About Us

A caring, enthusiastic, well-trained Head Coach can be a positive influence on the experience of players, parents, and other coaches. The training courses required by Hockey Canada and the GTHL enable coaches to build their coaching tools and knowledge of the game, so they can work effectively with their players. A Head Coach will focus on age and level appropriate player development and on‐ice instruction so as to provide the team’s players with a rewarding hockey experience.

The Head Coach’s main duties include:

• Motivate all players to do their best at practices and at games, whether winning or losing or under pressure;
• Interact with all players, parents, and Game Officials in an equitable and respectful manner, recognizing that a Head Coach is a role model for the team’s players;
• Provide players with a safe and enjoyable environment in which to learn how to play hockey;
• Run well-organized practices effectively, instilling age and level appropriate team concepts and systems that keep players moving and engaged;
• Oversee the team during league games, exhibition games, and tournament games;
• Be the lead Team Official responsible for technical and tactical decisions for the team;
• Act as a point of contact along with the Team Manager for communication to/from the LHA;
• Work with the Team Manager to choose tournaments for the team to enter during the season;
• Work with the other Team Officials to foster a cohesive team atmosphere.

A caring, enthusiastic, Assistant Coach can be a positive influence on the experience of players and parents on the team. The training courses required by Hockey Canada and the GTHL enable coaches to build their coaching tools and knowledge of the game, so they can work effectively with their players. An Assistant Coach will support the Head Coach's efforts to deliver age and level appropriate player development and on‐ice instruction. Assistant Coaches also helps maintain on-ice focus by addressing issues that might be distracting such as equipment malfunctions or behavioural issues. Collectively, the entire bench staff works to give the members of the team a rewarding hockey experience.

The Assistant Coach’s main duties include:

• Encourage players to do their best at practices and at games, whether winning or losing or under pressure;
• Interact with all players, parents, and Game Officials in an equitable and respectful manner, recognizing that an Assistant Coach is a role model for the team’s players;
• Provide players with a safe and enjoyable environment in which to learn how to play hockey;
• Help the Head Coach deliver well-organized practices;
• Support the team from the bench during league games, exhibition games, and tournament games;
• Help reinforce the technical and tactical decisions made by the Head Coach;
• Consult with the Head Coach and the Team Manager as they choose tournaments for the team to enter during the season;
• Work with the other Team Officials to foster a cohesive team atmosphere.

A Trainer is essential to ensuring the safety of the players during all hockey-related activities. Trainers should utilize a proactive, preventative approach to safety while being prepared to react in the event of accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies. The Hockey Trainers Certification Program (HTCP) required by Hockey Canada and the GTHL ensures a volunteer Trainer has simple, effective, and up-to-date knowledge for tending to injured players, and it enables Trainers to understand and develop a risk-management program for their team.

The Trainer’s main duties include:

• Assume a proactive role in identifying and minimizing or eliminating risks during activities;
• Ensure that all players are able to participate in the team’s activities free from physical and/or emotional maltreatment;
• Conduct regular checks of players’ equipment to ensure proper fit, protective quality, and maintenance, and advise players and parents regarding replacement;
• Promote proper conditioning and warm-up / cool-down techniques as effective methods of injury prevention;
• Maintain a fully stocked First Aid Kit and bring it to all team activities;
• Manage minor injuries according to basic injury management principles and refer players to medical professionals when necessary;
• Recognize injuries that require a player to be removed from action;
• Coordinate return-to-play after an injury;
• Recognize and be prepared to deal with serious injuries.

The Manager is responsible for ensuring all off‐ice tasks are completed. By taking on the operational aspects of the team including logistics, communication, finance, compliance, etc., the manager lets the coaches focus on player development and on‐ice instruction. LHA Managers sometimes get help from other parents on the team for specific parts of their duties like managing finances, planning socials, and organizing apparel days. Collectively the bench staff provide the players with rewarding hockey experiences. 

The Manager’s main duties include:

• Act as a point of contact, along with the Head Coach, for communication to/from the LHA;
• Maintain a timely and relevant flow of communication within the team (players, parents, and coaches);
• Prepare and maintain the team budget and provide 2-3 budget updates to team members during the season;
• Be the primary signatory for team’s bank account, responsible for collecting player team fees and for making timely payments on behalf of the team.
• Post all game, practice, and other event information on TeamSnap for the team and update changes in a timely manner;
• Work with the Head Coach to choose and register the team for current-season tournaments;
• Apply for permits needed by the team (tournament, exhibition games, extra practice ice, etc);
• Manage contracts for professional coaches (skills, goalie, skating, etc.) retained to work with the team;
• Act as the point of contact with tournament organizers before and during each tournament;
• Liaise with LHA Registrar to ensure players and bench staff fulfil GTHL requirements and are properly rostered in time for the season start;
• Liaise with the Official LHA Apparel Provider for season preparatory apparel orders.

