NCAS Review & Deregistration Policy

NCAS Review Update

Over the past 12 months the ACC has reviewed and revised the structure and operations of the NCAS. This is in response to the requests from NSOs for greater flexibility in the administration of the NCAS. Also included in the NCAS review is the issue of signing onto a Code of Ethics by coaches as part of gaining their NCAS accreditation.

The new NCAS administrative structure offers NSOs three different levels of price and servicing. Sports can elect to:

• stay with the existing system (Model 1) at $15 per coach,
• move to a system whereby the sport undertakes the data entry onto the NCAS database (Model 2) at $12 per coach, or
• move to a system where the NSO takes responsibility for data entry and servicing of coaches (Model 3) at $8 per coach.

The ACC will be promoting the NCAS registration fee as $15 in all promotional materials.

To date, 62 sports have selected Model 1, 16 sports have selected Model 2 and 6 sports have selected Model 3. A system for electronic uploading of information between NSOs and the NCAS database has been developed, and is currently undergoing Final testing in conjunction with NSOs.

With these changes to the administration of the NCAS, the ACC was advised that to protect the interests of both parties, and as part of a risk management strategy, an agreement should be struck. This was to formalise operations that for the last 20 years have occurred through good will.

The ACC sent an NCAS agreement to NSOs in early March to sign. The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) subsequently sought legal advice on the NCAS agreement, and sent a summary of this advice to NSOs. This advice has caused some concern with NSOs.

The ACC is currently trying to address these concerns by making modifications to the agreement where appropriate, and also working with NSOs to allay any other concerns regarding implementation of the new NCAS arrangements.

The date for implementation of the new systems of NCAS operation has been extended until 30 June 1999. This is to allow sports sufficient time to adopt a code of ethics, and implement a system for coaches to sign onto the code of ethics.

Some sports have elected to sign the current NCAS agreement as it stands, and are already implementing the new NCAS system. The sign-on to the Code of Ethics is already taking place within a number of sports. Sports should feel free to contact the ACC if they require advice or assistance with the new code of ethics system, or with any other aspects of the new NCAS arrangements. We expect there will be a “teething” period, before operations are once again working smoothly. We encourage all sports to work with us during this period to ensure that the transition is smooth, and that we maintain a quality system for all coaches.

Deregistration Policy

The ACC is committed to providing a safe sporting environment in which the principles contained within the Coach’s Code of Ethics are respected and promoted. ACC believes that the behavioural standards within the Coach’s Code of Ethics will guide the communications and actions of all coaches within the NCAS.

Recent increases in allegations of unethical and criminal behaviour by coaches has led the ACC in conjunction with NSOs to set behavioural standards for coaches, induding mechanisms for disciplining coaches who breach the Code of Ethics.

The Coach’ s Code of Ethics Agreement Policy requires coaches on the database to agree to abide by the NSO/training provider’s Code of Ethics, and acknowledge that the NSO/training provider may take disciplinary action against them if they breach the code of ethics. (Please refer to the Coach’s Code of Ethics Agreement Policy for more information)

The ACC has also recently developed a de-registration policy. The Policy on the De-registration of NCAS Coaches outlines procedures to consider the de-registration of NCAS coaches who breach the NSO/training provider’s Code of Ethics. In the event of an allegation, NSOs/training providers are required to implement a complaints handling procedure in accordance with the principles of natural justice. It should also be noted that the ACC’s ability to discipline a coach is limited to complying with a request by the NSO to de-register a coach.

Please contact Antonia Kieran at the ACC, on (02) 6214 1993 or email: kierana@ausport.gov.au, if you would like to discuss any of the above issues or would like a copy of the policy.

Assessor Training

Since the pilot Assessor Training Programs held during 1998, the ACC has developed a comprehensive package of Assessor Training resources to assist the sport sector improve its approach to the assessment of coaches and officials.

The Recreation Industry Assessor Training Program is a nationally recognised course and people who successfully complete the assessment requirements for this module will become registered by the ACC as a ‘Recreation Industry Assessor’. This qualification is recognised by all sectors of the sport and Recreation industry as well as other industries and training organisations.

The Recreation Industry Assessor Training Program is delivered as a three-day training program, including all of the assessment activities within the course. This workshop is interactive and experiential, giving participants opportunities to explore assessment processes, techniques and tools through discussion, small group work and practical exercises. At the end of the training, participants are able to select appropriate assessment methods, design assessment tools and apply newly learned skills to the assessment of people within their sport

Please contact the State Coaching Centre Coordinators for the details of future Assessor training Workshops in your

Sport Specific Assessor Training Workshops

The ACC has also conducted a number of Sport Specific Assessor Training Workshops in conjunction with National Coaching Meetings. The Sport Specific Assessor Training Workshops are designed to provide a professional development opportunity for Coaching Coordinators to improve their assessment skills. The workshops can also assist Coaching Coordinators to become familiar with their sport’s assessment system and new assessment tools which have been introduced since the revision of their NCAS courses.

Sport Specific Assessor Training Workshops can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your sport Please contact your Coaching Consultant to discuss the Assessor Training needs within your sport

Beginning and Better Coaching to be Revised

Two of the NCAS’s key resources, Beginning Coaching and Better Coaching, are in the process of revision. The revised version of Beginning Coaching is currently in draft form and is in the hands of an editor. We anticipate that the new version will be available early next year.

The revision of Better Coaching has just commenced. With over twenty different authors involved in its revision, this will be a longer term project, due for completion in late 2000 – early 2001. This project is being steered by an excellent editorial committee, chaired by Prof Frank Pyke, Executive Director of the Victorian Institute of Sport and editor of the previous two versions of the manual.

Both manuals are being revised to bring her up to date with current trends in sports science and coaching methods. They will both align with the new Coaching Principles curricula that have recently been developed by the ACC. NCD’s will have received a complimentary copy of the new Level 2 curriculum with this newsletter. Further copies can be ordered by phoning (02) 6214 1795.

Ordering procedure
Just a reminder to all Sports. As from 1 January 1999, payment MUST accompany all orders for ASC and ACC products unless an official purchase order is raised. Telephone orders without credit card payment or fax orders that are not on official purchase order forms are NOT acceptable.