For head and assistant coaches in BC Hockey minor hockey, U7 to U21, 2026-27 season. Covers required certifications by division, criminal record checks, team safety persons, tournament sanctioning, injury reports and maltreatment reporting.
BC Hockey requires all coaches, at every level, to complete three things on top of their division's coaching certification:
The coaching certification you need depends on your role (head or assistant coach), division (U7 to U21, Junior A, Prep and Female variants) and category of play (recreational, carded, AAA). BC Hockey's Team Requirements page lists them, and the questions below summarise them.
Source: BC Hockey, Be a Coach page (https://www.bchockey.net/coaches/be-a-coach) and Team Requirements page.
Head and assistant coaches have the same requirement in each division, per BC Hockey's coach requirements table:
(CL = BC Hockey coach level; HC = Hockey Canada.) The table cites Regulation 3.3 and, for U9, Appendix A.
Source: BC Hockey, Coach Requirements by Division and Role (https://www.bchockey.net/coaches/be-a-coach/team-requirements).
Per BC Hockey's coach requirements table (CL2 = Coach 2, Coach Level; HC = Hockey Canada). Head and assistant coaches need the same certification unless noted:
Source: BC Hockey, Coach Requirements by Division and Role (https://www.bchockey.net/coaches/be-a-coach/team-requirements).
Per BC Hockey's coach requirements table (D1 = Development 1, HP1 = High Performance 1):
| Division | Head coach | Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| U13 Carded | D1 (plus checking) | D1 |
| U15 Carded | D1 or HP1 (plus checking) | D1 |
| U15 AAA | HP1 (plus checking) | D1 |
| U17 AAA | HP1 | D1 |
| U18 Carded | D1 or HP1 | D1 |
| U18 AAA and Female U18 AAA | HP1 | D1 |
| U21 Carded | D1 or HP1 | D1 |
| CSSHL U15, U15 Prep, U16 Prep | HP1 (plus checking) | D1 |
| CSSHL U17 Prep, U18 Prep, U18 Female Prep | HP1 | D1 |
| Junior A | HP1 | D1 |
Source: BC Hockey, Coach Requirements by Division and Role (https://www.bchockey.net/coaches/be-a-coach/team-requirements).
BC Hockey's coach requirements table asks for a checking certification, in addition to the main certification, from head coaches of:
The checking requirement is met by one of: Instructional Stream Checking, HU Online Checking, or Hockey Canada Skills Checking. Assistant coaches in these divisions have no checking requirement listed.
Source: BC Hockey, Coach Requirements by Division and Role (Team Requirements page).
BC Hockey requires a criminal record check (CRC) for employees and volunteers in BC Hockey positions, including directors, on initial appointment or on reaching the age of 18. Volunteers, including coaches, must renew every three years (current BC Hockey directors and employees every five).
How to apply, at https://www.bchockey.net/member-info/applications/criminal-record-check:
Source: BC Hockey, Criminal Record Check page.
Yes. BC Hockey says every team must have a person certified in the Hockey Canada Safety Program (HCSP). Certification lasts three years. Details and registration: https://page.spordle.com/bch/clinics/1f1382a5-8602-61d0-8666-0233802c013f
Source: BC Hockey, Safety and Maltreatment page.
Hosting a tournament or jamboree: Minor Hockey Associations apply through BC Hockey's online Host a Tournament form, https://bchockey.net/applications/tournament-jamboree-host-application
Travel outside the province or country: BC Hockey tells teams to review its "Travel Insurance Information, Insurance Coverage, Out of Country Competitions and/or Players" bulletin. Out-of-country players must buy separate primary medical insurance for the Hockey Canada program to apply.
Source: BC Hockey, Tournaments page and Insurance page.
Complete a Hockey Canada Injury Report Form for every injury during a sanctioned event such as a game or practice, whatever its severity.
Hockey Canada is the secondary insurer: file with any extended benefits or other insurance first, then send the explanation of benefits with invoices and receipts to BC Hockey. Out-of-country players must buy separate primary medical insurance for the program to apply.
Source: BC Hockey, Insurance page.
BC Hockey has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination, disrespectful and abusive behaviour, and harassment (Rule 11), set out in the joint Hockey Canada / BC Hockey maltreatment, bullying and harassment policy: https://cdn-ca.aglty.io/bc-hockey/HC_BCH%20Maltreatment_Policy.pdf
Where to go:
Source: BC Hockey, Safety and Maltreatment page.
BC Hockey lists upcoming coaching clinics on its Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) page, https://www.bchockey.net/member-info/hcr. The clinics for The Shift Forward and the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) are booked through the clinic registration links on BC Hockey's Be a Coach page, https://www.bchockey.net/coaches/be-a-coach.
Source: BC Hockey, Be a Coach page.