All coaches and assistant coaches that coach within the KVHA are certified by the guidelines set forth by USA Hockey and MAHA and agree to abide by the USA Hockey Ethics Handbook.  All required certifications must be completed by the required dates for the current season to be eligible.   

Those interested in being a Head Coach within the KVHA must submit an application for the division of interest that they would like to coach.   Coaching application links are posted on the KVHA home page prior to each season when coach recruitment is in force.  Applications are reviewed, criminal background checks are conducted, and a formal interview with the KVHA Coach Selection Committee is then conducted.  Selected candidates are submitted to the KVHA Board for approval before a team will be awarded.

Once selected, the Head Coach is ultimately in charge of their team.  This means that they assume responsibility for all team personnel, credentials and conduct, financial dealings and other aspects of the team within the scope of the By-laws and regulations set forth by KVHA, MAHA and USA Hockey. 

KVHA Head Coaches are responsible for conducting themselves as a positive role model for those players selected or drafted to their team.   As a role model and positive influence, they accept responsibility for not only their own behavior and conduct but also the conduct of their assistant coaches, managers, players, and parents, guardians, etc.

All KVHA Head Coaches are appointed by the KVHA Board of Directors and these positions are at all times, ‘at will.’ KVHA Head Coaches are volunteer positions.  They are not compensated or receive any other remuneration or fringe benefit from KVHA for serving in this position.

USA HOCKEY COACH'S CODE OF CONDUCT

• • • • Winning is a consideration, but not the only one, nor the most important one. Care more about the child than winning the game. Remember, players are involved in hockey for fun and enjoyment.
      • Be a positive role model to your players. Display emotional maturity and be alert to the physical safety of players.
      • Be generous with your praise when it is deserved; be consistent and honest; be fair and just; do not criticize players publicly; learn to be a more effective communicator and coach; don’t yell at players.
      • Adjust to personal needs and problems of players; be a good listener; never verbally or physically abuse a player or official; give all players the opportunity to improve their skills, gain confidence and develop self-esteem; teach players the basics.
      • Organize practices that are fun and challenging for your players. Familiarize yourself with the rules, techniques and strategies of hockey; encourage all your players to be team players.
      • Maintain an open line of communication with your players’ parents. Explain the goals and objectives of your association.
      • Be concerned with the overall development of your players. Stress good health habits and clean living.
      • To play the game is great, to love the game is greater

USA Hockey Coaches Ethics Handbook

USA Hockey Declaration of Fair Play and Respect

NON ROSTERED PLAYERS/COACHES ON THE ICE OR BENCH

The only people allowed on the ice during practice or on the bench during games are those players rostered to the team and that team’s rostered coaches.  Having others on the ice or the bench invalidates the USA Hockey insurance and puts the head coach at risk for disciplinary action and potential lawsuit should an un-rostered individual be injured.  The USA Insurance coverage will not cover you or anyone on the ice, including an injured party, if there are un-rostered players or coaches participating.

The rule applies to player siblings, coaches other children, friends, and even those rostered on other KVHA teams.  Older siblings, 13 and older, can take the student coaching class and be rostered as a student coach.

This is not optional, and coaches will be suspended immediately pending a hearing if it un-rostered participants are found to be on the ice. This is not a KVHA rule, but a USA Hockey / MAHA rule and it will be strictly enforced.

INJURED PLAYERS ON THE BENCH

If a player is injured, they may sit on the bench but they must wear a helmet if they are sitting with the players.  They may sit inside the scorebox without a helmet.

HELMETS are MANDATORY!

All coaches on the ice are required to wear a helmet.  It is the head coaches responsibility to make sure this is followed. If your team has someone come to your practice to work with your team and they are on the ice, they must have a helmet. NO EXCEPTIONS.  Failure to follow this policy puts the head coach at risk for disciplinary action, including suspension.

Any coach or trainer on team ice that has been purchased through KVHA must wear a helmet. If your team sold your ice to a coach or trainer and that coach/trainer is running a program outside of your regular team, do what you would like when it comes to wearing a helmet or not.  Please report to us that you sold the ice noting the date, rink and time. This way if someone reports a KV team/coach for not wearing a helmet and this was not on KVHA ice, we can support you.

MOUTHGUARD and NECKGUARD are MANDATORY for PLAYERS!

Safety for the players and goalies is of the utmost importance. It is the responsibility of each parent to ensure that his/her players have the required equipment prior to all practices and games. It is the responsibility of the coaches and parents/guardians to encourage their players to wear the required equipment correctly during all ice times.

It is a rule of the Kensington Valley Hockey Association that every player and goalie, in every division, is required to wear a neck guard (or a throat/neck shield for goalies), a mouth guard and ear guards in their helmets during all practices, all training sessions, and all games, whether using Kensington facilities, or at any other arena/rink.

Neck guards and mouth guards are to be worn properly during all ice time. 

1. The neck guard must be commercially manufactured and unaltered.
2. The neck guard may be either separate or part of an undergarment with a neck guard extension.
3. Coaches are responsible for all players being equipped properly.
4. The penalty for a player that does not have a legal neck guard will be a team warning, the offending player sent from the ice (excluding goalies). Subsequent violations of this rule by any player shall result in a misconduct penalty

Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers and Locker Room Parents must complete all required USA Hockey training, certifications and screenings to be officially rostered to their team.  Ideally, credentials, except CEP, should be in place BEFORE September 1 every season.  Team rostering opens on September 1st so the sooner everything is complete the sooner your team will receive their roster.

Below is a list of everything that is needed for Head and Assistant Coaches and when everything must complete or be renewed.

COACHES SEARCH FOR YOUR CURRENT CEP LEVEL & AGE MODULES COMPLETED HERE 

PLEASE START ON YOUR COACHING CREDENTIALS EARLY TO ENSURE THAT THE TEAM ROSTERING PROCESS GOES SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY!!

If you have coached in the past, here are 5 Steps to verify your coaching credentials

1. Visit https://courses.usahockey.com/public/
2. Log in
3. Click on "My Profile" under the USA Hockey logo, upper left
4. Click on "Coaching Information"
5. Update anything missing asap!

If you are not sure what you need, please send your USA hockey # for the upcoming season to office@kvhockey.org

USA HOCKEY CREDENTIALS - With the exception of the Coaches Education Program, all credentials must be completed before the season begins to ensure that you can be rostered to your team in a timely fashion.    A coach or manager who has not completed safesport training, age modules or the background screening cannot be rostered.   

USA HOCKEY REGISTRATION

• Players, Coaches and Managers must renew their membership to USA Hockey every hockey season
  • Registration opens April 1st of every season
  • Fall USA Hockey numbers are also good for the spring season but they expire August 31 every year. 
  • Everyone must register with USA Hockey every season to renew their membership/liability insurance coverage   
• Coach and Manger USA Hockey Confirmation #s must be sent to office@kvhockey.org
  • Please use your full legal name when registering with USA hockey so that your coaching education (clinics and modules), safe sport and background screening show in their record.  Example if legal name is Michael Smith and new registration is created for Mike Smith, the system will create a separate new record and not connect your previous education or screenings.

BACKGROUND SCREENING 

• $30 fee
• Self Registration ID# 35615801
• Valid for two seasons (if you submitted last season, you will not have to complete this year)

SAFESPORT ONLINE MODULES | SAFETY, BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

• Completed by watching video segments and answering questions online
• Core training - 60-90 minutes; Refresher Training - 20-30 minutes
• The refresher courses are available 30 days prior to the expiration date of the last training
• Players who will turn 18 anytime during the season are also required to take the Safesport training

AGE SPECIFIC MODULES FOR HEAD AND ASSISTANT COACHES

• Modules are 8U, 10/12U, 13+
  • You only need to take the module for the age level you are coaching
    • If a coach has taken the 10U module and moves up to 12U they will need to take the new 10/12U module
    • If a coach has taken the 14U module they do not need to do the new 13+ module if still coaching a 14U team.
    • If a coach has taken the 16/18/19 module and is coaching a 14U team that coach will have to take the 13+ module.
    • A coach does not need to take the 13+ module if the coach has a 16/18/19 module and is coaching a 16/18/19 team.
    • At the 8 & Under level, once you complete your 8U age module, you will not have to take another until your child moves up to the 10U level.
• $20 for each online age module
• Takes about 3-4 hours to complete each age module

COACHES EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEP) FOR HEAD & ASSISTANT COACHES

• MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31 of EACH SEASON
• Begin with Level one* and complete one level each season through Level 4
  • Coaches may remain a level one as long as you are coaching at the Mini Mite or Mite levels, once you start coaching squirt (10U) or older, you must take the Level 2.
• In-person and Virtual clinics are available and take about 6-8 hours, the virtual clinic can be in any state, just be aware of the time zone to ensure you are on time!
• Sign up early to choose a convenient date and location for you - Do not wait - clinics fill up early!   
• A coach may attend only one clinic level per season
• Cost is $60 per clinic

Effective in the 2021-22 season, coaching certification at Levels 4 and 5 is valid for three (3) seasons, as indicated by the expiration date. Before the expiration of their level, coaches must accumulate 5 credit hours of continuing education by either taking Level 5, or by attending other USA Hockey continuing education clinics. The USA Hockey clinic listings will indicate all continuing education offerings and the credit value of each.

Anyone who has not completed the proper items is not allowed on the ice or the bench in any capacity.    MAHA D4 will suspend a Head Coach for allowing non-registered parents/coaches on the bench or ice.  

No unrostered players or coaches should be on the ice for practice or on the bench during a game.   A rostered member of the team has certain protections through USA Hockey's liability coverage that un-rostered individuals do not.  If a person is not rostered, and they are on the bench during a game and receive a penalty as a coach, or there is some other incident during a game, the head coach can be suspended for having an unrostered coach on the bench.    Additionally, if an unrostered coach is on the ice during practice, and someone is injured, the liability insurance for the entire team can be nullified due to having that unrostered person on the ice.   It seems like a lot for a kid's game but ultimately it is about safety and ensuring that we have properly screened and trained adults in a supervisory capacity.  Injuries to non-rostered siblings/players/coaches are at your own risk and not that of KVHA.

Per the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan sports concussion legislation requires all coaches, employees, volunteers, and other adults involved with a youth athletic activity to complete a concussion awareness online training program, which must be re-taken every three years (or more frequently as determined by MDHHS).

U of M online concussion training:  https://concussion.umich.edu/education/concussion-training/

CDC HEADS UP to Youth Sports: HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Concussion Training | HEADS UP | CDC Injury Center

After completion, download your certificate of completion, keep a copy for your personal records, and submit a copy to office@kvhockey.org

More information can be found here - https://kvhockey.org/concussion-resources/

Managers and Locker Room Parents must complete all required USA Hockey items to be officially rostered to their team.  Ideally, credentials should be in place BEFORE September 1 every season.  Team rostering opens on September 1st so the sooner everything is complete the better. 

Locker Room Parents and Team Managers need to register with USA Hockey as a volunteer, complete SafeSport training, and submit a background screening. 

Managers and Locker Room Attendants may not serve as on ice or on bench coaches unless they are rostered as coaches in addition to their manager duties.  Coaches may also serve as locker room monitors.   Any team parent can assist with team functions or be in the scorebox as a timekeeper or help with the score sheet, they do not need to be credentialed.  

USA HOCKEY REGISTRATION

• Players, Coaches and Managers must renew their membership to USA Hockey every hockey season
  • Registration opens April 1st of every season
  • Fall USA Hockey number are also good for the spring season but they expire August 31 every year.   
• Coach and Manger USA Hockey Confirmation #s must be sent to office@kvhockey.org
  • Please use your full legal name when registering with USA hockey so that your coaching education (clinics and modules), safe sport and background screening show in their record.  Example if legal name is Michael Smith and new registration is created for Mike Smith, the system will create a new record and not connect your previous education or screenings.

