Certifications/Courses/Qualifications

First, thank you for volunteering with Bedford & District Minor Hockey Association. 

Before you dive into the below content, please take a few minutes to create a Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) Account. Your HCR account will act as the home base for all your certification needs. It will allow you to register for clinics, apply for permits, and show your current certifications and expiry/renewal dates.

• Click on the following link to create an account Login | Spordle Account
• To view your certifications, courses and qualfications click the following link Sign Up | Spordle Account
• Select member, view profile, select the qualifications tab. A list of courses will be displayed that have been completed and expiry and renewal dates.

Courses/Certifications Required by Volunteer Position

• All coaches/managers and volunteers are required to complete a specific set of certifications to assist with team acitvity
• Hockey NS has an updated listed of courses for each volunteer position at each level of play.
• Click here to view the qualifications required and to view the course schedule required Coaching Requirements | Hockey Nova Scotia
• Coach Clinic Schedule, click HERE
• Important Deadline to complete courses is November 15.
• We recommend that once you have been assigned to a team for the 2026-27 season to begin acquiring your certifications immediately.
• Should an individual not obtain all certifications by the deadline, they will be considered ineligible from hockey activity until certifications have been completed. Failure to comply to this can result in suspensions of not only the individual, but the team head coach.
• Hockey Nova Scotia tracks all certifications and has staff in place to ensure that all documents submitted to them are applied to the appropriate individual’s account within the Hocey Canada Registry (HCR). 
• Please make sure you are registered with a team before you request approval to take a certification course clinic. 

If you have any questions about certification requirements, please contact Certifications Coordinator, certifications@bedfordblues.com. Individuals should not contact Hockey Nova Scotia directly. We liaise with the Certifications and Risk Management staff on your behalf. 

DEFINITIONS

• Coach (Head Coach or Assistant Coach) - Coach means a head coach or assistant coach and is defined as someone who is both on the bench during games and on the ice during practices. 
• Trainer - A trainer is a person who is on the bench during the games to attend to any injuries. A trainer is on the bench or in the rink during practices as well – but does not go on the ice to help with practices. Must be HU-Online Safety certified. 
• Manager - A manager is someone who volunteers to help out a team with booking ice time, submitting tournament applications, making travel plans, coordinating team budgets and fundraising events, and other administrative tasks. This person does not go on the bench during games and does not go on the ice during practices.
• Team Safety Rep - A Team Safety Rep is someone that meets with participants, parents/caregivers, coaches, and managers before the season begins to walk through the Rebound Plan and the COVID-19 guidelines of their local facilities. They will also ensure that the COVID-19 participant self-screening is conducted for each participant before each training (on and off-ice) session. They will also complete and store the screening registry.

Coach limits by level

• U7: 15 Coaches(1 head + 14 assistants) + 1 Manager + 1 Team Safety Rep
• U9: 7 coaches (1 head + 6 assistant) + 1 manager + 1 Team Safety Rep
• U11/U13/U15/U18/U23 (Recreation): 4 coaches + 1 manager + 1 Team Safety Rep
• U11/U13/U15/U18 (Competitive): 4 coaches + 1 manager + 1 Team Safety Rep
• Teams will be charged the certifications costs for Coaches/Manager/Safety reps above these limits.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• You must be at least 16 years old to take a coaching course with Hockey Nova Scotia.

• Individuals who are 16 or 17 years of age and wishing to volunteer must complete the required certifications except for the Criminal Records Check (CRC) with the included Vulnerable Section Check (VSC)

• Anyone under the age of 16 wishing to volunteer must be on a hockey team registered with Hockey Nova Scotia. These individuals must wear full gear and complete the Respect in Sport Program. All other requirements are waived for these individuals.

• Coaches must register for the clinic appropriate to the division in which they are coaching

• The HU-Online Safety certification must be renewed every three years

• Regardless if you are a medically trained professional, you must take the HU-Online Safety course. It deals with rink safety, hockey equipment fitting, and various other non-first aid topics that are specific to hockey. 

• All teams are required to have at least one coach with with CPR Level C & AED and Emergency First Aid. 

• Coaches who require the Coach Development 1 clinic but already hold the NCCP Coach or NCCP Intermediate certification are not required to take the new Coach Development 1 clinic. The NCCP Coach or NCCP Intermediate certification is sufficient to meet the requirement.

• Individuals who require the Respect in Sport Program but already hold the SpeakOut certification are not required to take the new Respect in Sport Program. The SpeakOut certification is sufficient to meet the requirement.

• Criminal Record Checks "CRC(VSC)” must be completed every three years. If you are not working with children under 18 the check does not have to be completed, all Coaches, Trainers, and Managers must complete this check. 

• Hockey Canada Planning a Safe Return to Hockey E-Learning Module - It is a newly created online learning module that takes under 30 mins to complete to ensure all volunteers are aware of the COVID-19 screening process. This is no longer required. 

RESPECT IN SPORT Leader

• The Respect in Sport Program is offered online through the Hockey Nova Scotia website (click HERE) - As a volunteer in BDMHA and once assigned to a team roaster, BDMHA will send a pre-paid code.

CLINICS

• Registration for all courses is now done online using your HCR account. Complete information regarding the registration process and course schedules can be found HCR - Hockey Canada Registry

• It is very important that individuals commit fully to the courses in which they are registered. 

• All certification courses are scheduled and administered by Hockey Nova Scotia. Hockey Nova Scotia books the facilities, obtains the necessary resources, assigns the Course Facilitator and administers the registration process. 

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK / Vulnerable Sector Check

• The process for obtaining the CRC(VSC) has changed for the 2026-27 season. How-to-Guide (HERE)

• • Halifax Regional Police will only process Criminal Record Checks for residents of HRM. Volunteers who live outside HRM must apply through the police service responsible for their own jurisdiction.
  • All applicable volunteers must complete a Criminal Record Check (CRC) including a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC).
  • A Hockey Nova Scotia letter is required to receive the reduced screening fee. The fee-reduction request letter is available HERE
  • Applications can be completed online or in person at Halifax Regional Police Headquarters.
  • If fingerprints are required, applicants will receive instructions to complete that step at Police Headquarters.
  • If identity verification is required, applicants must attend within 15 days of the email being sent, or the application will be cancelled, and fees will not be reimbursed.
  • Checks are typically processed within 14 days, depending on volume.
  • Completed results are only accessible for 30 days, so please retain a copy promptly.

• It is the responsibility of the individual to notify Hockey Nova Scotia of any change in their Criminal Record Check

• Any volunteer who does not have his/her Criminal Record Check completed and received by Hockey Nova Scotia by December 1st of the current hockey season will be suspended immediately

• BDMHA requires coaches to have this completed by November 15th (not December 1st)

For more information regarding volunteer certifications, please contact our Certifications Coordinator, certifications@bedfordblues.com, or Matt Oxford, m.oxford@bedfordblues.com