Our primary focus is skater development:  fundamental skills, conceptual development, sportsmanship and respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, parents and off-ice officials.

• CLICK HERE to learn more about the USA Hockey Coaching Registration and Certification Process

• CLICK HERE to learn more about USA Hockey and the American Development Model (ADM)

The Coaches Committee is comprised of area coaches with significant coaching and playing experience. They develop and recommend our association coaching policy, conduct interviews for assigning coaches, and hold disciplinary hearings when necessary. The Coaches Committee also sets player development skills standards, works to maintain a consistent coaching philosophy, and maintains a library of coaching manuals, drill books, and videos. The Director of Hockey is the Chair of the Coaches Committee. 

• Coaches Application (Apply on our website, beginning in August/September) | One time | Must be done prior to season start
• USA Hockey Registration | Yearly | Must be done prior to season start
• SafeSport | Every Year | Must be done prior to season start | Link to check your status -> Login and navigate to 'My Profile > Coaching Information'
• Background Screen | Every Two Years | Must be done prior to season start |  Link to check your status -> Login and navigate to 'My Profile > Coaching Information'
• Age Specific Modules | Once per level | Must be done by January |Link to check your completed courses | Link to check your status -> Login and navigate to 'My Profile > Coaching Information'
• CEP Level Certifications | All coaches must enter USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program at Level 1, and must continue their education with a coaching clinic each year until, at a minimum, they achieve Level 3. EXCEPTION: Coaches of 8U or younger players may remain at Level 1 or their current level. A coach may attend only one (1) certification clinic per year (not including age-specific requirements). Coaches who do not coach in continuous years must re-enter the program at the next level when they resume coaching responsibilities. Once Level 3 is achieved, periodic renewal is required for coaches who have not achieved Level 4 Coaches who attain Level 4 certification are not required to attend any further certification clinics but must adhere to the age-specific requirement. Must be done by January | http://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics  | Link to check your status -> Login and navigate to 'My Profile > Coaching Information'

Please send all completed to the Director of Hockey.   

All coaches are required to complete USA Hockey's SafeSport Program before their first team practice.

WHAT IS SAFESPORT?

The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Hockey.  USA Hockey SafeSport is the organization's program related to off-ice safety.

USA Hockey has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth hockey players and other participants.  These include without limitation Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators.  The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook is intended to update and collect USA Hockey’s various policies to protect its participants from all types of misconduct and abuse.

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Please contact the Association Coaching and Education Director or a member of the Coaches' Committee if you have any coaching concerns, comments, or questions (positive feedback and compliments are appreciated and are also considered during future coaching assignment selections). The Coaches Committee will be thorough and respectful when investigating any complaints. Please keep in mind that anonymous complaints are typically much more difficult to resolve.  

Coaches, like players and parents, are bound by the Verona Wildcats Youth Hockey Association Code of Conduct policies. Please contact the Board of Directors, if you feel a coaching code of conduct violation has occurred.   Code of Conduct infractions will be addressed via the process outlined in the Parent Handbook.

1. Must always be under the supervision of a carded, screened adult coach during all practices, clinics, try-outs, and in the locker room.
2. May help out at practices, clinics, try-outs only. (May not participate as a player in scrimmages or games when acting as a STUDENT COACH).
3. May not act as the head coach or an assistant coach during practices or games.
4. May be on the bench during games with an adult. The STUDENT COACH will count as one of the maximum of four Team Officials allowed on the bench.
5. Must wear a helmet with full face shield, gloves, and skates while on the ice. Must wear helmet during games while on the bench.
6. May only work with players at least one full playing age level down (e.g., a Bantam age player may act as a STUDENT COACH at the Pee Wee, Squirt or Mite level).
7. A Student Coach Application Form must be completed and submitted to the ACE Director.

8. Student Coach Form

9. Upon reaching the age of 18, the STUDENT COACH must comply with the USA Hockey Screening Program and meet the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program requirements which will qualify him/her to act as an assistant or head coach.
10. All Student Coaches (18 years of age and under) are required to fill out a Student Coach Application
11. Student coaches need to be a positive addition to the practice environment; they are on the ice to help, not for extra ice time.
12. Whether student coaches are welcome to help with practices or games, and the number of student coaches on the ice for practices is the head coach’s prerogative.  All student coaching applications are subject to the final approval of the head coach and/or coaching staff for which the student coach will be helping. We need to ensure that there is a suitable number of coaches available to supervise, space available for the student coach, and willingness and ability of the coaching staff to supervise the student coach's involvement. Our first and foremost consideration is to ensure a positive environment for the skaters participating in the program.