Western New York Amateur Hockey League

As you know, the USA Hockey SafeSport Program is designed to prevent abuse and maximize the safety of our participants in the off-ice environment. In the 2014-15 season, USA Hockey required that all coaches, all officials over 18, all other volunteers and employees that had regular, routine or frequent access to or supervision over youth participants, and at least one program administrator complete the SafeSport Training. This email is to let you know about the requirements for the 2015-16 season.

As background, the SafeSport Training is part of the SafeSport Program and is intended to heighten awareness of those that are in supervisory positions over youth participants. We recognize that adding additional educational requirements increases the burden on our coaches and other volunteers, but as the primary and most direct leaders and supervisors of our youth teams, it is critical that they are trained in ways that can help prevent abuse within our programs. Additionally, providing a safe environment for your participants helps recruit and retain players, and enhances your program in the eyes of parents.

SafeSport Training is valid for 2 seasons, so a person that completed the training in the 2014-15 season will not need to retake the training until the 2016-17 season. The initial SafeSport Training course is a little over 90 minutes long. Once a person has completed the initial training, then they are eligible to complete their subsequent training by taking the SafeSport Refresher Course, which is approximately 35 minutes long.

Requirements for Coaches

In the 2015-16 season, all coaches will be required to have completed the training prior to that person’s participation (on ice or off ice) in the USA Hockey program. Over 48,000 coaches completed the training in the 2014-15 season, so those coach’s prior training will still be valid for this season. Any coach that completed training in the 2013-14 season will need to complete the refresher course prior to participation this season. Any coaches that have not completed any training (primarily new coaches) will need to complete the main course prior to participation in a USA Hockey program.

Please note that as last season was the first time that training was required, Affiliates were permitted to extend the deadline for completing training until December 31st, but that extension is not available this season, and coaches must complete training (if required this year) prior to participation. You are able to confirm whether a particular coach has completed training through the USA Hockey Program Registry.

Requirements for Other Program Volunteers

As with last season, other volunteers in USA Hockey programs that have regular, routine or frequent access to or supervision over youth participants, such as team managers, locker room monitors, chaperones, etc., are required to complete the SafeSport Training prior to such access.

USA Hockey strongly encourages that all board members and other program administrators, even if they do not have regular, routine or frequent access to or supervision over youth participants, complete the SafeSport Training. Programs that extend the training out to their board members and administrators will benefit by strengthening their program and making it a safe place for participants. As the leaders of local programs, board members and administrators should possess the information to monitor their organization and enforce policies, and should also complete the same training as is required for coaches and other volunteers.

How to Take the Training

The SafeSport Training and SafeSport Refresher courses are available to take right now so your program, coaches and other volunteers can get a head start on the season. The training is available at no cost. The training was produced by the United States Olympic Committee and the initial training is comprised of short video segments that take approximately 90 minutes to complete (the refresher course is approximately 35 minutes), however, not all training needs to be completed in one session. You will need your USA Hockey Member Number, which can be obtained at www.usahockeyregistration.com (under Member Options, click on ‘Request Duplicate Registration Confirmation’).

If an employee or volunteer in your program is not currently a USA Hockey Member, they can obtain a Member Number to take the training, by registering with USA Hockey at no cost in the Ice Managers/Volunteers category.

Information on how to register and access the SafeSport Training can be found on our website at http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining. The website also has information if you have questions about the training or on registering for the training.

We strongly encourage that all of your coaches and volunteers get a head start on the season by completing the SafeSport Training this summer. Thank you for your diligence in helping make our sport as safe as possible!

More information on the USA Hockey SafeSport Program can be found at www.usahockey.com/safesport.