Purpose

Skate Canada is committed to creating a safe and healthy environment both on- and off-ice in which everyone in the organization is treated with respect and dignity. Skate Canada Professional Coaches are responsible and accountable for creating a sporting environment that is free of harassment, abuse, bullying and neglect.

Period

September 1 to August 31 annually.

Professional Coach Definition

Defined as a skating expert with the required competencies and NCCP qualifications to provide a service at Skate Canada sanctioned clubs and skating schools, both on- and off-ice. As registered Professional Coach Members in Good Standing, these individuals are independent contractors who receive remuneration to provide a service to the Skate Canada membership.

Individuals as listed in Section 1 of the Professional Coach Membership Procedure will comply with the requirements as defined in items (1) and (2):

1. Registered: To be a Registered Skate Canada Professional Coach, full payment is required of all registration fees and insurance premiums as determined annually by Skate Canada.
2. In Good Standing: To be a Registered Skate Canada Professional Coach in Good Standing, the following is required:
   • Must hold a valid first aid certificate
   • Screening must be done through the company approved by Skate Canada. Following review of the results of this screening, the status must show as “Clear” in the Skate Canada profile of the coach.
   • Must hold a NCCP status of Club Coach In-training or higher or must be a CanPowerSkate Coach
   • NCCP certified coaches must maintain a renewed NCCP certification status as per the Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC) Maintenance of Certification Policy
   • Have agreed to the Skate Canada Code of Ethics
   • Completed the Respect in Sport Activity Leader Training. A coach must be re-certified in this training every 3 years

It is the coach’s responsibility to show proof of their current NCCP status upon request from club board members, skating school representatives, and volunteers at competitions. Please refer to your Locker transcript for details on your NCCP record. 

Section 1: Good Standing Matrix

Section 2: Registration Fees

All the categories as outlined in Section 1 will register with Skate Canada and pay the following annual fees:

Coach Registration Fee (16-64 years old) (plus applicable tax)

Coach Registration Fee (65+ years old) (plus applicable tax)

*Coaches 65+ are not eligible for the weekly indemnity coverage (loss of wages). 

Registration for any given year can be completed via the Coach Dashboard on the Membership Site. Individuals listed in Sections 7 and 8 should refer to instructions within each section. Please be sure to click on the "Coaching" tab and then "View/Update Membership Records" to complete your registration. Once the annual fee is paid, Skate Canada may not provide refunds. 

Section 3:  NCCP Qualifications

The minimum criterion is NCCP Club Coach In-training. The NCCP coach profiles are accessible from the Locker, which is the main system of record that Skate Canada and its Section Partners use to enter and track NCCP and professional development (PD) events. All Skate Canada Professional Coaches have access to their own profiles and are encouraged to track and monitor NCCP and PD activities on a regular basis.

Important Notes:

• The NCCP qualifications for individuals in Section 7 is now effective. For more information on the maintenance of NCCP certification, visit the following web pages: CAC website 
• Although the CanPowerSkate (CPS) program is not yet considered NCCP, completion of this training will be tracked in the Locker as a PD activity. Section Course Administrators will enter this course much like they currently do for all NCCP events once the CPS requirements are successfully completed by the CPS coach.

Section 4:  First Aid Certification

For validation purposes, a copy of a valid first aid certificate must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as part of having and maintaining a good standing status. When submitting, please include the words ‘first aid’ in the subject line, and the Skate Canada number of the individual who took the first aid course in the body of the email.

While St. John’s Ambulance and Red Cross continue to be the preferred companies through which to obtain first aid training, other companies also offer courses that may be approved by Skate Canada provided that the following criteria are met:

• Course length: 6-8 hours
• Primarily First Aid related (CPR only courses will not be accepted)
• Must include a practical evaluation
• The certificate has an expiry date of no more than three years

Individuals listed in Section 1 who are currently licensed health care professionals (e.g., fire fighters, nurses, chiropractors, physiotherapists, police officers, athletic therapists, etc.) are not required to complete an additional first aid course. To meet the first aid certification requirement, licensed health care professionals must provide proof of their current employment licenses and/or certificates outlining applicable expiry dates.

