Qualifications Required for Benchstaff:
To be rostered to any bench staff position for a team, the individual must first have completed:
- Respect in Sport - Activity Leader course (completed online)
- Gender Identity & Expression course (completed online)
- Criminal Record, including Vulnerable Sector, police background check that has been completed no more than 3 years ago
-> if you live in Oxford County, refer to the OPP information posted here; a requisition letter from PDMHA must be provided as part of your submission to the OPP (there is no charge for VSC for volunteers; contact Tina for the requisition letter)
-> if you live in Waterloo Region, you can request a VSC online
Each team requires, at minimum, a Head Coach and a Trainer.
An additional 1-3 individuals can also be rostered, each of who could be any of: Assistant Coach, Assistant Trainer, or Manager. Each of these roles (with the exception of Manager) requires additional certifications to those listed above. A team roster can have at most, one Manager listed.
Here is the summary chart of the
2024-2025 Bench Staff Qualification Requirements
Head Coach / Assistant Coach -
required certifications, clinics, and resources
Trainer / Assistant Trainer -
required certifications, clinics, and resources
Manager -
resources
Upon completion of any course/certification, please remit your receipt to PDMHA - the cost incurred will be refunded to individuals who are rostered to any of our current teams.
Application for 2024-25 Head Coach positions
Questions? Contact our coach mentor, Shawn Crozier
PDMHA_Coaches_Manual_2023-24
On Ice Volunteers:
Any on-ice volunteers must first be approved by PDMHA, as they must be registered on our volunteer list for insurance coverage. On-ice volunteers, 18 years of age and older, will also be required to submit a Vulnerable Sector police background check to PDMHA. Please notify the Admin Manager with the volunteer's name, date of birth, and residential address.
Exhibition Games:
If a team arranges an exhibition game with another OMHA centre, the coach must contact the Admin Manager and provide the date, time & location of the game. At least 48 hours notice is required, as a travel permit is required for ALL exhibition games (home and away). Traditionally, PDMHA will cover the cost of the referees and timekeepers for one home exhibition game per team each season.
Tournaments:
Once a team decides to enter a tournament, the Admin Manager must be informed of the tournament dates, location and sanction/permit number, regardless of whether the tournament conflicts with an already scheduled game/practice or not. A travel permit is required to enter any tournament, including one hosted by PDMHA. To enter a tournament outside the OMHA, there is a $20 fee for the travel permit.
Teams can request a tournament advance cheque from PDMHA in order to register for the tournament; the team is then required to repay the amount to PDMHA no later than 3 days after the completion of the tournament.
OMHA Tournament Listing
Jamborees:
Jamborees are fun events for Initiation (U7) and minor novice (U8) teams, involving cross-ice or half-ice games in which no score nor standings are kept. Novice (U9) teams can also take part in Jamborees before Jan. 15th each season, and then progress to tournaments after Jan.15th. In all cases, teams can participate in no more than a total of 3 jamborees/tournaments in one season.
All information stated above for tournaments also apply to jamborees.
OMHA Jamboree Listing