Coaching Standards

Coaches, staff and volunteers working with Canadian Field Hockey athletes are required to complete the following minimum prerequisite SafeSport trainings prior to working with athletes.

1. Making Ethical Decisions; This facilitated MS modules can be taken through your provincial coaching representative. More information can be found here
   https://coach.ca/nccp-make-ethical-decisions
2. Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation: The evaluation is available for free upon completion of the MED module, and is accessed through your coaching Locker Account
3. Making Headway: This is a self-paced eLearning module available for free through your coaching Locker Account. https://coach.ca/making-head-way-concussion-elearning-series
4. Criminal Record Check: Each coach must have a current criminal record check on file with their organization.

Any Coaches, staff members or volunteers working with Competition Development level athletes or above and/or will be attending a Nationally Sanctioned Event at any level (ie FHC National Championships U16/U18/U21) will also be required to complete the CAC SafeSport eLearning Module.  More information found here:  https://safesport.coach.ca/

NOTE: CAC SafeSport Module is ONLY required at the Competition Development Level, at Community and Comp Intro it is **recommended** but not required.

Please note that all dates are aligned to seasons so 2025 applies to the 2025/26 season which begins on September 1st, 2025

Following the notice and 5-year staged approach to qualification which was provided in 2020, Field Hockey Canada is delighted to announce that Minimum Standards for Coach Training and Certification will be enforced from September 1^st, 2025.

All coaches regardless of context or age group must have the following prior to working with athletes.

1. Making Ethical Decisions Workshop: a 4-to-5-hour workshop offered by the provincial/territory coaching association $ varies by province
2. Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation: Complete online at no cost (coach.ca)
3. Coaching Association of Canada Safe Sport: online, at no cost (coach.ca)
4. Making Headway online at no cost (coach.ca)

Any coach regardless of context who coaches athletes under the age of 18 and/or any vulnerable person regardless of age must complete a VSC police reference check, prior to coaching.

Coaches who coach ID hockey must also complete Special Olympics Introductory coaching workshop.   

Unless otherwise noted:  There must be one coach actively coaching the team and present at practices and games that meets the standards outlined below.

PSO to monitor and ensure compliance in local and regional, provincial environments.  FHC to ensure compliance for all FHC assets and events.  It should be noted that FHC similarly must ensure compliance of coaches involved in the national pathway to Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and FIH standards. In an aligned system where FHC typically identifies NTC hub coaches from the provincial pathways, all coaches coming into FHC environment should already be trained or certified in appropriate context as outlined in the table below.

Community Coach

Note there is no certification in Community Coach context.

Coaches must successfully compete the following three workshops to achieve the required ‘Trained’ status:

• FHC Community Field Hockey Specific – online self-guided (on CAC website)
• CAC Making Ethical Decisions
• CAC Fundament Movement Skills

This is all online and there is no in-person component.

Competition Introduction 

To achieve ‘trained’ status in this context, coaches must successfully complete the following 8 workshops/modules

• FHC Competition Introduction Field Hockey Specific (cost as outlined by your PSO)
• Making Ethical Decisions
• Emergency Action Plan online module
• Nutrition online module
• Planning a Practice
• Designing a Sport Program
• Teaching and Learning
• Basic Mental Skills

To achieve ‘Certified’ status in this context, coaches must also complete the following steps:

• Successful completion of portfolio
• Successful completion of on pitch assessment
• Submit signed Action Card

The cost of certification in 2025 is $165. Note this includes an initial portfolio review and one additional review if required, plus one practice assessment.  Travel expenses may be assessed.

Provinces are responsible for the delivery of courses.

Competition Development

To achieve ‘trained’ status in this context, coaches must successfully complete the following:

Field hockey specific:

• FHC Analyze Performance Module (cost $40 includes FHC admin fee)
• FIH prerequisites for Level 3 – as of 2025 – 4 workshops to be taken as a facilitated online workshop (cost varies)
• FIH Level 3 in person course (3.5-day pitch and classroom course lead by FIH Educators and FHC Learning Facilitators)

Multi-sport courses offered by provincial and territorial coaching associations (note price varies per course per province):

• Performance Planning
• Advanced Practice Planning
• Coaching and Leading Effectively
• Psychology of Performance
• Leading Drug-Free Sport
• Manage a Sport Program
• Prevention and Recovery
• Developing Athletic Abilities
• Managing Conflict

To achieve ‘Certified’ status in this context, coaches must also complete the following steps:

• Submission of portfolio
• Practice assessment
• Game assessment

Please note charges apply. Check here for updates or contact FHC for further information.

Apply and submit fee for portfolio

1. Successfully complete portfolio
2. Submit fee for practice assessment & successfully complete practice assessment
3. Submit fee for game assessment & successfully complete game assessment
4. Submit signed action card

Note that each individual province will apply their own environmental lens to describe in more detail the specific context and ages details that are contained within column 1 and 2 of this table.