Become a WAHA Coach

Thank you for your interest in coaching for Wenatchee Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA). WAHA follows all required certifications as sanctioned by USA Hockey and Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association (PNAHA) .

On this page, you will find additional information and resources required to be a youth hockey coach. USA Hockey runs our coaching program and sets forth all the requirements. To become a certified USA Hockey coach, you are required to complete all steps to be certified.

Only certified coaches are allowed on the ice or on the bench (even to just open doors). Certified coaches are also submitted to USA Hockey along with your team’s roster for registration, insurance & tournament purposes. Rosters are submitted to PNAHA and each team is reviewed for compliance.

There are 7 steps outlined below to help get all coaches certified properly. Follow the steps carefully!

You must complete all 7 steps BEFORE stepping on the ice or being on the bench.

Step 1: Register with USA Hockey as a Coach and obtain your registration confirmation number. Takes 5 mins. Hold onto your email confirmation for full reimbursement (see Step 7)

Step 2: Complete your SafeSport Certification. Every year, all coaches are required to renew and update their SafeSport Certification. First time you do this will take up to 3 hours. Any refresher courses are 20-30mins. Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time to do this well in advance, there are NO EXCEPTIONS.

Step 3: Complete the USA Hockey/PNAHA mandatory background screen and obtain a CLEAR status. This is required, NO EXCEPTIONS! If you try and submit your details and it notes that you do not need to do this, it means you are good for the year as you do this every 2 years. This process takes 5mins. Hold onto your email confirmation for full reimbursement (see Step 7)

Step 4: Complete your USA Hockey Coach Modules up to the appropriate level you are planning to coach. (Example: if you are a 12U Coach, you will do all modules for 8U, 10U and 12U). Each module can take up to 1-2 hours to complete. Please make sure you give yourself plenty of time do this well in advance, there are NO EXCEPTIONS. You will only need to do this module once up to the age level you are coaching. Login to your USA Hockey Coaches page to complete your modules under the Coaching Tab. Hold onto your email confirmation for reimbursement (see Step 7).

Step 5: Register yourself as a coach with WAHA. You will need the USA Hockey Confirmation Number from Step 1 to "claim" and verify that your credentials and screening are in order. Takes 5 mins.

Step 6: Before December 31st, complete your USA Hockey Coaching Education Program (CEP). CEP requirement information can be found here. Coaches who have not taken a CEP clinic or those with a CEP expiration of December 31st or those who do not possess the proper level CEP for the age division they plan to coach will not be eligible to coach. CEP courses are Virtual Zoom meetings with a USA Hockey Representative. Please give yourself plenty of time and plan in advance. CEP Clinics are 3-4 hours over 2 days (total 6-8 hours). Hold onto your email confirmation for reimbursement (see Step 7)

Make sure to do this step before December 31st! NO EXCEPTIONS

Step 7: Email our WAHA Treasurer, for a full reimbursement of your expenses.  wahatreasurer1@gmail.com.

In your email, please include:

• Receipt for USA Hockey Coach certification (Step 1)
• Receipt for Background check (Step 3)
• Receipt(s) for Coach Module(s) (Step 4)
• Receipt for CEP Clinic (Step 6)
• Your mailing address where we can send your check

After December 31, any coach who fails to certify properly will result in WAHA to invoice the coach for any expense reimbursement given and/or registration discount used. Only those who are properly certified and reviewed by WAHA Registrar through USA Hockey are eligible for expense reimbursements & discounts.