NEW ZEALAND PONY CLUBS ASSOCIATION INC.
EQUESTRIAN COACHES TRAINING PROGRAMME SYNOPSIS
The Equestrian Coaches Training programme (ECTP) was
initiated in 1991 (formally EITP). Since then results have
proved that it is fulfilling a real need for Pony Club Coaches
who want to further their teaching skills.
It was been developed by the Training Committee of the New
Zealand Pony Clubs Association Inc., in conjunction with
members of the National Coaches Panel – Suzanne Dickens,
Kay Hogan, Elaine Knox-Thompson and Jennifer Howard, all
holders of the British Horse Society’s Instructors’ Certificate.
Each level has been ‘tested’ by the original ‘Pilots’,
experienced coaches who have been with the Programme
since its inception and have offered invaluable advice on finetuning from the participants point of view. The Pilots are also
among those involved in tutoring and assessing.
The Programme consists of six levels, corresponding with the
Pony Club Certificates with the exception of D+ Certificate.
Each level involves attendance at a coach’s course;
completing correspondence units and includes reading;
exercises and practical assignments; and teaching
assessments.
A certificate and badge is awarded to those who fulfill the
requirements at each level.
The Objects of ECTP are to improve the standard of
coaching for members at all levels by providing:
• An effective and coordinated coaching system for all Pony
Clubs.
• Training for coaches at branch level by those qualified
from this programme.
• A certified qualification for coaching, both as an incentive
and as a means of increasing their self esteem.
The Programme Aims to Help Coaches to:
• Increase their knowledge and confidence in their teaching
at Pony Club.
• Plan lessons and rallies so that the coaching will be safe,
progressive, effective and enjoyable.
• Gain the maximum use and benefit from the three New
Zealand Pony Club Manuals, the NZPCA Coaches
Resource Manual and other recommended reading.
The Programme is open to Adult, Riding and Technical
members of NZPCA who are 16 years of age and older at date
of application.
The written units must be completed within 2 years or an
additional administration fee is required.
Coaches who inactive for more than 5yrs will be removed
from the database and required to reenroll.
It is preferable for levels to be taken in consecutive order.
Starting at D Level may seem tiresome to coaches working at
a higher level, but it has proved its value when it comes to
training or supervising coaches at D Level, however coaches
may pick up the course at any level, using the Module Option.
Coaches Courses
Prior to assessments, participants must have attended a two
day Coaches Course of the appropriate level with a suitably
qualified coach within the last five years.
Note: Exemptions can be made for Coaches who have
attended a higher level course during the last five years and
TR6.24 – ECTP Synopsis – June 2012
who have attended a course at the appropriate level prior to
that.
NZPCA National and Association Coaches are available to
train Coaches at all levels. Some Coaches qualified through
the ECTP are also available to train coaches at D and C levels.
Names and addresses are available from NZPCA Coaching
and Training Administrator. Clubs/Branches should make
arrangements directly with the coach facilitator when
arranging courses. Numbers on courses are limited to allow
for plenty of ‘hands-on’ practice.
Assessments
• D Level assessments are arranged by the Area ECTP
Coordinator / Coaching Officer, and usually take place in
a rally situation.
• C Level assessments are arranged by the Coach’s Area
ECTP coordinator / Coaching Officer in conjunction with
the Coaching and Training Officer.
• C+ - A level assessments are arranged by the Coaching
and Training Officer, and taken by a National Coach.
D Level
Criteria at time of Application:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical Member of NZPCA
2. Sixteen (16) years of age or older at date of application,
OR 15 years if a two day (ten hours) D level Coaches
Course has been completed. (Note: Minimum age for
attending a Coaches Course is 15 years).
Required Reading:
1. NZPCA Manuals 1 & 3
2. NZPCA Coaches Resource Manual
3. NZPCA Certificate Rule Book
Written requirements - three correspondence units
Practical Assessments - four 10 – 15 minute lessons: Taking
a Ride, Taking a Game, Pony Care and Riding Lesson.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Lesson plan (s) approved in written work by tutor marker.
2. Attended a two day D Level Coaches Course with a
National, Association, or ECTP Coach within five years.
Of the assessment. *Exemption may be made for
applicants who have attended a higher level course during
the last five years.
3. Have coached at Branch or Club rallies at D level to gain the
experience needed to complete the units and practical teaching
requirements.
