Coaching, Bench Staff and Third Party Instructors Requirements


The OWHA sets requirements for all team staff positions in order to be rostered.

Requirements are submitted online during Ramp Registration. It's each individual's responsibility to maintain their profile and meet all requirements.

Requirements for all positions

  1. Create a Spordle My Account and obtain your HCR number.
  2. Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
  3. Gender Identity and Expression Course
  4. Criminal Reference Check 
  5. Vulnerable Sector Screening 

Representative Coach Requirements

 Head Coach Certification:

U9 must hold the Coach 1-Intro to Coach qualification

U11 to U18 must hold Development 1 'Trained'         

Assistant Coach Certification:

U9 must hold the Coach 1-Intro to Coach qualification 

U11 to U18 must be Coach 2 Trained

Local League Coach Requirements

U7-U9 Fundamentals must hold the Coach 1-Intro to Coach qualification

U11-U18 All Coaching Positions must be Coach 2 Trained

Coaching Courses and Certification Links

 All of these courses and certifications are offered through the OWHA and the OMHA, at the following links:

https://www.owha.on.ca/content/coaching-clinics

https://register.hockeycanada.ca/clinics

Please note that the courses and certifications are the same regardless the organization that offers them.  

They are the same NCCP course and are not governing body specific.

Trainer

Every team, Representative or Local League, will require a rostered trainer. OWHA policy states every effort should be made to utilize a female trainer. The Trainer Certification is in a transition phase.  The HTCP Certification is still recognized until it expires.  New Trainers and Trainers looking to recertify will be required to take the new Hockey Canada Safety Program

Courses for the new Hockey Canada Safety Program Level 1 can be accessed here: Hockey Canada Safety Program

Manager

Team may choose to utilize a Team Manager. If one is utilized the must complete requirements listed above under “Requirements for All Positions”.

Criminal Reference Check and Declaration

Criminal Reference checks need to be completed every 2 years. Every other year a Criminal Reference Declaration Form can be filled and uploaded. Utilize the link through RAMP registration to apply for and upload your CRC. If your CRC is valid (within last 2 years) visit our link on the association website under “Policy and Procedures” to obtain a Criminal Reference Declaration to sign and upload to your RAMP profile.

Vulnerable Sector Screening

The OWHA requires that all individuals 18 years of age and older who are involved as team staff or volunteers must complete Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) and submit a VSS Declaration through the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Screening Portal.

  • A completed VSS is valid for 3 years.

  • A new VSS Declaration Form must be submitted each season, even if the VSS itself remains valid.

You still need to request your Vulnerable Sector Check from your local police detachment or online.  Online requests can be made with this link:  

Ontario Provincial Police - Police Record Checks (opp.ca) 

 

Click HERE to access the VSS Letter to submit with your application.

 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR VSC DOCUMENT via THE ONTARIO SCREENING PORTAL

Use this link for a letter from the OHF to attach to your VSC request: 

ohf-letter-requesting-vsc.pdf 

After you receive your valid VSC you will need to log on to the OHF Screening Portal and start the process of uploading your VSC to their portal.  The OHF will view and verify your VSC and attach it to your HCR profile. You will find all the instructions on how to upload this to the OHF Screening Portal here: 

OHF Vulnerable Sector Checks | Ontario Hockey Federation  

If you have a valid VSC from the 2025 or up to the current year you can upload that along with the completed declaration form ohf-screening-declaration-form.pdf to the OHF via the same process. 

You do not need to request a new one but must upload the one you have along with the completed and signed declaration.

Everyone will need to complete this process before they can be on the ice!  Please be aware there is a 4-6 week turnaround time for this.

FAQS

 

Third-Party Instructors

Any individual that is providing instruction on-ice or off-ice to Players through Team, Association, Members or OHF programming sanctioned by Hockey Canada.

Process of Registration for Third-Party Instructors:

The Third-Party Instructor qualification is a new qualification in the HCR which indicates that the individual has completed their screening through the OHF, paid for Hockey Canada insurance, and completed the required Gender Identity and Expression Course, Respect in Sport - Activity Leader, and Rowan’s Law Waiver.

The OGHA will maintain a roster of eligible Third Party Instructors and share the contact information with team staff.

Please contact Director of Development, at development@orilliagirlshockey.com if you have any questions.

 

Volunteers not registered with the OGHA

Any volunteer over the age of 18, not registered or rostered with the OGHA will provide to the Head Coach as a minimum

  1. Valid Criminal Reference Check
  2. Valid Vulnerable Sector Screening Letter
  3. Proof of completion of the Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders

Volunteers currently registered with the OGHA

Any volunteer under the age of 18 and currently registered and rostered with the OGHA can assist as requested as an on ice helper ONLY provided:

  1. They are registered and active within the OGHA
  2. They are 2 years older than the players they are assisting
  3. If under the age of 16 the volunteer must be wearing full hockey equipment

 

Volunteers under the age of 18 and not rostered or registered within the OGHA are not permitted to act as on ice volunteers without consent on a case-by-case basis from the association executive.

 

2026-2027 OWHA COACHING QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Last reviewed July 2026

 

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