Section 5: Certification Requirements

 

·        All Coaches, including assistants, at the Atom ‘AAA’, ‘AA’, ‘A’ and ‘B’, Peewee ‘AAA’, ‘AA’, ‘A’ and ‘B’, Bantam ‘AAA’, ‘AA’, ‘A’ and ‘B’, Midget ‘AAA’ Major, ‘AAA’ Minor, ‘AA’, ‘A’ and ‘B’, and Junior ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ divisions within HNS must be certified at the N.C.C.P. Development Level I Level Clinic;

 

·        All instructors at Initiation division (players aged 5 & 6) are to be certified in the Initiation Program;

 

·        All coaches at the Novice division (players aged 7 & 8) are to be certified in the Initiation Program;

 

·        It is recommended that coaches at the House/Recreational level from Atom and up, be certified N.C.C.P. Development Stream A level Clinic;

 

NOTE: Coaches at higher levels who are required to take the NCCP Development Level I clinic will not be permitted to take the Initiation Program clinic. Also, coaches and instructors at the Initiation entry level and Novice levels will not be permitted to register for the NCCP Development Level I clinic. Coaches and instructors must register in the clinic established as appropriate to the age grouping of the players they are coaching/instructing.

 

·        All bench officials/coaches, including assistants and trainers at the “AAA”, “AA”, and “A” divisions at all levels must be certified in the Hockey Canada Safety Program. This certification must be renewed every three years and coaches are responsible to verify their currency annually. Coaches/Instructors who are required to requalify may do so by registering for any scheduled Hockey Canada Safety Program clinic and attending the afternoon session only. Individuals who attend the afternoon sessions for the purposes of requalification must identify such at registration and are responsible to bring their original Hockey Safety Manuals to the clinic as they will not be supplied. Individuals who register for the fill course will receive manuals at the clinic.

·        All teams at the “B” and Recreational divisions must have at least one member of the bench staff certified in the Hockey Canada Safety Program. Bench staff includes Head Coach, Assistant Coaches and Trainer. (Note: Recreational divisions include the Initiation Program and Novice division)

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·        It is recommended that all teams at the “AAA”, “AA”, and “A” levels have at least one member of the bench staff certified at the HCSP Level II. HCSP Level II is available to individuals who hold a valid First Aid certificate and CPR Level “C” from a recognized agency. HCSP Level II is provided once an individual provides proof of certification. There is no clinic training required for this certification. Individuals interested in obtaining this certification may do so by providing proof of the required qualifications to Hockey Nova Scotia. Contact Hockey Nova Scotia at (902) 454-9400 for more information.

 

·        A coach will only be required to attend a maximum of one (1) certification clinic in any one (1) season. An example of this would be if a coach is new and requires both the NCCP and the HSP, they would take the NCCP Development Level I or Initiation Program clinic (as applicable in year one and the Hockey Safety Program Clinic in their second season. This would allow the coach to be eligible for both seasons.)

 

NOTE: The Hockey Nova Scotia deadline for registration of coaches of all ‘AAA” level teams is October 15^th annually. The registration deadline for all remaining REP teams (AA, A, B) coaches is October 31^st annually. These dates are in place to afford Hockey Nova Scotia the opportunity to advise associations, teams and clubs early in the season when their respective coaches do not possess the necessary certification and allow them to attend clinics as scheduled.

 

·        A coach will only be required to attend one (1) certification clinic in any one (1) season. (i.e. if a coach is new and requires both the NCCP and the HSP, they must take the NCCP and be eligible to coach in year one. They would then take the HSP in year two.)

 

NOTE: For the NCCP, coaches who have previously certified in either the NCCP Coach or NCCP Intermediate levels are not required to take the new NCCP Development A Level Clinic. They will be eligible to coach at any level and any position with what they currently have.

 

Criminal Records Checks and Child Abuse Registry Checks.

Under Regulation nine (900) of the Hockey Nova Scotia Constitution the following is very clear;   The responsibility lies with the minor hockey association/team to ensure that all registered coaches, assistant coaches, managers and trainers have completed the screening processes as outlined by the HNS screening policy.

Any volunteer who does not have his / her Criminal Record or Child Abuse Registry check completed and into the office by December 31st of the current hockey season will be immediately suspended.