Age Specific Coaches Training Launched by USA Hockey

[The Bone]

Dear USA Hockey-registered Coach,

It is an exciting time to be a part of USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program. Throughout the month of September we will launch our new online age-specific modules. These modules represent a revolutionary approach to help you become the best hockey coach possible. We are providing you with information specific to the age level of play you are coaching so you can reach your players where they are in their developmental process.

Each week in September will feature the launch of a new age level module, beginning with the 8 & Under Module on September 6th. The full schedule is as follows:

September 6th: 8 & Under (Mites)

September 13th: 10 & Under (Squirts)

September 20th: 12 & Under (Peewees)

September 27th: 14 & Under (Bantams), and 16/18/19 & Under (Midgets)

The modules feature presentations from USA Hockey and current and former National Team Development staff members, NHL and collegiate coaches, and subject-specific experts, i.e., nutritionists, psychologist, etc. Each age level consists of topics ranging from specific skill development (skating, passing, shooting, body contact, etc.) to goaltending to nutrition and sleep needs of players. All subjects and concepts will be conveyed using video presentations, drill examples, white board graphics, animation, etc.

Modules must be completed before December 31st of the current playing season. Once you register you have 30 days in which to complete the module. All modules started after December 1st still must be completed by December 31st. Please click here to find out more information on the modules and to register.

The new CEP requirements passed by USA Hockey's Board of Directors back in June 2010 require you to complete a module for each age level of play you are coaching. You can complete more than one module per season but can only be registered for one module at a time. The cost for each module is $10. You will also need your USA Hockey membership confirmation number in order to register for the modules. Please click here for information on retrieving that number.

Thank you for being an integral part of the USA Hockey family. You are the direct connection in creating a life-long love of the game in our young players. We hope you find these modules to be a valuable tool in creating that environment. Thank you for all you do.

Mark Tabrum

Director, CEP

[JSR]

Dear USA Hockey-registered Coach,

It is an exciting time to be a part of USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program. Throughout the month of September we will launch our new online age-specific modules. These modules represent a revolutionary approach to help you become the best hockey coach possible. We are providing you with information specific to the age level of play you are coaching so you can reach your players where they are in their developmental process.

Each week in September will feature the launch of a new age level module, beginning with the 8 & Under Module on September 6th. The full schedule is as follows:

September 6th: 8 & Under (Mites)

September 13th: 10 & Under (Squirts)

September 20th: 12 & Under (Peewees)

September 27th: 14 & Under (Bantams), and 16/18/19 & Under (Midgets)

The modules feature presentations from USA Hockey and current and former National Team Development staff members, NHL and collegiate coaches, and subject-specific experts, i.e., nutritionists, psychologist, etc. Each age level consists of topics ranging from specific skill development (skating, passing, shooting, body contact, etc.) to goaltending to nutrition and sleep needs of players. All subjects and concepts will be conveyed using video presentations, drill examples, white board graphics, animation, etc.

Modules must be completed before December 31st of the current playing season. Once you register you have 30 days in which to complete the module. All modules started after December 1st still must be completed by December 31st. Please click here to find out more information on the modules and to register.

The new CEP requirements passed by USA Hockey's Board of Directors back in June 2010 require you to complete a module for each age level of play you are coaching. You can complete more than one module per season but can only be registered for one module at a time. The cost for each module is $10. You will also need your USA Hockey membership confirmation number in order to register for the modules. Please click here for information on retrieving that number.

Thank you for being an integral part of the USA Hockey family. You are the direct connection in creating a life-long love of the game in our young players. We hope you find these modules to be a valuable tool in creating that environment. Thank you for all you do.

Mark Tabrum

Director, CEP

Umm, shouldn't they be thinking of ways to get more folks into helping coach youth hockey instead of drumming up more stuff that will clearly drive them away or make them drop out. Remember the rest of the USA is not Minnesota, we don't have a never ending supply of people willing to coach the kids. I get they want to help the coaches get better and be better at these age specific categories etc.... but making it mandatory and putting additional costs out there is not the way to do it IMHO

[HockeyDad41]

This is great. Glad to see some of our registration money being put to good use.

[Scout716]

This will be a good Resource for assisting in educating our coaches, however its not really the coaches that need to be educated. We have all witnessed many programs that have passed up the Correct, More Qualified Coach, due to Youth Sports & Politics. I see so often the seclection committee for these coaches have no idea themselves what skills need to be taught or even how to go about it. Maybe it would better represent the overall program by having ALL board members and those involved sit in on som eof these. Just food for thought..

