COACHING THE COACH APPRENTICE PROGRAM  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Commun

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LACR

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Acknowledgements The Canadian Lacrosse Association would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following people for their work on the Coaching the Coach Apprentice Program:

Bill McBain, CLA Chair of Coaching Duane Bratt, CLA National Resource Person Melissa McKenzie, CLA Program Coordinator

The Canadian Lacrosse Association would also like to acknowledge the support of the Coaching Association of Canada in the development of this program.

© Canadian Lacrosse Association, 2004 © Coaching Association of Canada, 2003

 

 

Cultivating special relationships, those whose sole purpose is to help you along your path, is crucial to continuing development. Mentors...help you to discover your dreams, to understand your strengths and gaps and your impact on others, and to guide you through the steps in your learning plan.

(Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee , 2002, p. 164) Mentorship provides industry-specific methods to guide a learner, in this case, our future coaches. As an industry expert, the mentor teaches the learner, by using a best-practices approach, how to emulate the mentor’s actions and behaviours It has become quite apparent that the recruitment of new people into the coaching fraternity is becoming more difficult each year. With exception of the high performance programs, most teams have, at best, one coach who in all probability has little or no lacrosse background or knowledge. They usually have the ability to administer the program and would provide excellent assistance to someone who could supervise and provide the skills and knowledge base. One can see the different road blocks facing new coaches & players wishing to coach which amplify the task: • No lacrosse background • No skill level with a stick • Program takes too much free time • Employment or school schedule restraints • Can’t fit the necessary training (certification) in • No visible support from the MA/AMA

One could expand this list; however, it makes the point that associations need to explore possible alternatives to help alleviate the challenge of a lack of coaches. The shortage also harms the ability for athletes to receive the necessary support to learn the game, to correct their shortcomings and to receive the expected attention the athlete is entitled to. The program directly addresses some of the challenges facing associations trying to entice new people into the coaching world. The program, however, is not directed at the challenges of athlete recruitment, but it could present an image of sport to athletes and parents that would be conducive to attracting new participants at all age groups. The high performance teams, in most instances, would have two and possibly three coaches, while the lower tiers would be lucky to have one. This, of course, raises the question of how one stranded coach could possibly have time to assist in the development of his/her athletes. This program could fill that void. The high performance program administrators, along with coaching staff, have an obligation to the game. Items such as volunteer recruitment/retention process, player development goals, technical knowledge transfer, growth of the sport, to name a few, would benefit tenfold with involvement put forth by rep coaches and players.

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The other important component in this program is the fact that we have a good group of athletes from the age of fourteen and above who would benefit from a Coach Mentor & Apprentice program. This type of program would allow these potential young coaches to assist a team under an experienced coach who has been approved as a mentor by the MA/AMA and, in some cases, the MA/AMA coaching body. The MA/AMA also has an opportunity to tie this program directly into the school system of apprentice coaches. The majority of provinces in Canada have an excellent External Sport Credits Program for students in athletic, coaching and officiating programs. The CLA’s Coach Mentor and Apprentice Program would augment existing school-based programs. Potential apprentices in this program could only be utilized as Assistant Coaches under the direction of a Head Coach with no more than two (2) apprentices per team. The Head Coach receiving the Apprentice(s) would not necessarily be the Mentor. The Mentor could be a coach assigned by the MA/AMA or an MA/AMA Regional Coach Coordinator. In all probability the Head Coach who is assigned an Apprentice(s) could be a new person to the game. Therefore, it is important that the Head Coach has access to an apprentice who is being mentored by an experienced coach with an advanced understanding of the game and the appropriate skill level required to teach others to play it. Like any other technical job in the marketplace today, the Apprentice(s) would be required to fulfill certain tasks and to commit a number of hours throughout the playing year. If all these tasks are successfully completed, the Apprentice, after his second year in the program, would be granted ‘Trained’ status in the Community-Development context at no cost to the Apprentice. The only cost to the Apprentice for this program would be the normal fee attached to the applicable Form 100 or registration fee assigned by the MA/AMA, and most of the time, the MA/AMA pays this fee for the coach. All participating MAs/AMAs should investigate their provincial sport bodies as to the possibility of grants which may apply to these types of initiatives. When applying for an Apprentice(s), the Local Association would be required to purchase the Community-Development coach manual package from the applicable MA/AMA. If the governing body is utilizing the Coaching On-Line Program the association would also cover the cost of obtaining a password for each participating apprentice.

MENTOR

Complete the mentor registration process supplied by the applicable MA/AMA. Be a ‘Certified’ coach within the Competitive Introduction level. If the MA/AMA is utilizing the online coaching program, the selected mentor will

be provided a copy of the applicable apprentice(s) password(s) for monitoring purposes.

Conduct a face-to-face interview with the selected apprentice and the recipient team head coach.

Ensure all parties are aware of the tasks and assignments which must be completed at specified times (timeline provided).

Follow timelines to review and assess and mark all tasks as they are completed in the hard copy of the Apprentice Work Plan or the electronic copy contained in the online program.

Be in possession of the recipient team schedule for casual drop-in viewing. Provide intervention when necessary. Be available for assistance when required by the apprentice or team head coach

at a time acceptable by the mentor. Provide a recommendation (“Pass” or “Fail”) to the MA/AMA as to the status

awarded to the apprentice at the end of his/her apprentice period. If recommendation is “Fail”, rationale must be provided.

APPRENTICE

Complete the apprentice application form and forward to applicable MA/AMA. Applicant must be a minimum of fourteen (14) years old and a registered player

in the applicable MA/AMA. Applicant must be available for a minimum of sixty percent (60%) of the recipient

team’s practice and game schedule. Available for the meeting of the mentor and recipient team head coach. If the

MA/AMA is utilizing the hard copy training, be provided with the complete manual. If on the electronic on-line system be provided with the manual and a password.

Successfully complete all tasks outlined in the Apprentice Work Plan contained in the Apprentice Workbook as provided in hard copy, or on the online program.

If utilizing the online program successfully, complete the question bank at the end of each module once all tasks associated with the applicable module have been successfully completed.

Must meet all commitments of own team. Must ensure schedule takes into account all work and school commitments. Liaise directly with the mentor for any assistance required with the program. Register on the applicable Form 100 or team registration as an assistant coach

designated will the initials APP after the name. Determine if the program meets the criteria for school credits in your area.

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MA/AMA Recruit and produce a list of qualified mentors available for the apprentice

program. Liaison directly with the appropriate authority to ensure mentor possesses the

correct attributes and coaching levels required to meet the Apprentice Training requirements.

Provide opportunity for mentor to obtain necessary coaching level if necessary at no cost to the candidate.

Provide apprentices entered with a hard copy of the Community Development coaching manual set and if the MA/AMA is utilizing the online coaching program, supply the manual complete with a password.

Liaise directly with all mentors and their apprentice(s) ensuring that the apprentice(s) is meeting the deadlines contained in the apprentice work plan.

Administer the necessary paperwork required to award the Community Development Trained certification level, and forward to the CLA office for entry into the NCCP database.

Ensure the Apprentice project receives the necessary marketing required to advertise its availability to all levels of lacrosse.

Investigate all school authorities for school credit possibilities.

ASSOCIATION/CLUB Recruit persons who meet the requirements of a mentor and forward to

appropriate body. Develop list of teams requiring or requesting apprentice assistance. Liaise directly with the MA/AMA responsible for filling apprentice requests. Conduct timely checks on Apprentice Work Plan to ensure compliance of the

deadlines outlined in the Plan. If the apprentice is registered on the online coaching program, this check will be conducted through the designated mentor.

Ensure all Form 100s and team registrations reflect the position of the apprentice and that ‘APP’ is noted immediately after the apprentice’s name.

Liaise with the apprentice and MA/AMA to ensure each apprentice receives the complete Community Development Manual package, whether the hard copy version or the manual complete with the online password if registered on the electronic version.

Provide professional development opportunities to the apprentice as they arise. Ensure completed Apprentice Work Plan is forwarded to MA/AMA who will

complete the necessary documentation required to have the successful apprentice designated Community Development Trained.

If the apprentice is registered on the online coaching program, the necessary follow-up will be done electronically.

Investigate all school authorities for school credit possibilities.

RECEIVING TEAM HEAD COACH Forward application to association/club requesting apprentice(s) assistance. Conduct initial meeting between the apprentice(s), the appointed mentor and the

receiving team head coach to review Apprentice Work Plan(s) and applicable timelines.

Review team schedule and determine apprentice schedule(s) which ensures all team and apprentice commitments, work and school schedules are satisfied.

Ensure the apprentice has either the complete manual package or the password and manual if registered on the online coaching program.

Review tasks and module question results in a timely manner to ensure apprentice’s success.

Provide mentor with an update on apprentice’s progress and seek assistance from the mentor when required.

