People in areas routinely hit with six months of winter will soon find ways to entertain themselves, and hockey is the top outdoor winter sport. The appeal might involve the relentless action, perhaps visions of a smooth sheet of shimmering ice after the Zamboni makes its rounds. Maybe it’s the sound of skates slicing over the ice, hockey sticks and players colliding. Sparks flying from a skate sharpener on the sidelines. The sheer skill required to remain upright on a slippery surface while chasing the hockey puck. And the mighty roar of the crowd when a player blasts that puck past the goalie for a score.

It takes a skilled hockey coach to keep the team moving like a well-oiled machine.

According to USA Hockey, the sport’s premiere professional organization, there are 5 attributes of a great coach. While knowledge of the game, ability to demonstrate drills and organizational skills are vital, these traits elevate the best from the rest:

•         Humility

Everyone wants to win, but skill development and team improvement come first. With those in place, victories will follow.

•         Compassion

Great coaches know their players on and off the ice. When a coach listens and respects players, they will do the same.

•         Communication

All the technical knowledge available about hockey has no value unless a coach can communicate that information so every player on the team can process and absorb the knowledge.

•         Passion

Though it may seem obvious that love for a sport is essential to a coach’s success, it bears repeating that passion is contagious and will spread to every player on the team when it begins with the coach.

•         Leadership

Great coaches motivate their teams to reach their goals. They have an organized plan and the commitment to see it through.

You can bring a love of hockey to a new generation of players by becoming a coach. Get ready to leap off the bench and into a leadership role. In this article you’ll learn:

• How much money you can make as a hockey coach
• The required training and certifications
• Professional groups to join
• Employment Opportunities
• Finding players as a private coach or owner of a training camp
• Plus helpful tips for hockey coaches

How much money can you make?

Private hockey instructors can charge anywhere from $30 to over $100 for one-on-one lessons. The price varies by location, skill level and the coach’s experience.

Coaches of National Hockey League teams get paid the most of anyone in the sport, with the exception of some NHL players.

When Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock stepped down, he was making $6.25 million per season as the league’s highest-paid coach. Seven-figure salaries are common for NHL coaches. The league’s assistant coaches are paid $150,000 to $200,000 a year.

College hockey coaches at the top of the pay scale average $373,000 per year, according to an NCAA Division I Revenue and Expenses Report.

Many high school hockey coaching positions are either voluntary or offer a small stipend as compensation. The average salary for high school coaches is just under $34,000 annually, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Training and Certification

Joining USA Hockey is the first step in becoming a certified coach. There’s a fee of $46 to join for a one-year membership.

Next, you’ll complete a background screening and the USA Hockey Safe Sport Training program. You must be recertified annually in the safety program.

Now it’s time to take courses, which are available online. USA Hockey offers several course modules tailored to coaches leading teams at different age levels. Each module costs $10.

The next step is to earn your Coaching Education Program Certification. This involves in-person training. You can find a clinic scheduled near you and register here.  The cost is $45. All coaches start at Level 1. The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-3 runs annually from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

During your training you’ll learn how to develop the agenda for each practice session as well as a timed schedule for completing all activities during the session. Hockey drills and skill development are core parts of your training, as well as learning to interact with players, especially how to motivate and inspire your team. 

Planning shift rotation is another vital skill to develop. Players are typically on the ice for just 30-45 seconds before rotating off to the bench. One of the most important talents a hockey coach can develop is staying on top of who needs to come off the ice for a break and who’s ready to skate again.

The organization Hockey Canada maintains a website of proven training drills and exercises for hockey practice. This will give you an idea of what your own coach training will involve as you learn how to lead players.

Here’s another video demonstrating common drills during a hockey practice session.

Professional Groups to Join

Again, USA Hockey is the premiere professional organization, both for certifying coaches and rallying members around a common goal of promoting the sport. Membership comes with a wealth of benefits, including ongoing training opportunities, learning new drills for hockey practice, networking with other members and automation enrollment in the association’s liability insurance program.

The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) is mainly for college coaches. This organization is affiliated with the NCAA. Annual dues for Division I men’s and women’s programs are $415. Division II-III schools pay $270 per program. One nice aspect of membership is the annual dues cover all hockey coaches in a school’s program, not just the head coach or any single assistant.

Joining either or both of these organizations shows a commitment to professional development and will often give you a competitive advantage in the job market.

Employment

The AHCA maintains a job board where you can search for hockey coaching opportunities.

Membership in professional organizations also gives you access to working professionals who may know of job openings that have not yet been advertised.

Don’t forget to run searches on popular online job boards, including ZipRecruiter, Indeed and SimplyHired.

