Email
Print
Trainers Resources
Table of Contents
- What is HTCP?
- Certification & Recertification
- Emergency Action Plans
- Player Medical Information
- What to do when a player is injured
- Return to Play Process
- Injury Logs
- Concussion Risks
- Player / Goalie Equipment Checks
- Facility Safety Checklist
- Forms and Downloads
What is HTCP?
HTCP stands for Hockey Trainers Certification Program. It is a risk management and safety education program for the volunteer hockey trainer. This certification is required by any volunteer who wishes to be a Hockey Trainer.
To learn more about the Hockey Trainers Certification Program (HTCP), please click here, to access an overview provided by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association.
Certification & Recertification
Recertification
Recertification is required every three years. There is an online option to recertify, but you must have registered for the course prior to your certification expiring. To learn more about the online eLearning course, please click here.
Certification for Licensed Medical Practitioners
Licensed Medical practitioners are required to take the trainer’s clinic. But once you have obtained your trainer’s certification, you do not need to recertify as long as you maintain your medical licence. To renew your certification, all you need to do is fax a copy of your license to ODMHA’s office, or stop by and show them a copy and they will issue you a new card. You must provide a copy to the Risk and Safety Director once you receive a new card.
Upgrading to Level II
If you have taken your level I certification already, you can upgrade to Level II for free through the City of Ottawa by taking the CPR and Defibrillator clinics. To register, visit the City of Ottawa website and look under CPR. The course is offered at night and is 4 hours long. Once you have taken the course, you can submit the papers to ODMHA and they will upgrade your certification to Level II.
Emergency Action Plans
It is the responsibility of each Trainer to have a Risk Management and Emergency Action Plan in place for their teams. It is used by the team safety person in case of injury or other event.
SEMHA has developed a document, based on the trainer’s certification, for use and reference of each team. It should be used as a base template and tailored to each team`s situation.
Remember that an important part of the EAP is the background information needed for each facility that your team uses.
Click here to download the EAP.
Blank EAP forms
Player Medical Information
At the beginning of each season, it is the responsibility of the Trainer to have each player complete a Medical Information Form to be kept with the team safety kit.
This form should be reviewed when it is received so that the Trainer is aware of any medical conditions that may affect the player on the ice, such as; asthma or severe allergies. For some situations, such as severe asthma, you may want to consider having an extra puffer or Epipen in your safety kit during the season.
The medical information is only to be used in the event of an emergency and should be kept confidential. At the end of the season, this information should be either returned to the player, or destroyed.
A blank player medical form can be downloaded here.
What To Do When a Player is Injured
The “Player Down” flowchart, as provided by Hockey Canada, is great reference for reviewing what steps are involved as a Trainer if a player is injured. Please click here to download the document.
Any time a player is injured, the trainer should complete the injury log. Please refer to the following section for information on injury logs.
If a player is injured and requires a medical referral and/or hospitalization, that player must be cleared by a medical practitioner before they are allowed to return to the ice. In such an event, please provide the details of the injury to the Risk and Safety Director.
The Trainer or Risk and Safety Director will instruct the parents of the following forms to be completed:
- Hockey Canada Injury Report Form - This form must be submitted within 90 days of the injury
- Return to Play Form - This form must be completed by the Doctor before the player is allowed to return to the ice.
- HDC Injury Data Report - Hockey Development Centre for Ontario tracks all injuries. They have an online form that is required to be completed.
Return to Play Process
Players who are removed from or absent from games or practices due to injury or serious illness, such as mononucleosis are required to obtain a medical note (Return to Play Form) from a recognized medical practitioner before that are allowed to return to play.
If you are ever in doubt as to the seriousness of a player's injusry or illness, exercise common sense and direct the parents to seek medical attention for the player and request that a physician's note be obtained before permitting the player to play or practice.
In any return to play situations, Trainers should follow the return to play guidelines outlined in the Hockey Canada Safety Program and Hockey Trainers Certification Program. After an extended layoff, players should always practice before they play.
Memo Regarding New Return to Play Process Change (Dec 2012)
Injury Logs
An injury log is a simple log of injuries that happen through the course of a season. It is not an official document, but it can be a valuable tool to track recurring injuries to particular players. This log should be kept by the Trainer and used to record injuries that require a coach/trainer coming on the ice when play is stopped due to an injury, whether it requires medical attention or not.
A blank injury log can be downloaded here.
Concussion Risks
Concussions can happen at any time, not just during games, but also during drills and practices. It is important to be aware that most of the time a concussion doesn't involve a loss of consciousness. Furthermore, concussions are cumulative and once you have had one, it is easier to get another.
If a player returns to the ice without having taken the proper time to heal, there could be serious repercussions and potential for permanent damage.
For these reasons, Hockey Canada has developed a concussion awareness card that makes it easier for coaches and trainers to spot concussions. It also has recommended steps to take before returning to play after a concussion.
The Concussion Awareness Card can be downloaded here.
Player/Goalie Equipment Checks
As the Trainer, you should ensure that you check each player before going on the ice to verify that they have remembered all their equipment. It is very easy for a player to get to the rink without one of the smaller items, such as their neck guard or mouth guard.
You may consider having a couple of these items as back up in your trainer’s bag in case a player happens to forget theirs.
Further, kids are known to have growth spurts. Many parents may not even be aware that their kids have outgrown their equipment. As the trainer, you can do spot checks to ensure the equipment is fitting them properly or remind parents halfway through the season to verify their children’s equipment still fits.
The “Safety Requires Teamwork and Safety for All” handbook provides excellent guidelines on how to properly fit equipment. Parents should be encouraged to reference this handbook if they have any questions. The handbook can be downloaded here.
Facility Safety Checklists
The Trainer or Safety Person is responsible for conducting facility safety checks. This includes both on and off-ice risks and should be done everytime the team is at the arena. If there are any deficiencies noted, the proper form should be completed and submitted to the Rink Manager.