Hockey Coach Job Description

Position Description:

Oversee and be responsible for all aspects of the day to day operation of the assigned hockey team, ensuring that the objectives of the Association as stated in the AMHA Constitution and OMHA Manual of Operations are met. Be a spokesperson for the team and represent the team at all meetings and functions required.

This position requires a Level of Certification as required by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. Please the OMHA manual of operations for details. All applicants must review and comply with the AMHA constitution, bylaws including a code of conduct, in addition to the OMHA Manual of Operations

A commitment of approximately 10 hours per week is required in order to fulfill the obligations of the position

Eligible applicants will be required to submit a Vulnerable Sector Check or sign an offence declaration, in the case the AMHA has a valid record check from the previous 1-2 years.

Position Requirements:

Coach as a Leader Standards

• Establish seasonal goals and objectives for the team.

• Be a role model for your players by using appropriate behaviour towards officials, players, parents and other coaches.

• Foster leadership abilities in your athletes.

• At a minimum, meet with parents of athletes at a pre-season and in-season meeting to outline your coaching and team philosophies, playing time and other relevant aspects of your plan.

• Demonstrate a sincere effort in helping each and every athlete on your team to maximize his/her potential.

Coach as Teacher Standards

• Develop a seasonal plan and review it routinely.

• Teach age and ability appropriate skills using proper sequence and progression.

• Teach skills using understandable language.

• Recognize uniqueness in your athletes and always treat them with respect.

• Understand your position as a role model, and facilitate the acquisition of skills other than that gained on the ice surface.

Coach as an Organizer and Communicator Standards

• Plan effective practices.

• Select support staff that will provide maximum benefit to you and all of your athletes.

• Hold individual player meetings when required.

• Be available to parents and/or hold meetings with parents when required. 

• Utilize athletes’ parents for assistance in various activities.

• Communicate any issues or concerns immediately with the AMHA board.

Risk Management and Safety Standards

• Review athletes’ equipment on a regular basis and advise parents accordingly.

• Monitor rehabilitation of injured athletes and ensure medical clearance is received prior to returning from an injury.

• Report any player abuse or harassment to AMHA per OMHA guidelines.

• Review team safety emergency action plan with trainer.

• Ensure that all ice and dressing room activities have adult supervision. Ensure that all tech devices with photography or video capabilities are not present at any time in dressing rooms.

• Report any arena safety deficiencies to the AMHA.

Vulnerable Sector Check

It is a requirement of the AMHA that all volunteers, holding a position of trust and authority with the possibility of contact with children, must be screened by means of a Vulnerable Sector Check. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure he/she obtains a Vulnerable Sector Check for all coaching staff on his/her team as well as any volunteers that may assist. 

The blank record check form is accessible on line at www.aylmerflames.com

The Vulnerable Sector Check form is to be delivered to your local police service (i.e. Aylmer Police Station if living in Aylmer or the OPP if living in Malahide Township). Once completed the coach is responsible to pick up completed record check and submit it in a sealed envelope to a member of AMHA executive.

A Vulnerable Sector Check is required every 3 years for all volunteers holding a position of trust and authority with the possibility of contact with children. If you have submitted a Vulnerable Sector Check to the AMHA in the last 2 years, you may complete an offense declaration instead. The offense declaration form can be found on the website www.aylmerflames.com.

Every volunteer is obliged to inform the AMHA Executive if he or she is charged, tried, or convicted of any offence under the Criminal Code of Canada or other federal statute.

The following criteria MAY result in a “FAIL” rating:

Criminal Code convictions or charges pending for the following offences:

• Sexual Assault or child abuse offences

• Indictable criminal offences of any kind.

• Current prohibitions or probation orders forbidding the individual to have contact with children under the age of 16.

Applicants may also be rejected as a result of other information gained during the screening process, or as a consequence of other factors. It is the AMHA executives who will review questionable PRC’s and decide on suitability. This decision can be appealed in writing to the general membership through the Grievance committee. The AMHA general membership’s decision is final.

AMHA may also solicit additional applicants after the closing date to fill any vacant positions.