Program Outline & Level 4/5 Tasks
For the present, the original level 4 and 5 tasks will continue to be offered until the next generation of advanced programs is finished and pilot tested. The orginal tasks include the following:
- Endurance Training
- Strength Training
- Sport Specific Task
- Nutrition
- Environmental Factors and Performance
- Recovery and Regneration
- Psychological Preparation for Coaches
- Psychological Preparation for Athletes
- Practical Coaching: Skill Training
- Biomechanical Analysis: Advanced Skills
- Practical Coaching: Strategy & Tactics
- Planning and Perdiodization
- Analyzing Performance Factors
- Practical Coaching: Training Camps
- Practical Coaching: Competitve Tour
- Long Term Athlete Development
- Leadership Skills
- Self Awareness and Personal Management
- Canadian Sport System
- International Sport Systems
Level 4 involves twelve designated tasks and level 5 requires completion of the remaining eight tasks. Nine tasks (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 16 and 17) are core requirements for level 4. NCI coach-candidates who complete only the nine designated tasks receive an NCI diploma. Most NCI students complete two or three additional tasks which are designated by the national sport organization (NSO); these are normally among tasks 3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and/or 15. When the NSO designates only 2 sport specific tasks, the coach-candidate, in consultation with the NCI and NSO, can choose the optional 12th task; this is often task 5.
The updated advanced coach education curriculum will gradually replace the task system; however, the tasks will continue to be used for the next while.
The Future of Advanced Coaching Education:
The new theme-based program is being designed to:
-Integrate the spectrum of coaching knowledge and practice
-Standardize a national curriculum, while also providing some flexibility in emphasis depending on the coach's context
-Align advanced stages of coach education with the athlete's stage of development
-Modify the curriculum delivery process to facilitate learning, account for prior learning and knowledge and target the learning experiences to the coach's strengths and weaknesses
The themes are:
-Leadership
-Performance Planning
-Coaching Effectiveness
-
The themes include a blend of the 20 tasks into a curriculum and learning experience which emphasizes athlete-centered study, integration of knowledge and more sport-specificity for the coach-candidate.
Current plans are to offer the Leadership and Planning themes early in the learning process, followed by the two remaining themes. Previously, the aim was to graduate coaches after a two year experience, however, there is now recognition that coach career development is a longer process. True expertise requires time and apprenticeship to acquire real wisdom. While we acknowledge that some coaches will be able to complete their studies quickly, we are also adopting a longer time frame for those who need it. To ensure that process occurs, coaches will be accountable annually to show engagement in professional development.
The NCI Atlantic has already begun to incorporate some of the teaching ideas and new curriculum design into the "old" task program and for the next while - until the new program is ready for implementation across all athlete development contexts, the old program will continue to be used. There will be a planned transition from the old to the new program so that those coach-candidates who have completed tasks will receive appropriate credit for the tasks in the new system.
Master and Mentor Coaches
Access to expert coaches, both from your sport and from other sports, is acknowledged to be one of the most important perks of NCI candidacy. Each coach candidate is matched with a sport-specific master coach. the selection process involves coach-candidate input and NCI, NSO and sometimes PSO consultation - ultimately, NSO approval of the master coach is required.
The opportunity to interact with other expert coaches from a wide range of sports - including your classmates - is also a wonderful opportunity for idea sharing. The NCI also has access to a group of mentor coaches who are acknowledged as innovators and leaders in coaching in this region. They have volunteered to help with a wide range of generic coaching challenges that you may face.
The Coach of High Performance Athletes:
This particular context has undergone sweeping changes. These include:
-Each coach will have a personalized curriculum designed for the coach by an advisory committee, which is chosen for the coach by the NCI and NSO. The committee will assess the coach's needs and progress, co-opt experts to help the coach and design the coach's learning experiences to match coaching needs.
-This system can work well only with small numbers of highly qualified coaches. Thus, entry into this context will be controlled by the NSO in consultation with the NCI. Present thinking will allow former high performance athletes, current coaches of Canada's high performance athletes and expert competition-devlopment coaches to apply.
Application
To apply for the NCI-Atlantic, please download the application form, complete and return to Daphne Pellerin. Please ensure that all required documents are included with the application (see the checklist on page 2 of application).