Coaching Certification FAQ’s
By: Dave Showers & LacrosseTalk Staff
The BCLA has experienced almost every coaching scenario and question over years when assisting our coaches with the coaching certification program. Through considerable work, we are the leaders in Canada managing our coaches in reaching their certification goals and train our coaches to be the best coaches possible. We’d like to share some of the questions we’ve been asked in order to assist coaches and aspiring coaches, and offer some answers to help you along the way.
Q: What training to Assistant Coaches need?
A: Assistant Coaches need the exact same training as the Head Coaches. Community Development - Level 1 for any Coaches coaching Mini-Tyke to PeeWee and Competitive Introduction - Level 2 for any Coaches from Bantam and up.
Q: If I coach other sports, does that certification transfer to lacrosse?
A: No, lacrosse is lacrosse. Whether it is hockey, soccer, football - all are different sports and require different training. Box, Men’s Field or Women’s Field are all different disciplines and also require different training courses.
Q: How do I sign up for a course?
A: You will find the Coaching Clinic schedule on the BCLA website. Once you see a clinic that you would like to attend, let your local Coaching Coordinator know so that he/she can register you. Once this happens, you will be emailed an Access Code with further instructions from Dave Showers, BCLA Technical Director.
Q: Do I pay the $15 fee that the online site asks for when registering?
A: NO, the Access Code, which is emailed to you, is used instead of the $15. The BCLA pays the CLA for each Access Code.
Q: What if my Access Code is already used?
A: Email the BCLA Technical Director and he will look into why it’s not working.
Q: Do I need an Access Code if I have already taken a course in the past?
A: If you have already signed up through the nccp.lacrosse.ca webpage for another course, then you will continue using that login and password you’ve created.
Q: As a new coach, what do I need to complete before attending my first coaches clinic?
A: All coaches, once registering with the Access Code, must complete an online pre-assessment course, which includes 5 modules with questions.
Q: What do I need to bring with me to a clinic?
A: Bring a pen and some paper, bring a lacrosse stick and something comfortable to wear (no jeans), as you will move around the gym floor, practicing and learning some skills and drills.
Q: If I was an old coach that was correctly certified in the 80’s or 90’s, what do I need to do today to update my certification?
A: The old certification program is different from the present day program which follows the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD). It’s best to email your name, address and phone number to the BCLA Technical Director for further research.
Q: How do I get my NCCP Number?
A: Visit online at www.nccp.coach.ca and click on ‘Look Up My NCCP#’. It will prompt you to enter your email address. If the address on file isn’t current, then, email your name, address and phone number to the BCLA Technical Director for further research.
Q: What requirements are necessary to be a fully trained Community Development (CMD or Level 1) coach?
A: All candidates must attend a clinic.
Q: What requirements are necessary to be a fully trained Competitive Intro (CPI or Level 2) coach?
A: All candidates must attend a 1.5 day clinic, satisfactorily complete the online workbook and successfully complete the online concussion training module.
Q: How long do I get to complete my workbook?
A: The CLA allows a year to complete the workbook, but the BCLA will be changing that rule to make it until the end of the current playing season.
Q: How long are the workbooks?
A: The Competitive Introduction workbook will take a few hours to complete. Best part, you can do some, then come back at a later time to complete the rest.
Q: What training do I require as a coach for youngsters from Mini-Tyke to Pee Wee?
A: Coaches and Assistant Coaches from the Mini-Tyke - Pee Wee division, must be TRAINED or being trained, during the current season, Community Development (CMD) - Level 1 Coaches. This means that they’ve taken the CMD course.
Q: What training do I require as a coach for Bantam to Senior levels?
A: Coaches and Assistant Coached from Bantam to the Senior division, must be TRAINED Competitive Introduction (CPI) - Level 2 Coaches. This means that they’ve already been TRAINED at the CMD level and are now trained or being trained at the CPI level (clinic, workbook and Concussion Training completed).
Q: What is required to be correctly trained if a coach wants to coach at the Bantam level or above, but has not taken any Coaching Course?
A: Coaches in this scenario are expected to take the Community Development (CMD or Level1) clinic during the current season, and then take the CPI clinic the following season, as the CLA doesn’t expect coaches to take two clinics in one season (quite a bit of work and time).
Q: What is the difference between Certified and Trained for coaches?
A: Coaches need to be CERTIFIED, only when they are coaching or wanting to coach at a National Level (Team BC, Mann Cup, Minto Cup, Presidents Cup, Founders Cup, Victory/Ross Cup, First Nations/Alumni Cup). This requires a coach to be TRAINED at the CPI Level + complete the Online Ethics Course + In-Person Evaluation.