FOR COACHES

The beginning of the SASA season is just around the corner. With that, comes the call to serve in our all-volunteer organization. As the SASA coaching directors, We are charged with developing a list of candidate coaches to present to the board. If you are interested in coaching for SASA during the 2025-2026 season, please read through this document in its entirety.  

As most of you know, there are several items that must be completed by all coaches under the SASA and USA Hockey umbrella. Below is a list of 6 items that will need attention from each of you along with the corresponding links. Please take the time to go through all 6 items and let any of us know if you have any questions. In short, the 6 items include:

1. SASA Coaching Application (Free). Please see the link below to the application.
2. USA Hockey Coaching Registration (USA Hockey membership-coach $51) USA Hockey Registration Link can be found here.
3. USA Hockey Coaching Education Requirements ($0 - $50) Coaching Education Program Certification Clinic Requirements (Must be completed by Dec. 31) Find, register and attend the required certification clinic. (Cost is $50. You can only attend one clinic per season and all coaches start at Level 1. (The coaching clinic season for Levels 1-4 officially runs from September 1 to December 31). (Clinics can be located on USA Hockey website found here).
4. USA Hockey Age Specific Modules (Only complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching. Cost is $20 per module and only needs to be completed once per age level. Must be completed PRIOR to participating in any team activities and cannot be added to a roster until completed). Please click here for the Modules.
5. USA Hockey SafeSport Training (Free- Required every year) Click here for the SafeSport Training. **Please email me a copy of your certificate showing the SafeSport certification – 
6. Background Screening ($30 – Has to be completed every 2 Years. This is a National Level Background in compliance with requirements from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Hockey). Please click here to be directed to the Background Screening application.

Please be advised that if any Coach is missing any of the required steps mentioned above they cannot be added to the Official USAH Roster. The Registrar physically can not add a Coach to a roster if these steps are missing. The Official Roster is not the roster posted on the SASA Website because VSAHA and USAH have not approved these rosters. If you are not listed on the Official roster you are not allowed on the ice for practices or on the Bench for games. This is considered a Bench Violation and there can be consequences passed down for this violation. 

Note that SASA will reimburse the USA Hockey Registration and Clinic fees for all SASA coaches that are assigned to a team or who have received prior approval from the SASA board for reimbursement and all receipts must be forwarded to the SASA treasurer, Andrew Norris at Treasurer@stalbanshockey.org.

The reimbursement form needs to be completed by January 1st and is located by clicking.  The 2025-2026 coaches meeting (all potential SASA coaches) will take place at a date to be determined. In the meantime, please begin to work on the list of 6 items (Particularly #1) so we can have a successful beginning to the hockey season. We would like all coaching applications completed by August 1st. We will begin emailing the interested coaches using the list generated from the coaching applications. Feel free to email any of us with any questions or concerns you may have with these items or anything else hockey related.

Head Coaching Coordinator

Tom Waltz

Student Coach Regulations

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. Student coaches are not eligible to attend a CEP certification clinic for certification. They may audit a clinic but they do not receive certification credit, nor are they required to pay for the clinic. He/she will need to contact the instructor directly as he/she will not be able to register online due to the age restriction in place.
• Will need to complete Safesport if turning 18 during the year in which they are coaching.
• 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 participate as a player in scrimmages or games when acting as a STUDENT COACH).
• May not act as the head coach or an assistant coach during practices or games.
• May be on the bench during games with an adult. The STUDENT COACH will count as one of the maximum of four Team Officials allowed on the bench.
• 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 (e.g., a 14U age player may act as a STUDENT COACH at the 12U, 10U or 8U level).
• 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 by clicking on the link above This form stays with the association.
• Upon reaching the age of 18, the STUDENT COACH must comply with the USA Hockey Screening Program and meet the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program requirements which will qualify him/her to act as an assistant or head coach.

Please submit the signed completed form to the SASA Registrar at Registrar@stalbanshockey.org.

SafeSport Reporting Form

This form is to be used by the SASA SafeSport coordinator and coaches. All SafeSport claims must be presented to the SASA Safesport coordinator Cory Lozier at loziercl@gmail.com.

Travel Permit

If your Team will be traveling to Canada for a game or a tournament, please complete the Travel Permit below for State Approval. Please submit no later than a week prior to your proposed game(s). If this is not completed and approved by the VSAHA Registrar, the games can not be counted towards your required number of games for State Tournament Eligibility.  

The SASA Association ID is VTH0049. Your Team Identification Number (Team ID) can be found on your USAH Approved roster, listed under the Team Name. Please select the Canada circle at the top, complete the Team Information & Destination Information Sections. The Approval Section is to be completed by VSAHA. Once completed, please submit to SASA Registrar at Registrar@stalbanshockey.org.