Kansas City Stars Hockey

New in 2025-2026

• 6U/8U CEP Level for first time coaches at the 6U/8U level.  Lower cost and less time to get certified.  This is in lieu of taking Level 1. Click 6U/8U CEP Level to learn more.
• Single Sign On (SSO). One login to access the NEW COACHES DASHBOARD. All certification and access to learning modules and CEP in one place.  You'll receive an email with information on how to set up your SSO login after you register with USAH for the season.
• Coaches CEP clinic deadline has been moved to December 15th, 2025 (instead of December 31st).
• Level 4 and Level 5 Coaches whose CEP expires 12/31/2025 will need to complete 5 Credits of Continuing Education.
• Coaches Clinics (Level 1-5) are no longer displayed on a public webpage.  To see what clinics are available you'll need to login to your Coaches Dashboard through the SSO (Single Sign On) point of entry.  https://lms.usahockeylearningcenter.com/learn
• More information on the Coaches Learning Center https://www.usahockey.com/learningcenter

IMPORTANT: Coaches must have current SafeSport, Background Screen, and appropriate Age Module completed before any on-ice or off-ice coaching.

USA Hockey and the Coaching Education Program require both certification and registration to be eligible to coach.  Registration is done online on a yearly basis. Certification is also required.

USA Hockey Requirements.  Must be completed before participating in any on-ice or off-ice activities.

**Coaches complete Steps 1-6.
**Volunteers (team managers, locker room monitors, Club leadership etc.) complete Steps 1-4.

1. Register as a member of USA Hockey. Must be done yearly, cost is $62 for Coaches. Make sure you indicate you're coaching in the State of Kansas (Midwest Amateur Hockey Association) even if you live in Missouri. Volunteer membership is free.

2. Register with KCYHA.  

3. Complete the Background Screen. ***Good for two seasons. Cost is $30.

4. Complete the USA Hockey SafeSport Training. Refresher required every year. Your SafeSport Certificate has an expiration date and is only good for one year from date taken. Check your expiration date. Can not participate or be added to a roster until completed. New Coaches need to complete the Core module.

5. Coaches Age Module - - Complete the online age-specific module(s) for the age level of play you are coaching unless you've already completed it.  Modules have been consolidated. The new module classifications are U8, 10U/12U, and 13&Over. Cost is $20 for 8U, and $25 10/12U and 13+. Must be completed PRIOR to participating in any team activities and cannot be added to a roster until completed.

6. Coaching Clinic (if needed) - - Find, register and attend (virtually) the required certification clinic. To find available coaching clinics log into your coaching profile page on USA Hockey Learning.  You can only attend one clinic per season. If you are new to coaching and coaching 6U/8U you can take the 6U/8U Coaching Clinic.  If you are a new (never taken any CEP 1-4 courses before) and are coaching 10U or older, you'll need to start at Level 1.  Coaching Education Program (Levels 1-5) Certification Clinic Requirements must be completed by Dec.15, 2025. 

7. Level 4 and 5 Coaches whose CEP expires December 31st, 2025 need to complete 5 hours of Continuing Education before December 15, 2025. Click here for more information on Continuing Education options.

Volunteers: Off-ice volunteers only need to complete Steps 1-4 above and register using the following link.  USA Hockey membership is free for off-ice volunteers.

All Coaches and Volunteers need to register with KCYHA using the following link. (This link is the same as in Step 2 above.)

https://www.usahockey.com/rules
Updated for 2025-2026 Season

(1) Required Coaching Education Program Levels for Ice Hockey

All coaches must have the required certification level by January 1 of the current season.

(a) All coaches must enter USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program at the 6U/8U clinic if coaching Learn To Skate, Learn To Play, and/or 6U/8U classifications or a Level 1 clinic if they are coaching 10U classification and above. 

Coaches at the 6U/8U Level do not need to progress any further until one of the following occurs:

1. The coach moves up to another age classification above 8U, or
2. The coach returns to 6U/8U for the fifth consecutive season and the level is now expired.

Coaches at the 6U/8U must take the 6U/8U refresher education every five years if they are continuing to coach at 6U/8U classification or LTS/LTP.

Coaches in 6U/8U should not take Level 1 until they start coaching at the 10U classification and above level.

As of the 2025-26 season, Level 1 coaches must continue their education with a coaching clinic each year until such time as they are coaching any older age level of play or something other than disabled hockey.

A coach may attend only one certification clinic per year. This does not include continuing education clinics or modules. The 6U/8U clinic can be taken by coaches that are Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 for continuing education credit.

(b) In addition to the training in paragraph (a) above, coaches must also complete online age-specific training modules specific to the level of play they are coaching, if they have not already taken that module. This requirement applies to all coaches at all levels, 6U/8U through 5. Coaches may complete more than one age-specific module in any given season. As of the 2023-24 season, all coaches must complete the Foundations for Player Development and the age-specific modules PRIOR to participating with a team.

(c) Effective in the 2022-23 season, Level 4 coaching certifications are valid for three (3) seasons, and Level 5 coaching certifications are valid for four (4) seasons, each as indicated by an expiration date.

(d) Grandfather Clause
For those coaches who received Level 4 or Level 5 PRIOR TO January 1, 2021, and who are coaching or begin to coach after this date, any Tier I or Tier II teams, will be required to do continuing education as required in (c) above.

Coaches who received a Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 PRIOR to January 1, 2025 and who are coaching after this date, may coach at the 6U/8U classification or LTS/LTP classification with their current level, even if expired.

If a 6U/8U coach takes a higher level of education after January 1, 2025 they are no longer grandfathered in at the 6U/8U level and must remain current in education regardless of what age classification they are coaching.

(e) Previous/Expired Certifications
Coaches with any expired certification will retain their previous certification levels provided the certification can be verified. Coaches may re-enter the certification system at that previous level and be subject to the certification guidelines in (a) through (c) above and/or (f) below.

SafeSport Training and Background Screen need to be completed PRIOR to the start of the season and BEFORE you have any on-ice or off-ice contact with players!

Who needs to complete SafeSport Training and Background Check?
Coaches
Referees
Team Managers
Volunteers
Locker Room Monitors
Board Members
Employees
Anyone who will have regular contact with or authority over athletes under the age of 18 are required to submit to a background screen and complete SafeSport module before any such contact with those athletes.

Important Background Check Note:  Background Checks through NCSI are good for two seasons.  The cost is $30 for domestic screens, $75 for Canada, $150 for international screens.  If you were screened after April 1, 2024, that screen will be valid for the 2025-26 season and you will not need to be screened until prior to the 2026-27 season.

Coaches Education general rule: All coaches must enter USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program at the 6U/8U clinic if coaching Learn To Skate, Learn To Play, and/or 6U/8U classifications or a Level 1 clinic if they are coaching 10U classification and above. 

Coaches will need to complete their CEP clinics virtually as our Affiliate is not planning any local in-person clinics in the 2025-2026 season.