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.)

Coaching Exemptions

Due to the unavailability of clinics and evaluations, we will be allowing coaching exemptions for this season.  Coaching Exemptions will be as follows:

L2T – $250
T2T – $300

You will not need to complete and exemption if you have completed the clinic and are waiting for an evaluation.  As long as your status is Trained on Gameplan for the corresponding age group, you will not be subject to an exemption.

To pay for your coaching exemption, please visit gameplanbasketball.ca.  Select the “Workshops” tab and view “Coaching Exemption” as the Workshop Name.

Get a NCCP Number
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.

FUNdamentals Clinics

DateLocationHostRegistration
Upcoming Clinics

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:

  1. Register and complete L2T pre-tasks (online at gameplanbasketball.ca)
  2. Register and attend a L2T workshop. Completion of the course will grant you “Learn to Train Trained” status
  3. Complete the ‘Making Ethical Decisions (MED)’ e-learning module (online at thelocker.coach.ca)
  4. L2T Online Portfolio Evaluation completed by local coach evaluator
  5. L2T Practice Observation by local coach evaluator
Steps to complete the 'Making Ethical Decisions' e-learning module

Learn to Train Clinics

Date & TimeLocationHostRegistration
Upcoming Clinics
March 11 & 12, 2023University of GuelphGame Plan
April 1 & 2, 2023Bond Academy (1500 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 2G5)Game Plan
April 1 & 2, 2023Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary SchoolGame Plan
May 13 & 14, 2023Carleton Village Jr. & Sr. Sports and Wellness AcademyToronto Triple ThreatGame Plan
May 27 & 28, 2023Dr. J.M. Denison (135 Bristol Rd, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J7)YNBAGame Plan
June 24 & 25, 2023Niagara College (DJP Campus) 135 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0Niagara College & Pelham PanthersGame Plan
June 24 & 25, 2023John Paul II Secondary School (1300 Oxford St E, London, ON N5V 4P7)London CYOGame Plan
June 24 & 25, 2023Lambton CollegeHuron LakersGame Plan
Saturday July 8 and Sunday July 9, 2023Impact Training Centre (10 Executive Pl, Kitchener, ON N2P 2N4)OBAGame Plan
Tuesday July 11 and Wednesday July 12, 2023Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School (55 Centrepointe Dr, Nepean, ON K2G 5L4)OBAGame Plan
Saturday July 15 and Sunday July 16Saturday - Online (Zoom link to be sent by Facilitator)

Sunday - Lumen Christi Catholic Elementary School (841 Savoline Blvd, Milton, ON L9T 0Z1)
OBAGame Plan
Tuesday August 8 and Wednesday August 9, 2023Confederation Education Centre (1645 Woodroffe Ave, Nepean, ON K2G 1W2)OBAGame Plan
Saturday August 19 and Sunday August 20, 2023University of WindsorOBAGame Plan
Saturday August 19 and Sunday August 20, 2023Francois Dupuis Recreation Centre (2263 Portobello Blvd., Ottawa, ON K4A 0X3)OBAGame Plan
Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10Timiskaming District Secondary School
(90 Niven St N, New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0)
OBAGame Plan
Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10Schwartz/Reisman Centre
(9600 Bathurst Street - Vaughan)
JCC WarriorsGame Plan
Saturday September 16 and Sunday September 17, 2023Barrie (Location TBD)OBAGame Plan
Saturday September 16 and Sunday September 17, 2023Burlington (Playground)IBSA Game Plan
Saturday September 23 and Sunday September 24, 2023Saturday, September 23rd, 2023, 9am-5pm: Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Meeting Room # TBD (5500 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6)

Sunday, September 24th, 2023, 9am-5pm: Mississauga Secondary School, Gymnasium A/B/C (550 Courtneypark Drive West, Mississauga, ON L5W 1L9)
OBAGame Plan
Saturday September 23 and Sunday September 24, 2023Arnprior District High SchoolOBAGame Plan
Saturday September 30 and Sunday October 1, 2023Durham Playground (1313 Boundary Road)OBAGame Plan
Saturday October 14 and Sunday October 15 2023Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (750 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5S 2J2)CAOGame Plan
Saturday October 14 and Sunday October 15 2023Paris District High School (231 Grand River St N, Paris, ON N3L 2N6)Brantford CYOGame Plan
Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22 2023John Paul II (1300 Oxford St E, London, ON N5V 4P7)London CYOGame Plan
Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22 2023William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute (20 Tillplain Rd, North York, ON M3H 5R2)North Toronto HuskiesGame Plan
Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22 2023Elora Public School (288 E Mill St E, Elora, ON N0B 1S0)CW CelticsGame Plan
Saturday October 28 and Sunday October 29 2023Pope John Paul II ( 685 Military Trail, Scarborough, ON M1E 4P6)SBA BluesGame Plan
Saturday October 28 and Sunday October 29 2023Alpha High Performance Centre (455 Addison Hall Cir Unit 11-13, Aurora, ON L4G 3X8)IEMGame Plan
Saturday November 11 and Sunday November 12 2023Kingston (Location TBD)Kingston ImpactGame Plan
Saturday November 11 and Sunday November 12 2023Niagara College (Daniel J Patterson Campus)Niagara CollegeGame Plan
Saturday December 9 and Sunday December 10 2023Saturday, December 9th: South Carleton HS (3673 McBean St., Richmond, ON K0A 2Z0)
Sunday, December 10th: Earl of March Secondary School (4 The Pkwy, Kanata, ON K2K 1Y4)
OBAGame Plan
Saturday December 16 and Sunday December 17 (9am - 5pm)Daniel J. Patterson Campus - Niagara On the Lake (135 Taylor Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, L0S 1J0)Pelham PanthersGame Plan
Saturday January 20 and Sunday January 21 2024 (9am - 5pm)Huntsville High School (58 Brunel Rd, Huntsville, ON. P1H 2A2)Huntsville HurricanesGame Plan
Saturday January 27 and Sunday January 28 2024John Paul II (1300 Oxford St E, London, ON N5V 4P7)London CYOGame 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:

  1. Register & complete T2T Pre-task (online at https://gameplanbasketball.ca)
  2. Register & attend a T2T Workshop. Completion of the course will grant you a “TRAINED” status
  3. Complete the Making Ethical Decisions (MED) e-learning module (online @ thelocker.coach.ca)
  4. T2T Online Portfolio Evaluation
  5. 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 & TimeLocationHostRegistration
Upcoming Clinics
June 2nd - June 4thDr. J.M. Denison (135 Bristol Rd, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J7)YNBAGame Plan
Friday Sept 29, Saturday Sept 30, Sunday Oct 1Eastview Secondary School (421 Grove St E, Barrie, ON L4M 5S1)Barrie RoyalsGame Plan
Friday Oct 13 6-9, Saturday Oct 14 9-4, Sunday Oct 15 9-4Ottawa (TBD)OBAGame Plan
Friday Oct 13 6-9, Saturday Oct 14 9-4, Sunday Oct 15 9-4Friday, October 13th, 2023, 6pm-9pm: Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Monarchs Office - SportsComplex, 3rd Floor (5600 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6)

Saturday, October 14th, 2023, 9am-5pm: Paramount Fine Foods Centre, Monarchs Office - SportsComplex, 3rd Floor (5600 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6)

Sunday, October 15th, 2023, 9am-5pm: Mississauga Secondary School, Gymnasium A/B/C (550 Courtneypark Drive West, Mississauga, ON L5W 1L9)
OBAGame Plan
Friday Oct 27 6-9, Saturday Oct 28 9-4, Sunday Oct 29 9-4 (POSTPONED - WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER)Brantford - Paris District High School (231 Grand River St N, Paris, ON N3L 2N6)OBAGame Plan
Friday Nov 10 6-9, Saturday Nov 11 9-4, Sunday Nov 12 9-4John Paul II Catholic Secondary (London)London CYOGame Plan
Friday Nov 17 6-9, Saturday Nov 18 9-4, Sunday Nov 19 9-4William Lyon MackenzieNorth TorontoGame Plan
Friday December 8 7-10pm, Saturday December 9 (9:30am-4:30pm) and Sunday December 10 (9:30am-4:30pm)Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School (KCI), 787 King St, West, KitchenerKW VipersGame Plan
Friday February 23 2024 (6pm-10pm), Saturday February 24 2024 (9am-5pm), Sunday February 25 2024 (9am-5pm)O'Gorman Intermediate Catholic School (490 MacLean Dr, Timmins, ON P4N 4W6)Timmins SelectsGame 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
Interim Manager, Coach Education & Youth Development