This framework is based on Hockey Canada’s Long-Term Player Development model and Canadian Player Pathways. The intent is to ensure that coaching support across VFIHA is age-appropriate, skill-specific, progressive, and focused on long-term athlete development.

The Division Coaching Coordinator is responsible for supporting, mentoring, and developing coaches within their age division. While each coordinator has a common responsibility to support coach recruitment, onboarding, communication, and development, the focus of the role changes by division based on the developmental needs of the players and coaches.

If you would like to express interest in becoming a Coaching Coordinator, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/Vn7HweJyeGbUktXq7

Division Development Stage Coaching Coordinator Focus
U7 FUNdamentals Support coaches in creating fun, safe, active practices that build a lifelong love of hockey.
U9 FUNdamentals Help coaches develop fundamental hockey skills through repetition, small-area games, and positive player experiences.
U11 Learn to Play Develop coaches’ teaching effectiveness and practice quality while strengthening core hockey skills.
U13 Learn to Train Support coaches in introducing tactical concepts while continuing to prioritize individual skill development.
U15 Train to Train Help coaches develop complete athletes by integrating technical, tactical, physical, and leadership development within an increasingly competitive environment.
U18 Train to Compete Support coaches in preparing athletes for the next stage of hockey while maintaining a player-centered approach.
U21 Active for Life Help coaches retain players in hockey and transition them into adult hockey, coaching, officiating, or other leadership roles.
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Director of Coaching Transform Develop and support Coaching Coordinators, establish coaching standards, and ensure a consistent player development pathway across the association.

U7 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Fun, safety, movement, and first coaching experiences.

The U7 coordinator supports coaches in creating positive first experiences in hockey. This role is highly hands-on and focused on helping new coaches learn how to run active, engaging, age-appropriate practices.

Responsibilities

  • Help coaches structure practices for young players.
  • Support station-based practices with high movement and minimal standing in lines.
  • Share simple practice plans and age-appropriate drill progressions.
  • Demonstrate how to explain activities clearly to 5- and 6-year-olds.
  • Help coaches manage attention, energy, and different skill levels on the ice.
  • Reinforce fun, inclusion, safety, and equal participation.
  • Support new coaches and parent volunteers as they enter the coaching pathway.
  • Encourage certification completion and continued coach development.

Success is measured by

  • Players are excited to come to the rink.
  • Practices are active, fun, and well organized.
  • Coaches feel confident and supported.
  • New coaches return the following season.
  • Parents have a positive first experience with the association.
  • More volunteers, especially women, enter the coaching pathway.

U9 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Skill repetition, confidence, and learning through games.

The U9 coordinator helps coaches build on the U7 foundation by continuing to emphasize fun and skill development while introducing more structure, repetition, and basic hockey concepts.

Responsibilities

  • Help coaches plan practices that balance skating, puck skills, passing, shooting, and game play.
  • Support the use of small-area games to build decision-making.
  • Help coaches introduce basic positioning and support concepts without over-coaching systems.
  • Encourage high puck-touch environments.
  • Observe practices and provide feedback to coaches.
  • Support coaches in adapting drills for different skill levels.
  • Encourage collaboration between teams.
  • Help assistant coaches develop toward future head coach roles.

Success is measured by

  • Practices remain fun while becoming more structured.
  • Players improve core skills through repetition and game-like activity.
  • Coaches can independently run effective practices.
  • Coaches begin teaching simple hockey concepts clearly.
  • Coaches collaborate and share ideas.
  • Assistant coaches are prepared for larger roles.

U11 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Teaching effectiveness, core skill development, and preparation for more structured hockey.

The U11 coordinator helps coaches become better teachers. This is where coaches need to move beyond running drills and begin using feedback, demonstration, questioning, and progression to improve player learning.

Responsibilities

  • Support coaches in teaching skating, puck control, passing, shooting, checking skills, and game play.
  • Help coaches use clear demonstrations and age-appropriate feedback.
  • Encourage progressive practice planning.
  • Promote game-based learning and decision-making.
  • Observe practices and games to provide constructive feedback.
  • Support player evaluation and balancing processes where appropriate.
  • Help coaches manage increasing parent and player expectations.
  • Identify coaches who may be ready for future competitive or leadership roles.

Success is measured by

  • Coaches demonstrate stronger teaching skills.
  • Practices show clear progression over the season.
  • Players develop stronger fundamentals.
  • Coaches balance development with increasing competition.
  • Coaches are prepared to support the transition into U13.
  • Future head coaches and division leaders are identified.

U13 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Tactical development, individual tactics, and introduction to team play.

The U13 coordinator supports the transition from primarily individual skill development into a stronger understanding of how players use those skills within game situations. This aligns with Hockey Canada’s emphasis at U13 on refining individual tactics and introducing team play.

