ATHLETICS ONTARIO:
COACH CERTIFICATION POLICY
Table of Contents
A
Minimum Coaching Requirements .................................................................................................................2
B
Recommended Coaching Requirements ........................................................................................................3
C
Why Become a Member .................................................................................................................................2
D
Coaches Member Benefits .............................................................................................................................2
E
Suggested Resources List for Coaches & Clubs .............................................................................................2
F
Pathways for Coaching Certification (High School/Competition Stream) ......................................................3
G
Pathways for Coaching Certification (Elementary School/First Contact) .......................................................4
H
Professional Development (Maintenance of Certification)............................................................................5
I
Coaching Requirements in Other Sports ........................................................................................................9
A
Minimum Coaching Requirements
Athletics Ontario is implementing a Policy to ensure all Coaches registered with Athletics Ontario carry a
minimum of NCCP training and/or certification. To ensure consistency amongst the sport in the Province and
enhance the knowledge and training of both skills and policies (harassment, equity, background
check/vulnerable sector screening, etc.), AO will be implementing new policies as of January 2017.
*New minimum Requirements*
2017
2018
2019
• All registered coach must NCCP number to register as coach
• All registered coaches must have MED Course by end of 2017
• 1 coach “Trained” in club by end of 2017
• All registered coaches minimum Sport Coach “trained”
• All registered coaches must have completed MED Course
• 1 Sport Coach -Minimum “certified” within club
• All registered coaches minimum Sport Coach “trained”
• All registered coaches must have completed MED Course
• Actively working towards "certified" status - expectation is 3
years from "trained" to "certified"
•
The process to register is as follows for 2017
1. 2017 AO Coach Registration –
a. complete on-line application
b. pay membership fee ($40.00 )
c. submit current Police Background Check (Vulnerable sector), or for renewing Coaches,
submission of an Offence Declaration form to the AO office
**NOTE: Police checks must be submitted every 3 years (see AO Background Checks Policy)
2. All coaches must have successfully completed Making Ethical Decisions (MED) module (on-line or in
person): http://www.coach.ca/make-ethical-decisions-med--s16834
3. One (1) coach working with the club must be trained in either NCCP Sport Coach or NCCP Run Jump
Throw Wheel during the course of their involvement with their club activities
B
Recommended Coaching Requirements
Athletics Ontario recommends that AO registered club must have at least one NCCP Certified Coach present at
all practices and events in which their athletes are training, competing or participating.
Athletics Ontario recommends that Club Managers (or individuals in a suitable role within the club) ensure that
each coach meets the criteria list in “2017 Minimum Coach Requirements”.
C
Why Become a Member
There are numerous benefits to membership, some are applicable to all members and some specific to each type of
member. Listed below are some of the great reasons why you should join Athletics Ontario today!
D

Coaches Membership Benefits
The satisfaction in knowing your membership fees help support Athletics Ontario and its mission to grow and develop the
sport in a safe and fun way

Supporting Youth, Junior, High Performance athletes

Liability and Sport Accident insurance at all Athletics Ontario sanctioned races, club workouts, training days, clinics, camps
and events

Permanent Coaches ID Tag

$5 discount membership annual fees if joined through a club

Access to Travel insurance to camps/out of province/country?

Access to professional development opportunities at discounted rates

Eligible for team Ontario Coaching opportunities (minimum club coach “Trained” required)

Receive a vote at the AGM on key issues that affect our sport

Access to AO Connect Calls and provide feedback to help impact how AO moves forward

Subscription to our e-newsletter

$10 off coaching workshops to advance coaching pathway

Access to Quest for Gold Coaching Bursaries
E Suggested Resource List for Coaches & Clubs

Coaching Resources: Training & Orientation Checklist: http://clubexcellence.com/example-trainingand-orientation-checklist

Policy Review Checklist:
http://clubexcellence.com/sites/default/files/content/docs/pdf/clubexcellence-examplepolicyreviewchecklistforcoaches-e.pdf

