Coach Training and Certification
Partners
The Ontario Fencing Association is mandated to offer training and certification for coaches in Ontario. This training and certification is subsidized by the Ministry of Health Promotion and the Coaches Association of Ontario, our key partners in coach development.
The NCCP sport specific programs are developed at the national level by the Canadian Fencing Federation and the Coaches Association of Canada.
The Fencing Coaches of Canada (FCC), a division of the CFF, is responsible for guiding the development of the NCCP program with regard to standards, content, evaluation methods and training curricula for learning facilitators and evaluators. The FCC also oversees the process of granting equivalency for coaches trained outside Canada.
Types of Coach Training Experiences Offered in Ontario
Skills Workshops
These workshops are usually one day or weekend long sessions designed to upgrade the skills of coach trainees or candidates. These can be offered by the Ontario Fencing Association or by a club coach in a club setting and can vary in size of participation and cost. They can also be offered by mentors in our Coach Mentor program as part of a mentorship program.
Aide Moniteur Workshops (NCCP)
This is the first phase of the Aide Moniteur training and certification process. In order to initiate this process a prospective candidate must be at the Blue Armband or equivalent skill level. Those not at this level will be asked to attend further skills workshops or work with a mentor coach until this level is achieved
The training at this workshop includes Making Ethical Decisions, Performance Analysis, Practice Planning, and Training Support. Sessions are usually weekend long (Friday night, Sat. and Sunday) and are led by an OFA certified Learning Facilitator.
Mentor Program
Once the initial workshop is complete, trainees are assigned tasks to be completed in order to undergo an evaluation for certification. Candidates may be assigned to a Mentor Coach who has been trained and certified by the OFA or they may already have been working with a mentor coach from their own club. The mentor coach will work with the candidate to complete the tasks in the workbook and to upgrade skills or provide other training of benefit to the trainee. The amount of time a trainee works with the mentor coach will vary depending on the amount of training that is required.
Evaluation Sessions
Once the workbook is complete and with the Mentor Coaches recommendation, a trainee can ask for an Evaluation Session. This is done either individually or in a Workshop with other candidates, depending on the number of coaches who are ready.
Community Instructor Certificate Workshops (CIC)
These sessions, usually only one day long, are designed to give basic NCCP training to those individuals who would like to teach introductory fencing to community members. These sessions introduce trainees to the various skills and resources useful in running beginner classes. Making Ethical Decisions is part of this and every level of coach training. Trainees also learn about safety, emergency action, designing age appropriate programs.
Learning Facilitator and Evaluator Training
These workshops are offered once or twice a year. Coaches already certified in a context are able to train and certify as Learning Facilitators or Evaluators. LFs and Evaluators are usually invited into the program and are already demonstrating a high level of competency in their context .
Mentor Training
Regular workshops are offered for the purpose of training mentor coaches. On site training of mentor coaches is also available.
See Workshop Schedule for specific events.