BACKGROUND SCREENING 

• $30 fee
• Self Registration ID# 35615801
• Valid for two seasons (if you submitted last season, you will not have to complete this year)

SAFESPORT ONLINE MODULES | SAFETY, BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

• Completed by watching video segments and answering questions online
• Core training - 60-90 minutes; Refresher Training - 20-30 minutes
• Refresher Training is made available 30 days before your prior Safesport certification expires
• Players who will turn 18 anytime during the season are also required to take the Safesport training

A player between the ages of 13 and 17 who is currently properly registered with USA Hockey may serve as a student coach under the following conditions:

• Must attend a training session conducted by the local hockey association. Student coaches are not eligible to attend a CEP certification clinic for certification. They may audit a clinic but they do not receive certification credit, nor are they required to pay for the clinic. He/she will need to contact the instructor directly as he/she will not be able to register online due to the age restriction in place.
• Does NOT need a background check or SafeSport until the age of 18.
• 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, try-outs only. (May not participate as a player in scrimmages or games when acting as a STUDENT COACH).
• 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 wear a helmet with full face shield, gloves, and skates while on the ice. Must wear helmet during games while on the bench.
• May only work with players at least one full playing age level down (e.g., a 14U age player may act as a STUDENT COACH at the 12U, 10U or 8U level).
• Upon reaching the age of 18, the STUDENT COACH must comply with the USA Hockey Screening Program and meet the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program requirements which will qualify him/her to act as an assistant or head coach.
• The organization that is using the STUDENT COACH must provide a form (link to form below) indicating on what team he/she is participating as a student coach, and, if applicable, what team he/she is properly registered/rostered as a player. This form stays with the association and a copy should be in the team binder.

Student-Coach-Form

•  KVHA will reimburse up to 4 coaches per team for the cost of USA Hockey Registration and Level 1-5 CEP clinics
  • We do not reimburse for the Age Module ($20) or Background screening ($30) 
• For the 23-24 Season, the USA Hockey Fee is $56 ($46 + $10 MAHA fee) and the CEP class is $60
• Reimbursements are automatic and made to coaches who have completed ALL of the required credentials and are rostered to a KVHA Team
  • House coaches will receive a check mailed to their address of record.
  • Travel Coaches will be reimbursed via transfer to the team account and then the team manager is responsible for disbursement to the coaches.
• All reimbursements will be made starting in November and all reimbursements will be completed by January 31st of each season

From the MAHA Annual Guide pages 46-49

VIII. COACHING REQUIREMENTS

1. All teams rostered with the MAHA and USA Hockey must have a head coach and team manager in good standing with the MAHA and USA Hockey. All teams must have a rostered head coach, assistant coach, or team manager present at all team functions who is
responsible for the conduct of all team personnel. The Head Coach of each team must be so designated on the roster at the time of each team's registration. Also reference USA Hockey rule 201.

2. Coaches and managers must be rostered at the same time as the players. Teams may roster additional team officials at any time. (See Section II., Registration and Rostering: Participants and Teams for required paperwork). Coaches and Managers can only be rostered on one team in an age/division classification at a time; example, rostering with a 13U (Bantam) A and 14U (Bantam) B is acceptable since these are different divisions.

3. Any Association or Club team with a head coach, assistant coach, or manager that formerly coached or managed in another Association or Club shall not have a team with more than 50% of its players who played on a team coached or managed by one or more of those
individuals during the preceding regular or post season.

4. Coaching Education Requirements.
     a. Required Coaching Education Program Levels for Ice Hockey: All coaches must have the required certification level by January 1 of the current season unless earlier deadlines are established. All coaches must complete the online age-specific component PRIOR to
rostering with their team in any season. 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 4. Coaches of 8 and Under players, as well as coaches of disabled hockey, may remain at Level 1 or other certification level, even if expired, until such time as they are coaching any older age level of play or something other than disabled hockey. A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year.
     b. Once Level 4 is achieved, coaches will need to complete 5 credit hours of continuing education within each subsequent three-year period.
     c. In addition to the training in paragraph (a) 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 4.

5. Coaches may complete more than one age-specific component in any given season.
     d. 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. Before the expiration of their level, coaches must accumulate 5 credit hours of continuing offerings. The USA Hockey clinic listings will indicate all continuing Education Program retains the responsibility for defining
continuing education credit values, including clinic or on-line course work.
     e. Grandfather Clause- For those coaches who received Level 4 or Level 5 PRIOR TO January 1, 2021 and who are coaching or begin to coach after this date, any Tier I or Tier II teams will be required to do continuing education as required in (d) above)
   f. Previous/Expired Certifications: Coaches with any expired certification will retain their previous certification levels provided the certification can be verified. Coaches will enter the certification system at that previous level and be subject to the certification guidelines as outlined above.

