Coach Development
First Tee helps kids discover what’s inside of them, guide them to strengthen it and mentor them to put it into action in everything they do.
To do this, First Tee needs enthusiastic and caring individuals to serve as positive mentors and role models to kids and teens of various backgrounds. Coaches’ ability to develop impactful relationships with our participants is the backbone of our program.
You don’t have to be a golf pro (or even a good golfer), First Tee will provide the training you need! The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered.
If you have a passion for impact and want to become a coach, reach out to the chapter near you!
For more information contact Golf Nova Scotia Technical Director, Sara Wilson.
Looking at getting more involved in junior golf at your facility? Want to help your PGA of Canada professional with his or her Junior Golf Programming?
This 2-day workshop is designed for the Community Golf Coach who is, or would like to, work with children or youth and is introducing the basic skills of golf. The goal is to help prepare YOU to be competent in the skills required by a community coach.
For more information contact Golf Nova Scotia Technical Director, Sara Wilson.
What is our objective in coaching?
Every participant in Nova Scotia has a quality coach.
aims to:
- Understand the needs of coaches at the community to high performance level.
- Improve support and services to coaches at all levels.
- Provide options for continued learning and engagement beyond certification.
- Recognize and celebrate coaches.
- Share best practices between PSOs.
The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a call to action for sport organizations, parents, and coaches to enact responsible coaching across Canada – on and off the field.
The RCM is a multi-phase movement that affects all sport organizations and coaches across Canada. It stems from extensive and ongoing consultation with the sport community in Canada that showed us some of the systemic issues in sport, the role various parties play, and strategies for addressing these issues.
The Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport support the Canadian sporting community in improving practices that ensure the health, safety and well-being of all participants.
Additional Training & Resources
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Rule of Two
The goal of the Rule of Two is to ensure all interactions and communications are open, observable, and justifiable. Its purpose is to protect participants (especially minors) and coaches in potentially vulnerable situations by ensuring more than one adult is present. There may be exceptions in emergency situations.
Good practices to implement the Rule of Two
- Ensure a coach is never alone and out of sight with a participant without another screened coach or screened adult (parent or volunteer) present.
- Allow the training environment to be open to observation.
- Ensure a participant rides in a coach’s vehicle with another adult present.
- Consider the gender of the participant(s) when selecting the screened coaches and volunteers present.
- Eliminate one-to-one electronic messaging. Ensure that all communications are sent to the group and/or include parents.
Applying the Rule of Two in a Virtual Setting
- The Rule of Two should continue to apply to all minor athletes in the virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic (additionally, for those athletes under age 16, a parent or guardian should be present during the session where possible)
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Background Screening
Background screening ensures that coaches meet the important requirements to coach athletes. Screening tools include comprehensive job postings, criminal record checks, interviews, and reference checks. Coaches can complete their criminal record check screening with their local police department or by visiting Sterling Talent Solutions.
Note: If you opt to do your criminal record check screening with Sterling Talent Solutions, you will have to take your Vulnerable Sector Screening through your local police department.
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Ethics Training
Ethics training prepares coaches to effectively handle situations that arise from ethical dilemmas or even legal challenges that concern individuals, teams, and their sports organizations.
Ethics training includes the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions (MED) module within the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), as well as training in abuse and harassment prevention, such as Respect in Sport, which coaches can take before and during their coaching career.
Successfully completing the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions (MED) training equips coaches to handle ethical situations with confidence and surety. NCCP Make Ethical Decisions training helps coaches identify the legal, ethical, and moral implications of difficult situations that present themselves in the world of team and individual sport.
Respect in Sport training empowers coaches and parents to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).
There are two ways to complete ethics training:
- In-class workshop (virtual for COVID): To participate in an in-class NCCP Make Ethical Decisions module, please contact your local Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representative.
- Home study: Some provinces and territories offer the NCCP Make Ethical Decisions module through home study. Please contact your local Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representative for more information.
Respect in Sport, and Commit to Kids training is also delivered through interactive, online home-study.
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Safe Sport