Convenors are assigned to oversee each age division within our House League program.

The divisional Convenor's main duties include:

• Create and balance team rosters,
• Oversee the division and special events such as Championship weekend.
• Convene a meeting of all Head and Assistant Coaches in the division to promote the LHA’s objective of ensuring an enjoyable hockey experience for all players
• Ensure that all coaches within the division have a copy of the current Rules and Policies.
• Present any matters or issues arising from the division to the HL Coordinator for discussion, review and adjudication, if needed, by the LHA Board of Directors.

• Make the House League experience FUN for everyone,
• Strive to develop each player’s skills, knowledge and love of the game,
• Abide by Hockey Canada and LHA rules,
• Set a positive tone of inclusion during practices,
• Serve as role models and demonstrate good sportsmanship during games,
• Support the referees, most of whom are young adults from our community, and help players and spectators keep games in perspective,
• U7 to U10 level - support the professional skills coaches running practices, and
• U11 and up - design and run the practices for the team.

Tournament Co-Chairs (2)* 

• Oversee Financials - prepare and monitor Tournament budget, oversee purchasing and online auction.
• Oversee Registration - ensure Leaside teams have invited three (3) teams in timely manner, ensure visiting teams are registered and paid.
• Oversee Volunteers - work with tournament committee to attract volunteers
• Oversee Sponsorship/Vendors - work with volunteers to attract sponsors and vendors and manage relationships.

Registration Lead (1)*

• Collaborate with LHA and TeamSnap Tournaments to administer online registration
• Distribute tournament e-flyer to team coaches and managers
• Work with team managers and coaches to ensure teams secure 3 teams each, 8 weeks prior to tournament
• Work with team managers, LHA coordinator and NYHL to ensure all teams have Travel Permits and Approved Rosters submitted and approved.
• Collect ALL NYHL Travel Permits and Approved Team Rosters, 4 weeks prior to tournament
• Compose and distribute welcome email to visiting teams.
• Send email to all managers re: Policies and Rules and Regulations.
• Field questions from external teams regarding registration and/or invitations.
• Work with Tournament Co-chairs during tournament to manage on-site logistics and registration
• Administer Registration Desk Volunteers and schedules to ensure all time slots are accounted for and all volunteers are trained.

Online Auction Coordinator (1)*

• Communicate with LHA Select/CDS teams regarding the tournament online auction,
• Solicit items for the auction from teams and collect items from team managers,
• Delegate duties to  online auction volunteers,
• Work with the online auction platform to setup and test the online auction,
• Create and distribute the link to the online auction to teams,
• Work with the LHA social media representative to promote the auction online and in the rinks,
• Oversee and ensure running smoothly during the tournament,
• Close the auction at the indicated time,
• Help distribute prizes to winning bidders, and
• Report earnings, by team, to the VP Tournament and Treasurer.

Online Auction Volunteers (multiple)**

• Make sure you are familiar with the online auction website and the bidding process.
• Assist guests making online bids and paying for items,
• Help with closing out of the auction and distribution of prizes to winners, if necessary.

Registration Desk (multiple)**

• Serve as the central check-in for all the teams and the welcome centre for the arena,
• Check teams in and ensure players are directed to the correct dressing room,
• Make sure game rosters are consistent with official Tournament Rosters,
• Distribute welcome gifts to teams at their first game,
• Assist Board Member and Rink Lead with distribution of medals at final games,
• Make Rink Lead aware of any issues.

Rink Lead (multiple)**

• Manage issues that might arise at the arena during their shift,
• Deliver game sheets to the time keepers before each game,
• Collected game sheets from the time keepers after each game.
• Send game results to the tournament registration lead, clearly indicating any misconducts that occurred during the game.
• Escalate any non-resolvable issues to the Rink Coordinator and/or the on-duty member of the LHA Board of Directors.

* Member of the Tournament Committee. Supports the VP Tournament with planning from Sept/Oct to completion of Tournament.

** Multiple volunteers. Participation is limited to 2-3 hour shift during the Tournament.