C Level
Criteria:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical Member of NZPCA
2. Hold D level ECTP (may enrol if awaiting D level
assessment).
Required Reading:
1. NZPCA Manuals 1, 2 & 3
2. Jumping Exercises for Pony Club Coaches
3. NZPCA Certificate Rule Book
4. NZPCA Discipline Rules and Regulations
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5. ESNZ Discipline Rules: on ESNZ website
Written requirements - six correspondence units
Practical Assessments - three 15 – 20 minute lessons: Horse
management (HM) lesson, flat riding lesson and a show
jumping lesson.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Have attended a two day C level Coaches Course with a
National, Association, or ECTP coach who has completed
the B Level Workshop, within the past five years.
*Exemption may be made for applicants who have
attended a higher level course during the last five years
2. Have coached at rallies at C level to gain the experience
needed to complete the units and practical teaching
requirements.
C+ Level
Criteria:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical Member of NZPCA
2. Hold C level ECTP (may enrol if awaiting C level
assessment).
Required Reading:
1. NZPCA Manuals 1, 2 & 3
2. Jumping Exercises for Pony Club Coaches
3. NZPCA Junior Riding Tests
4. NZPCA Certificate Rule Book
5. NZPCA Discipline Rules and Regulations
6. ESNZ Discipline Rules: on ESNZ website
Written requirements - seven correspondence units
Practical Assessments - four 15-20 minute lessons – Arena
lesson, SJ lesson, XC lesson, HM lecture, plus a 5 minute
improving a rider lesson and a 5 minute gallop lesson.
Optional - Attend a one day workshop for ‘Coaching
Coaches’ to gain training towards qualifying to facilitate D
level coach’s courses and complete the additional criteria
towards this qualification.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Have attended a two day C+ level Coaches Course with a
National Coach within the past five years. *Exemption
may be made for applicants who have attended a higher
level course during the last five years
Prior to Certificate being awarded:
1. Satisfactorily complete the practical assessments.
2. Have coached at rallies at C+ level to gain the experience
needed to complete the units and practical teaching
requirements.
C+ Coaches may be invited to assess at D and/or to Tutor at D
Level
B Level
Criteria:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical Member of NZPCA
2. Hold C+ level ECTP (may enrol if awaiting C+ level
assessment).
Required Reading
1. As for C+ level.
Written requirements - five correspondence units plus one
‘Training C Level Coaches’ unit (optional).
TR6.24 – ECTP Synopsis – June 2012
Practical Assessments - five 15 – 20 minute lessons – Arena
lesson, SJ lesson, XC lesson, HM lecture, Group discussion
with rider’s lesson.
Optional - Attend a one day workshop for ‘Coaching
Coaches’ to gain training towards qualifying to facilitate C
level coaches’ courses and complete the additional criteria
towards this qualification.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Have attended a two day B level Coaches Course with a
National Coach within the past five years. *Exemption
may be made for applicants who have attended a higher
level course during the last five years
2. Have coached at rallies at B level to gain the experience
needed to complete the units and practical teaching
requirements.
B Level Coaches may be invited to assess to C level, and/or to
tutor to C Level
H Level
Criteria:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical Member of NZPCA
2. Hold B level ECTP (may enrol in if awaiting B level
assessment).
Written requirements - five correspondence units
Practical Assessment - four 20 - 30 minute lessons –
Conformation, Lungeing, HM lesson, HM lecture.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Have attended a two day H level Coaches course with a
National Coach within the past five years. *Exemption
may be made for applicants who have attended a higher
level course during the last five years
2. Have trained a successful A Certificate candidate OR have
attended an A Certificate examination as an official
observer, within the past five years.
3. Have coached at rallies to gain the experience needed to
complete the units and practical teaching requirements.
A Level
Criteria:
1. Adult, Riding or Technical member of a NZPCA
2. Hold B level ECTP (may enrol if awaiting assessment for
B level)
Written Requirements - four units
Practical Assessments - four 30 – 40 minute lessons Talk on the Scales of Training, Dressage lesson, SJ lesson,
XC lesson.
Additional Criteria:
Prior to Assessment:
1. Have attended a two day A level Coaches course with a
National Coach within the past five years.
2. Have trained a successful A Certificate candidate OR have
attended an A Certificate examination as an official
observer, within the past five years.
3. Have coached at rallies to gain the experience needed to
complete the units and practical teaching requirements.
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