Provide opportunity throughout the program for face-to-face exchanges by the apprentice(s), the mentor and receiving team head coach.

If the apprentice is ending the second year of the Apprentice Work Plan, ensure the paperwork required is complete and forwarded to the appropriate body either in hard copy or electronically.

CLA

Ensure the Apprentice Program Outline is complete and that applicable forms are updated and available on the CLA Website.

Provide a “Question Bank” for each module outlined in the Apprentice Work Plan which is kept current by the CLA Coaching Committee.

Ensure the online coaching program is monitored and amended as deemed necessary.

Communicate the program’s initiatives to ensure all members are aware of its existence and process.

FIRST STEPS

SECOND STEP

THIRD STEP

FOURTH STEPS

FIFTH STEPS

CLA/MA/AMA Marketing & advertisement of the program through all available means. Advertisement of the program to adults who are not yet registered with an MA/AMA.

Club/Association Distribution of applications to teams requesting apprentice coach support. MA/AMA Distribution of applications for enrolment into the program to all athletes

who are 14 years of age and above, who would like to become an apprentice coach and who are registered with MA/AMA. Distribution of applications to coaches wishing to act as mentors who are minimum level 2 certified or Competition-Introduction Certified. Put in place training and certification opportunities to move prospective coaches who would like to become mentors from Competition-Introduction Trained to Certified.

MA/AMA Review all applications under the program. Liaise with those teams requesting assistance and assign the designated apprentice and mentor.

Mentor, Apprentice, Receiving Team Head Coach

Establish a workable schedule taking into consideration apprentice’s schedule and receiving team practice and game schedule.

Mentor Completed periodic assessments of the Apprentice Work Sheet which would include a review of the tasks (in the coach manual) and signing off on those tasks successfully completed.

Apprentice & Mentor

Ensure a minimum of 50% of all tasks are successfully completed at the end of year one (1).

Apprentice Ensure a minimum of two (2) module question banks are successfully completed by the end of year one (1).

Apprentice & Mentor

Ensure all tasks and question banks are successfully completed at the end of year two (2) of the program.

MA/AMA Ensure all paperwork is completed and that successful apprentice received the ‘trained’ designation for Community-Development.

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CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETION OF THE COACHING THE COACH APPRENTICE PROGRAM!

PROGRAM PATHWAY

THE ATHLETEApplication +Team Schedule +Work/School Schedule

THE TEAM HEAD COACHApplication for Apprentice Help

THE MENTORMentor Profile Form

MA/AMA Regional Coach Representative

Apprentice + Coach + Mentor

Apprentice/Mentor Work Plan Review

Year 1: Mentor Review & Intervention

Year 2: Mentor Review & Intervention

Community‐Development Trained Coach

APPLICANT INFORMATION

Name: Parent / Guardian Name(s): (only required if apprentice is 18 and under) Address: City: Postal Code: Telephone No: Birth date: Parent / Guardian email address: (if adult own e-mail address) Current School: Current Grade: MA/AMA: ________________________________________________________ Box Association: Field Association: Submit to: (APPLICABLE MA/AMA PLACE OR PERSON)

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MA/AMA:

PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION Last Name First Name Street Address City Postal Code E-Mail Address Phone (Work) Phone (Home) Phone (Cell)

COACHING INFORMATION

Coach Certification #: Coach Type: Head Coach Assistant Coach Association: ______________________________ Division: ____________________________ Calibre: A1 A2 B C Other

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS – ALL MENTOR COACHES

*Competitive Introduction Certified or Lacrosse Fully Certified Level 2 (C2) *Member in Good Standing of the MA/AMA *Endorsement of Home Association/Team

*Display strong Fair Play Principles A Criminal Record Check has been completed in the last 12 months

DATE OF APPLICATION: Date Applicant Signature Date Association/Team President Signature

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM TO:

MA/AMA Apprentice/Mentor Coordinator or Designate

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MA/AMA:

TEAM COACH INFORMATION (home) (work) Last Name First Name Phone numbers Street Address City Postal Code E-mail: ______________________________________________ Coach Home Association/Club Division: Number of Apprentices Requested: Caliber (please circle one): A B C D House Other

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS – ALL PARTICIPATING CLUBS/ASSOCIATIONS

*Member in Good Standing of the MA/AMA *Endorsement of Home Association/Club

*Display strong Fair Play Principles

DEADLINE: Date Applicant’s Signature Date Association/Club President’s Signature

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM TO:

Designated MA/AMA Place or Person Date Received: _________________

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