Coaches

Coach Education

Wherever there is an athlete, there is a coach. While some coaches start out as athletes, most are parents, teachers, sport fans, and community members who want to be part of a sport they love and make a difference. Basketball can be a vehicle for positive development, as it prompts participants to learn, achieve and develop. 

When you coach, you encourage participants of all ages to challenge themselves, to be active, and to have fun. Coaching offers immeasurable benefits for both coaches and participants and is one of the most important ways individuals can impact values such as self-confidence, fairness, and teamwork. Coaches will develop exceptional planning skills, promote safety in sport, promote diversity and inclusion, help others build confidence and improve performance, create engaging activities, teach important physical skills, and model respectful behaviour. If you are looking to become more involved in your community, get into sport in a new way, and help youth remain active for life, coaching is for you!

As the National Sport Organization for Basketball in Canada, Canada Basketball is responsible for creating the coaching education pathway and developing the educational tools that coaches need in order to be successful on and off the court. Our mission is to achieve excellence in leading the growth and development of the game at home. In partnership with our Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations, we work to deliver the highest quality coaching courses and professional development events.

Coaching Pathway

The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) provides standardized, inclusive, and safe sport education to coaches and coach developers. Within each NCCP Coaching stream are NCCP Coaching contexts, which align coaching activities with specific types of participants and the stage of their respective development.

Canada Basketball’s coach education pathway is based on the Long Term Development Model. It is evidence based and aims to provide coaches with the necessary tools they need to coach athletes at each stage of development. 

On the coach education pathway, a coach can achieve different statuses based on the course work they have completed. These are:

  • In-Training Status: the coach has completed some of the course work, but has not finished the entire module(s) for their specific pathway

  • Trained Status: the coach has completed all of the course work, but has not completed their evaluation(s)

  • Certified Status: the coach has completed all of the associated course work on their pathway and has successfully demonstrated their competency through evaluation(s)

Join Game Plan today to unlock access to different coaching tools and resources!

+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.

  • This workshop focuses on:

    • The level of athlete you are coaching

    • Providing you with the basic skills and tools for planning an effective, safe, and fun practice

    • Showing you how to teach basic basketball skills in a fun and inclusive way

  • Who should take this workshop?

    • Those with basic basketball experience who are involved at the community level

    • Parents or guardians volunteering with their child’s basketball program

    • Coaches looking to build their knowledge on the games approach and build an understanding of this age group

    • Coaches who are working in the Jr NBA program

+Learn to Train (L2T)

  • This Learn to Train 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.

  • Through a mix of classroom/online and hands-on learning in the gym, this workshop focuses on:

    • Developing a strong understanding of Long-term Athlete Development (LTAD) and how it relates to your athletes

    • How to break down and teach fundamental basketball concepts (including: shooting, loading, dynamic warm-ups, 1-second advantage, spacing, footwork, and error detection/correction)

    • How to load a basketball skills and drills

    • Developing an effective practice plan

    • “Make Ethical Decisions” – a powerful six-step decision-making process for every coach and an NCCP requirement for all sports

  • Who should take this workshop?

    • Coaches working with competitive youth players

    • Coaches looking to enhance their knowledge and effectiveness coaching youth players

    • Coaches looking to build their knowledge on using the Games Approach to designing drills for effective learning

+Train to Train (T2T)

  • The Train to Train 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.

  • Through a mix of classroom/online and hands-on learning in the gym, this workshop focuses on:

    • Micro teaching to learn how to provide support to athletes in training

    • Designing activities that develop both technical skills and athletic abilities

    • Planning a practice that reflects seasonal training priorities

    • Identifying appropriate activities for each part of the practice

    • Analyzing performance including error detection and correction

    • Supporting the competitive experience

    • Advancing coaching in the progression of skills and concepts (conceptual offensive components, shooting, whole-part teaching, and incorporation of mental training)

    • Designing a basic sport program

  • Who should take this workshop?

    • Certified Learn to Train coaches looking to take the next step in their coaching career

    • Youth coaches who are looking to provide young athletes in the senior high school grades with the appropriate training to facilitate good basketball habits and skills

+Train to Compete (T2C)

  • The Train to Compete 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+.

