MHA Safety Lead

The MHA Safety Lead helps promote and coordinate participant safety within their association. Working alongside association leadership, coaches, and Team Safety Persons, they support the implementation of safety practices, share resources, and help identify opportunities to strengthen safety across the association.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Risk Management

• Promote a safe, positive, and supportive hockey environment.
• Help identify potential safety risks and work with association leadership to develop appropriate prevention and risk management practices.
• Support awareness and implementation of Hockey Alberta safety policies, standards, and initiatives.
• Bring forward safety concerns, emerging issues, or opportunities for improvement to association leadership.

Team Safety Support

• Support the recruitment, coordination, and ongoing development of Team Safety Persons.
• Help ensure teams have designated, appropriately trained Team Safety Persons and access to necessary safety resources.
• Support teams in understanding their responsibilities related to emergency action plans, injury reporting, and return-to-play procedures.
• Encourage consistent safety practices across teams and association activities, including evaluations and tryouts.

Communication & Education

• Share relevant safety information, resources, and educational opportunities with association leadership, coaches, Team Safety Persons, and volunteers.
• Serve as a point of contact between the association and Hockey Alberta on safety-related matters.
• Provide feedback to Hockey Alberta on local safety needs, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

Qualifications & Training
Ideally, an MHA Safety Lead will have experience or a background in healthcare, safety, sport administration, or a related field. While this experience is beneficial, it is not required. The most important qualities include:

• Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills.
• An interest in participant safety and risk management.
• The ability to work collaboratively with association leadership and team volunteers.
• A willingness to learn, share information, and support ongoing improvements to safety practices.

Required Training:

• Hockey Canada Safety Level 1 certification (Hockey Canada Safety Program).
• Any additional training or screening requirements applicable to the individual’s role under Hockey Alberta and association policies.

The MHA Safety Lead plays an important leadership role in promoting safety and supporting positive practices within their association. Effective leadership involves communication, collaboration, and helping others understand their role in creating a safe hockey environment.

As part of Hockey Alberta’s inaugural MHA Safety Leader Development Day, Laura Naldrett of the 2019 Canada Winter Games shared practical tips and insights on effective leadership. The following videos offer guidance to help Safety Leads build confidence and strengthen their leadership within their associations.

While this presentation was designed for the Safety Leader role, the themes can be applied across your organization.  

A brief introduction to Laura, her background, and how the 2019 Canada Winter Games experience translates to your association. 

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An introduction to the Volunteer Life Cycle and how it contributes to retaining good volunteers.

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Laura discusses what is important to volunteers and how you can ensure they have a positive experience in your organization.

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Laura shares some best practices on how to recruit the right people for your team or teams.  

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Sustainable change occurs when it is embedded in the culture of an organization and the culture of an organization can be one of the biggest influences on the success of any new initiative. As a Safety Leader in your association you are looked upon to be a leader in having a safety focused culture in your association. While the thought of this may be intimidating for some, Hockey Alberta has compiled resources to help lead, embed, and sustain change in your association.

The success of any initiative starts with strong board support. Hear from representatives of Okotoks Minor Hockey on the importance of board support was to fulfilling the organization’s vision in being a leader in creating a safe environment for their participants. 

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The motivation for change can occur as the result of any number of reasons. Hear from representatives of Okotoks Minor Hockey on the situation the served as a catalyst for change in the association and the importance of the Emergency Action Plan. 

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There are numerous factors that lead to the successful implementation of a new initiative. Hear from representatives from Okotoks Minor Hockey on the key factors that have led to the successful implementation of their safety initiatives. 

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Implementing change may not necessarily be smooth. Hear from representatives of Okotoks Minor Hockey on the challenges the organization faced in implementing their initiatives and how the organization was able to overcome these challenges. 

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One consideration that can be overlooked in any change initiative can be cost. Hear from representatives of Okotoks Minor Hockey Association about budget considerations when implementing such an initiative.  

