Welcome to the Meramec Hockey Coaches Corner and thank you for your interest in coaching and commitment to the kids and our club. We have provided information on our coaching program requirements -- including USA and MO Hockey requirements, MHC policies and applications. If you have questions, please contact me directly via email anytime. Please have all of the following complete or in-progress to be considered for a coaching position.

(head coach, assistants, and on-ice help)

1. MHC:
All interested coaches are required to complete and fill out a coaching application for the fall hockey season. Please complete and turn in by June 15 of calendar year ( due to the 2020 - 21 season COVID 19 delay, the last day for coaching application submissions will be July 31st. - The form can be found as a file below - Coaching Application complete the SafeSport Refresher course for the current season.o 

Note: Please note that application does not guarantee placement. All candidates will be evaluated and the MHC Board has the final decision on assignments. complete the SafeSport Refresher course for the current season.

2.  COMPLETE ALL USA HOCKEY COACHING REQUIREMENTS:

Steps to Become a USA Hockey Coach

USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require both certification and registration to be eligible to coach. Registration is done online on a yearly basis. Certification is also required. A few basic steps requirements are as follows:

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

• Register as a member of USA Hockey. (Cost is $46 plus any affiliate fees if applicable). Click here for more information.  (Required every year, and will not be allowed on ice or participate with team activities until this is completed)
• Complete the background screening. Click Here (Cost is $30 - Required every 2 years, and will not be allowed on ice or participate with team activities until this is completed)                     
• Complete the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training. (Required every year and cannot be added to a roster until completed). Click here for more information.                                                 
• Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. (Cost is $10 per module and only needs to be completed once per age level. Must be completed PRIOR to participating in any team activities and cannot be added to a roster until completed) Click here to register for the modules.

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

• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. (Cost is $50. 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). Click here to locate a clinic.

** UPDATE Concerning CEP courses and COVID-19 **

2020-2021 – Temporary Coaching Card

The temporary card will allow each coach to have the proper level of certification for the 2020-21 season without attending a clinic. The temporary card applies to coaching levels 1-4 and will be offered through July 31, 2020.

Please see USA Hockey link for more information.

https://www.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1108088

One of the essential functions of coaches and team managers is to manage team communications with players and their families.  If you are a coach or team manager, SportsEngine has created a Team Management Guide for Coaches and Team Managers to help you use our website and mobile app to efficiently and effectively communicate and manage your teams. 

Coaching Requirements (head coach, assistants, and on-ice help):

1. MHC:

All interested coaches are required to complete and fill out a coaching application for the fall hockey season. Please complete and turn in by June 15 of calendar year - The form can be found here - Coaching Application

Note:  Please note that application does not guarantee placement. All candidates will be evaluated and the MHC Board has the final decision on assignments.

2. USA HOCKEY REQUIREMENTS:

Every coach must be registered with USA Hockey 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 a USA Hockey event 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 allowed to continue to coach.

3. 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 allowed to continue to coach.

4. 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.  The link for this is http://www.mohockey.org/screeningprogram.asp

5. SafeSport:

Every coach must complete the SafeSport training program.   SafeSport was designed to train coaches to become aware of the information necessary to help prevent abuse from occurring in our sport.  The SafeSport Training is valid for two (2) seasons.  Thus, if you took the training during the 2014-15 season, it was valid for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and you will need to complete the SafeSport Refresher course for the current season.

The SafeSport Training and SafeSport Refresher courses are available all season and can be found using this link: https://training.teamusa.org/accounts/register?v=true&o=0b17625e-9331- 41c3-a769-c54e7785beb8

Coaching Links:

USA HOCKEY:    www.usahockey.com

Missouri Hockey Youth Division: Coach webpage

Mandatory Helmet Policy: All ice hockey coaches and instructors must wear a helmet during all on-ice sessions, including practices, controlled scrimmages and coach and referee clinics (seminars).

Coach Selection: All Coaching candidate applications will be reviewed by MHC board and will be approved by MHC board members and Coaching Director. Above all else we expect our coaches to be positive model for our teams and our club.

• Head Coach placement is based on experience and qualifications. Parent Coaches are allowed but will not be placed into a coaching position until the player have completed evaluations and have been placed on a team. MHC has expectations of time commitment for all coaches-- especially Head Coaches. As a head coach you will not be required to complete volunteer hours or concession stand duties.

• Assistant Coach placement will be assigned teams the same as the head coaches. We expect the coaches to work together and complement each other throughout the season. Assistant coaches are held to the same standards as our head coaches when it comes to being a positive role model and commitments to the team. As a rostered assistant you will not be required to complete volunteer hours, but will still be required to complete concession stand duties.

Coaching Evaluations: All coaches will be evaluated by the parents of the team. These evaluations will be reviewed with the coaches to identify both the positive and the areas where we can improve. Coaches can also be observed throughout the year by MHC board members and coaching director. The observations and reviews will be used in future placement considerations.

Benefits: All parent 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.

Questions: For all questions about coaching at Meramec Hockey Club, please contact:

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