Anywhere there’s an ice rink you’re likely to find youth and community hockey leagues that could be in need of a coach or assistant. This is a great way to break into the coaching profession or gain some direct experience while training to become a hockey coach.

Finding Clients

If you want to run your own hockey camp, the first thing to do is get listed on the current directory of camps maintained by USA Hockey. Players and parents of younger hockey enthusiasts use this resource to locate quality camps. Yours should be listed on there, too.

Your business website should link to all social media posts. On sites such as Facebook and Twitter, post photos and short video clips of players having a good time. Marketing studies show people are more likely to engage with video clips than any other content you can post on social media platforms.

Good to Know:

You can boost repeat business for private  coaching and help ensure a steady stream of clients by offering discount packages for multiple sessions.

Be candid with clients, explaining to them that they are not likely to see huge improvements after only 1 or 2 private lessons.

Buy liability insurance. How much coverage you need depends on factors such as your net worth and the value of your business. Some professional organizations may include liability coverage as a benefit of membership. Only you can decide if the coverage amount is sufficient. Liability insurance is important because in all sports injuries can happen, though especially in hockey, and you could potentially be blamed, unfairly or not.

USA Hockey and other organizations devoted to the sport offer some common tips to help new coaches develop fast and win consistently. You can print it out and attach to your clipboard for quick reference during practice or games:

•         Set goals and communicate them so every team member understands the mission.
•         Be prepared. Use your goals to plan the season in practice sessions and games.
•         Bring a positive attitude to the ice. Players will respect you and want to meet your expectations for them.
•         Give positive reinforcement. Praise the things players are doing right.
•         Motivate. You do this by fostering a fun playing environment and praising players’ accomplishments. Motivation comes from within your players. Your praise motivates them to excel.
•         Promote team pride. This will enhance your reputation with your team, their fans and even your opposition.
•         Project confidence. When the team sees that you know what you’re doing and you’re doing it successfully, they will follow you anywhere.
•         Plan great practice sessions. Everyone gets to play. All are learning. Each player is having fun.
•         Safety is vital. Your team members can get hurt playing hockey. It’s a reality of the sport and perhaps even part of its allure. There are risks. So know your players’ medical conditions. Check and replace faulty or damaged equipment. Know emergency first aid.
•         Be respectful. This applies to everyone – players, fans, opposing teams. How you respond to a situation sets the tone everyone on the team will follow.
•         Be challenging. The only way anyone gets better at anything is by working hard to reach the next level. Let your players’ current skill sets be your guide as to where and how fast you should progress.

If you enjoyed this article, check out some other PocketSuite.io content that can help you grow your career as a hockey coach. Here’s a great place to start.

PocketSuite has thousands of business owners who all started where you are right now. Our community is always happy to help you ramp up, grow your client base, and achieve your income goals, both within the PocketSuite app and as part of our exclusive Facebook Community Group. PocketSuite’s vision is for any professional to be able to work for themselves and make a great living. It starts here. It starts with you. It starts today. Let’s get started, download PocketSuite now! Feel free to reach out with any questions (we’d love to hear from you)! Text us @ (415) 841-2300.

Hockey is an important paert of many people’s lives around the world. For those who have a passion for hockey and want to share this love, becoming a hockey instructor/coach could be a valuable career move. There are many opportunities to coach hockey. These vary from small-time leagues such as children’s hockey, to school sporting teams, and up to college scouts. The requirements for each level of hockey will vary based specifically on the role that the individual instructor has taken up.

• The main job requirements of a hockey instructor/coach are to:
• Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of individual athletes
• Provide assistance, motivation, and encouragement to athletes
• Call plays and make decisions about strategy during games
• Plan and direct physical exercise programs
• Instruct athletes on proper techniques, game strategies, sportsmanship, and the rules of the sport
• Keep records of individual athlete’s performance
• Identify and recruit potential athletes
• Arrange for and offer incentives to prospective players
• Administration duties

There are specific government-mandated regulations to becoming a hockey instructor/coach, depending on the level of hockey being coached. As such, it is important to conduct research into each to find the best option for your career.

Requirements for a Hockey Instructor / Coach

For those interested in a new career path, research is the most important step to undertaken before you can begin. One of the essential things to consider are the legal requirements for becoming a hockey instructor / coach. This includes conducting thorough research into important aspects such as certification and education to ensure you are covered and providing the best service to your athletes as possible. The certification process is going to change depending on your own personal circumstances, so make sure you are specific in your research inquiries. This can be an overwhelming process, and it may determine the path that you choose to take, whether it be coaching within a small-time league, or as a recruitment officer at the college level. It is always best to ensure that you have an adequate support system in place to help you understand the requirements of your newly desired profession moving forward. Online communities are a good place to start.

