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NCCP COACHING PROGRAM

Coaching Programs

A New NCCP Model in a Competency-Based Education & Training System

The Coaching Association of Canada and the NSOs are in the midst of a major revision of the NCCP that will see fundamental changes to its content and structure. Alberta expects the transition from the traditional NCCP format to the NCCP Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) approach will occur by April 1, 2004. As of this date, the existing Theory Level One and Two courses will no longer be offered.

To complete the transition, each NSO is determining (1) the streams and contexts that will apply to their sport; (2) the entry point(s) into each stream; (3) the progression within the system; and (4) the applicable prerequisites. Professional development opportunities for coaches may be either sport-specific or generic and may vary by stream and/or context. The following table outlines the proposed model for the new NCCP:


Instruction Stream	Competition Stream	Community Sport Stream
Advanced Context Certification standards for coaches teaching sport-specific skills to participants having an advanced proficiency level.	High Performance Context Certification standards for coaches working with international calibre athletes.	Ongoing Participation in Community Sport Context Certification standards for coaches providing support to adolescents and adults involved in community-based, participatory sport programs.
Intermediate Context Certification standards for coaches teaching sport-specific skills to participants having an intermediate proficiency level.	Developmental Context Certification standards for coaches working with developmental athletes (provincial-national level of competition).	Initiation to Sport Context Certification standards for coaches initiating youngsters into sport in community-based programs.
Beginner Context Certification standards for coaches teaching basic sport-specific skills to beginners.	Introduction to Competition Context Certification tandards for coaches working with athletes who are being introduced to competitive sport.

Currently, many NSOs are either piloting or implementing a revised version of coaching education and training appropriate to their sport. Most other NSO’s are in the process of determining what aspects of the above model apply to their sport and how they will introduce revisions to their existing program.

The Initiation to Sport context in the Community Sport stream (above) is currently being piloted as an 8 hour workshop covering both theory and technical aspects of coaching.

The Competitive Sport stream will have an Introduction to Competition context that includes several multi-sport modules covering the following areas: Planning a practice (7 hours), Designing a basic sport program (4 hours - Planning a practice is a prerequisite), Support to athletes in training: providing basic nutritional advice (1 hour), Ethical coaching (3 hours), Support to athletes in training: teaching/ learning (7 hours), and Support to athletes in training: teaching basic mental skills (3.5 hours).

The Skill Instruction context has not yet been developed but is targeted to leaders teaching sport skills, rather than preparing athletes for competition.

If you have any questions or concerns about this new model and how it may affect you, contact your Provincial or National Sport Organization or the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation (Susan Jackson, Sport Consultant at 422-8294; susan.j.jackson@gov.ab.ca).

Further information can also be found on the Coaching Association of Canada website or phone 613-235-5000.