Coach Selection Protocol (Nepean Minor Hockey Association)

PrintCoach Selection Protocol

Coach Selection Process and Policy (revised June 2025)

Goals

1.      To build the best roster of coaches for NMHA Competitive Program teams;

2.      To find and develop potential coaches;

3.      To evaluate coaches and to work with them to improve and develop their coaching skills;

4.      To ensure that NMHA Competitive Program coaches abide by the NMHA Code of Conduct and the rules governing hockey both within HEO and in Hockey Canada;

5.      To integrate the coaches with the NMHA Competitive Player Development Program as defined; and

6.      Delivered by the Competitive Program Technical Director.

Strategy

All current coaches will be evaluated prior to coach selection. This will include parent and player surveys (twice yearly), as well as the assessment of the NMHA VP of Programs and Development, the Division Director, and the NMHA Competitive Program Technical Director.

  •  All potential candidates will be interviewed and their references verified.
  • Current coaches will be provided feedback on their survey results. This will be done to assist them in growth and development for their coaching career.
  •  It will be determined by the competitive committee if there is any reason to not appoint an outgoing coach to a team after review of their season evaluations and a successful interview for the new season.
  • All selected coaches will complete a Vulnerable Sector Check once appointed to a team, as well as complete all appropriate HEO/NMHA required qualifications and waivers.
  • Preference will be given to non-parents where candidates are roughly equal in merit. In divisions where interested candidates have applied.
  • The Selection Committee and NMHA competitive coaches will work with the Competitive Technical Director to deliver and improve competitive programming.
  • The selection of coaches will be by consensus of the Committee, or where required, by vote. Members of the Committee with children in a division will recuse themselves from the interview or selection process.

Process

1.      Collect and assess evaluation results of current coaching staff.

2.      Call for applications (internal and external).

3.      Collect applications for next season’s coaching roster.

4.      Assemble list of applicants.

5.      Conduct interviews.

6.      Verify experience and personal suitability of all new candidates.

7.      Award team based on the following priority order, if possible:

a. Acceptable current coach, one year with age and level.

b. Acceptable candidate, highly qualified, non-parent or parent.

c. Acceptable current coach, two years or more with age and level.


       8.      Notify all applicants of results.

9.      Advise the NMHA Board of the results.

10.    Formally announce coaching roster via website and socials

11.    If certain levels have not been staffed, those levels will be announced as “To Be Determined”.

Mid-Season Coach Survey: Dec. 1, Dec. 15

End of Season Coach Survey: Mar. 1 -Mar 15
Coach Applications: Mar. 1 -Mar. 15
Coach Interviews: Commence - typically after March Break
AA/A Coach Announcement: Prior to AA/A tryouts Mid-April/Beginning of May

B Coach Announcement: After the completion of AA/A Spring Tryouts

Coach Tenure

 

All NMHA Competitive coaches are appointed for the coming season only. There is no explicit promise of a second or subsequent year with the same player group.

The Committee does recognize that there are significant benefits in allowing coaches to plan a two-year program. The Committee also recognizes that, historically, three years with the same group has been problematic for many coaches, regardless of their success or level of respect in our community.

The Committee will undertake to award a second year to any coach, should they apply, provided the applicant is otherwise suitable and there is a spot available.

Suitable means - no unresolved issues from evaluations, and no significant changes to the coach's availability. All coaches will be interviewed; this includes the outgoing coach should they apply.

Each year, in selecting and assigning coaches, there are some excellent current coaches or coach candidates who are not awarded teams. This can be a problem with the number and quality of candidates at a level or the parent vs. non-parent decision.

The fact that a particular current coach does not get awarded to a team should never be construed as a criticism of that individual or as an indicator of problems with their tenure.