The role of Coach is vital to providing all players with a safe, fun and inclusive environment where they may learn the game of hockey with strong emphasis on equal ice time, team play and sportsmanship. Coaches are reminded that the goal of house league play is fairness and equality of play at all times. Coaches are to refrain from implementing higher levels of game strategy / player matching / line juggling. Coaches seeking higher levels of play should seek opportunities with our Select and Rep divisions.

Players, Parents' and Coaches Code of Conduct (here)

All House League Bench Staff (Coaches and Assistant Coaches)

• Register as a Bench Staff on HCR 3.0 (free) including Rowan's Law Acknowledgement
• Understanding Discrimination based on Gender Identity Expression
• Respect in Sport (RIS) - Activity Leaders
• Concussion and Maltreatment

Please note that the Respect in Sport (RIS) - Activity Leader program is separate and different from the Respect in Sport (RIS) Parent Program. The RIS Parent program must be completed by 1 parent in order for their child to participate in any level of organized hockey. The RIS Activity program must be completed by any individual to be eligible to participate as bench staff in House League, Select or Rep hockey.

Additional Training Requirements for Select / Rep Bench Staff

Qualifications applicable to all Bench Staff positions (Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Team Managers): Please click here.

Trainers: Please click here.

Background

Minor hockey has always been concerned about the safety of participants. To this end, various items of safety equipment have been mandated by Hockey Canada for players and on-ice Officials. Chief among these is helmets. Unfortunately, being careful or being an experienced coach is no guarantee against having an accident on the ice that could be fatal or leave the coach with serious physical impairment for the rest of his life. Since 1998, at least seven coaches in both Canada and the USA have died of head injuries as a result of falling on the ice during practices. That is seven too many. In addition, many others suffered injuries of varying degrees – in USA Hockey alone there were 47 documented head injury claims by coaches in one 12 month period (January – December 2004).

Policy

Effective January 1, 2008, each Team Official, volunteer and NCCP Instructor under the jurisdiction of the GTHL will be required to wear a C.S.A approved helmet during all on ice activities. A Trainer or any other Team Official who is attending to an injured player at the direction of the Referee is considered exempt from this policy.

Sanctions for non compliance:

1. The first infraction under the policy results in a written notification/warning by one or all of the following; GTHL Board of Directors, GTHL Executive Director, GTHL Technical Director for Coaching,
2. For a second infraction by the same party, the individual shall be suspended from participation in GTHL activity for a minimum of 2 weeks, and
3. For a third infraction by the same party, the individual shall be suspended from participation in GTHL activity for a period of 1 year.

• House League Hockey General Rules
• Concussion Protocols and resources
• U7, U9 and U11 Hockey Canada Player Pathway
• teamSNAP - Please click here.