5. This chart outlines the progression for a new coach. Coaches with pre-existing certifications will enter the new program at their current certification level and must adhere to paragraphs 1. (a) and (b) above.
Years of Coaching Certification Requirements
Year 1 (ex: 2022-23) Level 1 clinic + age-specific module
Year 2 (ex: 2023-24) Level 2 clinic + age-specific module if not
previously taken for current age level,
unless coaching 8U
Year 3 (ex: 2024-25) Level 3 clinic + age specific module if not
previously taken for current age level
Year 4 (ex: 2025-26) Level 4 clinic + age-specific module if not
previously taken for current age level
Year 5 (ex 2026-2027 Coach may stay at Level 4, every 3 years,
must obtain combined 5 CE credits. Level 5
clinic + age-specific module if not
previously taken for current age level
Year 6 (ex 2027-2028) Level 5 coaches, every 4 years must obtain
combines 5 CE Credits.

6. Evidence of Level.
a. 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, or earlier date as established by the MAHA, to attend a USA Hockey coaching clinic. All coaches must complete the online age-specific modules PRIOR to rostering with their team in any season.
b. Prior to the start of each game, all coaches present are required to print their name legibly and sign the designated area of the score sheet in order to verify the accuracy of the playing roster, as it appears on the score sheet, for that game.

7. Penalty and Enforcement.
Any coach who does not achieve the certification requirements, or receive a temporary certification exemption card form USA Hockey, by December 31 will be ineligible to coach for the remainder of the season. It will be the responsibility of the local Association registering
the team to enforce the national requirement.

8. Student Coaches.
a. Qualifications.
i. A player age 13 through 17 who is currently properly registered with USA Hockey mayserve as a Student Coach.
ii. Must attend a training session conducted by the local hockey Association or audit a Level 1 clinic (not required to pay nor will they receive certification credit).
iii. Must always be under the supervision of a carded, screened adult coach during all practices, clinics, try-outs and in the locker room.
iv. May help out at practices, clinics, and try-outs only. (May not participate as a player in scrimmages or games when acting as a Student Coach).
v. May not act as a head coach or an assistant coach during practices or games.
vi. 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.
vii. Must wear a helmet with full face shield, gloves, and skates while on the ice. Must wear a helmet during games while on the bench.
viii. May only work with players at least one full playing age level below the Student Coach (e.g. a 14U (Bantam) age player may act as a Student Coach at the 12U (Pee Wee), 10U (Squirt) or 8U (Mite level)).
ix. The organization that is using the Student Coach must provide a form indicating the team on which he/she is participating as a Student Coach, and, if applicable, what team he/she is properly registered/rostered as a player. A model form is available on the usahockey.com website.
x. Upon reaching the age of 18, the Student Coach must comply with the MAHA Background Screening Program and meet the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program requirements which will qualify him/her to act as an assistant or head coach.

9. Safe Sport and Screening Policy.
All USA Hockey coaches, and instructors (Includes independent contractors) will comply with the USA Hockey Safe Sport and Screening Policies. Failure to comply with the Safe Sport and Screening Policies will result in the forfeiture of coaching privileges in programs, at sites, or events under USA Hockey’s governance.

10. Coaching Ethics Code.
All USA Hockey ice hockey coaches (head and assistant) and instructors must abide by the USA Hockey Coaching Ethics Code and understand that violations may result in full or partial forfeiture of coaching privileges in programs, at sites or events under USA Hockey’s
governance. All coaches have an obligation to be familiar with USA Hockey’s Coaching Ethics Code. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of an ethical standard is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct. The USA Hockey Coaching Ethics Code can be found online at usahockey.com under Coaches.

11. No coach, manager, or other team official, connected with a rostered team may directly or indirectly entice, influence, or contact a player on a rostered team without the written approval of the coach and/or manager of that team. Violation of this rule will result in a
recommended suspension of not less than one year

12. All ice hockey coaches, instructors, 3rd party coaches, and independent contractors, whether they are on the official roster or not, that participate with registered USA Hockey youth, high school, disabled, girls/women’s 19&under and below programs must wear an approved ice hockey helmet during all on ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and coach and referee clinics (seminars), with the exception of when a team official is tending to
an injured player. Failure to comply will result in a 30-day suspension from all activities involving USA Hockey registered programs.