All volunteers (head coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, managers, on-ice & off-ice) require specific certifications in order to be rostered to a team or assist with on-ice practices or volunteer off-ice. Volunteers must be at least 2 years older than the age limit of the division in which they are volunteering. All volunteers must be registered with the WSMHA through the Hockey Canada Registry, have their required qualifications completed by November 30 in order to participate with activities. A CSA certified helmet (chin strap securely fastened at all times), skates and hockey gloves must be worn on the ice. Volunteers 13 years old and younger must wear full player equipment including a neck & mouth guard. On-Ice volunteers can participate in IP instruction and team practices only, they can not be present on the team bench for games. Only rostered staff (coach, assistant coach & trainer) can participate in games.
Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) Profile
In order to take any online courses, a HCR profile in your name is required. If you are not sure if you have an existing HCR profile, complete the HCR Profile Request Form and the hockey verify if one exists or create a profile for you. If you have played minor hockey in Canada, a profile probably does exist. If required, the HCR profile will be transferred to the associations database. Do not take any courses before the profile is created or transferred.
MANDATORY VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
All volunteers (head coach, assistant coach, trainer, team manager, on-ice & off-ice) must have the following mandatory requirements. Some of the requirements are a one-time only while the VSC, the Yearly Declaration and some of the courses have an expiry date.
1. A HCR Profile - see details above.
2. A Spordle Account - every volunteer requires a Spordle account in order to
(i) Monitor their qualifications and be aware of any expiry dates (if applicable to the qualification). Renewing a qualification prior to the expiry date can save taking the entire course again.
(ii) Find the registration link to access a course they have registered for
(iii) Verify that they have completed a course and have received credit for the completion
(iv) Required when submitting their VSS to the OHF and completing the Yearly Declaration on the OHF website.
(v) Registering themselves as volunteers with the association every season they are involved with a team.
Spordle Account Login link
Spordle - My Account Help Tutorial link
3. Hockey Canada "The Shift Forward" Online Course - New for the 2026 - 2027 season, the Respect in Sport Activity Leader qualification is being phased out and "The Shift Forward" qualification will be required. The RIS Activity Leader qualification will be accepted until the end of the 2027 - 2028 season.
4. Gender Identity & Expression Online Course - This course is required to be taken once and does not carry an expiration date. Use your Spordle credentials to login into the Hockey Canada site to register and complete the course.
Gender Identity & Expression Online Course link
5. Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) - A valid VSC is required to be on file with the OHF. A VSC is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. Further details, volunteer letter and links can be found on the
VSC webpage.
6. Yearly OHF Declaration - Every season a Declaration is required to be submitted to the OHF through their online portal. If you have a valid VSC, the Declaration needs to be completed. If you are uploading a new VSC to the OHF portal, the Declaration can be completed at that time. Further details and links can be found on the VSC webpage.
7. Register as a volunteer - Ever season all volunteers are required to register with the association and sign off on the Hockey Canada required waivers in order to be placed on an official team roster. Rep Volunteer Registration link.
Head Coach & Assistant Coaches Qualification
To be a Head Coach or an Assistant coach, age and participant level appropriate certifications are required in order to be rostered as a team official. Some of the certifications have pre-requisite courses that must be completed. As you advance through the different coaching certifications, if you have taken a pre-requisite course before, you do not need to take it again. Only the new course required to receive a higher certification are needed. Also, they may be a survey at the end of the course that needs to be completed before you receive the accreditation. Not doing the survey will leave the course in an "attendee status" meaning it is not complete. More details can be found on the OMHA Coaches Clinics Help.
U7, U8 & U9 MD
Mandatory volunteer requirements above plus the 1 online course below.
Head Coach & Assistant Coaches must have Coach - Hockey Canada Coach 1.
No higher qualification will be accepted.
Coach - Hockey Canada Coach 1 online link
U10 & U11 Representative
All coaches require the Mandatory volunteer requirements above and the online courses below.
Head Coach must be Development 1 Trained
Assistant Coaches must have their Coach 2 - Coach Level Trained qualifications.
Courses required are
Coach - Hockey Canada Skills - Checking link (pre-requisite)
Coach - Hockey Canada Coach 2 link
If you have previously completed the HU-Online Checking Clinic, you are not required to complete the Coach - Hockey Canada Skills.
U13 - U18 Rep (AA, A & Below)
Head Coach must be Development 1 Certified. If the Development 1 Trained qualification was obtain in a previous season, the head coach must be Certified prior to being eligible to be placed on a team roster. If obtaining the Development 1 Trained this season, then the head coach must complete the certification process during this current season. Further details on obtaining "Certified" status can be found on the OMHA Support Page
Assistant Coaches must be Development 1 Trained. An assistant coach who is only Development 1 Trained, can not act as a head coach in the absence of the rostered head coach. They may only cover for the head coach should the head coach be removed from a game in progress. Teams are encouraged to have an assistant coach become Certified so they are eligible to cover for the head coach in their absence.
Prerequisite courses required prior to registering for a Development 1 Clinic
(i) Coach-Hockey Canada Skills - Checking Online Course - must be completed prior to registering for a Development 1 class and the survey must be completed at the end of the course to receive your qualification. If you have previously completed the HU-Online Checking Clinic, you are not required to complete the Coach - Hockey Canada Skills - Checking course.
(ii) Hockey Canada Coaching Program Online Course - must be completed prior to registering for a Development 1 Clinic.
(iii) Making Ethical Decisions Training - Live online Zoom session. This will be held prior to the in-person clinic date. A link will be sent once you register for the In-Person Development 1 Clinic.
(iv) Virtual On-Demand Learning Module - You will have access to this module upon registration for the Development 1 class. It is recommended this module be completed before participation in the in-person Coach - Development 1 clinic and must be completed in order to receive your Development 1 Trained qualification.
How to transition from Development 1 Trained to Development 1 Certified
(i) If you have not completed the Making Ethical Decision Online Course previously, the course can be found on the Coach.ca/The Locker website
(ii) Download and complete the Development 1 - Post Task Workbook
(iii) Once the Task Book is complete, schedule a practice and have the Field Evaluator attend. The Field Evaluator's contact can be obtained through the hockey office.
Further details and links for the Post Task Workbook can be found on the OMHA Support website. Information on the Hockey Canada National Coach Certification Program (NCCP) on how to become Development 1 Trained or Certified is available on the OMHA website omha.net/coach. As well details regarding online courses and tracking your progression can be found on the Coach.ca/the locker. The Coach.ca/the locker is the Coaching Association of Canada's online database where all coaches can track their progress and guide their development. You can view/update personal information and coaching records. Your certification maintenance and professional development points will be tracked and will update your HCR profile. NCCP for Hockey - Overview.
Certification Reimbursement
The WSMHA provides 100% refund of certification course fees and Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) fee for volunteers in our hockey program. Reimbursement will be for the minimum qualifications required for the team you will be rostered on. Expenses such as lunch, parking, or mileage are not refunded. Refunds will be for expenses incurred for the current season, past seasons expenses will not be reimbursed. Further details and the Certification Reimbursement Form can be found on the Certification Reimbursement page.