How to Become an Inline Hockey Coach

Coach PhotoIt's easy to become a youth inline hockey coach. Each year hundreds of volunteer parents, siblings and administrators are trained to be a coach by USA Hockey InLine. These coaches are charged with the responsibility of committing to a team and serving as a mentor for the players and their parents alike. Coaches are looked upon for guidance and support through both good times and bad. In short, a coach becomes one of the most important people in a young players life. Coaching can be an enlightening and rewarding experience for coaches of all ages. The satisfaction that a coach receives in seeing his players grow and develop is a rewarding experience that is not easily matched by other experiences.

The first step in becoming a USA Hockey InLine Coach is to register online at www.usahockeyregistration.com.  The cost of coaching membership is $30.  Once you complete the online registration process, you will be emailed a link to your registration confirmation page.  You will then need to take that confirmation page to each sanctioned local league and/or tournament that your participate in for them to "claim" your registration as part of their program.  It is very important that each sanctioned league and/or tournament complete this step.  If this step is not completed, certain benefits might not be available while participating in that league/tournament.  USA Hockey InLine Coaching registration is also valid as player membership, but needs to be "claimed" as a player within the league/tournament just like coaching registration.

The next step is to obtain a Coaching Education Program (CEP) certification.  This certification is obtained by attending a level 1 USA Hockey InLine Coaching Clinic.  These clinics are between 4-6 hours and include both classroom and on-surface training.  Clinics are generally held between August and December each year.  Additionally, you can obtain your CEP Level 1 by attending an ice hockey coaching clinic.  CEP certification is valid for 3 years, but the registration needs to be renewed each year. 

Starting with the 2009-10 membership season, if you do not hold a minimum of a CEP Level 1 certification by December 31st each each year, you are not eligible to participate in any USA Hockey InLine sanctioned games or practices. 

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions related to the Registration, Testing and Seminar Process.  While most of the answers are irrelevent of the season, all these answers are based on the 2009-10 season.  If you have questions that are specific to the 2008-09 season, please contact info@usahockeyinline.org.

What are the requirements to be an inline hockey coach?

To be an inline hockey coach, you must register with USA Hockey InLine online at www.usahockeyregsitration.com; you need to turn in your confirmation page/number to each local program you coach in to be “claimed”; and you need to have at minimum a Coaching Education Program (CEP) Level 1 certification.

Are there different levels of clinics?

USA Hockey InLine currently only offers inline specific coaching clinics for level 1 and level 2.  USA Hockey, however offers ice hockey coaching clinics up to level 5.  Both USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine recognize the CEP Level and training of both disciplines of hockey.

How long is coaching certification/membership good for?

USA Hockey InLine membership and Coach Education Program certification are two separate things.  USA Hockey InLine membership needs to be renewed each year and is valid September 1 – August 31.  The Coaching Education Program certification is valid for three years, so only needs to be renewed every three years.  To be a coach with USA Hockey InLine you need to be a member as well as a valid CEP certification.

When do you have to have the clinic completed by?

Coaches have until December 31st each year to obtain their CEP Level.  If an inline coach does not have at minimum CEP Level 1 as of January 1st, they will not be eligible to be on the bench during games or on the floor during practices.  The only exception to this is for a brand new coach that has never registered with USA Hockey InLine before.  If the new coach registers after January 1 they do not need to obtain their CEP Level until the following December 31st.

How often do you have to take a clinic?

USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine CEP certification is valid for 3 years.  As long as you have a current and valid CEL Level 1 or above during any membership season, you will not need to take a clinic.  However, once you CEP certification expires, you will nee to either renew the current level or move up to the next level to continue coaching USA Hockey InLine sanctioned games and practices.

Where do a find a list of clinics in my area?

Coaching clinics can be found online at www.usahockeyinline.com.  Inline specific clinics will be listed under the “Coaches” section of that site.  Ice Hockey coaching clinics can be found using the link on the right side of the home page in the “Find Hockey Near You” section.  In either case you must pre-register online for the clinic.

What if there are no clinics in my area?

While USA Hockey InLine will be conducting between 20-30 coaching clinics each fall across the country, it is possible that there will not be one in your local area or you may not be able to make the clinic in your area.  Because of this, USA Hockey InLine and USA Hockey recognize the CEP level and training of both disciplines of hockey and an inline coach can get their CEP certification by attending a local ice hockey coaching clinic.  The information taught at an ice hockey clinic is almost identical to what is taught at an inline clinic.  It is not until Level 3 and above that the ice hockey clinics go in depth about the X’s and O’s of ice hockey.

Do assistant coaches need to be certified?

USA Hockey InLine does not recognize the difference between a head coach and an assistant coach as it relates to coaching education.  Any coach that participates as a coach in practices and/or games on a regular basis needs to meet the requirements of the CEP certification.  Adults that fill in for a game or two are not required to meet the same requirements, however, once they become a regular part of the game, then they must conform to the requirements.

What if I am an ice hockey coach as well, do I have to attend both clinics?

USA Hockey and USA Hockey InLine both use the same CEP certification and recognize the training regardless of which discipline of hockey is used for the training.  Therefore, if you obtain CEP Level 1 for ice hockey, that is valid for inline hockey and you do not need to attend an inline specific coaching clinic.

What is the cost of the clinic?

Inline specific Level 1 coaching clinics cost $20.  Inline specific Level 2 coaching clinics cost $30.

What if I register in the summer?

If you a brand new coach that has never registered with USA Hockey InLine as a coach before and you register January 1st or after, you will not be required to have CEP Level 1 for the remainder of the current membership season.  Starting the next membership season though, you will be required to meet the minimum CEP Level 1 requirements to able to coach USA Hockey InLine sanctioned games and practices.

I lost or damaged my CEP Card, how do I obtain another one?

Replacement cards can be obtained by completing a request form and submitting $5.  For more information about this and to download the form, click here.

How does a league host a clinic?

Each summer USA Hockey InLine will send out bid-to-host applications to all currently sanctioned leagues.  Leagues that are interested in hosting a clinic in the fall must complete the bid-to-host application and return it by the deadline to be considered for one of the fall clinics.  The Coaching Education Program will then review all submitted applications and contact those leagues that are chosen to host clinics to set-up the details of clinic and put the host league in touch with the local instructional staff.

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