Coaching Certifications and Education

All new coaches should take these steps to begin your coach education:

1. Create an account with The Locker (Canada-wide coaching portal where you can access coach education opportunities and track your education). Click here to create an account. You'll also get an NCCP number, which is your Canada-wide coaching number.
2. Create an account in Gameplan (Canada Basketball portal where you can find Basketball-specific education opportunities). Click here to register. Click here to learn "How to register in Gameplan", and click here to learn "How to sign up for a workshop". 
3. Begin some coach education:
1. In your Locker account, under ELearning, take the Safesport course (all coaches are required to take this). 
2. In your Locker account, take "Initiation in Sport" ($15 - For Basketball Nova Scotia member coaches, email basketballtd@sportnovascotia.ca to access this for free). 
3. Navigate to CoachNS here and take the "Make Ethical Decisions" course, for FREE.

What is NCCP? 

NCCP stands for National Coaching Certification Program. It is a Nationally recognized program that offers standardized training and certifications for coaches across many sports. Basketball coaches can receive multiple levels of certification through the program.

Who should take NCCP courses?

All coaches. There are courses that apply to coaching athletes at all levels. There are four different NCCP coaching streams, based on the level of athletes you're coaching:

• Community Sport
• Competition Introduction
• Competition Development
• High Performance

Within each stream, there are courses and professional development opportunities. Here is the breakdown:

• Community Sport
  • FUNdamentals - This course is suitable for coaches and parents who have limited or basic basketball experience and who wish to coach children’s basketball. It is intended for coaches working with athletes ages 6-10. To find out more about the course, click here.
• Competition Introduction
  • Learn to Train - This course is suitable for coaches and parents working with players who have varying levels of playing experience. It is intended for coaches working with athletes ages 9-12, and is a pre-requisite for Train to Train. To find out more about the course, click here.
  • Train to Train - This course is suitable for coaches who work with competitive youth players and want to advance their coaching pathway. It is intended for coaches working with athletes age 13-15. Coaches must be Learn to Train Certified before they can proceed to Train to Train. To find out more about the course, click here.
• Competition Development
  • Train to Compete - This course is suitable for coaches working with athletes at the competitive level who may be working toward or are pursuing university, college, or national team opportunities. It is intended for coaches working with athletes age 16+. To find out more about the course, click here.
• High Performance
  • This training is meant for National Team Coaches

How do I register for a course?

1. Sign up for a Gameplan account. Gameplan is the Canada Basketball platform for all things coaching basketball. Click here, to create an account. Click here to learn how to create an account.

2. Click here for the steps to register for a course. 

3. Keep an eye out on Basketball Nova Scotia Social Media and check our website for upcoming coaching courses.

Can I request to run a course for my club?

Yes!

In Canada, coaching education, certification, and recognition happens through a network of partners

• The Government of Canada
• National Sport Organizations (NSOs) - Canada Basketball
• Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institutes
• Canadian Sport Centres and Institutes (CSCs/CSIs)

• Provincial and Territorial Governments
• Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives (PTCRs)
• Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs)
• Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs)
• Corporate Partners and sponsors

The Coaching Association of Canada works with all of these partners to deliver programs for coaches in Canada, including the National Coaching Certification Program.

Start your coaching journey

Register for an account with the Coaches Association of Canada (CAC) through The Locker and with Canada Basketball’s Game Plan. It’s free to register and it will assign you an NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) number. This number will help us track all the required courses for you to coach in Nova Scotia.

Click here to create or login to your FREE Coaching Association of Canada's account through The Locker. This online platform is built specifically for coaches. Engage in NCCP eLearning, register for events, access your NCCP coaching transcript, and more. Login Now	Click here to create or login to your FREE Canada Basketball Game Plan account. This online platform tracks your NCCP number, allows you to register for courses and collect professional development points. It is also connected to your CAC Locker account to track required multi-sport courses. Login Now

Introductory Coaching

Basketball Nova Scotia’s (BNS) Introductory Coaching Course is a FREE coaching course available to all Basketball Nova Scotia Member Clubs.

The course was created to help bridge the gap for coaches in their first years of coaching prior to completing their NCCP FUNdamentals or Learn to Train Certification. The course is offered by the Club and coordinated through the Club President or Club Technical Director.

BNS is also pleased to assist any Clubs who require assistance in offering the course. Please connect directly with Emma Duinker at basketballtd@sportnovascotia.ca for more detail.

The Introductory Coaching Course counts towards BNS’s minimum coach education as required by the Coach Screening Policy.

Included are links for resources to assist newer coaches in preparation for the course and upcoming basketball season.

• Emergency Action Plan (Every coach should have one of these at their practices)
• Detailed Practice Plan Example
• Practice Plan Template
• Safe Sport Training (this can be accessed through "The Locker") 

If interested in this course, reach out to your club president or club technical director.

Professional Development