USA Hockey Introduces a Fresh Approach to Training Coaches
USA Hockey has a well-regarded educational initiative that fosters a culture of ongoing learning among its members. This comprehensive program guarantees that coaches and officials across the nation are adequately certified and equipped, enhancing the experience for the thousands of players and all participants involved.
To ensure consistency and quality of performance at the grassroots level, each district employs seasoned coaches responsible for training numerous coaches in their regions, as well as officials tasked with educating other local officials. With the introduction of virtual educational sessions, USA Hockey has broadened its outreach, allowing developers to deliver uniform training and curriculum to coaches and officials throughout the country. Initially, it is essential to train those who will train others. This is where USA Hockey’s Developer Academy comes into play, which, according to the organization, “prepares facilitators, mentors, educators, and leaders to create a meaningful learning experience for coaches and officials nationwide.”
The USA Hockey Developer Academy series includes the Coach Developer Academy (CDA), which began approximately five years ago, and the Officiating Developer Academy (ODA), now in its second year. The ultimate goal is to establish a national network of leaders who enhance education across the sport.
“The CDA started as a small group of coach developers and evolved into a national program,” stated Heather Mannix, USA Hockey’s manager of education and player development. “We aimed to move away from the ‘sage on a stage’ model, where information is merely presented, and instead make the experience more engaging and interactive. We recognized the positive effects it had on coaches, so last year we decided to extend a similar approach to officials and unite both groups. The impact of this transition has been significant, improving facilitation and bridging the gap between the two parties.”
Academy Agenda At-a-Glance
The Developer Academy generally consists of 2-to-3 in-person summer sessions, held over weekends in Columbus, Ohio, and is led by USA Hockey leaders, including Mannix, Bill McCall, manager of amateur programming for the Columbus Blue Jackets and a long-time USA Hockey volunteer, and Rob Hearn, USA Hockey manager of officiating education, among others.
According to McCall, the programming progresses from establishing a shared educational foundation on Friday (defining the purpose of the new learning approach), to track-specific learning on Saturday (concentrating on various developmental outcomes based on experience and role), and concluding with reflection, integration, and action planning on Saturday (preparing participants to implement what they have learned). Social events are interspersed throughout the weekend to provide officials and coaches the chance to build relationships and collaborate.
“It’s quite immersive and intense, but the exchange of knowledge and practical experience in the room truly enhances its significance,” remarked McCall, who collaborated with Mannix to develop the original CDA and has played a crucial role, along with Hearn, in the program’s current version. “While some curriculum information and rules are presented, we have observed that making our agenda very learner-centered, with opportunities for questions during the seminars, individualized breakouts, and small group discussions, greatly increases the retention of information throughout the season.”
Bringing Officials and Coaches Together
For the USA Hockey officials selected to attend the Academy—the “developers” responsible for sharing knowledge and information with their local colleagues—gaining a deeper understanding of how individuals learn and process information, as well as what coaches are being taught, is invaluable.
In many instances, simply being in the same space as the coach developers and engaging in open dialogue has helped strengthen the relationship between coaches and officials, thereby enhancing the overall hockey environment.
“I believe everything circles back to creating a better experience for players, whether you are an official or a coach,” stated McCall. “Thus, we intentionally cultivate a culture where they recognize that as the ultimate objective. They are not that far apart. Once this realization occurs, they truly come together.”
An Evolution in Education
Like any effective organization and educational program should, the USA Hockey Developer Academy has adapted and will continue to adapt, learning from past experiences and feedback while embracing new technologies. As the landscape has shifted, so too has the Academy’s curriculum and approach.
“As our educational programs progress, we acknowledge that developing curriculum was only part of the equation,” noted Hearn. The Officiating Developer Academy ensures that our instructors possess the tools to create engaging content. We utilized insights gained from the coaching side to enhance the officiating program.
Although it is still relatively new, the success of the Developer Academy has been evident. Mannix reported that post-Academy surveys indicate nearly 99% of participants viewed the program as a valuable use of their time. The program’s growth in its second year also included “Track 2,” a more advanced, hands-on version of Track 1 (which covers basic learning processes), featuring live seminars and a critique process that allows developers to evaluate their strengths and areas for improvement moving forward. Approximately 30 developers returned to participate in Track 2 this season.
“These developers are seasoned officials who understand the material and what an official needs to know, and we are simply aiming to assist them in enhancing their delivery of that content,” stated Hearn. “It’s exciting to have the developers return and share what they learned, and how we can improve the program. We want officials to leave their seminars feeling enthusiastic about officiating and feeling supported. Developers are a vital component of the process.”
