Bench Staff FAQs

Head Coach

HEAD COACHES – U7 and Below

HEAD COACHES – U8/U9

A, AA, AAA – HEAD COACHES – U10/11 

AAA – HEAD COACHES – U12/13 

The Hockey Canada Development 1 is the training required for head coaches and assistant coaches of competitive-level hockey ‘A,’ ‘AA,’ and ‘AAA’ (excluding Under-14 ‘AAA’ and ‘AAA’ above). Hockey Canada’s Body Checking component is included in the GTHL Development 1 training. Completion of this course is considered Development 1 TRAINED. If you require a CERTIFIED status, you will be required to successfully complete the following:  

1 – Completion of the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation (Free to D1 participants after clinic completion) via the Locker. Upon completion of the D1 clinic, your records in the Hockey Canada Registry will be updated to reflect a “Trained” status (this may take a few days after the clinic). Your Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Locker profile will also be updated which will allow you to take the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation. For instructions on how to access the Locker, CLICK HERE. Proof of completed Making Ethical Decisions and assignment completion (Step 2) must be emailed to the GTHL at [email protected].

2 – Complete and submit for review the Coach Evaluation Criteria portion of the Coach Work Book received at the in-class session. Click here to download Coach Evaluation Criteria PDF. The document, along with proof of M.E.D completion, must be emailed to [email protected]. Evaluation assignment participant responsibilities include:

  • Pages 2-5: Biography and goals
  • Page 7: Seasonal Plan
  • Page 12: Video Analysis
  • Pages 14-17: Practice 1 & Self Evaluation
  • Pages 18-21: Practice 2 & Self Evaluation
  • Pages 22-25: Practice 3 and the Self Evaluation
  • Page 27: Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

3 – Schedule and successfully participate in an on-ice evaluation. To schedule an evaluation, please CLICK HERE.

All coaches who participate in a Development 1 Clinic from July 1, 2014 to present will be required to complete three steps to be fully certified and acquire 20 Professional Development points within five years of certification date.

HOUSE LEAGUE/SELECT – HEAD COACHES – U10/U11

HOUSE LEAGUE/SELECT – HEAD COACHES – U12/U13

HOUSE LEAGUE/SELECT – HEAD COACHES – U14-U18

A & AA – HEAD COACHES – U12-U18 (including U21 AAA) 

AAA – HEAD COACHES – U14-U18 

Assistant Coach

Trainer

TRAINERS

A, AA, AAA – TRAINERS – U10-U12

A, AA, AAA – TRAINERS – U13- U18

A Level 2 Trainer qualification can be granted by the League to individuals who have a current Level 1 and current Standard or Advanced First Aid (not Emergency first aid) card with CPR Level C (*AED training is strongly recommended) from an Ontario WSIB recognized FADO (First Aid Delivery Organization – CLICK HERE for a list of providers) or to any professional under the following titles:

  • Registered Nurse
  • Occupational Health Nurses
  • Chiropractors
  • Physicians
  • Basic Trauma Life Support (B.T.L.S.)
  • EMCA certified
  • CATA/NATA
  • Military Medics (valid for two years from end of service data – Qualifications must be licensed in Canada)
  • Physiotherapist
  • Dentist
  • Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
  • Podiatrist medical professionals
  • Emergency services employees

To upgrade your existing Level 1 to a Level 2, please forward a copy of your Standard First Aid certificate or professional affiliation to  [email protected].

Click here to find more information.

Manager

House League, Select, A, AA, AAA – MANAGERS

Clinic Information

To register, click HERE.  

For more information, click HERE. 

The GTHL hosts mandatory educational sessions for the Head Coach and Trainer of each Team (House League, Select, ‘A,’ ‘AA,’ and ‘AAA’).

For more information, click HERE.

All Under-10 and above House League head coaches should be trained at the Coach 2 Level.

For more information, click HERE.

Development 1 TRAINED status does not expire. Development 1 CERTIFIED status can expire. Coaches will need to earn 20 professional development points within five (5) years to maintain their certification.

For more information on certification maintenance, visit Certification Maintenance.

Click Here for eLearning and Coaching Association of Canada PD courses and to track your Professional Development points in The Locker.

The GTHL is committed to providing clinics that increase the knowledge and skills of coaches to help them teach age-appropriate skills to players. Instructional Stream clinics, including a three hour in-class and a one hour on-ice session, are based on several different topics: skating, checking skills, goaltending, developing defenceman, and skills. Each Instructional Stream clinic carries a value of five (5) points towards certification maintenance.

Click Here for in-class clinic dates and locations. 

The Respect in Sport – Activity Leader online program is not the same as the Respect in Sport – Parent program.

All Bench Staff (Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Trainers, and Managers) require Respect in Sport – Activity Leader.

To register, click HERE.

For more information, click HERE.

Under-9 and below House League coaches should be trained at the Coach 1 Level.

For more information, click HERE.

Click here to see all available clinic dates and locations (please ensure your filter is set to the 2025-2026 Season to see all available dates).

For more information, click Development 1.

All Head Coaches coaching U14 AAA and above at the AAA level (U21 excluded) must be High Performance 1 Certified.

The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) hosts the High Performance 1 clinic over the summer.

Click Here for more information and to apply.

Hockey Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada have provided a framework for developing coaches and maintaining certification through participation in national and provincial sport organization conferences and workshops, eLearning modules, NCCP workshops, coach mentorship programs, and active coaching. Professional Development points can be earned through a multitude of activities that coaches already participate in. Professional Development (PD) points are tracked by the Coaching Association of Canada and Hockey Canada.

Click here for more info on Professional Development/Certification Maintenance. 

General Questions

Please contact individual associations to see if they are looking for coaches. To view a list of our clubs, visit https://gthlcanada.com/member-clubs.

You can also visit the GTHL’s Coaches Wanted page to see if there are any openings posted: https://gthlcanada.com/bench-staff-volunteers-wanted/.

The Respect in Sport – Activity Leader, Gender Identity and Expression, Coach Level 1, and Coach Level 2 qualifications do not expire.

The Branch Concussion and Maltreatment course does not expire. However, if further regulations are added as it relates to Rowan’s Law, coaches may be required to be trained again. The GTHL would provide future communication if coaches are required to take updated training.

Development 1 TRAINED status does not expire. Development 1 CERTIFIED status can expire. Coaches will need to earn 20 professional development points within five (5) years to maintain their certification. Click Here for more information.

If you are looking to check what qualifications you currently have, Click Here to learn how to check.

Parents need to complete the Respect in Sport – Parent Program. 

Bench Staff (coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and managers) require the Respect in Sport – Activity Leader. 

The GTHL’s clinics typically take place between May and November. CLICK HERE to register for a clinic (please ensure your filter is set to the 2025-2026 Season to see all available dates).

  • Online clinics (ex: Checking, Coach 1, and Coach 2) – Non-refundable
  • In-person clinics (ex: Development 1 or Instructional Stream) – Cancellation and/or withdrawals will be subject to a 15% cancellation fee of the clinic cost. Six days prior to a clinic start date, participants may reschedule for a future clinic at no charge provided that clinic is taken within 60 days from the date of the original clinic. You must be at least 16 years old to register.

Click HERE to sign up for the GTHL’s monthly Development newsletter.

If you are looking to check what qualifications you currently have, click here to learn how to check.

No, the GTHL follows Hockey Canada’s requirements. Coaching qualifications from another country do not carry over.

For instructions on how to get into the Locker, CLICK HERE.

Click here if you would like to host a clinic for your group and would like more information.

Click here for more info on Professional Development/Certification Maintenance. 

The centralization of all Vulnerable Sector Checks will be conducted by the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) for all Team Officials and Team Personnel for the 2024-25 season. This is in addition to screening of all On-Ice Officials that has been in place the past number of years. All Minor Hockey Associations will continue to screen Staff and Board members that are not involved in on-ice programming.

The following individuals who are associated with the OHF, Members, hockey leagues, hockey Clubs and/or Associations must adhere to the OHF Screening Policy and submit to the Ontario Hockey Federation:

  • Team officials (including but not limited to head coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, managers and at large team officials);
  • On-ice officials; and

Anyone else who, through their duties on behalf of the OHF, a Member, a hockey Club or Association, may work with children (included but not limited to on-ice volunteer, skills coaches, third party skills coaches and dressing room supervisors).

Click Here for more information on the OHF Screening Policy and how to obtain your Vulnerable Sector Check.

Please email:

Stephanie Hyde | Manager, Development and Community Outreach

Email: [email protected]

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