The winter season is here, which means one thing – hockey is back!
Whether you’re playing in a school-set hockey tournament or just heading to the local ice rink to play a few tricks on your friends, ice hockey is a game that everyone wants to get involved in this season.
But what is the cost of playing this wonderful game?
Well, it depends on what position you hold. You’ll become immersed in the world of junior hockey coaching once you start researching the pay scale for this particular sport. So before you begin the process of applying for a job as a junior hockey coach, make sure you research the salary structure and what your responsibilities will be.
Table of Contents
The Two Main Roles
Junior hockey coaches generally fall into two categories: assistant coaches and head coaches. As the name suggests, an assistant coach is responsible for assisting the head coach in some fashion. Typically, this means the assistant coach is in charge of the forwards (goalscorers) while the head coach is in charge of the defense (goalkeepers).
Just like their senior hockey counterparts, assistant coaches in junior hockey earn more than they would as a hockey player. However, they typically don’t make as much as a head coach. For example, an assistant coach with a B-C league team can expect to earn around $4,000 per month, while the head coach of the same team can earn up to $6,000 per month. These are excellent salaries that can help you pursue your dreams of becoming a professional hockey coach.
The Assigned Number
The assigned number for a junior hockey team is similar to that of a senior team. If you become the Head Coach of a B-C league team, for example, you’ll be assigned the number 3.
Just like a senior team, the assigned number of a junior team serves as a reference number for all purposes, including pay. So if you were to coach a team in another league, your assigned number would change.
More Than Just Hockey
Besides coaching hockey, you can also become a General Manager or PR Director of a hockey team. This is a very different role from coaching, and it requires a completely different set of skills. However, your salary will be the same whether you coach or manage a hockey team. So if you’re looking for a high-paying job, consider either of these roles.
The Real Cost Of Playing
The cost of playing junior hockey for a hockey team depends on a number of factors. First, there’s the equipment that you’ll need. This includes skates, helmets, elbow pads, and pants. Next, there’s the fuel for your car. You’ll need to make a regular drive to the rink and back home again after each game. Finally, there’s the ticket price. The cost of a junior hockey ticket varies by season and location, but you can expect to pay around $30 per game.
So, ignoring all the other costs involved in running a business – such as the rent for an office space – you can estimate the total cost of playing to be around $530 per week. This is a great investment if you want to become a professional hockey coach, but it’s still a large chunk of change. You’ll have to decide whether or not you’re willing to spend this much on a hobby.
Getting The Job
If you’re interested in becoming a junior hockey coach, the first step is to research the job requirements. This will help you tailor your application to become qualified. As a starting point, here are the minimum requirements, as defined by the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL):
- A minimum of three years’ coaching experience
- A minimum of four years’ experience as a General Manager
- A diploma in sports management
- A certification of coaching, or equivalent
- At least five hours of undergraduate schooling in athletic coaching
If you meet these criteria, you can rest assured you’ll have no trouble getting a job as a junior hockey coach. You can also use online resources to research the pay scale and to find the nearest branch office of the CJHL – so you have all the information you need in one convenient location. Good luck out there!