THE NEW COACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM The Coaching National National Certification Program (NCCP) The NCCP philosophy is based on the player's development. The fundamental principal is that athletes need time, attention, commitment and respect from well trained coaches who received and adequate training. Fair play during training and competition, humility in winning and dignity in losing are NCCP's fundamental principles. It's first goal is to promote excellence in the quality of training. The new NCCP components The new NCCP conception takes into account the different types of coaches ("training sections" called "profiles") who exist in the Canadian sports system and also within their context ("training context") in which coaches are working in. Each National Sports Governing bodies must determine which profile and context applies to their coaching development system. The capacity level coaches have in a specific context determines the extent of the training they need. This new formula allows the National Sports Federations to have full responsability on their coaches training. The old model allowed the coaches to follow their technical and practical training which trainers coming from their sports federation while the theoric course was given by Sports Quebec and was including all Sports. The new model includes the 3 aspects of the coaches training (technical, practical and theorical) for all new coaches. The new model is formed in 3 profiles and 8 training contexts, each of them having their specific requirements. Each sport has to determine which of the 8 contexts are relevant to them. Profile 1 – Community Sport Coaches in this profile are most of the time parents of a child playing the sport. They are volunteers who are getting involved for a short period of time. They tend to work with a group of athletes from all ages who have never played the sport before. Profile 2 – Competition Coaches in this profile usually have experience in training or are retired athletes of the sport in question. They will work on a longer period of time with athletes to better their performance, looking to participate in provincial, national and international events. Profile 3 – Instruction Coaches in this profile must have the competency to teach skills in their specific sport, they might be working with starters or advanced athletes. In many cases, these coaches have practiced the sport. Training and certification The coach can be at many levels of the program: • Ongoing training– meaning that he or she has completed a portion of the required training for its context; • Formed – meaning that the coach has completed its technical and theorical training required for its context; • Certified – meaning that a coach has completed all required practical evaluations in its context. The new NCCP makes a difference between the training and the certification. Coaches needing training can get or better their habilities, their knowledge and attitude judged to be important in their coaching work in a particular context based on the sport requirements. To obtain their certification, coaches must prove their capacity in meeting the identified requirements in their training context, in domains such as program conception, training sessions planning, performance analysis, program management, ethical training, athletes support in training and competition situation. NCCP Certification levels Profile – Community Sport Community Sport Context – Initiation : Players' parents who are volunteers and work a full time job do not have a lot of time from training their own skills as coaches. Their training program concentrates on essentials such as security, fun, team work and general values. The course is usually condacted in 1 or 2 days. This course helps volunteers in transmitting the love of the game to the players, to promote participation and teach the basic habilities to all players (all ages as well) with various and fun activities. The "Learn to be a coach" workshop is 6 hours. The objectives of the workshop are to help coaches to better prepare themselves and providing them with some tools to facilitate their work as community coaches. Community Sport Context– Ongoing Participation: Players of all ages are encouraged to keep playing the sport for fun and to maintain their physical fitness. It is also a great way to perform a social actitivy. This training allows the volunteers to help the participants keep enjoying the sport, still improve their skills, etc. These training workshop are usually conducted on a 2 days period. Competition Profile Competition Context - Introduction to compétition (old certified level 1 and 2) The goals of the Introduction to competition context are fun, physical fittness, basic notions, performing at regional and provincial events. Training for this context focusses on two topics: 1) "What to train" and 2) "How to train". After this training, the coach will receive the "FORMED" mention. Coaches will have the skills to train athletes such as the LFFEQ ones, at the regional level. If the coach wishes to be certified in this context, he will have to request an evaluation to Softball Quebec. Before the evaluation, the coach must present its completed coaching portfolio and a copy of its training plan that will be evaluated as the evaluation will occur during a 45 minutes practice with an appropriate group of athletes. This practice must at least include an exercise aimed to develop a basic skill hability as well as an exercise looking to develop a tactical skill. The coach must complete the performance analysis evaluation and must also complete the "Ethical decision process" evaluation that is offered online by the National Coaching Certification Association. Competition Context - Development (old certified level 3) This course is quite the equivalent of the old level 3 one. This training is currently being developped by Softball Canada. Coaches who will follow this clinic will have the required certification to coach one of the Quebec Teams (under the Quebec Team program) as well as of Sport-Etude. Competition Context– High performance (old certified level 4 and 5) This course is quite the equivalent of the old level 4 and 5 ones. This training is currently being developped by Softball Canada. . Requirements The NCCP participants must be at least 16 years old by the end of the year the course has been taken. B. Recognition of past NCCP certifications Coaches who have already followed their courses under the old NCCP program will have to comply with a chart of equivalence which will be available shortly. It is important to note that the ETHICAL DECISION MAKING MODULE is mandatory for all NCCP contexts. Once you have completed and passed this module, you will not have to take it again and it will appear under your coaching profile. It is recommanded to take the online training before doing the actual online exam. This test if free of charge, you only have to submitt your CC number. To know how to take the online exam, please contact Softball Quebec. Accreditation Softball Quebec is sending the required information to the NCCP in order to put up to date and accurate information in their database. Address change It is the coach responsability to provide the NCCP with any address change information. See your passport already received. For all information regarding the NCCP program, please contact Geneviève Houle at Softball Quebec at (514) 252-3061 ext. 3448 or by email: ghoule@loisirquebec.qc.ca