House League Coach Resource Manual

The aim of House League hockey is for the players to have fun, learn skills and enjoy the game, while playing in a safe and positive environment. The coaches play a major role in meeting these objectives.

This manual is intended as a guide for all House League Coaches in the minor divisions. It outlines your responsibilities for the 2005 - 2006 season. The manual also provides you with a summary of some policies, regulations, constitutional matters and the AMHA Code of Conduct. This is designed to clarify the expectations between the AMHA and players/coaches/parents.

Every coach is provided with a copy of the Coach's Manual and the AMHA Code of Conduct. It is the coach's responsibility to inform Assistant Coaches and parents of the relevant contents. If you are in doubt about any of these policies and guidelines or have issues not covered in this manual, please contact your Division Convener.

The Board of Directors is here to serve you, your players, and their parents/guardians, and it is our hope that we all enjoy our association through hockey.

Where there is a violation of the policies contained in this manual, the Fair Play Committee may conduct a hearing to establish and impose appropriate disciplinary action, which may include being removed as a coach or other position with the Association.

Annual General Meeting Cameras & Cell Phones Code of Conduct Cup Day Draft Day Equal Playing Time Evaluation Day Feedback Form Game Sheets Injuries Picture Day Player of the Game	Playoffs Referees Responsibilities of Coaches Rules and Procedures Rules of Play Schedule Standings Sponsors Ten Rules of Coaching Tournaments Uniforms and Jewelry

Ten Most Important Rules of Coaching

1. Never take yourself, or your game, too seriously. If a sport isn't fun, it's no longer sport.
2. Treat everyone with dignity, no matter what their ability - or, for that matter, their age.
3. Yelling draws attention to you when you are at your worst. The quieter you speak to a person, the louder they hear you.
4. Parents require as much coaching as children. Never let the game be taken away by those who are old enough to know better.
5. Kids should look forward to practice as much as to games. Practice should mean more ice time, more fun, and more improvement. Good practice makes for good games.
6. A pat on the back has never been known to injure a player.
7. We learn from our mistakes, and if you make players afraid to make mistakes, they will stop trying to learn.
8. No one is more important than the team. No one is less important than the team.
9. No one - coaches, players, or parents - should look upon this as a career. Games are not jobs
10. If you can't laugh at yourself, rest assured others are laughing at you.