[McLuvin]

Let me get this straight. On top of the 400 hours of volunteer time I put in each winter coaching Mites, Squirts, PeeWee and Bantams, I get the pleasure of spending another 10 to 20 hours online for my level 3 renewal (which I have taken twice) and 4 new age specific training modules. But the good news doesn't end there, all this fun will only cost me $55 for the level 3 re-cert and another $40 for the new training. Plus another $30 for USA hockey registration. Plus another $30 per kid for USA hockey registration. So for me to volunteer endless hours it will cost another $125 to USA hockey. If my local association got some of this money it might be tolerable. But the money goes into a netherworld called USA hockey.

Will I get something out of this training? Probably. My irritation is that as a volunteer, putting in hundreds of hours on the ice each year to make the experience of hockey a positive one for the youngsters, the hurdles and expense become a nuisance. USA hockey is trying to grow the game but what I fear is that these programs will continue to drive volunteers out.

Will these programs change a bad coach into a good coach. In my experience, no they won't. Bad coaches will still be bad, Good coaches will still be good, maybe a little better. While these programs concentrate on specific skills, a good coach has the innate ability to read his players. The coach knows how to reach each kid differently to help that player develop to their own highest level. The good coach knows how to differentiate between a self driven player and a lazy player, one with tremendous skill and one with challenges to make the experience of hockey rewarding for all. And none of these coaching skills are taught in these programs.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

The age specific modules aren't the only changes to the CEP. The CEP levels are no longer associated with age levels. It used to be you needed level 1 for mites, 2 for squirts etc. With the advent of the age specific modules that is no longer the case.

Just about everyone needs to be re-certified every year:

If no CEP you must take level 1
If level 1 last year must take level 2
If level 2 last year must take level 3
If level 3 last year you can recertify at 3 every 2 years, but you can only do that twice. Then you must take 4. You can also elect to take 4 sooner.
4 and 5 are for life.

There is some granfathering to this. For example if you took level 1 in 2009 it was good for 3 years and you don't have to take level 3 until 2012. But if you took level 1 last year it was only good for a year and you have to take level 2 this year. (doesn't make much sense)

EVERYONE including levels 4 and 5 must take the appropriate age level modules.

Our association reimburses the coaches so that helps some, but it is all rather confusing and IMO puts up more barriers to keeping good coaches.

[HockeyDad41]

Let me get this straight. On top of the 400 hours of volunteer time I put in each winter coaching Mites, Squirts, PeeWee and Bantams, I get the pleasure of spending another 10 to 20 hours online for my level 3 renewal (which I have taken twice) and 4 new age specific training modules?

Yes that is correct.

[JSR]

Let me get this straight. On top of the 400 hours of volunteer time I put in each winter coaching Mites, Squirts, PeeWee and Bantams, I get the pleasure of spending another 10 to 20 hours online for my level 3 renewal (which I have taken twice) and 4 new age specific training modules. But the good news doesn't end there, all this fun will only cost me $55 for the level 3 re-cert and another $40 for the new training. Plus another $30 for USA hockey registration. Plus another $30 per kid for USA hockey registration. So for me to volunteer endless hours it will cost another $125 to USA hockey. If my local association got some of this money it might be tolerable. But the money goes into a netherworld called USA hockey.

Will I get something out of this training? Probably. My irritation is that as a volunteer, putting in hundreds of hours on the ice each year to make the experience of hockey a positive one for the youngsters, the hurdles and expense become a nuisance. USA hockey is trying to grow the game but what I fear is that these programs will continue to drive volunteers out.

Will these programs change a bad coach into a good coach. In my experience, no they won't. Bad coaches will still be bad, Good coaches will still be good, maybe a little better. While these programs concentrate on specific skills, a good coach has the innate ability to read his players. The coach knows how to reach each kid differently to help that player develop to their own highest level. The good coach knows how to differentiate between a self driven player and a lazy player, one with tremendous skill and one with challenges to make the experience of hockey rewarding for all. And none of these coaching skills are taught in these programs.

Bingo, you hit the nail on the head and in areas outside of MN you don't have the numbers of volunteers to begin with. USA Hockey is beginning to overstep it's bounds IMHO. Private enterprise will begin to pop up I expect as people will begin to realize they might as well spend that extra money to pay for someone else to coach and do the work rather than spend the money AND have to volunteer

[Marty McSorely]

That's nice the only level 4 this year was 180 miles away....

[Shinbone_News]

The age specific modules aren't the only changes to the CEP. The CEP levels are no longer associated with age levels. It used to be you needed level 1 for mites, 2 for squirts etc. With the advent of the age specific modules that is no longer the case.