Responsibilities

  • Help coaches reinforce fundamental hockey skills while introducing tactical concepts.
  • Support coaches in teaching puck support, spacing, transition, communication, and pressure.
  • Encourage small-area games and game-like drills that develop decision-making.
  • Help coaches introduce team play gradually without replacing individual skill development.
  • Support coaches in teaching concepts and habits appropriate to the age group.
  • Observe practices and games and provide feedback.
  • Help coaches manage the increasing expectations that come with competitive levels.
  • Support evaluation, placement, and player movement discussions where appropriate.
  • Encourage collaboration between Recreation and Rep coaches.

Success is measured by

  • Coaches continue prioritizing skill development while introducing tactical understanding.
  • Players improve their ability to make decisions in game situations.
  • Coaches use age-appropriate tactical language and progressions.
  • Practices remain development-focused, not systems-heavy.
  • Players are prepared for the increased demands of U15.
  • Coaches are supported through the transition into more competitive hockey.

U15 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Refining team play, introducing team strategy, and supporting athlete development.

The U15 coordinator helps coaches support players as the game becomes faster, more competitive, and more complex. This role should still be grounded in long-term athlete development, not simply winning.

Responsibilities

  • Help coaches refine team play and introduce team strategy appropriately.
  • Support practice plans that continue to develop technical skills under pressure.
  • Help coaches teach concepts, habits, principles of play, and decision-making.
  • Support coaches in building team culture, accountability, and leadership.
  • Help coaches manage parent, player, ice time, and role-related conversations.
  • Encourage positive competitive environments that still prioritize development.
  • Support tournament, playoff, and Provincial preparation where relevant.
  • Encourage coaches to pursue Development 1, High Performance, or other relevant training.
  • Identify coaches who may be ready for U18, Rep, or coordinator roles.

Success is measured by

  • Coaches balance competition with long-term player development.
  • Players continue developing individual skills, tactical awareness, and team habits.
  • Teams have positive, accountable, athlete-centered cultures.
  • Coaches manage difficult situations professionally.
  • Coaches collaborate across the division.
  • Players are prepared for U18 hockey.
  • Future competitive coaches are developed internally.

U18 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Performance, transition, leadership, and continued participation.

The U18 coordinator supports experienced coaches working with older athletes who may have different goals, including competitive hockey, junior, university, recreational hockey, coaching, officiating, or lifelong participation.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a mentor and sounding board for experienced coaches.
  • Support coaches in managing complex team dynamics.
  • Help coaches prepare athletes for their next stage in hockey.
  • Encourage strong team culture, leadership, and accountability.
  • Support coaches through playoff and Provincial preparation where relevant.
  • Promote athlete-centered decision-making.
  • Encourage graduating players to become coaches, officials, mentors, or volunteers.
  • Identify future association leaders and coaching coordinators.

Success is measured by

  • Coaches feel supported rather than managed.
  • Athletes are prepared for their next hockey pathway.
  • Team environments remain healthy and respectful.
  • Coaches resolve issues early and constructively.
  • Graduating players stay connected to the game.
  • Future coaches and volunteers emerge from the division.

U21 Coaching Coordinator

Primary focus: Retention, lifelong participation, and leadership development.

The U21 coordinator supports the final stage of minor hockey by helping keep players connected to the game and creating pathways into coaching, officiating, mentorship, and association leadership.

Responsibilities

  • Support coaches managing varied commitment levels, school, work, and life demands.
  • Help maintain a positive, inclusive, competitive environment.
  • Encourage lifelong participation in hockey.
  • Connect players with coaching, officiating, and mentorship opportunities.
  • Build relationships between U21 players and younger divisions.
  • Support alumni engagement and association community-building.
  • Encourage players to give back through camps, practices, or female coach mentorship.

Success is measured by

  • Players remain involved in hockey after minor hockey.
  • Graduating players become coaches, officials, mentors, or volunteers.
  • Coaches create positive and flexible team environments.
  • The association retains experienced hockey people.
  • U21 becomes a bridge into lifelong involvement rather than the end of participation.

Director of Coaching

Primary focus: Build and sustain the association-wide coaching system.

The Director of Coaching supports the Division Coaching Coordinators and ensures the association’s coaching approach aligns with Hockey Canada’s Long-Term Player Development model, Canadian Player Pathways, and VFIHA’s values.

Responsibilities

  • Recruit, onboard, and mentor Division Coaching Coordinators.
  • Establish coaching standards and expectations across divisions.
  • Ensure age-appropriate, progressive development from U7 through U21.
  • Support coach recruitment, certification, and succession planning.
  • Develop coach mentorship opportunities.
  • Work with the Female Coaches Network to grow and retain women coaches.
  • Support coach selection and evaluation processes.
  • Provide guidance for complex coaching issues.
  • Ensure coach development is treated as a core association priority.

Success is measured by

  • Coaching quality improves across the association.
  • Coach retention increases.
  • More women become and remain coaches.
  • Coaches progress through a clear leadership pathway.
  • Coordinators feel empowered and supported.
  • Players receive developmentally appropriate coaching at every age.
  • VFIHA builds a sustainable internal pipeline of coaches and leaders.