How to become a Coach

Coach jacket

BECOME A COACH:

At Skate Canada, our coaches are focused on making a difference.

Skate Canada is home to nearly 5600 professional coaches who are dedicated to delivering best-in-class learn-to-skate, power skating and figure skating programs to thousands of skaters across the country.

Our coaches are teachers, mentors and role models committed to teaching individual development and life skills to help each skater realize his/her personal best – on and off the ice. All Skate Canada coaches are professionals who are trained and certified through Skate Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). All Skate Canada professional coaches must be registered coaching members in good standing.

 

National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP):

Launched in 1970, the NCCP is a partnership between the CAC, and more than 60 national sport organizations. The NCCP is Canada’s recognized coach training and certification program and serves a wide range of coaches – from those who introduce beginners to sport to those working with high performance athletes.

Skate Canada’s NCCP model (revised 2015) is in direct alignment with its Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD)model which allows coaches to be trained and certified in a context that is specific to the level of athletes with whom they would like to work with.

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Please note: Skate Canada is currently transitioning to the LTAD aligned NCCP model and will be facilitating training in both the current and revised NCCP until 2018.

To become certified, coaches must meet or exceed the expectations at the in-training, trained and certified statuses. To maintain an NCCP certified status, Skate Canada professional coaches are required to complete professional development (PD) activities and adhere to CAC’s Maintenance of Certification requirements.

In order to be in “in good-standing” and therefore eligible to coach in a Skate Canada club coaches must prove the following:

  • Valid first aid certificate
  • Valid background screening
  • Completion of the “Respect in Sport” Activity Leader training (new for the 2018/2019 season)
  • Compliance with the “Maintenance of Certification” program which mandates and promotes on-going learning and development
  • Compliance with the Skate Canada Code of Conduct

 

Responsible Coaching Movement:

Skate Canada has taken the pledge!

The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a multi-phase system-wide movement, coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport that has the potential to affect all sport organizations and coaches. The RCM is a call to action for organizations to implement realistic change based on their individual states of readiness.

Vision for Coaching:

As Skate Canada Professional Coaches we believe coaching is a privilege earned through our commitment to:

  • Competently and professionally serving the athlete as a role model, teacher, coach, athlete manager, and strategist.
  • Developing well-rounded individuals and creating a positive and safe sport environment that will promote: physical development and well-being, mental development and positive self-image, social skills development, creativity and artistic development, discipline, self-reliance and independence, and principles of fair play and good sportsmanship.
  • Providing quality service to and being accountable to the athletes, parents, clubs and schools, community, and Skate Canada by ensuring program delivery standards are being followed
  • Sharing knowledge with athletes, parents, coaching peers, clubs and schools, volunteers and Skate Canada while working together to provide the best skating programs possible.
  • Actively engaging in professional development and seeking opportunities to give back to the sport wherever possible through volunteering.
  • Maintaining an open-mind and positive attitude towards new ideas and change.
  • Supporting the 2014-2018 Skate Canada Strategic Plan.
  • Staying up to date and compliant with Skate Canada and ISU rules, regulations and policies
Quick Links for Coaches: