Level 1 or 2 coaches must attend a clinic at the next level and Level 3 coaches must choose one of the certification options in order to reactivate their status.
(4) Penalty and Enforcement
All coaches must be certified at the proper CEP level for the level of play in which he/she is coaching beginning January 1 of the current season. It is the responsibility of the District/Affiliate to have a documented policy in place regarding non-compliance. The District/Affiliate will determine what the penalty shall be to the individual coach who fails to produce a current coaching education card with appropriate verification of level. It will be the responsibility of the local association registering the team to enforce the District/Affiliate policy. Non-compliance penalties for Junior coaches will be determined by the Junior Council.
COACHING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
8 & Under (Mite)
Level 1
10 & Under (Squirt)
Level 2 (Prerequisite Level 1)
12 & Under (Pee Wee)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
14 & Under (Bantam)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
16 & Under (Midget)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
18 & Under (Midget)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Midget I (Tier I & Tier II National Tournament-bound)
Level 4 (Prerequisite Level 1, 2 and 3)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
High School
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
Junior Tier I and II
Level 4
Junior Tier III
Level 4
(Prerequisite Level 3 Required)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
Girls/Women 8 & Under
Level 1
Girls/Women 10 & Under
Level 2 (Prerequisite Level 1)
Girls/Women 12 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 14 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 16 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 19 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 16/19 & Under National Tournament-bound Level 4 (Prerequisite Level 1, 2 and 3)
It must be clearly understood that any coaching education requirement policies established by a district and/or affiliate must be administered and enforced by that district or affiliate.
Below are minimum criteria for districts and/or affiliates establishing mandatory coaching education requirement policies.
(1) Required Coaching Education Program Levels For Ice Hockey
USA Hockey requires that the following set of coaching education levels must be the minimum criteria for districts and/or affiliates.
All coaches must have the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program card by January 1 of the current season.
(2) Evidence of Level
All USA Hockey coaches will possess a USA Hockey Coaching Education Program card with a valid verification sticker. Coaches must have the CEP card in their possession for all USA Hockey games.
It is the responsibility of the local association to identify those coaches who do not meet the certification requirements. All coaches have until December 31 of the current season to attend a USA Hockey coaching clinic(s) to become properly certified at the level of play that they are coaching. During this time, and prior to the start of each game, coaches shall indicate their current coaching certification status on the scoresheet, regardless of their certification level.
Beginning January 1 of the current season, prior to the start of each game, all coaches present, from each team, are required to sign the designated area of the scoresheet in order to verify the accuracy of the playing roster, as it appears on the scoresheet, for that game. In addition, all coaches must include their USA Hockey Coaching Education Program (CEP) card number, their CEP level (levels 1-5) and the year their CEP level was attained. The CEP card number, level and year attained shall be printed legibly next to the coach’s signature (except for Juniors).
If a coach cannot produce his/her current USA Hockey Coaching Education Program Card prior to the start of the game, it must be noted on the official game scoresheet.
(3) Continuing Education Requirement
All coaches below Level 4 shall progress through the Coaching Education Program, attending a coaching clinic at least once every three years through Level 3. After a coach has completed Level 3, the coach shall do one of the following within three years to maintain certification: attend another Level 3 clinic, take a USA Hockey Continuing Education Course (i.e. attend a High Performance Workshop, complete the online Level 3 Recertification program) or attend a Level 4 clinic as per the Coaching Education Program Requirement chart. Once Level 4 is achieved, there is no further requirement for recertification.
If a coach’s certification below Level 4 was received more than 3 years from the current season, the card is rendered invalid/expired. Level 1 or 2 coaches must attend a clinic at the next level and Level 3 coaches must choose one of the certification options in order to reactivate their status.
(4) Penalty and Enforcement
All coaches must be certified at the proper CEP level for the level of play in which he/she is coaching beginning January 1 of the current season. It is the responsibility of the District/Affiliate to have a documented policy in place regarding non-compliance. The District/Affiliate will determine what the penalty shall be to the individual coach who fails to produce a current coaching education card with appropriate verification of level. It will be the responsibility of the local association registering the team to enforce the District/Affiliate policy. Non-compliance penalties for Junior coaches will be determined by the Junior Council.
COACHING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
8 & Under (Mite)
Level 1
10 & Under (Squirt)
Level 2 (Prerequisite Level 1)
12 & Under (Pee Wee)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
14 & Under (Bantam)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
16 & Under (Midget)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
18 & Under (Midget)
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Midget I (Tier I & Tier II National Tournament-bound)
Level 4 (Prerequisite Level 1, 2 and 3)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
High School
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
Junior Tier I and II
Level 4
Junior Tier III
Level 4
(Prerequisite Level 3 Required)
Level Of Play
Coaching Education Program Level
Girls/Women 8 & Under
Level 1
Girls/Women 10 & Under
Level 2 (Prerequisite Level 1)
Girls/Women 12 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 14 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 16 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 19 & Under
Level 3 (Prerequisite Level 1 and 2)
Girls/Women 16/19 & Under National Tournament-bound Level 4 (Prerequisite Level 1, 2 and 3)
