You may have many reasons for wanting to be an IP Instructor.  You may want to spend more time with your child who is playing hockey, you may feel you can teach children to become better hockey players, you may enjoy the social interaction with the children and their families, or you may really love the game and want to be a part of it.  All of these are good reasons, and you should be commended for taking on such an important role with the team.  Remember that statistically you are unlikely to ever coach a child that goes on to have a professional career.  You will, however, coach many future nurses, engineers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, business leaders, etc.  When your players reach adulthood, the wins and losses will have long been forgotten, but the atmosphere and opportunity you create and the positivity you invest in their lives will have a lasting impact.  Your ability to demonstrate the fun, fitness and friendship they can have with hockey should be a big reason you want to be an instructor

   
   
On-ice instruction is led by two groups of instructors who must be certified Initiation Instructors.  The head instructors, with their team of instructors, follow the Hockey Canada IP Program manual that is broken down into two levels (four units). Each level has 25 pre-planned on-ice sessions which focus on the basic skills of hockey; forward and backward skating, stopping, crossovers, balance, agility, puck control, and shooting etc.
 
All instructors will understand that IP groups do not participate in games or tournaments.  The IP program is to introduce the basic skills of hockey in a non-competitive environment. Instructors can have their groups enter in an U7 fun day which has to be in agreed up by the group manager and the willingness of the parents.  Such events have to be approved by the Initiation Director.
 
Along with the above duties specific to the instructor positions:
 
 Lead Instructor:

• will maintain a leadership role with the instructional volunteers and players through leading by example and conducting her/himself in a professional manor
• will encourage and ensure that all instructors have opportunities to provide instruction to players on the ice as it is important for all instructors to maintain a leadership rapport with players.  This will be achieved by Coordinating the delegation of responsibilities to the team of instructors
• will encourage team work between both groups in the U7 and will communicate and share ideas with the lead instructor of any other group.
• will be willing to be a mentor to new instructors along with second year leads to provide mentoring to the first-year U7 lead instructors
• will consult with her/his team of instructors with the creation and implementation of practice plans for each on ice session
• will be responsible for taking attendance of players during practice sessions and notifying the manager of any player missing multiple practice sessions.
• will be responsible for the safety of all players on and off the ice and will notify the right CHA official if support is needed to maintain the safety of her/his players (instructor, trainer, manager/director)
• will maintain open communication with player’s and parents at all times and be willing to share with players/parents their daily program plans upon request
• report to the association through the manager and director of the program

 
Instructor:

• will fill in for lead instructor in her/his absence
• will maintain a leadership role with players through leading by example and conducting her/himself in a professional manor
• will assist with planning, organizing and conducting practices by way of providing instruction to players during large and small group activities
• will participate in team work between both groups in the U7 and will communicate and share ideas with the lead instructor of the other group.
• will be willing to be a mentor to new instructors in the initiation program
• will be responsible for the safety of all players on and off the ice and will notify the lead instructor if support is needed to maintain the safety of her/his playerswill assist in maintaining open communication with player’s and parents at all times
• report to the association through the lead instructor.