Coaching Credentials
Mandatory Credentials & Screenings for All Head Coaches & Assistant Coaches
Per USA Hockey and USOPC ( United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee) policy, all coaches, officials, volunteers, managers and anyone else who will have regular contact with, or authority over, minor athletes are required to submit a background screen before any contact with minor athletes.
- All head coaches and assistant coaches must successfully complete and submit all required credentials, screenings and background checks ASAP. Head coaches and assistant coaches cannot participate in any team activities and cannot be added to the teams USA Hockey roster until all the requirements are met.
- All head coaches are responsible for making sure your assistant coaches and managers have completed all the proper requirements BEFORE participating with your team.
- All head coaches are required to inform the club registrar with your assistant coaches and managers name and contact information.
- Anyone not on your team's roster may NOT participate in any team activity without their proper credentials and screenings and the approval from the club's registrar.
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
COST Free -- Volunteers
The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance can be submitted and paid for online through the Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) self-service portal. Submitting an application online allows individual applicants to receive their results through an automated system that will notify them once their results have been processed. Applicants will be able to view and print their results online.
All volunteers will be required to obtain clearances every 60 months. Time frames for renewed clearances are based upon the date of each individual clearance.
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
COST Free -- Volunteers
Online Request
The Pennsylvania State Police have established a web-based computer application called “Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History,” (PATCH). Results are received immediately when applied for online.
All volunteers will be required to obtain clearances every 60 months. Time frames for renewed clearances are based upon the date of each individual clearance.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Background Check
COST $22.60 -- Volunteers
FINGERPRINTING PROCESS
You can register for an appointment to be fingerprinted two ways:
- Online: Go to www.Identogo.com
- Telephone: Call 1-844-321-2101 and listen to the options menu.
Appointments are not required. When you, your employee or volunteer register, you may need to provide a service code.
All volunteers will be required to obtain clearances every 60 months. Time frames for renewed clearances are based upon the date of each individual clearance.
SafeSport Training
COST Comprehensive online training course is 90 minutes long, and costs $20.
The SafeSport Training and Refresher Training are each valid for one (1) season
Once you have completed the Core SafeSport Course, there will be a Refresher Course available for individuals who have previously completed the core SafeSport course and need to recertify. Users completing the SafeSport refresher course will be certified for an additional season.
PLEASE NOTE that you will need your own USA Hockey Confirmation Number or Referee Number and your own email address to access the training.
SafeSport Core Training Link - https://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining
NCSI - National Center for Safety Initiatives
COST $30.00 -- Domestic Screening
In order to comply with new requirements from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Hockey will be implementing a national level background screening program. This program will replace all USAH Affiliate coordinated background screen programs.
Why must officials be screened?
Per USA Hockey and USOPC policy, all coaches, officials, board members, employees, volunteers, billets and anyone else who will have regular contact with, or authority over, minor athletes are required to submit a background screen before any contact with minor athletes.
Screening Link: https://www.ncsisafe.com/Members/SelfRegBatchCode.aspx
Note: You MUST have copies of all your completed PA Act 153 screenings to upload to this site. Failure to upload all the required documents will result in your not being able to coach or participate in any Phantoms activities until all requirements are successfully completed.
NCSI national screening program completed after April 1, 2020, will be valid for two seasons.
USA Hockey Age Specific Modules
COST $10 per module
You must complete each module PRIOR to participating with your team or being placed on a roster.
Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching.
Coaches must be current members of USA Hockey in order to register for the modules.
USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require both certification and registration to be eligible to coach. Registration is done online on a yearly basis. Certification is also required.
Coaching Education Program Certification Clinic Requirements must be completed by January 1 of the current season.
Coaching Education Program (CEP)
COST $55.00
All coaches (head and assistants) must be educated at the proper clinic level (CEP).
Coaches have until December 31 each season to complete their coaching clinic requirement. Coaches failing to complete their coaching clinic requirement will not be permitted to participate in any on/off ice team event and will be removed from the bench/roster.
Most clinics will be virtual (online) clinics.
You can attend any clinic, hosted by an District/Affiliate across the country. Clinics are first come, first serve, and are not guaranteed to have seats available if the class roster is at full capacity.
There will be a variety of available clinic dates and times which will fit to every coach's schedule. Don't forget that you need your USA Hockey confirmation number for the current season to register for a coaching clinic.
https://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics