Coaching information

The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) have three (3) Coaching Streams:

• “Community” Sport Coach Training – this stream is for coaches often coaching at the community level or thinking about coaching. This includes parents with a child involved in sport, those who volunteer, or those who work with participants of all ages.
• “Competition” Coach Training – this stream is for coaches who usually have previous coaching experience or are former athletes in the sport. They tend to work with athletes over the long term to improve performance, often in preparation for provincial, national, and international competitions. BPEC ‘trains’ students in this stream.
• “Instruction” Coach Training – this stream is for coaches who already have sport-specific skills and training, whether coaching at the beginner or advanced skill levels. They teach or coach the sport in a variety of areas. Many are former participants in the sport.

For more information on the NCCP Coaching Certification Program, visit the CAC website.

As part of their BPEC journey, students must complete a series of non-academic requirements including a list of NCCP Competition Introduction and Development Modules. Graduating students will receive "trained status" in the following modules:

Professional Development 

• Fundamental Movement Skills (SPSC 1195)

NCCP Competition-Introduction 

• Basic Mental Skills (SPSC 2210)
• Plan a Practice (SPSC 2210)
• Teaching & Learning (SPSC 2210)
• Design a Basic Sport Program (SPSC 2210)
• Making Ethical Decisions (SPSC 2210) 
• Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation - elearning Module accessed online via thelocker.coach.ca (Students must complete this on their own for the BPEC Non-Academic Graduation Requirements) 

NCCP Competition-Development

• Developing Athletic Abilities (SPSC 4199)
• Prevention and Recovery (SPSC 3276)
• Manage Conflict (SPSC 3240)
• Coaching and Leading Effectively (SPSC 3240)
• Psychology of Performance (SPSC 4231)

Note: Each module is $15.75 when completed in the given Sport Science course listed above. If online payment is not made on The Locker by the last day of class you will be required to complete the NCCP module as an e-learning course and pay full price. 

For more information on additional modules, visit the CAC website and contact your Provincial Sport Organization.

"Trained" refers to Coaches who have participated in training opportunities and/or workshops to acquire or refine the skills and knowledge required for a particular coaching context (i.e. Competition-Introduction).

"Certified" refers to coaches who are “trained” and have been evaluated by a Sport NCCP Learning Facilitator (LF), in an actual “live” sport practice/game. They must demonstrate an ability to perform within that context in areas such as program design, practice planning, performance analysis, program management, ethical coaching, support to participants during training, and support to participants in competition.

The benefits of NCCP Coach Education being integrated into post-secondary education include:

1. The opportunities for assessment and extended application of the core competencies and skills. The combination of degree delivery and Fieldwork experiences provides student-coaches the chance to learn, apply and debrief with both Faculty and community Coach mentors - bringing the concepts of NCCP Competency Based Education Training to life in a post-secondary setting!
2. The convenience of completing an industry standard certification within an academic degree. Students not only save the time, they also save money by paying a reduced NCCP fee due. This is due to the fact that SPSC Faculty are NCCP Learning Facilitators, meaning their fee is covered in student tuition.