Skills Coach →

Elite Hockey HQ; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Elite Hockey HQ is seeking an experienced Skills Coach (On-Ice) to lead individual and small-group skill development sessions for hockey athletes across ages and levels. The role emphasizes hands-on instruction in edgework, skating mechanics, puck skills, and game-sense concepts that translate to performance.

Responsibilities include planning structured sessions, assessing players, giving feedback to players and parents, and maintaining a safe, high-energy on-ice environment while tracking

Qualifications

• Coaching youth to competitive amateur levels.
• Strong skating and puck-handling ability to demonstrate drills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver structured on-ice skill sessions covering skating, edges, puck handling, shooting, and small-area game situations.
• Assess player skill levels and design progressions tailored to position and goals.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback to players and to parents or team staff when appropriate.
• Adapt session plans based on group size, ice time, and athlete readiness.
• Maintain a safe, organized, high-energy training environment on the ice.
• Track player progress and communicate updates to stakeholders.

Skills

On-ice coaching

Skating mechanics

Puck handling

Edgework

Session planning

Progress tracking

Communication

Tools

Video analysis

Job description

Elite Hockey HQ is looking for an experienced Skills Coach (On-Ice) to lead individual and small-group skill development sessions for hockey athletes across a range of ages and playing levels. This role focuses on hands-on, on-ice instruction - teaching edgework, puck skills, skating mechanics, and hockey-sense concepts that translate directly into game performance.

What you'll do

• Plan and deliver structured on-ice skill sessions covering skating, edges, puck handling, shooting, and small-area game situations
• Assess individual player skill levels and design progressions tailored to their position and development goals
• Provide clear, constructive feedback to players and, where appropriate, to parents or team staff
• Adapt session plans on the fly based on group size, ice time, and athlete readiness
• Maintain a safe, organized, and high-energy training environment on the ice
• Track player progress over time and communicate development updates to relevant stakeholders

What we're looking for

• Prior experience coaching or instructing hockey skills at the youth, junior, or competitive amateur level
• Strong personal skating and puck-handling ability sufficient to demonstrate drills at speed
• Working knowledge of age-appropriate skill progressions and practice planning
• Excellent communication skills with players, parents, and other coaches
• Current or eligible-to-obtain coaching certifications and background checks as required by the local hockey association
• Reliable availability for early morning, evening, and weekend ice times

Nice to have

• Experience working with elite or high-performance youth programs (AAA, junior, or prep level)
• Familiarity with video-based skill breakdowns or off-ice skill training methods
• Previous experience training goaltenders in addition to skaters