Hockey Coach Job Description

A hockey coach holds a number of different responsibilities both on and off the ice. Depending on the age level you plan to coach, you may also have to balance these responsibilities with being a parent of a player and friend of parents who also have a child on the team.

  1. Teacher

    • A hockey coach is responsible for teaching players the necessary skills. This includes the fundamentals for teaching how to play, and more advanced techniques for players already familiar with the basics. A coach must modify different drills and techniques as necessary so players can understand how to complete various tasks.

    Motivator

    • Hockey coaches must motivate players in good times and bad. Hockey is often highly competitive, so a coach must help his players perform to the best of their abilities. Different players require different types of motivation, so the coach must individualize his psychology.

    Organizer

    • A hockey coach is responsible for organizing the ice times for the team before the season even starts. Due to the high cost of arena rental, practice time is often limited. Thus, it is essential to schedule practices well in advance so players can plan to attend each one. The same goes for scheduling games with other teams or tournaments.

    Listener

    • Being a good listener is also important. When teammates have disputes, the coach must hear them out and mediate. Seeing their coach listening carefully to all sides conveys to players their views matter and that their coach is understanding. Thus, the team will more readily respect the final judgment.

    Disciplinarian

    • A hockey coach needs to establish rules and guidelines for the team from the start of the season. Players should know the coach's expectations and the punishments associated with breaking any of the team rules. The coach must enforce the rules without showing favoritism to any player.

    Salary

    • Salaries for hockey coaches vary dramatically based upon different leagues and previous experience. When coaching youth hockey, do not expect any kind of payment, as it tends to be volunteer work. Professional coaches, however, receive salaries based upon experience and previous results. National Hockey League coaches often sign multimillion dollar contracts. Colleges and junior leagues often provide coaches with salaries too, though amounts differ greatly among the leagues.