Required Coaching Certification FAQ

Why is certification important?

We believe that youth sport coaches are not as highly regarded as school teachers or even coaches that work with more elite athletes. And yet the impact of a child’s coach can be just as powerful and long lasting as that of a school teacher or an elite coach. Our kids deserve qualified coaches.

We want our membership and others to see that our programming is driven by a set of standards that are aligned to our Club’s mission, vision and values.

Finally, we believe that the set of tools certification provides coaches can help create a more positive experience for kids which can help keep them playing soccer for longer.

What are the standards?

Grassroots and youth soccer coaches in Eliot River, as well as across Canada, currently strive to get:

1. Respect in Sport Activity Leader training
2. National Coaching Certification Program Making Ethical Decisions training
3. National Coaching Certification Program Making Headway in Soccer
4. National Coaching Certification Program Emergency Action Plan
5. Canada Soccer soccer-specific coach training

Why raise the standards?

Our Club has three values running through all of our programming:

1. Safety - both physical and emotional
2. Fun
3. Challenge/Growth/Learning

Coaches are being asked to acquire three separate certifications. Each of our club’s values are enhanced through the required certifications. Those certifications include:

Respect in Sport training provides head and assistant coaches, managers and helpers with the tools they need to create an environment free from abuse, bullying, discrimination and harassment. This training enhances our Club’s values of safety and fun.

Making Ethical Decisions training helps head and assistant coaches identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations that present themselves in the world of team and individual sport. This training enhances our Club’s values of safety and fun.

Making Headway in Soccer provides head and assistant coaches with information on how to recognize and deal with concussions as well as understanding return to play protocol for those who have suffered a concussion. This training enhances our Club's value of safety.

Emergency Action Plan training prepares head and assistant coaches to effectively handle situations where a serious injury may arise. This training enhances our Club's value of safety.

Soccer-specific training prepares head and assistant coaches to teach the basic technical and tactical components appropriate for the age and stage of the players they work with. This training primarily enhances our Club’s value of challenge/growth/learning but also safety and fun.