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Coaches Certification & Information

New to Coaching?

If you are Interested in joining the Patriot Recreational Hockey Program coaching team there are a number of steps required.

For all new Head Coaches, your first step is to complete a coaches application, attached below. Then submit it for approval to the Potomac Patriots Recreational Hockey Lead at mlittle@pwice.com

Both Head and Assistant Coaches need to become a USA Hockey certified coach by accomplishing a number of requirements. These are listed below in the Coaching Certification Requirements Section. All coaching certification requirements are defined and approved by USA Hockey and Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association.


Coaching Certification Requirements

USAH coaching requirements are outlined at  http://www.usahockey.com/coaches 

Requirements to be accomplished:

1.  Register as a member of USA Hockey - https://membership.usahockey.com

2. Provide your new USA Hockey # to the House Hockey Lead at nemzekhockey@gmail.com

3.  Accomplish a Background Check -  https://www.usahockey.com/backgroundscreen   

4.  Complete SafeSport Training - http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining  

5.  Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. - http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/892966-age-specific-modules

Important Note - A coach is not allowed to step on the ice, bench or locker room without having completed the above requirements.

6.  Conduct your Coaching Education Program Requirements
Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. -  http://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics 

USAH requires all Coaching Education Program Requirements to be completed by Dec. 31. Those that are not current on this date will be removed from the bench. However, the Potomac Patriots ask that you complete your CEP Requirements by 30 Nov of each fall season. 

Spring Season Starts - Due to the Coaching Education Program (CEP) Requirements closing 31 Dec and not available until fall, new coaches may be allowed to help in spring if you have bee approved and complete items 1-5 with the intention to complete CEP when it becomes available.

Thank you for supporting Patriots Hockey.


Tournament Verification

NOTICE FOR ALL TEAMS PLANNING TO ATTEND AN OUTSIDE TOURNAMENT - Before committing your team to play in any outside tournament, you need to verify that the event is a USAH sanctioned event. Many offered in the area/region are not. This includes popular events that Patriot team's have participated in in the past.

Got to the following link https://www.sedistrict.org/page/show/3836621-invitational-tournaments

Then select Invitational Tournament Schedule link