How To Get Started as a Coach

For information on coaching in general, including conference, services, awards, job postings, resources and education go to the Coaches Association of Ontario.

1) Find some clubs in your area and check them out Check our website for a list of AO clubs and their contacts in your area. If possible, call several of the clubs and indicate your experience level and areas of interest. Arrange to visit the clubs on their training days. Talk to as many of the coaches as possible.

2) Choose a club and offer your services Choose the club that suits you best. Ideally, the club will have you assist an experienced coach until you develop the knowledge, experience and confidence to begin forming your own group of athletes. If you have had some experience as an athlete in the sport you may be able to bypass this step and directly begin working with your own group. Depending on the population base and your area of interest, the time it takes for athletes to be directed to you can vary considerably. Be patient, if there is a club and a coach THEY WILL COME.

3) Get Certified Although coaches aren't currently required to be certified under the National Coaching Certification Programme you should begin this phase of your training as soon as possible. Check out the AO website for general information on how the NCCP Coaching Certification Programme works in our sport. Ideally, you would start by taking a Level 1 Theory or Level 1 Technical course, which includes instruction in most of the events. However, since Technical courses may not be offered very often you may bypass the Level 1 temporarily and take a Level 2 Technical course in one of the more specialized areas. You will get credit for this work when you complete the Level 1 course. For a list of upcoming technical courses please visit our coaching courses information. Theory courses are held more frequently and in more communities. Information on upcoming theory courses may be obtained by going to www.sportalliance.com or emailing the Leadership Development Centre of the Sport Alliance of Ontario.

4) Get other, more informal training Try to obtain and read as many books and articles as you can. Also, look for announcements of upcoming workshops and seminars and get to as many of them as possible. AO offers a rental service of DVDs on the technique and training of the various events. We also have some technical publications for sale.

5) Join Athletics Ontario By joining you'll be supporting the sport governing body, which relies more and more on self-generated income and can no longer depend on the government to provide the required funds to run all programmes. More importantly for you, however, is the fact that membership provides you with insurance against negligence and injury. As a member you'll also have access, at reduced rates to Athletics Magazine, the AO monthly Newsletter, Rundez-Vous, NCCP courses and other educational programmes and to grants for coaching education. Upon registering you'll automatically become a member of the Ontario Coaches' Council, whose elected executive acts on behalf of the coaches and has representation on the AO Technical Committee. Most clubs now automatically register all their coaches at the beginning of each new year.

6) Enjoy working with the athletes Coaching can be very demanding on your time and effort. Nevertheless and in spite of the fact that few coaches get paid for their services (aside, possibly, from a small honorarium and expenses) many stay in the sport longer than any of their athletes. The prime reward for these coaches is in seeing their athletes progress in many ways as a result of going through a well-planned programme of training and competition. You will find that coaching is indeed both an art and a science.