Coaches

Coach Membership Benefits, Policies & Obligations

BC Athletics Coach Membership

BC Athletics, along with athletes and parents, recognizes and appreciates the dedication of coaches. Coaches are integral to athlete development and hold key leadership roles within clubs, schools, universities/colleges, communities, regions, and the province as coach members of BC Athletics.

Benefits of a Coach Membership with BC Athletics

  • To assist Coaches, BC Athletics endeavors to provide the programs and services to assist them in their coaching career through:
    • BC Athletics and Athletics Canada Coach Membership
    • Coach education and training courses;
    • Professional development clinics and seminars;
    • Mentorship, conferences and workshops;
    • Access to grants and bursaries;
    • Technical assistance and resources;
    • BC Team Coach opportunities;
    • Accreditation at National Championships;
    • Discounts on BC Athletics programs and services;
    • Coach Liability Insurance – coverage limit $5 million – See below for Coach Liability Insurance Coverage – limitations
    • Accident and Sport Injury Insurance;
    • Retail partner discounts; and
    • Coach recognition programs.

BC Athletics Policies, Programs and Acknowledgements

  • BC Athletics (inclusive of Athletics Canada and Canadian Sport) Policies, Programs and Acknowledgements, as developed and approved by the Membership, are designed to ensure a safe, inclusive and positive environment for Coaches and the Athletes they coach. These policies and acknowledgements  include but are not limited to:
    • Coach Membership Policy:
      • Individuals coaching in a BC Athletics Member Club, School or University/College must have a BC Athletics Coach Membership. Link: http://www.bcathletics.org/Coaches/Membership
      • Individuals who are not members of a BC Athletics member club, school, university/college can also be a Coach member of BC Athletics. They are referred to as Unattached (Coach) Members. Membership Link: http://www.bcathletics.org/Coaches/Membership
        • Note: Unattached Coach Members of BC Athletics must provide the following:
          • Where they are coaching – City/Town; Venue (i.e. facility, park)
          • When they are coaching – Time of Day, Days of the  Week, Months of the Year
          • What events they are coaching – i.e. distance/middle running, jumps, throws, sprints/hurdles, walks, throws, combined events
          • Who they are coaching:
            • Provide a list of the individuals and their Year of Birth being coached; and
            • The approval of the Parent/Guardian if the individual is under the age of consent. The age of consent in British Columbia is 19.
    • NCCP Number:
  • Criminal Records Check: (see BC Athletics Risk Management Policy and Criminal Records Check Requirements
    • A Criminal Records Check is required for all Coach Members.
    • It is valid for four years and must be renewed prior the end of the 4th year.
    • A valid Criminal Records Check must be on file with:
      • The Coaches’ Club, School, University/College – see your club, school or university/college for that information and process; or
      • For Unattached Coaches – it must be on file with BC Athletics.
      • Complete the following request form: Criminal Records Check Request – Unattached Members
  • Coaching Education – Minimum Standards for BC Athletics Coach Membership:
    • BC Athletics Coach Members are required to be: In-Training (in the first 2 yrs of coaching if new to coaching), Trained or Certified in Athletics through the Athletics Canada NCCP Coaching Certification Program delivered through BC Athletics or other Athletics Cd Branches.
      • Experienced Coaches (more than 2 yrs of Coaching) – must be Trained or Certified
      • New to Coaching:
        • Register as a Coach Member of BC Athletics and get a NCCP Number
        • Criminal Records Check – is required to register as a Coach Member of BC Athletics. See:
      • Coach Training:
        • 1st Year – by the end of your 1st year of Coaching you need to be In-training (enrolled in an NCCP Athletics Coaching course; or a Run Jump Throw Wheel Course; or the Making Ethical Decisions [MED] Course)
          • Note: The Coach Training you take and/or aspire to should reflect the development level of the athletes you are coaching.
        • 2nd Year – by the end of your 2nd year of Coaching you need to be Trained (having completed a Run Jump Throw Wheel course; or Athletics Sport, Club or the Road Running Instructor/Coach course; AND completed the Making Ethical Decisions (MED) Course.
  • Coach Certification: see Certification Explained
    • Certification is required for the following Regional, Provincial, and National Team Coaching Staff positions:
      • Regional Coaches (BC Games) – Head Coach Club Coach Certified – Assistant Coaches Sport Coach Trained or Certified – includes making Ethical Decisions
      • NAIG Teams (North American Indigenous Games) – minimum Sport Coach Certified
      • BC Athletics Teams - Head Coach – Certified Performance Coach, all other coaches – minimum Club Coach Certified
      • Canada Summer Games - Head Coach – Certified Performance Coach, all other coaches – minimum Performance Coach Trained or Certified
      • Athletics Canada Team – minimum Performance Coach Certified
  • Coach Liability Insurance Coverage – limitations
    • Applies to and is Limited to the coaching of only BC Athletics members;
    • Does not apply to activities related to day to day business operations outside of coaching BC Athletics members.
      • See membership link for the BC Athletics membership types of Competitive; Limited Competitive; Day of Event.

Obligations as a Coach Member of BC Athletics

  • An Athletics Coach/Run Leader/Instructor is critical to the long term development of an athlete. The impact on an athlete (competitive, recreational or beginner) is well known – Great Coaches Build Great Athletes. BC Athletics is committed to ensuring that every athlete has a fun, safe and positive environment in which to train and compete. Through Coaching Education and associated Policies, Programs and Acknowledgements BC Athletics works to ensure that exists both on and off the training and competitive fields of play.
  • As a Coach Member of BC Athletics you are obligated to:
    • Be a Coach member in good standing with BC Athletics;
    • Be a NCCP Trained or Certified Athletics Coach;
    • Continue to learn and share your expertise with other coaches;
    • Respect and abide by the BC Athletics, Athletics Canada and Canadian Sport Policies, Programs and Acknowledgements as identified and those added or amended from time to time;
    • Be a positive role model to all athletes, parents, coaches and others you associate with; and
    • Ensure a Safe, Fun and Positive environment for the athletes you coach and others you associate with.

Thank you very much for your commitment to Coaching.

Sincerely,

BC Athletics Board of Directors, Membership and Staff.