Become a Coach
In the Canadian sport system, there is an officially recognized process for becoming a coach known as the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).
The NCCP gives coaches the knowledge, skills, and training they need to succeed. Designed for all types of coaches, the NCCP offers flexible pathways that lead to your preferred cycling coaching destination.
Watch a Video on the NCCP
Getting Started as a Cycling Coach
Whether you’re looking to work with cyclists at the community level, with a cycling club, Gran Fondo riders, or competitive athletes, there’s a coaching pathway for you. To begin your journey as a cycling coach, select the coaching role that best matches your coaching needs and follow the pathway for that role.
Coaching Roles and Pathways
Once you have chosen a coaching role and identified the pathway for that role, it’s time to get started by enrolling in an NCCP coaching course.
View Full-Size Pathway Image (Effective January 1st, 2021)
Continue reading the sections below to learn more about the different NCCP coaching streams, coach status, and courses.
NCCP Coaching Streams
The NCCP offers different coaching streams (contexts) based on the types of cyclists a coach wants to work with. Depending on their stage of progression, coaches in these streams may be referred to as,
In-Training – when they have completed some of the required training in the stream/context
Trained – when they have completed all required training in the stream/context
Certified – when they have completed all evaluation requirements in the stream/context
Community Coach
The Community context focuses on coaches who are working with participants outside of an organized club program – say, children under the age of 11 or adults taking up recreational cycling.
The role of a Community coach is to ensure a fun and safe environment and to teach the development of some of the skills and abilities for participants in the “Active Start” or “FUNdamentals” stage Long-Term Athlete Development.
Required Modules:
- Community Initiation*
- Basic Cycling Skills* = TRAINED
Proposed Pathway Update – Effective January 1st, 2021:
- Cycling Foundations
- Making Ethical Decision & Quiz
- Emergency Action Plan
- Practice Planning*
- Basic Cycling Skills* = TRAINED
*Available through Cycling BC
Jump to Registration
Competition-Introduction
Coaches working with Cycling BC youth club participants or adult riders participating in Gran Fondo events should pursue Competition-Introduction CERTIFIED status.
This pathway is also designed for competition coaches of masters racers, or trade-team managers responsible for leading a competitive program at sanctioned events.
Required Modules:
- Training Basics
- Basic Skills
- Skills & Tactics 1* (Choose a discipline: Mtn. Bike, Road, Track, or BMX)
- Skills & Tactics 2* (Choose a discipline: Mtn. Bike, Road, Track, or BMX)
- Training to Race* = TRAINED
- Making Ethical Decisions
- Portfolio Evaluation & Quiz = CERTIFIED
Proposed Pathway Update – Effective January 1st, 2021:
- Cycling Foundations
- Making Ethical Decisions & Quiz
- Emergency Action Plan
- Basic Cycling Skills*
- Skills & Tactics Theory* (Training Basics *modified is available until Dec 31)
- Skills & Tactics Practical* (Choose 1 discipline: Mtn. Bike, Road, Track, or BMX)
- Nutrition
- Training to Race* = TRAINED
- Portfolio Evaluation & Quiz = CERTIFIED
*Available through Cycling BC
Jump to Registration
Competition-Development
Coaches working with athletes competing at the provincial and national levels can pursue Competition-Development CERTIFIED status.
Required Modules:
- Performance Cycling Workshop*
- Multi-Sport Modules (Find next offering OR try home study)
- Coaching & Leading Effectively
- Developing Athletic Abilities
- Prevention and Recovery
- Leading Drug-Free Sport + Quiz
- Psychology of Performance
- Managing Performance = TRAINED
- Coach Portfolio*
- Formal Observation (Training Event)*
- Formal Observation (Competition Event)*
- Make Ethical Decisions + Quiz
- Online Modules:
- Plan a Project*
- Manage a Program* = CERTIFIED
*Available through Cycling Canada. Email Cycling Canada to learn more.
Competition High-Performance
Coaches working with high-performance athletes competing at national and international levels should pursue the NCCP Advanced Coaching Diploma (ACD).
ACD coaches are typically full-time or seasonal coaches who predominantly work with Training to Compete and Training to Win athletes.
Learn more at CSI Pacific.
Watch Our Coach Development Overview Video
Questions?
For more information or if you have any questions about the NCCP coaching pathway, please check out our coaching FAQ page or contact us at any time.