Section 5:  Screening

Individuals listed in Section 1 are in a leadership role and in a position of trust with Skate Canada stakeholders. To help ensure the safety and well-being of our stakeholders and their families, Skate Canada requires that all individuals 18 years of age or older complete a screening through the approved company every three years.

Individuals who are under 18 years of age are required to complete a screening once they turn 18 years of age. They will need to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as the Member Services Department will need to issue a temporary expiry date that will expire one month after their 18th birthday. The one-month grace period will allow coaches who have just turned 18 to complete the required screening.

To complete the proper screening, click here.

Purpose and Application

The screening criteria does not absolve Skate Canada clubs and skating schools from their responsibility of following a detailed recruitment process (including reference checks) for hiring/contracting individuals listed in Section 1.

• All fees associated with completing the screening are the responsibility of the individual applying for a Skate Canada Professional Coach Membership.
• Individuals listed in Section 1 are required to complete a screening every three years and have an obligation to immediately disclose any circumstances or the occurrence of any event to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. that could reasonably be determined to change the results of the screening.
• If the expiry date of the screening passes, the individual’s Skate Canada Professional Coach Membership status will be “not in good standing” until a clear screening result is received by Skate Canada.
• The screening for the purpose of a Skate Canada Professional Coach Membership may only be performed by the company BackCheck using the unique portal set up for Skate Canada coaches by BackCheck to ensure that the results of the check will be shared with Skate Canada. Submission using any other method will not be accepted.
• Skate Canada reserves the right to refuse a membership application or to identify an individual’s status as not in good standing based on the outcome of an individual’s screening.

Section 6:  Skate Canada Code of Ethics

Individuals are required to sign the agreement once each registration year to be considered ‘’In Good Standing.’’ The Code of Ethics can be signed via the Coach Dashboard on the Membership Site.

Section 7:  Paid Dance Partners

Paid dance partners are subject to the standards as stipulated in the Professional Coach Membership Policy and the associated procedure. Paid dance partners are registered professional coaches in good standing and may teach and partner skaters in preparation for and during dance assessments.

Important Note:

The refreshed NCCP model will allow individuals to complete role-appropriate training relevant to the level of athletes and skating disciplines that they want to coach. To demonstrate the required competencies, paid dance partners need to have an NCCP Regional Coach In-training status.

Section 8:  Non-Resident Coach

A non-resident coach is considered to be a resident of a country other than Canada. A non-resident coach may coach on Skate Canada ice (including ticketed ice) for one continuous period of two months or less within a Skate Canada registration year (September 1 to August 31). Regardless of the amount of coaching time they wish to do within the allotted time frame, non-resident coaches are subject to the requirements as stipulated in the Professional Coach Membership Policy and the associated procedure.

Registration for Non-Resident Coaches

Non-Resident Coaches should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to have an account set up to be able to complete the registration fee, and acceptance of the Skate Canada Coach Code of Ethics via the membership site. For validation and approval purposes, non-resident coaches also need to e-mail proof of a valid first aid certificate and proper screening from their home country. All requests must be reviewed and approved by Skate Canada Safe Sport staff prior to paying the annual coach registration fee and coaching on Skate Canada ice and at competitions.

Section 9:  On- and Off-Ice Seminars

An individual who is not a Skate Canada Professional Coach, and who the hosts of a seminar believe has an expertise that can contribute to the development of skaters, may conduct a seminar both on and off Skate Canada ice for a period of up to three consecutive days to a group of skaters and coaches. Such activity is permitted provided that this individual is independently insured and can provide proof of general commercial liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $5,000,000 to the hosts of the seminar, and prior to the start of the seminar.

If this individual cannot provide proof of personal insurance they will need to become a Skate Canada registrant prior to the start of the seminar. This registration will be the responsibility of the Skate Canada club, skating school or section that is hosting the seminar.

Section 10:  Registration Process and Compliance Obligations and Actions

On an annual basis, individuals listed in Section 1 must register with Skate Canada and ensure that all of the requirements listed in Sections 2-6 (as applicable) are validated and entered (where possible) using the Skate Canada Membership Site.

Due to the position of trust, failure to comply with the Skate Canada Professional Coach Membership Policy and the associated procedure may result in disciplinary action such as limitation of privileges and/or termination of the Skate Canada Professional Coach Membership. A penalty fee may also apply.