Club Handbook (template/sample) http://clubexcellence.com/sites/default/files/content/docs/pdf/clubexcellence-exampleclubhandbook-e.pdf
F
Pathways for Coaching Certification (High School/Competition stream)
G
Pathways for Coaching Certification (Elementary School/First Contact)
H
Professional Development (Maintenance of Certification)
I
Coaching Requirements in Other Sports
1. Swim Ontario: Maintains a public “Coach Compliance Lists”.
The first list indicates which First year Coaches may be able to “be on deck at any sanctioned competition”
without certification, but do need to achieve certified status by November 30, 2016. These coaches need to be
accompanied by a coach either on the Second Year or Exemption List.
The second list indicates which Second Year Coaches and Higher, are certified and able to “be on deck at any
sanctioned competition”.
If a coach does not appear on one of these lists, they are not eligible to be on deck at any sanctioned
competition.
Exemptions - A coach not appearing on this list may apply for exemption to Swim Ontario outlining the situation
and a plan as to when certification will be completed. Exemptions are not guaranteed and will be on a case by
case basis. Coaches who have completed their requirements for certification and are waiting for the marking of
their Portfolio to be completed are also on this exemption list.
2. Provincial Women’s Softball Association
All participating teams must have at least one (1) registered coach with the following minimum NCCP Softball
Certification as follows:
U10 Girls (Mite):
Trained in Learn to Coach (Community Sport-Initiation).
U12 Girls (Squirt): Trained in Community Softball (Community Sport-On Going Participation) OR Fully Level 1
Certified in Softball.
All Others – U14 Girls (Novice), U16 Girls (Bantam), U18 Women (Midget), U21 Women (Junior), Intermediate
Women, Senior Women and Masters Women:
Fully certified in Competition – Introduction, Softball (Softball 1st weekend, Softball 2nd weekend, Softball
3rd weekend, Make Ethical Decisions Online) OR Fully Level 2 Certified in Softball.
3. Triathlon Ontario
All Swim, Bike, Run workouts must be sanctioned by submitting an application form which includes an
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)? Coaches not trained in a New NCCP context must provide a sample EAP for
approval prior to sanctioning. Note: Qualified lifeguards must be present for swim workouts.
4. Cycling Ontario
Does not have a posted policy on coaching requirements, but it does make public a searchable list of coaches
which includes the discipline and level of certification.
5. Rugby Ontario
STEP 1
Minimum Standards for all Coaches
To ensure best practice is being followed, we require that all active coaches, teachers and referees in
clubs and schools complete the online World Rugby RugbyReady self-check assessment
on rugbyready.worldrugby.org/.
1. World Rugby Laws self-check; take the test online at laws.worldrugby.org/
2. Concussion Management - concussions are an issue that affects all sports and it is important that
everyone in Rugby recognises the symptoms of concussion and removes from playing or training any
player with clear or suspected symptoms; learn more at World Rugby's Player Welfare resource page
STEP TWO
Get Qualified
For a complete list of our National Coaching Certification Program / World Rugby-approved coaching
courses, along with descriptions, please visit our Coaching Courses section.
For a complete list of all upcoming coaching courses, please refer to our schedule of upcoming coaching
courses.
STEP THREE
Attend Ongoing Development Sessions
We are currently developing further resources for this step. As coaching development sessions become
available, schedules will be posted to the Rugby Ontario Coaching section.
**A note for all coaches that hold a NCCP Coaching Certificate, and wish to be certified with World
Rugby: the NCCP Community Initiation and NCCP Competition Introduction courses are now paired with
World Rugby certification courses, as of 2014 (NCCP Community Initiation / World Rugby Level 1; NCCP
Competition Introduction / World Rugby Level 2, respectively). Coaches that attended a NCCP course
prior to the introduction of the combined courses must attend a full course if they wish to receive the
World Rugby certification, however, their NCCP certification will not expire.
Please contact Sarah Lesperance, Rugby Development Coordinator - Technical
([email protected]; 647-560-4790 x109) should you have any questions.