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High Performance 1 Application

We are pleased to announce the schedule for the 2026 High Performance 1 Seminar. This program will be delivered across the following dates:

  • May 22-24, 2026 - National Delivery Weekend - Virtual Presentations
  • July 6-11, 2026 - In-Person Seminar in Red Deer.

Requirements and Eligibility Criteria

Please note that participation in the High Performance 1 Program is limited to a maximum of 24 coaches. As such, not all applicants will be selected.

  • Application Deadline: April 24, 2026
  • Selection Period: April 27–28, 2026
  • Notification of Acceptance: Successful candidates will be informed by April 30, 2026

Applicants for the NCCP High Performance 1 Seminar must:

  • Currently coaching in a competitive hockey stream with a Hockey Alberta sanctioned program (e.g., AAA or AA at the minimum required levels).
  • Be available to attend all virtual and in-person components of the program.

All applications will be reviewed by the Hockey Alberta HP1 Selection Committee and evaluated according to the outlined selection criteria. Only completed applications will be considered for submission to the Selection Committee.

Priority will be given to those coaches who are:

  1. Head Coaches at the U15 to U18 AAA level, Sport Schools, and Jr. A level who require HP1 to meet their coaching requirements. NOTE - U13 AAA falls below the minimum eligibility standard and is therefore not included in this program.
  2. Coaches actively coaching in the following leagues:
    • AEHL, AFHL, AJHL, CSSHL, WHL, USport, ACAC
    • Note: To be eligible for the program, coaches must meet the minimum requirement of serving as a Head Coach at the U15 AA level in the AEHL or AFHL, or as an Assistant Coach at the U15 AAA level in the AEHL or U18 AAA level in the AFHL.
  3. Coaches who have participated in Team Alberta programs (Alberta Cup, Alberta Challenge, Prospects Cup).
  4. Coaches in the above leagues who their Association or Club highly recommends.

*NOTE - Development 1 Certification is considered an asset for all applicants

National coach requirements relating to High-Performance Certification and the 2026 Seminar indicate that:

All head coaches of U15, U17, U18, and Junior A teams competing in interprovincial events, national championships, or at the highest level as determined by the Branch (Hockey Alberta) must be High Performance 1 trained within one year and certified thereafter.

In Alberta, this requirement will directly affect the following leagues:

  • U15 to U18 AAA – Alberta Elite Hockey League
  • U18 AAA Female – Alberta Female Hockey League
  • Junior A – Alberta Junior Hockey League
  • Accredited Schools – Canadian Sports School Hockey League

To complete the Certification process following the seminar, coaches must meet the following criteria:

  • Completion of the Written Assignment post-task in full and meet all expected marking criteria.
  • Completion of the Coaching Association of Canada online modules - Making Ethical Decisions, Managing Conflict and Leading Drug-Free Sport
  • Completion of two Field Evaluations (one practice and one game). To complete the field evaluations, coaches must meet the following criteria -
    • For coaches in the male stream, you must be the head coach at the U15 AA level or higher, or be an assistant coach at the U15 AAA level or higher, under proper guidance
    • For coaches in the female stream, you must be the head coach at the U15 AA level or higher, or be an assistant coach at the U18 AAA level or higher (ACAC/USport), under proper guidance

LINK TO APPLICATION