Hockey Coaching Certification

All hockey coaches in the United States must be certified through USA Hockey. The Coaching Education Program (CEP) is offered at various local rinks in the country. Different levels of achievement are offered ranging from one to five. Prospective coaches must have specific certifications in order to coach certain levels in USA hockey-sanctioned programs. At the very least, mite coaches must possess a level one CEP card. Squirt coaches need at least a level two; peewee and 18 and under midget coaches need their level three, while midget coaches involved in Tier 1 or Tier 2 programs require a level four at the minimum.

  1. Level One

    • According to USA Hockey's CEP Brochure, level one involves the introduction of the basics skills in hockey--skating, puck handling, passing, receiving and shooting--and how to pass them onto beginners. Topics covered include leadership qualities, communication, teaching skill progression and skill analysis. Each coach attending receives four teaching progression/practice plan manuals.

    Level Two

    • The level two clinic involves the study of coaching skills like the role of the coach, teaching techniques, and practice organization. Individual player skills like skating, shooting, puck control, body play, goaltending and team development are also enforced as they relate to the basics of offensive and defensive play.

    Level Three

    • In level three, discussions on coaching psychology and physiology as they relate to hockey, are covered. At this level player development skills like body checking, overspeed training (working at speeds higher than competion speed), and dryland training are communicated and demonstrated. Team concepts and systems are introduced related to offensive, defensive and specialty team (powerplay and penalty kill) situations.

    Time Frame

    • Levels one through three can be done in a single weekend in some districts; others only allow the attainment of level one and two over a single year. The full clinic material provides for on-ice instruction in all three levels; however if there is no ice available for any of the sessions, the training can be successfully accomplished in the classroom alone.

    Level Four

    • In level four clinics, the emphasis is on the psychological, motivational and teaching aspects of coaching. How to condition and train ice hockey players is also covered. The clinic will also deal more in-depth with complex tactics and systems geared for advanced level players. None of the instruction is on ice. Elite coaches are often invited to speak on the topics covered. In some districts attendees work in small groups and are expected to complete a special project related to the speakers topics.

    Level Five Symposium

    • Level five certification is taught in a symposium or seminar format. The symposium is held every two years at a designated site. Instruction centers around the psychology of coaching young athletes. Systems and team play are taken to another level, while skill development focuses more on international competition. Daily small-group breakout sessions occur featuring an assigned leader who addresses present day hockey issues. A thesis completed on site or within six months of the symposium, is also required. The thesis can cover a variety of hockey topics including but not limited to what was taught at the seminar. A (CEP) level 5 five gold card is granted upon completion of the thesis.