Coach education
The National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) is a nationally recognised and progressive coach education program.
NCAS coaching courses are offered for beginner coaches through to high performance level coaches. They include training in the general principles of coaching and the skills required to coach a specific sport. Currently over 90 national sporting organisations are involved in the Scheme and there are approximately 120,000 qualified coaches in Australia.
In order to achieve a coaching accreditation a coach must complete the relevant Coaching Principles course, the sport specific component, and practical coaching hours, along with any other requirements from their sport.
Beginning Coaching General Principles and Intermediate Coaching General Principles courses are offered through the Sport Education Centre as face to face intensive courses or as correspondence courses.
Beginning Coaching General Principles
The Beginning Coaching course provides a basic guide to coaching and equips coaches with the expertise to coach at the beginner level. Course topics include communication, teaching and coaching methods, planning programs and sports safety.
Intermediate Coaching General Principles
The Intermediate Coaching General Principles course introduces the coach to sports science and its application to coaching. Topics covered include sports sciences (physiology, nutrition, psychology, biomechanics), sports safety, development and maturation, people management skills, planning training programs and coaching methods.
Re-Accreditation
All coaches are registered for a four-year period. Each sport has its own policy regarding re-accreditation after four years.
Providing evidence of continuing education during the four year period is a common requirement of sports.
Coaches are required to re-accredit at the end of the 4 year period so:
- they stay abreast of rule changes in their sport
- they are aware of the most up to date techniques and coaching methods
- the coaching environment is safe for all participants, and to reduce the likelihood of coaches becoming involved in legal actions
Sport specific courses
For information about the coaching courses available for specific sports, please contact the appropriate state sporting organisation. For a full list of our sports development courses, see training courses
Coach training courses
For more NSW Sport and Recreation training courses, see our training section.
Useful links
Other websites
- Australian Sports Commission - useful tools and tips for coaches and officials
- Australian Strength and Conditioning Association
- National Sports Information Centre
- NSW Institute of Sport
- Sports Medicine Australia (NSW)
