Coaching FAQ's

Find answers to our frequently asked coaching questions, review the coaching FAQs below.

Q. I am a new U12 coach this season, do I need to complete the CSI course this year? I would like to continue to coach in the future.

A. No, U12 Coaches have the option to complete the Community Sport Initiation (CSI) coaching course or the Competition Introduction (CI) coaching course along with all other requirements at the U12 level.

For more details on the U12 Head Coach/Assistant Coach requirements please review the Coaching Pathways.

Q. My coaching status is showing as In-Training, but I need to be listed as Trained to be qualified. What am I missing and what can I do?

A. To update your status on your locker profile from CI IN TRAINING you have two options:

• You can become CI TRAINED by completing the Make Ethical Decisions module (clinic) and Coach Initiation in Sport module.
• You can complete your CI On Ice Evaluation and update status to CI Certified *recommended.

Q. Is the Coaching Initiation in Sports Module mandatory?

A. Yes, it is a pre-requisite to signing up for CSI/CI. It is an online course that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. Visit https://coach.ca/nccp-coach-initiation-sport to complete.

Q.  I am a head coach of a U14/U16/U19 A Level team. I have completed the CSI course already. Do I need to do Coach Initiation in Sport eModule?

A. Yes, the CIS course is a pre-requisite to signing up for CSI/CI. If you have not previously completed, then it will need to be completed before signing up for your next course. Visit https://coach.ca/nccp-coach-initiation-sport to complete.

Q. I have my CI training, but I have not completed CSI since my older daughter was in the Competitive stream. My younger daughter is in U10, and I want to coach her team. Do I have to complete the CSI Training?

A. Yes, you must complete CSI Training to be qualified to coach U10.

Q. What is the discipline in the case that a Bench Staff member receives a Misconduct, Match Penalty, or the team receives 30 penalty minutes or more in a single game and a bench staff member is ejected?

A. All match and misconduct penalties must be reported to the team’s Regional Competitions Coordinator within twenty-four (24) hours by both teams or before the next scheduled game - whichever is sooner.   When reporting, a copy of the game sheet should be included.

A bench staff member serving a suspension is not permitted in the playing area of the arena (including the stands) nor in the player’s area (change rooms & access halls). They may observe the game from outside of the playing area only. This applies before and after the game. The G&T or Coaching coordinator can advise where a bench staff member is allowed in any specific arena. Remember that allowing a suspended bench staff member to watch the game per the above is a courtesy. If there is any negative behavior, the bench staff member can be ejected from the building.

The suspension is considered served when, after the end of the game and the players have exited the player’s area of the arena.

Refusal to follow these guidelines may result in additional sanctions (including additional suspensions).

A misconduct penalty is a minimum of a 1 game suspension.

A match penalty is a minimum of a 2-game suspension (3 is assessed after the end of the game). Match penalties are assessed on a sliding scale based on the number of previous match penalties.

30 minutes or more penalty minutes in a single game is a minimum of a 1 game suspension.

For each game served, the bench staff member must be written in the official comments as “serving suspension x of y” at the beginning of the game. After the game, a copy of the game sheet must be submitted to your Region’s G&T and Coaching Coordinator as verification of game served.

Bench Staff Suspensions for Misconduct penalties are on a sliding scale.  The First offense = one (1) game, Second offense = three (3) games, Third offense =five (5) games, Fourth offense = ten (10) games, Fifth offense = lifetime suspension.

The above scale will be reset after two (2) years of zero (0) offenses.  At that time, it will be treated as if you had never previously received a misconduct penalty.

There is no reset for lifetime offenses.

Please note that each Region or Association has the right to add additional discipline as they see fit to any of their home teams or bench staff.

Q. Can I register to be a bench staff in case I am needed?

A. Yes - you can register as an independent bench staff, as long as you are fully qualified for the role prior to registration Independent Bench Staff Registration Form