Coaching Requirements

Interested in coaching at the Blades?

Fill out the GR Blades Coaching Application here.

Questions?

Email Interim Coaching Director, John Hoekstra, at coachingdirector@grblades.org

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.  Click here for more information.
• Complete the background screening. Click here.
• 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. (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 Clinic Requirements (Must be completed by Dec. 31 each season)

• Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches start at Level 1. You can take clinics from April 1-Dec. 31 each season. Click here to locate a clinic.

Not sure what CEP level you need, click here

CEP Clinics are available on the USA Hockey Website. 

All youth hockey coaches in Michigan and the rest of the country are required to attend a series of clinics before they are eligible to coach. The clinics are designed to help coaches provide curriculum and use the proper teaching techniques to ensure the proper development of their players.

The clinics are mandated and overseen by USA Hockey qualified instructors with at least a Level 4 certification. The clinic manuals they use and seminar content presented have been designed by the best hockey coaches and skill acquisition professional in the country. Each level is specific to the age of the players and their needs.

An explanation of the required levels is available on this site and at http://www.usahockey.org/