Hockey GM and Scouting FAQ

Becoming an NHL Scout or General Manager

  How do I become a hockey scout?

Most aspiring hockey scouts build both their knowledge and their industry contacts through structured training. SMWW's Hockey GM and Scouting Course is designed to give you exactly that combination, often described by graduates as "the what you know and the who you know" in the NHL and minor leagues.

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  What will I learn in the SMWW Hockey GM & Scouting Course?

The course covers in depth scouting and player evaluation, including body type, mental makeup, playing ability, and physical tools. You will also learn how to identify players suited for top leagues versus minor leagues, how to evaluate college players compared to major junior players, NHL draft preparation, the responsibilities of a hockey general manager, how a hockey franchise front office is organized, salary cap and collective bargaining basics, player contracts, trades and acquisitions, and how to write effective hockey scouting reports.

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  What will this do for my resume?

You can add your SMWW Hockey GM & Scouting Certification badge to your LinkedIn profile, your resume and SMWW will include a professional rewrite of your resume/CV to meet hockey standards including references from Harry Sinden and Mike Oke.

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  What is RinkNet, and will I get access to it?

RinkNet is the premier hockey operations platform and a vital tool used in nearly every hockey front office, relied on by more than 3,500 hockey executives across the NHL, CHL, USHL, and NAHL, among other leagues. Students receive a RinkNet membership as part of this course and are trained on the platform throughout the eight weeks, adding genuine, resume ready software experience by the time they graduate.

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  What does Hockey scouting include?

Scouting hockey players includes learning how to evaluate a players passing ability, stick and puck handling, puck control, player size, body type, and speed. 

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  Will the Hockey GM and Scouting course actually help me get a job in hockey?

It can genuinely help, and hundreds of SMWW graduates are now working in hockey. For the full eight weeks, you will be in live sessions with course mentors, guest hockey scouts, Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, and NHL guest speakers, alongside fellow students who are serious about a career in professional hockey. You will also learn the current evaluation techniques and terminology NHL teams are using today. It will not directly guarantee an NHL job, but the insider knowledge, the contacts you build, and the resume credential you walk away with are often what tip the scale in a competitive hiring process.

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About the SMWW Hockey and GM Scouting Course

  Do I have to pay extra to train on the scouting software?

No. The course fee includes training on the hockey scouting software along with all course books, so the full cost of accessing these professional tools is built into your enrollment.

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 Is the course software compatible with both PC and Mac?

The core video chat and classroom platforms work on both PCs and Macs. Some specialized scouting software used in the course is PC only, so students on a Mac are advised to borrow a PC or use a local library computer for that portion of the coursework.

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  What kind of jobs will this course help prepare me for?

The course is built to prepare students for professional hockey roles such as NHL director of player personnel, NHL scout, NHL management, NHL front office positions, NHL agent, game operations, sports marketing, account management, and media and community relations.

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  I'm currently a hockey coach. How will this course help me?

This course gives coaches an understanding of scouting from an NHL point of view, along with the terminology used by scouts, directors of player personnel, and general managers. That knowledge tends to directly improve a coach's ability to recruit and evaluate talent for their own program at any level.

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  Do I really get to talk with the course mentors every week?

Yes. Throughout the eight week course, current mentors Doug MacLean, a former NHL President, General Manager, and Head Coach, and Mike Oke, General Manager of the Peterborough Petes of the OHL, lead a live weekly video chat. It is an hour long question and answer session with fellow students, and several guest speakers, including additional hockey GMs, coaches, and scouts, join throughout the course. Any session you miss live is archived so you never lose access to the conversation.

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  Do I need to have played hockey to work in a hockey front office?

No, you do not need to have played college or professional hockey to build a career in hockey operations. Passion, a strong work ethic, and an intense desire to work within the industry are the starting point, and what teams increasingly look for is well informed, properly trained people. With the collective bargaining agreement, salary cap rules, and hockey analytics changing constantly, NHL teams need staff who understand the most current information and bring new ideas. SMWW's Hockey GM and Scouting Course teaches exactly those skills, and it also builds your industry contacts through weekly live sessions with mentors Doug MacLean and Mike Oke. If you would rather begin with an internship on the business side of a professional team, our Sports Sales and Marketing Course is a strong entry point. 

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  What is the difference between the Sports Sales and Marketing course and the Hockey GM and Scouting course?

Sports Sales and Marketing is designed to help students land an entry level job in professional sports as quickly as possible, covering ticket sales and sponsorship sales alongside a hands on project with a major or minor league team. The Hockey GM and Scouting course is pure hockey operations. You will learn to analyze the game, manage a team, evaluate talent, scout players, and identify future NHL talent before the pros do. If you are unsure which path fits your goals, SMWW's staff are happy to help you decide.

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  How else can I break into the professional hockey world?

If you are not ready to start your career over from scratch and want to build more hockey business knowledge and contacts, the Athlete Management Course, which covers representing NHL players, is a strong complementary path. 

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  Do I need any special equipment, a degree, or a minimum age to take this course?​

You will need a computer with internet access, since course books and materials are mailed directly to you. Students must be eighteen or older, but no college degree is required to enroll.

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  What if I need one-on-one assistance? 

SMWW staff are available by phone throughout the course for one on one help with coursework, live sessions, or career questions. Call 1 877 SMWW NOW in the United States and Canada, +44 0 871 288 4799 in the United Kingdom, or +1 503 445 7105 from anywhere else. Our offices are in Portland, Oregon, and London, England.

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  Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799. Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105