  • This advanced coach training workshop will set you up for success and is delivered in three separate modules:

    • Teaching Basketball Skills module (15-17 hours), which covers:

      • Principals of biomechanics and movements related to basketball

      • Phases of teaching skills

      • Daily practice plans to obtain optimal development

      • Integrating advanced skills/concepts into your practices (shooting, conceptual offense, defensive loading, footwork, screening, advantages, dynamic 1-on-1, and more)

    • Strategies and Tactics module (15-17 hours), which covers:

      • Learning how to combine tactics, strategies, and technical components into your program (passing progressions, shooting, offensive and defensive concepts, penetration principals, special situations, FIBA concepts, and more)

    • Planning module (12-14 hours), which covers:

      • Important aspects of managing an overall sport program in accordance with the Long-term Athlete Development model (LTAD)

      • Acquiring the ability to monitor performance, develop recovery plans, calculate train-to-competition ratios, and adjust volume and intensity

      • Performance planning, scouting, and how to effectively manage your staff

Coaches are also required to take the following competition-development multi-sport workshops through their provincial/territorial coaching organization:

NCCP Coaching and Leading Effectively

  • Promote a positive image of sport, and model it to athletes and those supporting their performance;

  • Deliver clear messages and explanations when communicating with athletes and their supporters;

  • Identify opportunities to interact with all athletes and use feedback to improve and correct performance and behaviour.

NCCP Managing Conflict + Online Evaluation

  • Identify common sources of conflict in sport;

  • Determine which individuals or groups are most likely to find themselves in situations involving conflict;

  • Learn important skills that will help you prevent and solve conflict resulting from misinformation, miscommunication, or misunderstanding;

  • Develop skills that will empower you to listen and speak effectively in conflict situations while maintaining positive relationships with athletes, parents, officials, and other coaches

NCCP Leading Drug-free Sport

  • Fully understand and explain the consequences of using banned substances in sport;

  • Educate athletes about drug-testing protocols at major competitions;

  • Encourage athletes to safeguard their sport values and take greater responsibility for their personal actions;

  • Apply the NCCP Ethical Decision-making Model to your coaching as it relates to keeping your sport and athletes drug-free.

NCCP Developing Athletic Abilities

  • Identify the athletic abilities required in your athletes’ sport;

  • Evaluate athletes’ abilities and interpret data to prescribe training;

  • Understand training principles, methods and protocols;

  • Develop and prescribe training protocols specific to your athletes’ age and stage of development.

NCCP Prevention and Recovery

  • Identify common injuries in your sport and develop appropriate prevention and recovery strategies to keep your athletes injury-free during training and competition;

  • Offer valuable information and guidance on hydration, nutrition, and sleep as they relate to injury prevention;

  • Choose skills and drills that help athletes perform appropriate warm-ups and cool-downs;

  • Develop functional evaluations for an athlete’s return to play;

  • Implement recovery and regeneration techniques to help an athlete maintain or return to optimal performance post injury.

NCCP Psychology of Performance

  • Help athletes learn to manage distractions and use visualization techniques to prepare themselves technically and tactically for training and competition;

  • Learn how to work with athletes or teams to identify performance and process goals related to their ability to focus on performance;

  • Learn debriefing skills that can be used to help athletes assess their performance in both training and competition.

Coach Developer Pathway

NCCP Coach Developers are directly responsible for the development of coaches and need to be experts in learning as well as experts in coaching. For basketball, they include: 

  • Learning Facilitators (LFs): coach developers who deliver NCCP workshops and clinics

  • Coach Evaluators (CEs): coach developers who evaluate Portfolios, Practices and Competition for identified coaching competencies

  • Master Coach Developers (MCDs): coach developers who are responsible for training new LFs and CEs

NCCP Coach Developer candidates must complete training that is consistent across Canada. To be certified as an NCCP Coach Developer in any of the three roles above, you must:

  • Successfully complete the online evaluation NCCP Make Ethical Decisions

  • Demonstrate your competency by completing the four-step pathway below

The NCCP now has a simple and universal 4-step process for becoming a Coach Developer.For more details and steps on becoming a Coach Developer visit https://coach.ca/become-nccp-coach-developer

  • Core-training: Provides NCCP Coach Developers with the skills to perform their role.

  • Content-specific training: This includes relevant sport or multi-sport training, as well as micro-facilitation and/or micro-evaluation for an opportunity to practice delivery with peers.

  • Co-delivery: New NCCP Coach Developers can practice with real coaches alongside an experienced Coach Developer. NCCP Coach Developers are considered "trained" when they've completed the first three steps of the pathway.

  • Evaluation: Once NCCP Coach Developers are evaluated as having the abilities necessary for their role, they are considered "certified."

Coach Developer Characteristics

Learning Facilitator (LF)

  • Possess a passion for sport and coaching

  • An effective communicator

  • Ability to work in a collaborative environment

  • Ability to adapt content to meet the needs of all coaches to ensure learning outcomes are met

  • An understanding of his/her Provincial/Territorial sport community and the contribution of coaching and sport leadership education

Coach Evaluator (CE)

  • A passion for sport and coaching

  • Attention to detail and observation

  • Effective communicator

  • Knowledge of the outcomes, criteria and evidences as outlines in the NCCP evaluation tools

  • An understanding of the value of Certified coaches and the contribution of coaching and sport leadership education

Master Coach Developer (MCD)

  • A passion for sport and coaching

  • A strong communicator and charismatic leader

  • Ability to work in a collaborative environment

  • An understanding of the Canadian sport community and the contribution of coaching and sport leadership education

  • A proven track record of supporting and promoting the importance of National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified coaches and familiarity with competency-based coach education

  • Flexible work schedule

Professional Development

Maintenance of Certification

Do you want accreditation on things that you already do? The CAC and Canada Basketball recognize the value of having certified NCCP coaches that are engaged in Professional Development programs which reinforce the values of lifelong learning and sharing amongst the coaching community.

In order for NCCP coaches to maintain their certified status, they will be required to obtain Professional Development (PD) points.

There are many ways to accumulate points. Events that are organized by the CAC, Canada Basketball, P/TSO or P/TCR will allow coaches to accumulate PD points. Such events include: Coach Schools, Canada Basketball Conferences and Workshops, eLearning modules, NCCP workshops, coach mentorship programs, active coaching and many more!

In most cases coaches are already earning their required PD points -- Maintenance of Certification Status is simply the introduction of tracking these points and recognizing coaches for their efforts.

In General:

NCCP Training = 5 points

Non-NCCP Events = 1 point/ hour (up to 3 points)

Active Coaching = 1 point/ year

The PD Points System

Coaches will need to maintain their certification on 4-year cycles after becoming certified. Therefore, if the coach does not reach the required PD point threshold in the 4-year period, they will lose their certified status.

Required Points

Please refer to the below table for the number of points required for each context.

Context

Required Points

Learn to Train

16

Train to Train

20

Train to Compete

24

Multi-Sport Professional Development Modules

Below are various multi-sport modules that can be taken to gain PD points and maintain your certification. For more information and a course description, please click each title.  

CB PD Opportunities

Check back soon for coach education events!

Game Plan

Game Plan is Canada Basketball’s comprehensive coach education website used for any coach at every stage in their career, and is used to track your coaching pathway. With a variety of tools and resources, coaches can plan practices, create yearly training plans, and watch videos of past professional development events. Game Plan houses many of the upcoming coach education workshop registrations and is your one-stop-shop for all things coaching!

Join Game Plan today to unlock access to different coaching tools and resources!

Coaches will now be able to easily create and store practice plans! Each practice plan will be able to include:

  • Goals & Objectives

  • Reminders

  • Practice Teams

  • Drills - with Drill photos and descriptions

  • Team Season Planner

  • Athlete Performance Planner

  • NCCP Clinics

  • The Library will allow coaches to access TONS of great basketball drills, including drills from NCCP Toolboxes, National Team Drills, Famous Drills, etc.

  • Coaches will also have the option to add their very own drill (which can later be added into the coach’s practice plans).

  • Practice The Drill Builder allows coaches to put explanations/ descriptions of the drill, add multiple sketches of the drill, POE, etc. Coaches will then be able to search through the drill to meet their needs based on a variety of factors (Phase of drill, LTAD stage of drill, type of drill, etc.)

Canada Basketball is offering a Video Library providing coaches with a variety of different resources:

  • Drills & Skills: Coaches will be able to watch the National Teams go through a variety of drills

  • Coach Schools & Clinics: Couldn’t attend the coach school? No problem, we have the coach school session available online for coaches to watch and learn from

  • Games: find select National Team Games as well as those from Canada Basketball’s National Championships 

Canada Basketball’s diverse set of coaching resources is now available to anyone that is a member of the Game Plan.

Thoughts and insights from top basketball gurus: Mike MacKay, Renato Pasquali, Allison McNeill and much more!

Coaches are also able to register for a free Game Plan account in order to access the NCCP course registration. The free membership will only give coaches access to NCCP course registration, online NCCP materials (pre-tasks & portfolio), coach profile/transcript.

For a cost of only $49.95, domestic coaches will receive a 5-year membership to Canada Basketball’s own Coaching Education website with access to ALL of the coaching tools and resources.  For international coaches, the cost of registration is $124.95.

