skip navigation

Coaches Corner

Mandatory District 3 Coaches Meetings

Every season, District 3 has a mandatory coaches meeting that all teams must send at least one coach to attend (preferably the head coach). This year's meeting dates are TBD, usually a week or two after teams are formed

COACHING REQUIREMENTS - ALL POTENTIAL COACHES FOR THE 2023-2024 HOCKEY SEASON

It is extremely important for our coaching volunteers to become certified each season. More than ever, this season District 3, Minnesota Hockey, and USA Hockey are requiring that all of the coaching requirements are met before a coach can be rostered and be on the ice with their team.

For travel hockey, this means the head coach must be fully certified before tryouts end or you risk not being able to take the ice with your team at the start of the season.

WYHA Head and Assistant coaches must follow the WYHA application process as follows. 

Note: Steps 1-3 are the easiest, quickest, and most important steps to begin this process. Once WYHA has your registration and USA Hockey #, we can track progress and help with any questions. 

Note:  Bold titles are links to the sites needed to complete the tasks.

  1. USA Hockey Registration - USA Hockey registration is required annually for Head and Assistant Coaches.  Save your confirmation code as you will need it for the additional requirements.
  2. WYHA Coach Registration - All potential coaches for the 2023-2024 season must register with WYHA before being allowed on the ice.  Registering does not guarantee a coaching position.  Coaches are determined following try-outs only after official teams have been formed.
  3. USA Hockey Background Screening - Background screening is required and valid for two (2) years.  Coaches need to complete the background screening BEFORE allowed on the ice.  Due to new requirements from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”),  USA Hockey will be implementing a national level background screening policy.  This new process has a $30 fee, but past screenings are good for 2 years.  This means if you completed a screening anytime after 4/1/2022, it should be good for the 2023-2024 season.  It is your responsibility to confirm a valid screening.  The eight digit self-registration ID number for USAH to initiate your screen is 35615801 .
  4. USA Hockey SafeSport - ALL Head and Assistant Coaches, Managers, Locker Room Volunteers and Board Members need to complete the USA Hockey SAFESPORT on-line training prior to be placed on a roster.   SAFESPORT registration is free and SafeSport training is now required every year.  In many cases, all that is required is a quick "refresher" course that can be completed in 15-20 minutes.
  5. Online Age Specific Modules:  Completed Age Specific Module for EACH playing level you will be coaching.  If you have completed an on-line specific age module in a previous year, you do not have to re-take that module.  Coaches completed modules can be found in the USA Hockey Online Coaches Certification list.
  6. Concussion Certification Training:  Minnesota Hockey requires all coaches to complete concussion training.  Training received from other sports will satisfy the training required for this certification.  You will need to provide a copy of your concussion certification by emailing it to Timothy Smith <tpsmith78@gmail.com>  before team rostering .  This certification is good for ONE year only.
  7. USA Hockey CEP - Ensure your Coach Education Program or CEP level certification is up to date and appropriate for the level you are coaching.   If your CEP is expiring you MUST find the next available class on-line and complete prior to 12/31/2023.   EXCEPTION: Coaches of  Mite,  8U or younger may remain at Level 1 or their current level even if it has expired.  For Travel teams, if your level 1 and 2 have expired,  you need to proceed to the next level.   Review your current CEP level with the USA Hockey Online Coaches Certification list.  Register for an available clinic at  USA Hockey Coaching Clinics.  CEP Levels 1, 2 and 3 clinics are now provided virtual!
     

IMPORTANT - If you do not complete the required CEP level before December 31st  you will be removed from your roster and will no longer be eligible to coach for the remainder of the season.

If you have any questions, contact WYHA Coaching Compliance.

USA Hockey Coaching FAQ's

Please see the USA Hockey Coaching FAQ's regarding CEP requirements. 

Purposeful Coaching

Jonathan Lindahl has been a member of the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association since 2001 when his oldest of four started in the program. He is a USA Hockey Level 5 and MSHSL certified coach, and over 16 seasons head-coached 21 WYHA teams across all boys’ age-levels, from Mites to Junior Gold, as well as girls’ 10U-A and 12U-A. He has coached in eight state tournaments and six state championship games. In a 24-month stretch ending in March 2016, his three Jr. Gold A teams played a total of 14 overtime periods across three state championship games versus Edina - culminating just a week later in an overtime victory versus the Hornets in the title game of the 20-team USA Hockey National High School Tournament in suburban Washington D.C. Jonathan was a long-time member of WYHA’s Player Development Committee and was the 2015 recipient of the Robert S. McNamara Award for “longstanding, unselfish contribution to the Wayzata Youth Hockey Association.” He has a passion for writing about coaching philosophies, strategies, and tactics.

Coaches Hockey

WYHA Coaches Open Hockey is scheduled once a week at no cost and typically on Thursday evenings.  Go to Teams and click on the Coaches Hockey Tab to view Coaches Hockey Ice Schedule.  Provided is the iCal for WYHA Coaches Hockey:  webcal://www.wayzatahockey.org/ical_feed?tags=6517726  

Policy and Forms

Click on the documents below for helpful Coaching items.

USA Hockey Student Coaching Requirements

USA Hockey will require student coaches to review the Student Coach Presentation and submit a Student Coach Model Form to the association. Once completed, this form can be dropped off at the PIC A WYHA Registration drop box.

Helpful Hints

Click on the documents below for helpful Coaching items.

Workouts and Teaching

Click on the documents below for helpful Coaching items.