Growing Your Career as a Hockey Instructor / Coach

The requirement for becoming a fully certified hockey instructor is typically a bachelor’s degree in either sports coaching or a related degree. Networking communities and associations are an important method in which to grow as a hockey instructor. Industry-specific communities such as these offer insight into trade secrets, as well as provide opportunities to grow one’s business opportunities. These types of groups exist to allow industry-specific professionals to build one another up in a competitive world, creating a sense of community that come together to support one another in your day to day struggles and share in celebrating each other’s successes as industry professionals in the field of fitness.

Search through the resources below to begin your journey into your dream job!

How Much do Hockey Instructors / Coaches Earn?

The pay scale for a hockey instructor will vary depending on the qualifications of the professional, the location, hours worked, type of business and state regulations. On average, hockey instructors/coaches earn $42,000 per year.

Resources to help in starting or expanding your Hockey Instructor/Coach:

• Hockey Instructor/Coach Associations
• Hockey Instructor/Coach Groups
• Hockey Instructor/Coach Schools

Similar to associations, there are several groups available for hockey instructors that work to provide support in this field. These groups allow professionals to share experiences and insights with like-minded colleagues in what often becomes an all-inclusive community. These groups often meet either online or in real life, and sometimes both, depending on location and the type of group. There are many groups available to join for free on social media such as Facebook, or through specific groups that you can search and join, sharing resources and friendships. Websites such as Meetup allow you to search for hockey instructor meetups in your area, allowing coaches to come together in one place. As with associations, hockey instructor communities provide a less formal method of congregating and supporting one another as professionals.

Check out Facebook Groups for Hockey Instructor/Coach:

I Love Hockey

Hockey lovers

USA Field Hockey FB membership Open Forum

Field Hockey Coaches Forum

Field Hockey Discussion Forum

USA Hockey Referee’s

Hockey Cards / Hockey Collectables

Pro Roller Hockey

USA Olympic Team

USA Hockey Card Buy/Sell/Trade

Instructional Materials and Video lessons

NHL HOCKEY TEAMS

USA Masters Field Hockey (Official)

HONEY C SYRUP

Ladies of Hockey

K to 12 Instructional Materials (IM’s) LEGIT SELLER

K’s Instructional Materials

LADIES OF HOCKEY

Hockey Homemade

NHL HOCKEY FANS 365

HOCKEY

My HOCKEY KID Youth Hockey

USA AMPUTEE HOCKEY

Fitness Instructors, trainers & coaches- NYC area & NJ

SA Hockey Community

NJ YOUTH HOCKEY FORUM

Fitness Instructors UK – OFFICIAL

WNY 2010 hockey

Tomah Youth Hockey

Hooked On Hockey

Des Moines Area Hockey Equipment Exchange

Ironworks Steelers Hockey

American Hockey League (AHL) Fans

The History of Hockey

Dubai Hockey Used Gear

kenya Field Hockey Chat

Mental Health First Aid USA Instructors

Atlas Hockey Australia

Authentic Hockey Jersey Addicts

Western States Junior Hockey Talk

Yoga Teachers

Cricut for Hockey Moms

Border Hockey History

ISRAEL Field Hockey

South United Women’s Hockey

Florida Ice Hockey Forum

Baltimore Field Hockey Association

The Hockey Bucket

Hockey Monivae

Blame Canada Hockey

East Darwin Storm Hockey Club

YOGA JOBS

Drop In Ice Hockey

WE LOVE HOCKEY

Jesse’s Hockey Card Group!

Wolf Pack Hockey

REETHS PUFFER HOCKEY

Southern Women’s Hockey Club

Asia Ice Hockey Players

? C&T’s Made For Hockey ?

Waratah Hockey Club

Solent Spartans Ice Hockey

NOVA Hockey Goalies

Hockey lover’s

Defence Masters Hockey Team

Mataura Hockey Club

Orlando UnderWater Hockey

Moorpark Roller Hockey

709 Hockey

Owens Center Adult Ice Hockey League

Fredericksburg Adult Field Hockey League

2020 Jerramungup Hockey Club & Jerramungup junior hockey players

Carolina Rage Hockey Club

Hockey Hanoi

Spirit Hockey Buy/Sell/Trade

Yellowknife Minor Hockey

myrun The Hockey Farm

DELTA HOCKEY FORUM

Womens Ice Hockey – UK

Mansfield 12U Hockey (Redman/Sando)