Looking to find an upcoming NCCP clinic that fits your schedule? Check out the Workshops tab to find NCCP Clinics and Professional Development events in your province. On Game Plan, you will be able to sign-up for the clinic, complete the pre-tasks online and submit your portfolio- all from one easy location!

FIBA Licence

Why get a FIBA Licence?

  • As a coach holding a FIBA license, you are a member of the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC). The overall objective of the FIBA Licence is to create a productive interaction between FIBA and the TOP coaches in all countries around the world that will in turn contribute to global basketball coach development. As a Canada Basketball Train to Compete certified coach, get your FIBA Licence as a top coach in the National Coaching Certification Program Competition Development stream.

Other benefits of the FIBA Licence?

  • Worldwide recognized licence that will be issued from Canada. The Canadian FIBA licence is recognized with Canada Basketball’s level of coach education by FIBA and all other countries

  • All coaches need their FIBA licence to work with national team programs or coach at FIBA competitions

  • As a member of the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC), you may become involved with:

    • The worldwide basketball coaches community

    • Contributing to different decision in multiple areas (e.g. Basketball Rules...), through future consultations (e.g. survey...)

    • Further information/tools from WABC/FIBA, which will help your development

  • Opportunities to connect with coaches in the community, to share your knowledge and to learn from others.

Who can get their FIBA Licence?

  • To be eligible for this certification a coach must be Train to Compete Certified or Level 3 Certified plus have completed and passed the Making Ethical Decisions (MED) evaluation.

  • Please note that while completing the MED course and online exam this will also automatically give a Level 3 Certified coach a Train to Compete certified status in the new NCCP context.

How do I get my FIBA Licence?

  • To apply for your FIBA license, please complete the application form here. Send your completed application form, along with your Headshot and Passport copy to demmons@basketball.ca

The Headshot

  • The headshot must be in the JPEG, GIF or BMP format that is no larger than 5 MB

  • If provided with a headshot that fits the requirements Canada Basketball can crop the headshot to fit the format requirements listed before uploading your application to FIBA

  • Headshot requirements listed by FIBA that will prompt errors

    • The headshot is cut

    • The headshot is not centered

    • The headshot is not in colour

    • The headshot is not zoomed in enough

    • The headshot is not in colour

The Passport

A digital copy of your passport will be required as part of the registration. The file must be no larger than 5 MB. The Passport Number may be blocked out however all of the other information must be visible. This information will be cross referenced with the registration form and entered into the database. Your passport will only be seen by Canada Basketball and FIBA as the information is uploaded into the database.

The passport is required because you cannot be a FIBA Coach and a player agent at the same time. This document helps prevent people from entering both systems. A passport is also necessary to verify your nationality and citizenship.

Your passport will only be needed for the initial registration so as you renew your passport you will not have to provide it to Canada Basketball or FIBA.

What is Game Plan?

Game Plan is Canada Basketball’s comprehensive coach education website used for any coach at every stage in their career, and it can be used to track your coaching pathway. It includes a variety of tools such as practice planners, video library, and drill bank. Register for Game Plan here.

What is an NCCP number and how can I get one?

A National Coaching Certification Program Number (NCCP#) is your coach education profile. All NCCP coach training and education you take is recorded through an online database called The Locker. Your training from every sport and at every context is recorded here. As well, professional development (PD) training can also be recorded here. In order to take an NCCP module you will need an NCCP#.

Follow these steps to get your NCCP#: 

  • Go to www.coach.ca

  • Click on the tab called The Locker

  • Click on “Don’t have an account? Create one now!”

  • Check the box “I agree”

  • Check the box “I want to create a Locker account for access to my transcript, eLearning opportunities, to sign up for coaching events, and more!” – Fill in your info – Click Register

  • Login to your email account and open the verification email that was sent to you

  • Click on the “click here” at the very end of the email

  • Create a password

  • Click submit

  • Click on the Icon “Profile”

  • In the left hand corner of your screen under your name is your NCCP#

Where can I find my NCCP number?

First go to coach.ca. On the right-hand side of the website, it will read "My Locker", hover over that tab, then press the Profile button. This will then bring you to the log-in screen. From here you can press the "lookup my NCCP#" button. You will then follow the steps on the screen to retrieve your NCCP#.

