Today, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the A-Trainer training of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) is entering a new round. The run on the renowned course was again great this year - ultimately, this year's training will be carried out with 32 participants. At the beginning of 2025, the A-Trainer candidates will be able to hold their license in their hands after successfully completing all modules and tests.
For the first time, four women (including former national players) take part
More and more women are interested in the job profile of ice hockey coach. The association is particularly pleased about the fact that this year, for the first time, the A-level coach training will be held with four women - Jennifer Harss, Ronja Jenike, Julia Zorn and Corinna Elspass have enrolled for the current course. The DEB It is a major concern to attract an increasing number of women to the coaching position in the future.
National coach Harold Kreis as speaker
The leading figures are the DEB-National coach for science and education Karl Schwarzenbrunner and DEB-Coach Training & Club Support Officer Collin Danielsmeier for the coach training and further education at DEB responsible. In addition, other DEB-Internal speakers such as sports director Christian Künast, the sports psychologist of the men's national team Dr. Tom Kossak or national coach Harold Kreis on topics such as developments in elite sport, sports psychology and tactics. The participants receive external expertise, for example from rhetoric and management trainer Dr. Michael Welke or Dr. Karen Zentgraf, professor at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main.
Well-known graduates of the DEB-Trainer training
In order to acquire the A trainer's license, both the C and B licenses with a corresponding final grade must already be in place. Other basic requirements for participation include proof of at least two years of coaching experience, membership in a club and a police clearance certificate.
A wide variety of career paths can lead to a successful completion of the A-Trainer course and success in the coaching business - regardless of a previous career as an active player. However, former professionals, including NHL players and DEL legends, often decide to pursue a coaching career after their active career and complete the corresponding training with the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund.
Examples of this are Alexander Sulzer, the assistant coach of the German men’s national team and new head coach of the Fischtown Pinguins and Patrick Reimer, who will lead the U2024 men’s national team from the 25/18 season. DEB will take over.
DEB-National coach for science and training Karl Schwarzenbrunner: "This year we once again have a diverse list of participants in our A-Trainer License training. In addition to former players from the Penny DEL or DEL2, there are also former national players on board. This year, for the first time, there are four women on the course. We are happy about this and are very pleased that we can convince more and more women to see their future in the coaching profession. All in all, we are very excited about the start of the training and look forward to accompanying each of our 32 participants on their individual path to becoming a coach."