Just about everyone needs to be re-certified every year:

If no CEP you must take level 1
If level 1 last year must take level 2
If level 2 last year must take level 3
If level 3 last year you can recertify at 3 every 2 years, but you can only do that twice. Then you must take 4. You can also elect to take 4 sooner.
4 and 5 are for life.

There is some granfathering to this. For example if you took level 1 in 2009 it was good for 3 years and you don't have to take level 3 until 2012. But if you took level 1 last year it was only good for a year and you have to take level 2 this year. (doesn't make much sense)

EVERYONE including levels 4 and 5 must take the appropriate age level modules.

Our association reimburses the coaches so that helps some, but it is all rather confusing and IMO puts up more barriers to keeping good coaches.

OG, I'm not sure this is right. Where did you get your info, would love to check it against mine and make sure I have it right.... My understanding from our MH rep is that everyone below level 3 will have to take level 1 this year. Level 3s will have the option of getting their 4 (and being done forever with the vaccination shots at that point).

Personally, I like the CEP. MnHockey needs more, better coaches not fewer. My problem is that there is a never-ending supply of information, and very little on-ice instruction or mentoring from USAH. If you have 40 hours of free time per week, you are free to wade into the reams of practice plans and ADM materials, but hands-on coaching training actually decreases with higher levels. It's not just about drills and ice-time management, it's about teaching techniques IMHO. More technique training and pedagogy (HOW to teach) would help, and hopefully the new approach will do this.

This cut-over to the new CEP is going to be a mess, that's for sure. It would be smoother if it IS as OG describes.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

The age specific modules aren't the only changes to the CEP. The CEP levels are no longer associated with age levels. It used to be you needed level 1 for mites, 2 for squirts etc. With the advent of the age specific modules that is no longer the case.

Just about everyone needs to be re-certified every year:

If no CEP you must take level 1
If level 1 last year must take level 2
If level 2 last year must take level 3
If level 3 last year you can recertify at 3 every 2 years, but you can only do that twice. Then you must take 4. You can also elect to take 4 sooner.
4 and 5 are for life.

There is some granfathering to this. For example if you took level 1 in 2009 it was good for 3 years and you don't have to take level 3 until 2012. But if you took level 1 last year it was only good for a year and you have to take level 2 this year. (doesn't make much sense)

EVERYONE including levels 4 and 5 must take the appropriate age level modules.

Our association reimburses the coaches so that helps some, but it is all rather confusing and IMO puts up more barriers to keeping good coaches.

OG, I'm not sure this is right. Where did you get your info, would love to check it against mine and make sure I have it right.... My understanding from our MH rep is that everyone below level 3 will have to take level 1 this year. Level 3s will have the option of getting their 4 (and being done forever with the vaccination shots at that point).

Personally, I like the CEP. MnHockey needs more, better coaches not fewer. My problem is that there is a never-ending supply of information, and very little on-ice instruction or mentoring from USAH. If you have 40 hours of free time per week, you are free to wade into the reams of practice plans and ADM materials, but hands-on coaching training actually decreases with higher levels. It's not just about drills and ice-time management, it's about teaching techniques IMHO. More technique training and pedagogy (HOW to teach) would help, and hopefully the new approach will do this.

This cut-over to the new CEP is going to be a mess, that's for sure. It would be smoother if it IS as OG describes.

I'm not OG, but I am OLD and I was a goalie so I guess it still fits!

I was confused so someone from the association checked with a district rep. I guess that doesn't mean they had all the answers either but if you check your own status on the web site it seems to confirm the scenario above. I tried to verify by checking a few others I know too. Here's that link:

http://www.usahockey.com/CoachingClinicCertSearch.aspx

This page is a bit long but explains the changes fairly well. There still seems to be some room for interpretation though:

http://www.usahockey.com//Template_Usah ... 2&ID=19536

[Chuck Norris Fan]

Plus my understanding is that you can only be certified for one level a year from this point forward. So you can't do the weekend deal and get 1 2 and 3 in a weekend.

If that is true It makes it really hard to get new coaches into coaching at bantam and peewee levels.

[SECoach]

Plus my understanding is that you can only be certified for one level a year from this point forward. So you can't do the weekend deal and get 1 2 and 3 in a weekend.

If that is true It makes it really hard to get new coaches into coaching at bantam and peewee levels.

It actually makes it easier. While true you can only take one level per year, a new coach at bantams will only need to be level 1 certified, along with the age specific online module. No crazy trips to fit in 3 levels in one season.