GCMHA Coach Selection Policy

1. Coaches Selection Committee
   1. The Coaches Selection Committee comprises persons chosen by the GCMHA Coach Coordinator, at least one of which must be an GCMHA Executive Board member.
2. Coaching Applications
   1. The Coaches Selection Committee will advertise for coaches for all vacant positions before the start of the season.
   2. All applications for coaches must be received before the agreed deadline.  If there no suitable candidates have applied for specific coaching positions before the agreed deadline then the GCMHA Executive Board and the GCMHA Coach Coordinator may accept applications after the agreed deadline.
3. Interview Process
   1. The Coaches Selection Committee will prepare interview questions with a rating chart and will interview all qualified applicants.
   2. The Committee will document their interviews and make recommendations for coaches to the Executive Committee for approval, at which point the committees duties are complete. 1
   3. All coaches - head coaches and assistants - must be approved by the Executive Committee before the persons can assume the roles.
   4. All applicants will be notified of the coaches’ selections by the Coaching Coordinator.
4. Criteria For Selecting Coaches

4.1 Coaches will meet the following mandatory qualifications:
a. Be certified or willing to be certified as per Hockey PEI standards
b. Complete the Speak Out or Respect in Sport program.
c. Comply with the Hockey PEI Volunteer Screening Policy.
d. Satisfactorily complete an interview process with the Coaches
Selection Committee
e. Be recommended by Coaches Selection Committee and approved by Executive
 f. Indicate assistant coaches for Executive Committee approval.
 

1. Selection of Coaches
   1. Non-Parent/Guardian Coaches – non-parent coaches who are selected by the coach selection committee and the GCMHA Executive Board will be awarded the team before the start of tryouts and evaluations.  The non-parent coach will be included as one of the evaluators in the tryout and evaluation process.

 

1. Parent/Guardian Coaches – Parent/Guardian coaches who are selected by the coach selection committee and the GCMHA Executive Board will not be notified or awarded a team until the conclusion of Phase 2 of the evaluation and tryout process.

5. Coaching Staff
5.1 The GCMHA Executive Committee sets a high standard of conduct for its coaches, referees, and other officials and in the image projected to participants and parents of the GCMHA.
 
5.02 The coaching staff is an integral part of the Association and is to abide by the GCMHA Constitution, Policy Manual, and the Let’s Make It Fun Again Program.
5.03 The coaching staff consists of the coaches, the manager and the trainer. A coach cannot be the manager or trainer of the team.
5.04 Coaches are responsible to the director for their division, who is the liaison between the coaching staff and the executive.
5.05 The coaching staff is the first line of communication between the Executive Committee and the team. The following is a list of standards our Association expects our coaches to abide by:
a. Coaching should consist of teaching and improving hockey skills of individual players while promoting team work and sportsmanship.
b. It is the mandate of the GCMHA that all participants receive appropriate fair playing time. Ice time lost due to disciplinary action or suspension does not apply.
c. The coaching staff is to ensure that each player wears properly fitting and approved equipment for all practices, games and warm-ups. Chin straps and neck guards must be properly fastened for all on ice activities.
d. As a sign of good sportsmanship, all players/teams should shake hands with their opponents before or after a game, as per league guidelines, and at the referee’s discretion.
e. AAA and AA coaches must present the name of the team manager and trainer to their Director one week after the team's final selection for approval by the Executive Committee
f. A team’s will have one week after the start up of minor hockey to submit the remaining co-coaches, assistants, trainer and manager.
g. Coaching staff is responsible for checking game sheets for suspended players and for proper completion of the game day roster. Failure to check for suspensions could mean forfeiture of future games and future disciplinary action.
h. At least one member of the coaching staff is to be present for all team functions.
i. A coach or manager must be present for players to access dressing rooms prior to games and practices. A member of the coaching staff should be present in the dressing room when players are present. The coaching staff should remain cognizant of gender awareness when allowing anyone access to the dressing room, including themselves. Persons of the opposite gender should not enter a dressing room at the U13 level and above unless absolutely necessary.
j. The coaching staff or designated adult must inspect the dressing rooms in all rinks before taking possession and prior to final departure to ensure no damage is charged unnecessarily to the team or Association.
k. An adult must be the last person to leave the dressing room at all times.
l. Make sure dressing rooms home and away are clean after use. m. Coaches, assistant coaches and trainers must be certified as per Hockey PEI regulations.
n. After the team is selected, the coaching staff will hold a parents meeting. Coaches are to present each parent with a written set of their guidelines on how they will operate the hockey team. Guidelines must be approved by the appropriate director prior to the meeting.
o. Coaches will utilize managers as intermediaries with parents.
p. Parents will utilize managers as intermediaries with coaches.