NYTEX Adult Hockey League

Manaia Hockey

Calgary Hockey Parents

Francis Hockey

Game Worn Hockey Jerseys Elite Ice Hockey League

UC Hockey Div 3 Apache 2020

City Bears Hockey Club

Hull Hawk’s Hockey Club

Rome Youth Hockey Association

The Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC) consists of 38 youth hockey organizations throughout the state. These local organizations make it possible for between 10,000 and 12,000 young hockey players to have the opportunity to enjoy amateur hockey at many different levels. CHC provides the structure and the means for boys and girls age 4 to 19 to learn the necessary skills to play the sport of hockey. In order to further ensure the development of players, CHC also provides training for coaches and officials.

Training Programs at Connecticut Hockey

• Coaching Education Program
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Connecticut Hockey 

• Phone: (203) 256-9852
• Website: http://www.chchockey.org/
• Email: chctournamentdirector@outlook.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usaofficialsofct/

All youth hockey coaches in Minnesota are required to attend a series of clinics, via the Coach Education Program (CEP), before they are eligible to coach. The clinics are designed to help coaches develop a curriculum and use the proper teaching techniques to insure the proper training of their players.

CEP clinics for Levels 1-3 are held statewide beginning in September and typically run through December. Minnesota hosts two Level 4 clinics each season with one being in the spring and the second in the fall. A Level 5 offered every two years at the National Coaching Symposium.

Training Programs at Minnesota Hockey

• Coaching Education Program
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Minnesota Hockey

• Phone: (651) 602-5727
• Website: https://www.minnesotahockey.org/page/show/84413-coach-certification
• Email: info@minnesotahockey.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialminnhockey/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinnHockey

The association’s mission is to provide positive life exeperiences through the sport of hockey by allowing kids to develop in a fun, safe, and active environment.

Training Programs at Casco Bay Hockey Association

• Coaches & Continuing Education Programs
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Casco Bay Hockey Association

• Website: https://www.cascobayhockey.com/
• Email: president@cascobayhockey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cascobayhockey/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBHockey/

Field Hockey, known simply as ‘hockey’ outside of the USA, is one of the most popular team sports in the world. It’s a fun sport to play, coach, umpire and watch, and it’s growing throughout the world. Field hockey is a sport for life for men and women of all ages. The NFHS has partnered with USA Field Hockey to develop and offer Coaching Field Hockey for interscholastic students. This interactive course covers the skills, techniques and tactics necessary for individual and team development. If you coach field hockey or supervise those who do, consider enrolling in Coaching Field Hockey. The NFHS & USA Field Hockey also offer an online course Coaching Field Hockey: Goalkeeping. Both courses are available at NFHSLearn.com.

Training Programs at National Federation of State High School Associations

• Coaching Field Hockey
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for National Federation of State High School Associations

• Phone: (317) 972-6900
• Website: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/coaching-field-hockey
• Email: nfhscoached@nfhs.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NFHS1920

Each training session is designed to increase each athlete’s skill-level and also to grow love of the sport. Hockey takes consistency, focus, drive, mental & physical strength, as well as the discipline necessary to compete at the next level. AZ Hockey Academy strives to bring all of these elements together to create a high-intensity learning & training environment for each player. Their mission is to build the confidence, strength, and discipline of each player and goalie, on and off the ice through proven coaching methods.

AZ Hockey Academy drives each training session with repetition and perfection, making sure each player and goalie leaves better than they came.

Training Programs at AZ Hockey Academy

• Hockey training program
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for AZ Hockey Academy

• Phone: (509) 919-0603
• Website: https://www.azhockeyacademy.org/
• Email: JordanAllan@AZHockeyAcademy.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AZHockeyAcademy/

USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require both certification and registration to be eligible to coach. Registration is done online on a yearly basis. Certification is also required.

Training Programs at Hockey Club Fairbanks

• Coaching Education Program
• Price Range: Check website for updated details.

Resources for Hockey Club Fairbanks

• Website: http://www.hockeyclubfairbanks.com/
• Email: hockeyclubfairbanks@gmail.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/hockeyclubfbx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HCFairbanks907/

Hockey has grown in momentum since the early 1900’s. Today hockey instructors / coaches are increasingly sought after. Associations have developed to represent those professionals in the industry, and to help regulate and promote ongoing learning and career opportunities. Associations allow individual professionals to come together and create a unified voice, offer support and advice to professionals both new and experienced, and to help in overcoming sport-specific challenges. By joining a association, a hockey instructor can feel supported, encouraged, and engaged in the community of professionals.