National Coaching Certification Process
- Refer to the Coaching Pathway and determine the appropriate stream for you based on the stage of athlete and level of competition you wish to coach.
- U10-U12: Learn to Train
- U13+: Train to Train
- U16+: Train to Compete (Optional – Not required by Ontario Basketball for Ontario Cup)
- Once you determine the course you need to take, look for the next available clinic in your region. (See clinic dates for FUNdamentals, Learn to Train, Train to Train and Train to Compete courses.)
Register for a course on Game Plan
FUNdamentals
Overview
The Basketball FUNdamentals Community Coaching Course is a NCCP course developed by Canada Basketball, in conjunction with the Coaching Association of Canada, to deliver coach education to the community coach. It provides the mom/dad or entry-level coach with the necessary skills, knowledge and materials to deliver a safe, fun and age/stage-appropriate basketball experience for young athletes.
The FUNdamentals course is six hours and features a three-hour in-class session, which teaches the stages of development and of teaching basketball skills, goes over ethical decision making, and talks about concussions and why coaches are so important in the development of young athletes, and a three-hour on-court drills and skills session, which teaches coaches how to properly develop basketball fundamentals.
Learn to Train
Overview
Focuses on learning to teach basic basketball skills, while still emphasizing fundamental movement skills in a fun, inclusive environment for athletes at the U10-U12 level.
Curriculum:
- 40% – Fundamental movement and basketball skill development of the individual
- 50% – Individual and multi-player technical aspects of the game
- 10% – Teaching basic offensive and defensive strategy
Steps to Certification:
- Register and complete L2T pre-tasks (online at gameplanbasketball.ca)
- Register and attend a L2T workshop. Completion of the course will grant you “Learn to Train Trained” status
- Complete the ‘Making Ethical Decisions (MED)’ e-learning module (online at thelocker.coach.ca)
- L2T Online Portfolio Evaluation completed by local coach evaluator
- L2T Practice Observation by local coach evaluator
Learn to Train Clinics
| Date & Time | Location | Host | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 14 and 15, 2026 | Alpha High Performance Center (455 Addison Hall Circle, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 3X8) | IEM Basketball | Game Plan |
| February 21 and 22, 2026 | Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (787 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 2G5) | KW Vipers | Game Plan |
| February 28 and March 1, 2026 | Osgoode Township High School (2800 8th Line Rd, Metcalfe, ON K0A 2P0) | Ottawa South Basketball Association | Game Plan |
| March 28 and 29, 2026 | O'Gorman Intermediate Catholic School (490 MacLean Dr Timmins ON P4N 4W6) | Timmins Selects | Game Plan |
| April 25 and 26, 2026 | Assumption College School (257 Shellard Ln, Brantford, ON N3T 0M7) | Brantford CYO Girls | Game Plan |
Train to Train
Overview
Coaches will be introduced to coaching the basic technical and strategies of “global” basketball with a more structured approach to training for athletes U13 and up. To receive the Train to Train certification, one must already be Learn to Train Certified.
Curriculum:
- 25% fundamental refinement of skills
- 30% technical knowledge on how players can develop new skills and growing to be more creative in their approach
- 30% introduction to more strategies within the game
- 15% team tactics
Steps to Certification:
- Register & complete T2T Pre-task (online at https://gameplanbasketball.ca)
- Register & attend a T2T Workshop. Completion of the course will grant you a “TRAINED” status
- Complete the Making Ethical Decisions (MED) e-learning module (online @ thelocker.coach.ca)
- T2T Online Portfolio Evaluation
- T2T Practice Observation
Note: Participants must complete the associated pre-tasks, which are available through Game Plan, in advance of attending a Train to Train clinic.
Evaluation
After the clinic, participants must submit a Coach Portfolio and arrange for an evaluation through Game Plan. Evaluations will take place at a practice.
The following steps must be completed prior to requesting an evaluation:
- Pass the Coaching Association of Canada online Make Ethical Decisions exam. (Log into The Locker using your NCCP number. Click on the “eLearning” tab and access the Make Ethical Decisions — Competition Introduction — Online Evaluation.)
