Become a Blue Jackets Hockey League Volunteer!

Youth hockey is supported by great volunteers who help within all facets of the game. In the Blue Jackets Hockey League, we rely on volunteers both on and off the ice!

Volunteering is a great way to spend more time with your child, build friendships, and help strengthen our community.

Volunteer Registration

To register as a volunteer in the Blue Jackets Hockey League, please follow these steps:

Step 1. Register with for your 2026-27 USA Hockey Membership*

• If you would like to be an on-ice coach or goalie coach, please register as a Player/Coach
• If you would like to be an off-ice team manager, social manager, or equipment manager, please register as a Manager/Volunteer

Step 2. Once you register with USA Hockey, please register directly with the Blue Jackets Hockey League.

*All players, coaches, and volunteers in the Blue Jackets Hockey League and all USA Hockey organizations need to have a unique USA Hockey Membership valid for the 2026-27 season.

Benefits of Volunteering

1. It's Fun!

The top reason kids play sport is also one of the top reasons people volunteer to coach, enjoyment! Helping others, being involved with your child's sport, and a chance to be active are some of the factors that give coaches joy!

2. Make an Impact through your Values!

Serving as a Volunteer in the Blue Jackets Hockey League means you play a big role in positively impacting the growth and development of young athletes. By serving as a positive role model to young players, you are someone they can look up to for character and life development, along with getting better on the ice! Volunteers also play a key role in keeping kids motivated to stay in the sport, contributing to the healthy lifestyle of young athletes!

3. Gain Experience!

Volunteering as a coach or team manager is a great way to gain experience and enhance leadership skills in a collaborative environment. The support from the League Staff with resources and optional trainings as well as the peer community around the rinks offers a chance to grow and develop yourself! Not only will you learn some new skills, you will also gain a better understanding of yourself and how to interact with a variety of individuals!

4. Join a Community!

With over 400 dedicated volunteers in the league, you will join a large community in Columbus committed to the development of young people. You will also have a closer-knit community around your rink and team which is a great chance to make or strengthen friendships and a sense of community!

5. It is Fulfilling!

Do you remember your first time on the ice? What about your first basket on the court? Your first A+ in school? You were probably filled with joy and excitement! Chances are your coach or teacher was also, and proud of the effort and commitment it took for that to happen! Being a part of helping young athletes score their first goal, get their first assist, develop their skating skills, and most importantly finding their joy for sport is a uniquely rewarding experience!

6. Special Programs for You and Your Athlete!

To thank you for taking the time to volunteer in the Blue Jackets Hockey League there are opportunities provided for your athlete to get on the ice at the Blue Jackets Games at Nationwide! There are also exclusive events at Nationwide Arena for Volunteers in the Blue Jackets Hockey League.

Volunteer Opportunities

On-Ice Coach*

• Help lead the team alongside other coaches to create a fun, safe, and positive atmosphere.
• Run practice activities, guide the team during games, help plan off-ice activities, and make sure everyone’s having a great time.
• Encourage team bonding, friendships, and life skills—on the ice and beyond.
• Keep in touch with players and their families.

Goalie Coach*

• Assist the goalie(s) on your team and in your practice group.
• At 6U/8U, organize the quick-change equipment and goalie rotation for your practices and games.
• Work with Goalie Coordinator to implement goalie specific focuses for the period.
• Opportunities to attend goalie coach training sessions and meetings.

*Getting on the ice for the first time with a bunch of kids can be intimidating. To alleviate some of the pressure we will host a couple of intro to skating sessions for coaches throughout the year. We will email out more information for intro to skate sessions if you are interested in on-ice coaching but want to work on your skating skills first!

Off Ice Volunteers are essential to a quality team environment and experience. If you are willing to help but hesitant to get on the ice, please consider one of the following roles:

Team Manager

• Keep families and players in the loop with updates about schedules, league news, and anything else they need to know.
• Help the coaches plan and pull off off-ice events like team hangouts, community activities, and season wrap-ups.
• Be the go-between for coaches and families to make sure everyone’s on the same page.
• Help coordinate logistics for practices and games, so everything runs smoothly and nobody’s left guessing.

Equipment Manager

• Help ensure all players have required equipment for the games and practices (neck guards, helmets, gloves, sticks, etc.)
• Assist on the bench during practices and games for players that need skates tied, water, helmets on and off, and jerseys swapped.
• Work with league and rink staff to help players with a variety of problems including forgotten items, repairs, and water breaks.

Social Manager

• Work with the team coaches and manager to organize off-ice social events for the team.
• Create opportunities for families and players to spend time together outside of league scheduled events.

Certification Reimbursements and Tuition Discounts:

Certifications:

• On-Ice Coaches – We will reimburse for certifications each season, up to a maximum of $65 each season.
• Off-Ice Managers - We reimburse for background check that is required every two years. You need the volunteer USA Hockey membership.

A full list of required certifications can be found in the Volunteer Registration Confirmation Email and on our certifications page in the Coaches' Corner.

On-Ice Coach and Goalie Coach Tuition Discounts:

• 4 Hours of Blue Jackets Hockey League Continuing Education Hours:
• Hours can be earned at the On-Ice Coaching Practice ahead of the season, participating in league organized educational zooms (i.e. Coaching Cafés), and other methods announced later.
• USA Hockey Certifications do not count towards Blue Jackets Hockey League Continuing Education Hours
• Hours can be earned at the On-Ice Coaching Practice ahead of the season, participating in league organized educational zooms (i.e. Coaching Cafés), and other methods announced later.
• More information will be given at the start of season volunteer meetings
• Attend most of your team’s practices and games
• Provide player evaluations at the end of the season

Questions?

If you need help with registration or have additional questions, please contact us.