Australian Coaching Certification

[OrangeOne]

I've been looking into certification of coaches in Aus, and I have to say it sounds much more rigorous than what it was in the past, and also more rigorous than what I've heard from some other countries.

There are some private bodies that offer certification and insurance for less $$ and effort than the below, but they are not part of the national scheme, and they don't have formal recognition through to Tennis Australia, ITF, international, etc etc.

The recognised programs are all run by the State Tennis Bodies under Tennis Australia (www.tennis.com.au), and they require potential "junior development coaches" (the first level of three certifications offered) to:
- Complete a course (5 weekends of instruction on & off court, 3 one-hour on-court coaching assessments over three weekend thereafter)
- Have a supervising coach that the coach finds
- Coach under observation for 40 hours
- Take part in a fairly rigorous ongoing professional cert. program
- Recommended minimum NTPR is 3.5 (converted from ITN)
- Pay the course cost - just over $1k US, which is substantial at least

It should be noted, too, that the above is all just for the basic first level course, for coaching juniors / beginners. The Level 2 course (called "club professional"), is about 60% larger than the above in all capacities (time, cost, recommended NTPR of 5.0 etc etc). I have no idea about the Level 3 course, but it's the 'high performance' course and designed for coaching pros and those heading toward pros, and isn't relevant at all to joe average.

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. It seems fairly rigorous and fairly comprehensive, it certainly is a big big improvement on years gone by.

 

[tennus]

I've been looking into certification of coaches in Aus, and I have to say it sounds much more rigorous than what it was in the past, and also more rigorous than what I've heard from some other countries.

There are some private bodies that offer certification and insurance for less $$ and effort than the below, but they are not part of the national scheme, and they don't have formal recognition through to Tennis Australia, ITF, international, etc etc.

The recognised programs are all run by the State Tennis Bodies under Tennis Australia (www.tennis.com.au), and they require potential "junior development coaches" (the first level of three certifications offered) to:
- Complete a course (5 weekends of instruction on & off court, 3 one-hour on-court coaching assessments over three weekend thereafter)
- Have a supervising coach that the coach finds
- Coach under observation for 40 hours - Take part in a fairly rigorous ongoing professional cert. program
- Recommended minimum NTPR is 3.5 (converted from ITN)
- Pay the course cost - just over $1k US, which is substantial at least

It should be noted, too, that the above is all just for the basic first level course, for coaching juniors / beginners. The Level 2 course (called "club professional"), is about 60% larger than the above in all capacities (time, cost, recommended NTPR of 5.0 etc etc). I have no idea about the Level 3 course, but it's the 'high performance' course and designed for coaching pros and those heading toward pros, and isn't relevant at all to joe average.

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. It seems fairly rigorous and fairly comprehensive, it certainly is a big big improvement on years gone by.

Yes, a big improvement on the past however, the highlighted content is the worry in my opinion. Far too many coaches are brought into the system simply to handle beginners. Unfortunately they lack the skills necessary to develop kids yet they always seem to end up running advanced squads.

 

[OrangeOne]

Yes, a big improvement on the past however, the highlighted content is the worry in my opinion. Far too many coaches are brought into the system simply to handle beginners. Unfortunately they lack the skills necessary to develop kids yet they always seem to end up running advanced squads.

I'm not quite sure what you mean tennus - specifically linking what you've said to the bits in bold, unless you're referring to the fact you think the coaches-in-training will end up running advanced-squads during their training period?

I don't see it happening.
a. Most decent coaches wouldn't hand over their blue-ribbon squads to anyone. I would expect most 'trainees' to end up feeding to beginner juniors, running games, teaching strokes, doing drills, etc.
b. The 40 hours doesn't have to be with the 'supervising coach' (it can be), and students are encouraged to spend time with 2 (or more) coaches.

Anyways - the first level qualification is explicitly focussed on beginners. The second level (club pro) is focussed more on advanced students, and is, as I alluded, much more rigorous and demanding again. Hopefully those who end up with advanced squads feel the need to learn more and certify higher, as well, of course, as study and learn as much as they can outside the courses too....

 

[tennus]

I'm not quite sure what you mean tennus - specifically linking what you've said to the bits in bold, unless you're referring to the fact you think the coaches-in-training will end up running advanced-squads during their training period?

I don't see it happening.
a. Most decent coaches wouldn't hand over their blue-ribbon squads to anyone. I would expect most 'trainees' to end up feeding to beginner juniors, running games, teaching strokes, doing drills, etc.
b. The 40 hours doesn't have to be with the 'supervising coach' (it can be), and students are encouraged to spend time with 2 (or more) coaches.

Anyways - the first level qualification is explicitly focussed on beginners. The second level (club pro) is focussed more on advanced students, and is, as I alluded, much more rigorous and demanding again. Hopefully those who end up with advanced squads feel the need to learn more and certify higher, as well, of course, as study and learn as much as they can outside the courses too....

Orange, I agree exactly with what you are saying, that is how it should logically work but..........the fact is in Australia there are coaches here who haven't updated their own credentials since Moses was a boy. Unfortunately some of these guys further employ kids who I would not employ as a paper boy let alone let them near promising juniors. With these guys it's all about subcontracting services. By that I mean increasing the numbers on courts, regardless of quality or level. Yes, I realise this is unfair comment for the many good coaches out there but I have seen too many of these cowboys to think it's isolated to my area.

 

[OrangeOne]

Orange, I agree exactly with what you are saying, that is how it should logically work but..........the fact is in Australia there are coaches here who haven't updated their own credentials since Moses was a boy. Unfortunately some of these guys further employ kids who I would not employ as a paper boy let alone let them near promising juniors. With these guys it's all about subcontracting services. By that I mean increasing the numbers on courts, regardless of quality or level. Yes, I realise this is unfair comment for the many good coaches out there but I have seen too many of these cowboys to think it's isolated to my area.

Nah - I know what you're saying there - the whole subcontracting to any teen that can hold a racquet and needs a few bucks goes on where I am in Aus too. Also like you I see many older coaches who couldn't spell "continuing education", and I really wish I didn't actually mean that literally as well as metaphorically.

If nothing else (putting the positive cap on here), hopefully the rigorous new system is a step forward. I'm certified in / have done the course for 3 non-tennis 'level 1 qualifications' as it stands, and I can honestly say that the tennis level 1 is now the equal hardest to acquire of those other 3 (and well in front of the 2 that trail behind). That at least says that TA are getting serious, and sure, it'll take some years for any potential flow-on effects to show through, but at least they're off to the right (or at least a better) start. It truly does seem if someone says they're a TA accredited coach in 2007 they've at least had to earn it.

 

[nickybol]

I remember when I first started my coach education, I had to do 500 hours of supervised teaching and coaching within a year, and follow classes one full day a week during that same year before getting my certification and being allowed to teach beginners. To acquire a certification to teach competitive players, this cycle started all over again...although a bit less supervised teaching hours.