Softball BC Coach Requirements by Category:
| CATEGORY Softball BC Article | REQUIREMENT: PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP | Status obtained for Provincial | REQUIREMENT: WESTERN CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP | REQUIREMENT: CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP |
| U7/U9 | LTC or Community Coach Foundations of Coaching 1 | LTC Trained or Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U11 | LTC or Community Coach Foundations of Coaching 1 | LTC Trained or Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U13A Required | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U13B Required | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 | Community Coach Trained | Competition Introduction Certified | N/A |
| U13C Recommended | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U15A Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | N/A | Competition Introduction Certified |
| U15B Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | Competition Introduction Certified | N/A |
| U15C Required | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U17A Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | N/A | Competition Introduction Certified |
| U17B Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 +MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | Competition Introduction Certified | N/A |
| U17C Required | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| U19A Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | N/A | Competition Introduction Certified |
| U19B Required | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | Competition Introduction Certified | N/A |
| U20C Required | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| Men’s * Women’s A Recommended | Competition Introduction Clinic #1 and #2 + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Competition Introduction Trained | N/A | Competition Introduction Certified |
| Men’s * Women’s B Recommended | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | Competition Introduction Certified | N/A |
| Men’s * Women’s C Recommended | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
| Men’s * Women’s D Recommended | Community Coach + MED Foundations of Coaching 1 & 2 | Community Coach Trained | N/A | N/A |
In the case of extenuating circumstances, a one-time only exemption request can be applied for: Exemption Request Form
Legend:
-
LTC: Community Sport - Learn to Coach Clinic (great for Learn to Play instructors/coaches)
-
Community Coach: Community Sport - Ongoing Participation
-
Weekend #1: Competition Introduction Weekend #1 Clinic
-
Weekend #2: Competition Introduction Weekend #2 Clinic
-
MED: Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation
When attending a U13, U15, U17, or U19 Provincial Championship, one of the registered coaches or managers must be "Trained" at the required level. See the chart below.
When attending a Canadian Championship, the registered head coach must be Competition-Introduction Certified and assistant coaches on the playing field must be Competition-Introduction Trained.
Softball Canada's standards page: https://softball.ca/programs/coaching/nccp-training/coaching-standards
If a team attends a Canadian Championship without the registered head coach meeting the coaching criteria, the team will be fined $2,500 (two thousand five hundred dollars).
If a team attends a Western Canadian Championship without a coach/manager meeting the coaching criteria, the team will be fined $250 (two hundred and fifty dollars).
To find out more information about becoming NCCP Certified, please contact the Softball BC office.
To find out more information about the various coaching pathways within the NCCP, have a look at the document above, Various Coaching Pathways Explained.
How to Obtain Your Coach Training:
STEP 1: Create a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Coach Locker through the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC)
STEP 2: Complete Foundations of Coaching Softball (FOCS 1&2) Foundations of Coaching Module
STEP 3: Review the Athlete Development Matrix (ADM) & Athlete Development Matrix Guide
STEP 4: Complete Softball Specific Training (In-Person and Hybrid Options)
*Please note if you choose the In-Person Pathway you are required to stay in the In-Person Pathway. If you choose the Hybrid Pathway you are required to stay in the Hybrid Pathway. The reason for this is to avoid over-lapping content between the two different delivery methods.
In-Person Option:
-
Initiation to Coaching (4 hour course)
-
U5-U9
-
-
On-Going Participation (8.5 hour course)
-
U9, U11 "C", U13 "C", U15"C", U17"C", U20"C"
-
-
Competition Introduction Clinic 1 (13 hour course)
-
U11 (if planning to coach in Rep), U13 Rep, U15 Rep, U17 Rep, U19 Rep
-
-
Competition Introduction Clinic 2 (13 hour course)
-
U13 Rep (Recommended), U15 Rep, U17 Rep, U19 Rep
-
Hybrid Option (Rep Coach): (3 Online Zoom Modules & One In-Person Technical Weekend)
-
U11 (if planning to coach in rep), U13 Rep, U15 Rep, U17 Rep, U19 Rep
STEP 5: Complete (MED) online evaluation (75% or higher)
STEP 6: (Recommended) Complete Commit to Kids
Certification - Required for BC Summer Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Canadian Championships
Professional Development Recommendations
Responsible Coaching Movement
Play Safe BC
Commit To Kids
Safe Sport
NCCP & Sport for Life Multi-Sport Modules
Indigenous Coaching and Aboriginal Coaching Module (ACM)
Understanding NCCP Terms
In Training - When a coach has completed some of the required training for a context.
Trained - When a coach has completed all required (sport specific and MED) training for a context
Certified - When a coach has completed all requirements for a context including on-field evaluation
*Please note the Community Softball Coach context does not include a certification option within its pathway
* Refer to the links below for information around Competition-Introduction Certification:
Coach Portfolio: Competition-Introduction Coach Portfolio
Evaluator Observation Tool: Comp-Intro Evaluation Observation Kit
Video Protocol: Video-Protocol_Softball_Intro_Evaluations
Please contact Softball BC if you have any questions around the NCCP Competition-Introduction Coach Evaluation or Certification Process.
Western Canadian Coaching Standards
When attending a U13, U15, U17, or U19 Western Canadian Championship, one of the registered coaches or managers must be Competition-Introduction Certified.
Softball Canada Canadian Championship Coaching Standards
Head Coach must be Competition - Introduction Certified
Assistant Coaches must be Competition - Introduction Trained
Canada Summer Games (Team B.C.):
All head coaches must be Competition - Development Certified
NCCP Multi-Sport Modules can be accessed through the Coach Locker
Please contact Softball BC if you have any questions around the NCCP Competition-Introduction Coach Evaluation or Certification Process.
Downloadable Information
NCCP Streams Explained (Flowchart/Info Graphic)
-
Community Sport_Initiation - Fundamentals/Learn to Train Stages
-
Community Sport_Ongoing - Learn to Train/Active for Life Stages
-
Competition_Introduction - Learn to Train/Train to Train Stages
-
Competition Development - Train to Train/Train to Compete Stages
-
Pitching Instruction_Beginner - Fundamentals/Learn to Train Stages
-
Softball NCCP Clinics
