Please see the below information that we received from USA Hockey regarding Coaching for the 2020-2021 Season.

As hockey begins its return to facilities throughout our District, I wanted to bring you up to date on plans that the CICs throughout the country as well as the National Office staff has developed to achieve the various coaching education needs in our District. While evaluating the issues surrounding CEP Certification in this environment, the CICs considered the following:

• The safety of our Instructors and our Coaches
• The various stages of opening and social distancing requirements of localities
• The current and anticipated availability of facilities (rinks and classrooms)
• The demand by Coaches and Associations for immediate term coaching education opportunities
• Continuing the tradition of providing World Class Coaching Education

In response to such considerations, the Coaching Education Program will be offering Online options for the traditional in-person class requirements (Level 1, 2, 3, and 4). The age specific module(s) requirement will remain in place and unchanged.

All of these classes will be conducted with Zoom and will take place in three, two and a one-half hour sessions, for a total of about six hours of classroom time (consistent with in-person class standards). Note, there is a one day break between each of the class sessions. Coaches will be able to register for these classes using the current Coaches’ Course system that they have always used to register for CEP classes.

Registration for these classes will open on June 3, 2020. Each of these classes will be limited to 50 coaches.

Register at https://www.usahockey.com/coachingclinics

The overall plan for the COVID response will be multi-pronged in order to support the approximately 1,700 coaches in our District and include:

Expansion of Online Classes to support the immediate term so coaches can take classes during Phase 0, Phase 1, and Phase 2 openings as defined in their locality. These classes will be available immediately (with pilot programs) and will expand accordingly with the goal of having capacity to train all 1,700 coaches in the District.

Availability of In-Person Clinics subject to State and Local Regulations consistent with best social distancing practices as established by the CDC and USAH.  At earliest, if possible at all, these in-person clinics won’t be offered until October 1, of 2020.

Expansion of the Temporary Card Program to accommodate those with concerns and/or specials needs as a result of COVID-19.

This plan remains consistent with the Coaching Education Program Curriculum changes as proposed at the Winter 2020 meeting this past January. The Section has worked hard to develop a safe alternative for our coaches while preserving the educational needs of our coaches so they can best serve our players.

Please reach out to me if you have any additional questions or concerns. I imagine that there will be special needs throughout the District and I’m here to provide support to coaches in this extraordinary difficult time -

Flint Doungchak | Pacific District Coach in Chief -  flint@usahockey.org