- Submit a Coach Portfolio through Game Plan.
Train to Train Clinics
| Date & Time | Location | Host | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 23, 24, and 25, 2026 | Sir Samuel Steeles PS (55 Bakersville St., Whitby, ON L1R 2S6) | GladiatorS Basketball Club | Game Plan |
| January 23, 24, and 25, 2026 | South Carleton HS [SAT](3673 McBean St, Richmond, ON K0A 2Z0) & Earl of March SS [SUN] (4 The Pkwy, Kanata, ON K2K 1Y4) | West Ottawa Basketball Association | Game Plan |
| February 20, 21 and 22, 2026 | Six Nations Dajoh Youth & Elders Centre (1738 4th Line, Ohsweken, ON N0A 1M0) | Haldimand Huskies | Game Plan |
| February 20, 21 and 22, 2026 | Merivale High School [FRI & SAT] (1755 Merivale Rd, Nepean, ON K2G 1E2) Brookfield High School [SUN] (824 Brookfield Rd, Ottawa, ON K1V 6J3) | Ottawa Shooting Stars | Game Plan |
| March 6, 7 and 8, 2026 | Alpha High Performance Center (455 Addison Hall Circle, Aurora, Ontario, L4G 3X8) | IEM Basketball | Game Plan |
| March 13, 14, and 15, 2026 | I E Weldon Secondary School (24 Weldon Rd, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R4) | Lindsay Wildcats | Game Plan |
| April 10, 11, and 12, 2026 | Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (787 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 2G5) | KW Vipers | Game Plan |
| April 17, 18, and 19, 2026 | Timiskaming District Secondary School (90 Niven St N, New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0) | Temiskaming Thunder | Game Plan |
Note: All clinics require a minimum of 10 participants. If the required number of registrations is not met within five days of the clinic start date, the course will be cancelled.
Train to Compete
Overview
The Train to Compete course is offered by Canada Basketball for coaches who are looking to work with high performance athletes and/or work towards a full time coaching position.
Train to Compete is comprised of three basketball specific courses; Planning, Strategies and Tactics and Teaching Basketball Skills, 6 multi-sport modules (learn more about them here) and three evaluations (portfolio, practice and game).
For more information on registering for Train to Compete contact Canada Basketball at certification@basketball.ca or visit their website.
Host a NCCP Clinic
Host a NCCP Clinic
To host an NCCP clinic, complete the clinic request form here.
Ontario Basketball will then reach out and confirm the details of your clinic. Approval will be based on:
- Dates, location and number of clinics already approved in that geographical region.
- Availability of the Learning Facilitator.
Upon approval of the clinic:
- A Learning Facilitator will be assigned by Ontario Basketball to deliver the clinic.
- Clinic date, location, and registration will be posted on the Ontario Basketball website.
- Coaches interested in attending the clinic will register and pay online through Game Plan.
Upon completion of the clinic:
- Coaches can apply for a 70% bursary through the Coaches Association of Ontario Quest for Gold Coach Bursary program.
- Host club will invoice Ontario Basketball for the host subsidy – $40 per coach in attendance, as long as the minimum number of coaches is hit (10 coaches per course).
National Coaching Institute
NCCP Levels 4 & 5
National Coaching Institute
Levels four and five of the NCCP program represent the top levels of professional training for coaches. These levels prepare coaches for leadership roles in national and international sport, and ensure they will be effective within the high-performance sport system.
Levels four and five consist of an applied study program of 20 tasks which can be completed through full-time residence at a National Coaching Institute (NCI) or through a combination of Home Study and Technical courses.
Level three NCCP certification and approval from your National Sport Organization are prerequisites for entry. A physical education degree or equivalent experience in high-performance sport is highly recommended.
For more information on the NCI program, visit the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario website.
Contact
Tristan Cave
Senior Manager, Coaching & Club Development