Creating a safe hockey environment requires consistent practices, clear expectations, and shared responsibility. Hockey Alberta has identified nine foundational safety standards that member associations are expected to have in place to support participant safety.

The following standards outline key practices for associations and teams, along with resources to support their implementation.

Standard 1 – An Engaged MHA Safety Lead with Board Involvement
Participant safety should be part of association leadership and decision-making. Having an engaged MHA Safety Lead who is involved at the Board level helps ensure safety considerations are reflected in association operations and supports communication between Hockey Alberta, the association, and its members.

Supporting Resources:

• MHA Safety Lead Roles & Responsibilities
• Leadership and volunteer management resources
• Creating a safety-focused culture
• Board governance resources
• Hockey Alberta safety communications and development opportunities

Standard 2 – Supporting the Team Safety Person
Team Safety Persons need clear expectations, appropriate resources, and the support of association leadership to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Associations should foster an environment where safety decisions are respected and participant well-being is prioritized.

Supporting Resources:

• Creating a safety-focused culture
• Managing difficult conversations
• Player removal and return-to-play procedures
• Guidance on removing a player from an activity

Standard 3 – Orientation for Every Team Safety Person
Every Team Safety Person should receive an orientation to their role, responsibilities, and association safety practices. Effective orientation helps volunteers understand expectations, access available resources, and confidently support their teams.

Supporting Resources:

• Team Safety Person Roles & Responsibilities
• Team Safety Binder template
• Team Safety Person webpage and resources
• Volunteer screening requirements and resources

Standard 4 – Established Player Removal and Return-to-Play Procedures
Associations should have consistent procedures for removing injured players from participation and supporting their safe return. These procedures should clearly identify responsibilities, required steps, and applicable medical clearance requirements.

Expectations should be communicated to coaches, Team Safety Persons, players, and parents before the season begins.

Supporting Resources:

• Hockey Canada Injury Report Form
• Hockey Canada Concussion Policy
• Injury assessment chart
• Concussion recognition tool
• Player removal guidance
• Return-to-play guide and forms
• Concussion follow-up checklist

Standard 5 – Timely and Consistent Injury Reporting
Associations should have a clear process to ensure injuries are documented and reported within required timelines. Timely reporting supports access to applicable insurance coverage and provides information that can help improve participant safety.

Responsibilities for completing, reviewing, and submitting injury documentation should be clearly established.

Supporting Resources:

• Hockey Canada Injury Report Form
• Hockey Alberta injury claims contact information
• MHA Safety Lead Roles & Responsibilities

Standard 6 – A Fully Stocked Medical Kit for Every Team
Every team should have access to a properly stocked medical kit with appropriate, up-to-date supplies. Kits should be checked regularly and replenished as needed to ensure teams are prepared to respond to injuries.

Supporting Resources:

• Team Medical Kit Checklist
• Medical kit supply information

Standard 7 – An Established and Practiced Emergency Action Plan
Every team should have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that identifies the individuals responsible for responding to an emergency, their specific roles, and the steps to follow.

The plan should be reviewed and practiced at least once to ensure everyone understands their responsibilities and can respond effectively when needed.

Supporting Resources:

• Emergency Action Plan roles and responsibilities
• Emergency Action Plan activation chart
• Emergency response demonstration video
• Injury assessment chart
• Concussion recognition tool

Standard 8 – A Preseason Team Safety Meeting
Every team should review safety expectations with players and parents before the season begins. The Team Safety Person should participate in this meeting to introduce their role and explain important safety procedures, including injury reporting, player removal, and return-to-play expectations.

Supporting Resources:

• Preseason Team Safety Meeting Agenda

Standard 9 – Completed Medical Information Forms for Every Player
Every player should have a completed medical information form to help teams understand relevant health considerations, accommodations, and emergency needs.

This information must be kept confidential, securely managed, and accessible only to authorized individuals who require it to support participant safety.

Supporting Resources:

• Hockey Canada Medical Information Form