Youth on Ice Help

The following provides guidelines to be followed by all SMHA teams when looking to use youth “helpers” for on ice  practices:
 

1. A youth on ice helper who volunteers on a team must be:

• A Hockey Canada registered player of a minor hockey association or junior hockey league, or a Hockey Canada on-ice official under age 20.  This ensures that insurance coverage is in place.
• With being a registered player and or official, Respect in Sport and a Police Record Check (PRC) are not required

2. The individual must be at minimum one age division higher than the team they are volunteering with (e.g. a Bantam aged player may help at the Peewee level).  He/she is not permitted to volunteer as an on ice helper with a team at the same or higher age division.
3. He/she may only be a demonstrator/helper and is not to provide instruction.  He/she may not participate in any activities with the players such as scrimmage or drills.  Youth on ice helpers for the Development levels (IP and Novice) must be at least players in the Peewee level or above.
4. He/she must wear as a minimum a CSA certified helmet and facial protection (as required by their level of hockey), a BNQ certified neck guard, hockey gloves and skates.  Any helpers that are in or under the level of Peewee must wear their full hockey gear.
5. For a minor hockey player to be a team official and on a team’s roster they must be at least 16 years old and must complete the Respect in Sport online e-learning program.  If they are 18 or over they must have a valid PRC as per SMHA PRC guidelines.

Head Coaches must use sound judgment when selecting a youth on ice helper.  Specifically these decisions must be made for developmental and support perspectives.  The youth on ice helpers may need to be coached and taught how to provide assistance to the other team officials. This should not be looked at as an opportunity for extra ice for the youth on ice helper but rather for the helper to provide assistance to the team they are volunteering for.