Coach′s Corner

For coaches who have attended a clinic, received a blue plastic card and have misplaced it, replacement cards may be obtained here. Please click this form and return it with a check for $5.00 made payable to USA Hockey, and return to:

USA Hockey
Attn: CEP Replacement Card Form
1775 Bob Johnson Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

If your name does not appear on the coaches list or the information does not accurately reflect your current certification level please contact USA Hockey’s National Office. Fax or email a copy of the front and back of your Coaching Education Program card. Please ensure the CEP number, your name, and certification stickers are all visible and legible.

Also include your full name, date of birth, current address, telephone number, and email address. Please send to Alison Raines via fax at 719-538-1160 or email to 

Second, the name and address you entered for your usahockey.com profile must match the information in our database. Please review these tips for your profile.

Tips for creating your USA Hockey.com profile to register for a coaching clinic:

• Your name, date of birth and zip code must match the USA Hockey database in order for your certification information to be applied to your database record.
• If you are a previous USA Hockey member, please use the same name and date of birth that appears on your Participant Membership Card. This will ensure your records are maintained together and not creating multiple records in our database.
• If you don’t have a membership card, check the online certification list and use the name listed there.
• The zip code that appears on the online certification list must match your profile zip code as well. If the zip code is incorrect, please send address corrections to  . If the certification information is incorrect, follow these instructions for updating your information.
• If your name does not appear on the coaches list or the information does not accurately reflect your current certification level please fax or email a copy of the front and back of your Coaching Education Program card. Please ensure the CEP number, your name, and certification stickers are all visible and legible. Also include your full name, date of birth, current address, telephone number, and email address. Please send to Alison Raines via fax at 719-538-1160 or email to 

Finally, if your certification level is correct and your name matches the online certification list and your participant card, then your date of birth or address is incorrect in our database. Please send your full name, date of birth, current address, telephone number, and email address to Alison Raines via fax at 719-538-1160 or email to 

Coaching certification levels are valid for three years; however, you must be certified for the level of play you are currently coaching.

NOTE:USA Hockey establishes the maximum duration of certification. Each District and/or Affiliate may establish tougher standards. Check your District/Affiliate website for further information.

If you received your card prior to the current 2005/06 season, your certification level sticker does not contain an expiration date. Please check the following chart for expiration dates:

Season Certification Received/Year Certification Expires
                  2003-04     /    Dec. 31, 2006
                  2004-05     /    Dec. 31, 2007
                  2005-06     /    Dec. 31, 2008
                  2006-07     /    Dec. 31, 2009
                  2007-08     /    Dec. 31, 2010
                  2008-09     /    Dec. 31, 2011

If you are Level 1 or Level 2 coach, you must move up to the next Level and attend a clinic before the expiration date to remain a current coach.

If you are a Level 3 coach, you must attend another Level 3 clinic, move up and attend a Level 4 clinic, or complete the online recertification program through FlexxCoach before the expiration date to remain a current coach. All of the FlexxCoach information can be found here: /Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=CO_02_04&ID=19518&DetailedNews=yes

If you have questions specific to the FlexxCoach program, please contact FlexxCoach directly at

If certification below Level 4 was received more than 3 years from the current calendar year the card is rendered invalid/expired. Level 1 or 2 coaches must attend a clinic at the next level, and Level 3 coaches must chose one of the four recertification options (attend a Level 3 clinic, attend a Level 4 clinic, attend a High Performance Workshop offering Level 3 certification, or complete the online recertification program) in order to reactivate their status. As long as a coach can submit proof of previous certification, (i.e. CEP card, receipts from clinics, online coach certification list) he/she does not have to start back at Level 1. The coach may attend the next level clinic to reactivate his/her status. Level 4 and 5 certifications do not expire and require no recertification.

Please be patient. flexxCoach submits a report to USA Hockey. USA Hockey personnel then verifies the eligibility of all participants listed, updates the database and then sends stickers to eligible recipients. This whole process can take up to four weeks. You can use your FlexxCoach certificate and CEP card with previous Level 3 sticker as proof of your Level 3 re-certification until your sticker arrives.

USA Hockey establishes the minimum requirements for certification. These requirements are based on the level of play you are currently coaching. Each District and/or Affiliate may require higher certification levels. Check your District/Affiliate website for further information.

Refer to the chart on this page for specific minimum requirements.

Yes. USA Hockey does not distinguish between an assistant and head coach in regards to required certification level. All coaches participating in ALL team functions (i.e. games, scrimmages, practices, try-outs, tournaments, off-ice training, etc.) must meet the same coaching certification level, based upon the level of play coaching.

A player between the ages of 13 and 17 who is currently properly registered with USA Hockey may serve as a student coach under the following conditions:

• Must attend a training session conducted by the local hockey association.
• Must always be under the supervision of a carded, screened adult coach during all practices, clinics, try-outs, and in the locker room.
• May help out at practices, clinics, try-outs only. (May not play during scrimmages or games).
• May not act as the head coach or assistant coach during practices or games.
• Must wear a helmet with full face shield, gloves, and skates while on the ice. Must wear helmet during games while on the bench.
• May only work with players at least one full playing age level down.
• The organization that is using the student coach must provide a form indicating on what team he/she is participating as a student coach, and, if applicable, what team he/she is properly registered/rostered as a player. A model form can be found here.
• Upon reaching the age of 18, the student coach must comply with all USA Hockey coaching and screening rules and regulations.