The Shift Forward Program
Heading into the 2026-2027 Hockey Canada will be launching The Shift Forward: Evolving Hockey Culture, a new learning and development program that is the home for national education and training with courses for coaches & parents/guardians.
The Shift Forward is an enhanced education program that was created following an extensive consultation process with stakeholders in Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs to understand how education and training can better support participants and the key objective of changing unhealthy behaviors in the game.
As part of the response from the national Training Needs Analysis that was conducted by Hockey Canada, there was overwhelming feedback that national education and training courses should be age-appropriate, modernized, engaging, specific to how participants engage with hockey, and progressive as they go through their hockey journey, with content that seeks to evolve the culture of hockey on and off the ice.
In an effort to support a successful transition to The Shift Forward, Hockey Canada & Hockey Alberta continue to recognize existing Respect in Sport Certification for duration of each individuals expiry.
The evolution to The Shift Forward reflects our proactive aspirations to shape a healthier hockey for all involved in our National Winter Sport, and we look forward to this new era in education and training for hockey participants.
Courses will be available for registration on April 15, 2026.
Please review your certification status to ensure it remains valid at the time of registration. If your Respect in Sport certification is set to expire on May 1, you will be required to complete the new Shift Forward program.
Key details:
- Expiration Date: Certifications are valid for four seasons and expire on May 1 of the final year.
- Recertification: If you completed the Respect in Sport course prior to the 2016-2017 season, recertification is likely required with The Shift Forward Program.
- Action Required: If your certification has expired, please complete the Shift Forward program at: https://www.hockeyalberta.ca/members/shift-forward/
- Checking Status: Certification status of RIS can be verified through the Respect in Sport for Parents website https://activityleader.respectgroupinc.com/.
- Certification Types: Activity Leader certifications typically expire after five years, while Parent certifications expire after four.
- Program Update: The Shift Forward program will replace Respect in Sport for both Parents and Team Officials.
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