Coaching Qualifications
Coaching roles defined:
As a coach, you bring enthusiasm, commitment and a positive attitude to each practice, event and competition. In return, you learn new skills, meet new people and gain unique experiences. Coaches offer more than sports instruction: they are teachers, role models, and mentors.
Head Coach
The head coach is ultimately responsible for all actions within his/her sports program. She/he determines and develops the yearly goals, seasonal plans and budgets along with the assistant coaches; regularly communicates with assistant coaches, program volunteers, athletes, and parents; serves as the spokesperson for the athletes/team; facilitates practices; ensures attendance, training and safety of athletes at practices; ensures all athletes are prepared for competition; and delegates to assistant coaches/program volunteers. Arranges for executive approved transportation and accommodation for tournaments if necessary. Must be 19 years of age or older and are required to be properly certified.
Assistant Coach
The assistant coach helps head coach with all duties; assists with training and supervision of athletes at practices and competitions; and regularly communicates with head coach. Must be 16 years of age or older and must complete proper training (trained) within first year.
First Aid
There should be at least one person who has basic First Aid in the wrestling facility at any time where athletes are participating in a practice or competition. Concussion Awareness Training Tool is recommended for first aiders. It does not need to be a coach. COWA does however, encourage all coaches to be current in First Aid Certification.
Criminal Records Check
Volunteers or employees of COWA, who at any time could be expected to:
- be with any minor aged person;
- be entrusted with performing financial duties;
- be responsible for bookkeeping or bank account(s);
must have on file the results of a Criminal Record Check completed from an agency approved by the Association. It is the responsibility of the club/team to ensure that all volunteers that are associated within their program, have completed a criminal records check.
Coaches are mandated to provide criminal record check as follow:
- Vulnerable Sector Check (every three years) no earlier than September 01, of the current membership season.
- E-PIC (every three years) no earlier than September 01, of the current membership season.
Coaching Requirements
- To Register with BCWA as a coach must be:
- Minimum NCCP “in training” status
A qualified coach is described as:
- In Training –when a coach has completed some of the required training for a context;
- Trained –when a coach has completed all required training for a context (Community Coach or
- Part A & B, and ethical decision making) - NOTE: Community Sport Initiation only has ‘Trained
- Status’
- Certified –when a coach has completed all evaluation requirements for a context, and the ethical decision-making exercise.
There must be a minimum trained wrestling coach in the gym for all practices (including warm-up activities) for any athletes insurance to be valid. Clubs must advise athletes or post this advisory in the wrestling room to ensure unsupervised practices do not take place. Coaches who are not certified may register as a Coach in Training (CIT) and act as an assistant to a fully certified coach.
Recommended Coach to athlete ratios:
Recommendations: 6-12 to 1 coach (5 to 15 years old) Recreation and Competitive. The more advanced the skill level of athlete, the higher the ratio can be.
Additional Recommendations on Coach Certification
Concussion Awareness Training Tool is recommended for coaches in additional to the minimum requirements for coaches that are outlined above. BCWA recognizes that many coaches receive training by mentoring through senior coaches. There may be situations where a coach is performing duties beyond the level of his/her NCCP. You are encouraged to ensure the coach has adequate training for the tasks they are performing. Failure to do so may lead to liability situations.
Practice
A scheduled wrestling activity that has been publicized to its members, and takes place in a safe environment, that is conducted with a qualified instructor present at all times.