As of April 15th, Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta officially transitioned to a new safety program: The Shift Forward: Evolving Hockey Culture.

This program completely replaces the former Respect in Sport (RIS) - Activity Leader certification for all coaches, trainers, and team staff.

CRITICAL NOTE: The Shift Forward - Parent course cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. Coaches must complete the version specifically labeled for Coaches/Activity Leaders.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: ACT NOW

Please complete this program immediately. Do not wait until the season begins. Completing this now ensures your eligibility is verified early and helps avoid delays in coach selection and team placement.

• Strict Requirement: This certification is exempt from standard Hockey Alberta deadlines and must be fulfilled before stepping onto the ice with a team.
• Roster Restrictions: Coaches without a valid certification cannot be added to official rosters or participate in any team activities.

Transition Rules

• Existing Certifications: If you currently hold a valid, unexpired Respect in Sport - Activity Leader certificate, Hockey Alberta will recognize it until its current expiry date.
• New & Expired Coaches: If you are a new coach or your previous RIS certification has expired, you must complete The Shift Forward - Coach program before you can be rostered.
• Other Sports: Please note that if you have a Respect in Sport - Activity Leader certificate from another sport, it will NOT be honored. You must take The Shift Forward - Coach.

Program Overview

• Who Needs It: All bench staff (Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Trainers).
• Duration: Approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.
• Cost: TWHA does reimburse for this course. Keep receipts and fill out Reimbursement application once it is available. 
• Validity: Valid for 4 seasons.

How to Register & Complete

The program is accessed through the Hockey Canada Learning Lab via your Spordle account.

1. Log In to Spordle: Access your Spordle account. If you do not have one, please create an account using your legal name.
2. Find the Course: Navigate to the Clinics section and register for "The Shift Forward - Coach."
3. Link Your Profile: Ensure the certificate is linked to your Coach/Official profile (and not your child's player profile).
4. Proof of Completion: Once finished, please email a copy of your completion certificate to Jessica Moran at twharegistrar@gmail.com

A current and valid City of Calgary Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Check is required for all volunteer positions, including Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches aged 18+. PICs are valid for the period based on the issue date and expire on May 31 of the third hockey season (e.g., a PIC issued on August 20, 2021, will expire on May 31, 2024).

PIC status is recorded in your Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) profile under Background Checks. To verify your PIC's validity, check your HCR 3.0 Spordle account. The "Expired On" date should be May 31, 2027 or later.

IMPORTANT: TWHA does not retain copies of PICs, so it’s recommended you save a copy for future reference. The Trails West Administrator no longer has access to view applicant results online. You must save and send a copy of your results for it to be entered in your HCR account. If you don’t save and send your results within 6 weeks of notification, they will expire and require re-application.

PICs from other organizations are valid for Trails West if issued within the last 12 months. Please send a PDF/JPEG of the results to the TWHA Administrator.

A PIC indicating a Relevant Offence (see below) will only be valid if approved by the Screening Committee.

If a current and valid PIC is not on file, Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must provide proof of application prior to team assignment.
   
The Trails West Administrator will email you a Voucher to complete your PIC online at no charge. Please follow the prompts to complete your application and submit a copy of your results to the Administrator once you receive them.

Police Information Checks

*Checking Skills qualification requires both HU-Online Checking Skills Course and an in-person Instructional Stream Checking Skills Clinic.
At least one team official must be Safety certified by October 15 and be present at all games and practices.
The coach certification deadline is November 15.