Hockey coaches are responsible for developing and training hockey players to help them get the most out of their abilities. Not only do players need to perform various drills to perfect their skills, coaches need to attend clinics or seminars to help them become better instructors. It is important for coaches to learn communication skills and how to be effective leaders for their players.
USA Hockey Clinics
USA Hockey, the national organization in charge of the sport in the United States, runs coaching clinics every hockey season and offers clinics from level 1 to level 5. Level 1 teaches the basics of being a coach and teaching new drills to your players. If you eventually reach the level 5 clinic, you'll explore all aspects of the game over a five-day period. Certain levels of play require different certifications. For example, a coach at the squirt level -- players aged 10 and under -- needs a level 1 certification, and a coach at the high school level needs a level 3 certification, according to the USA Hockey website.
Required Skills
Coaches need to monitor their players' skills at the various levels of play and make sure they are progressing towards the next level. Players at the squirt level need to be aware of various rules, including off-side, icing and some basic penalties. Additionally, players at this level need to master forward, backward and lateral skating. By the time they reach the age of 16, players should know how to throw a proper and legal bodycheck and be aware of almost every infraction that could result in a penalty.
Additional Learning
USA Hockey also offers a Learning Center at their website which offers an additional coaching resource. This feature allows coaches to learn from elite level coaches such as Ron Wilson, coach of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. Here you can learn new drills and also how to illustrate them to your players to make sure that they get the most out of them (see Resources).
Considerations
If you are a coach and member of USA Hockey, consider moving up one level of coach certification each year. Although the level you wish to coach may not require it, you can make yourself a better coach each season by continually advancing your knowledge of the game.
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