How does old NCCP transfer? NCCP transfer guide

The NCCP Transfer guide helps coaches who may have taken coach education in the old system (the Levels system) transfer their credentials into the new system. The chart below outlines how these credentials are currently recognized:

What Coach Has:

  • FUNdamentals In Training (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Took Steve Nash Youth Basketball Module

Requirements for Certification

  • There is currently no Certification at the FUNdamentals level. Coaches with this status should complete the FUNdamentals Workshop

What Coach Has:

  • Learn to Train "Trained" (Transfer)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1 Certified

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation

What Coach Has:

  • Learn to Train In Training (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1 Technical

  • Level 1 Technical and Level 1 Theory

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation

  • Learn to Train Portfolio & Practice Evaluations

What Coach Has:

  • Train to Train Trained (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1 Certified AND Level 2 Certified

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation

What Coach Has:

  • Train to Train In Training (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1 Certified and Level 2 Technical + Level 2 Theory

  • Level 1 Certified and Level 2 Technical

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation 

    • Train to Train Portfolio & Practice Evaluations 

    • Train to Train workshop, Train to Train Portfolio & Practive Evaluations

What Coach Has:

  • Train to Compete Trained (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1 Certified AND Level 2 Certified AND Level 3 Certified

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation

  • Managing Conflict Online Evaluation

  • Leading Drug Free Sport

What Coach Has:

  • Train to Compete In Training (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Level 1+2 Certified and Level 3 Technical

  • Level 1+2 Certified and Level 3 Theory and Technical

Requirements for Certification

  • MED Online Evaluation

  • Managing Conflict Evaluation

  • Leading Drug Free Sport

    • Competition development multisport courses, Train to Compete Portfolio, Practice and Game Evaluation

    • Train to Compete Portfolio, Practice and Game Evaluation

What Coach Has:

  • FUNdamentals In Training (Transferred)

  • Learn to Train Trained (Transferred)

Possible Situtation:

  • Took Steve Nash Youth Basketball Module

  • Level 1 Certified

Requirements for Certification

  • There is currently no Certification at the FUNdamentals level. Coaches with this status should complete the FUNdamentals Workshop

  • MED Online Evaluation

How can I see how many PD points I have?

Coaches can check the number of PD Points they’ve earned at thelocker.coach.ca. Once on this website, you can follow these steps to confirm your number.

  • Sign in with your login credentials

  • Click your name at the top right corner

  • Click the “Certification” tab near the top of the screen

  • Click the “Maintenance” tab on the left side

  • This page will show:

    • Your certification(s)

    • How many points you have

    • How many points you need to maintain your certification

    • The date the renewal cycle concludes

Below is a list of ways to acquire PD points:

  • NCCP Clinics

  • Multi-Sport Modules with Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representative

  • Active Coaching

  • Self-Reporting

The number of PD Points obtained can vary depending on the training. In general:

  • NCCP Training = 5 points

  • Non-NCCP Events = 1 point/hour (up to 3 points)

  • Active coaching = 1 point/year

*Maintenance of Certification functions on a 4 year cycle. 

When are the next NCCP Clinics being held in my area?

Check out the Workshops tab on Game Plan. If you do not see any clinics available in your province/territory, take a look at the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization’s website for more information.

How do I get my FIBA License

To apply for your FIBA license, please complete the application form here. Send your completed application form, along with your Headshot and Passport copy to demmons@basketball.ca

Are there special considerations made for long-time coaches, international coaches or athletes transitioning to coaching?

Canada Basketball does not offer an equivalency system. Instead, we provide a Recognition of Knowledge process in which former athletes, long time coaches, or those with a physical education background can apply to proceed straight to evaluation for competency at the level at which they wish to coach. To inquire if you are eligible for this process, please contact demmons@basketball.ca

What course should I take if I want to coach high school, elementary school, etc.?

Based on our LTAD model we have broken the NCCP Clinics down into four different streams: community sport, competition introduction, competition development and high performance.

Each of these streams focuses on different levels of competition in the sport.

Each clinic is targeted for specific age ranges:

  • Active Start 0-6 year olds

  • FUNdamentals F 6-8, M6-9

  • Learn to Train F 8-11, M 9-12

  • Train to Tain F 11-15, M12-16

  • Train to Compete, F 15-18+, M16-18+

  • Learn to Win F 18-23+, M18-25+

  • Train to Win F 23+, M25+.

*Please note that these provided age targets are just guidelines, and coaches can take further certification than is recommended.

Who can I contact for Game Plan bugs?

Please contact coaching@basketball.ca! Let us know if there is anything we can do improve your experience on game plan.