The Shift Forward: Evolving Hockey Culture


On April 1, 2026, Hockey Canada will expand The Shift Forward: Evolving Hockey Culture, a new learning and development program that serves as the home for national education and training courses.

The program was piloted with five Member Branches during the 2025-2026 season and will expand to 11 Members in 2026-2027, with courses available for new coaches, rostered staff, officials, and parents and guardians.

The Shift Forward is an enhanced education program developed through an extensive consultation process with stakeholders across Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs to better understand how education and training can support participants and help address unhealthy behaviours in the game.

As part of Hockey Canada’s national Training Needs Analysis, feedback showed a strong need for education and training courses that are:

  • Age-appropriate

  • Modernized

  • Engaging

  • Specific to how participants engage with hockey

  • Progressive throughout a participant’s hockey journey

  • Focused on addressing unhealthy behaviours on and off the ice

To support a successful transition to The Shift Forward, Hockey Canada will continue to recognize existing training as equivalent through a multi-year transition period before all participants engaging with hockey are required to complete the new national education and training courses.

To ensure the new national content is achieving its intended impact, Hockey Canada is committed to working with its 13 Member Branches and their membership to evaluate The Shift Forward through surveys and other participant-driven feedback methods.

The evolution to The Shift Forward reflects a proactive commitment to shaping a healthier hockey culture for all participants in Canada’s national winter sport.


Registration Links

Parents/Guardians — The Shift Forward

The Shift Forward program is a mandatory requirement for one parent of each child registered in minor hockey within Canada.

This online course takes just over one hour to complete and covers important topics such as:

  • Being a good sport parent

  • Interacting with coaches, officials, and other parents

  • Concussion awareness

Cost: $11.50 plus tax

[CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE SHIFT FORWARD PARENT/GUARDIAN COURSE]

 

Team Official + On-Ice Official — The Shift Forward

The Shift Forward is an enhanced education program created through an extensive consultation process with stakeholders across Hockey Canada programs. This process included a comprehensive national Training Needs Analysis, which identified key opportunities to improve how education and training are delivered across the game.

This course is intended for Team Officials (coach/bench staff) as well as On-Ice Officials.

The program is designed to:

  • Deliver age-appropriate and modernized learning experiences

  • Provide engaging, role-specific content for participants

  • Support progressive learning pathways throughout a participant’s hockey journey

  • Promote positive culture change, with a focus on addressing and reducing unhealthy behaviours on and off the ice

Cost: $26.99 plus tax

[CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE SHIFT FORWARD TEAM OFFICIAL / ON-ICE OFFICIAL COURSE]


Frequently Asked Questions

A Frequently Asked Questions section is available to help participants better understand The Shift Forward, including information related to course requirements, registration, transition timelines, and recognized equivalent training.

[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]