SPORT EDUCATION Future bright for coaching program
By Scott Higgins, USCA Director of Sport Education/Coach Development, USA Curling High Performance Program
of Directors signed off on three strategic rec- ommendations from the USA Curling Sport Education, Growth and Development, and High Performance programs. Te approved recommendations represented
I
a step toward improving the pathway for coach certification and education, streamlining coach and athlete development, and building greater value for the role of the coach within the sport of curling. Te key to delivering these strategies was recognizing the need to improve coaching capability here and now, while at the same time purposefully developing the people, systems and processes that will see our coaches, athletes and teams continue to win tomorrow. Part II of this series provides an update on
where we are in achieving these strategic rec- ommendations, and elaborates on what stones have been thrown down the sheet and are on line to create a winning end for USA Curling. Let’s take a look at what will be available Dec. 1 to help sweep coaching and sport education
n Part I of this series it was announced that the Executive Committee of the United States Curling Association Board
into the future over the next year. Te revised USA Curling national coach devel- opment and certification framework
In re-creating a national coach and certifica-
tion framework, we recognized that curling is more than just a sport. It’s a community. Te future USA Curling Coaching Program should adopt a philosophy that cultivates the develop- ment and certification of coaches using a com- munity-based framework and mindset. Aſter considering multiple options for revis-
ing the old framework, the USA Curling Coach Working Group (CWG) envisioned a national framework that more closely aligns with the common groups of coaches and players at the youth, junior, and junior national, and national level. Te CWG identified four distinct "commu- nities" of coaches and players at the youth, junior, junior national, and national levels to anchor the framework. Te framework will have standard- ized coach education requirements aligned to each coach community to help promote coaches working collaboratively and intentionally both regionally and nationally to develop specific ex- pertise and certification in each community to improve player development at the youth, junior, junior national and national level. Four common phases of player development
are also aligned with each coaching community and certification level. Each coaching commu-
nity will have an intentional focus on building (youth), developing (junior), evolving (junior national), and supporting (national) long-term coach and player development. Tis integration of coach and player development creates the op- portunity for any individual to become the best youth or junior or junior-national and national coach – or a combination of each – over time through education and experience. One of the promising opportunities presented in the new model is the direct athlete pathway to the junior national and national coach community based on competitive experience. Members of the working group were keen to ensure our top athletes have the avenue to enter the coaching program. In the simplest form, each community and
coach helps prepare players for coaches in the next community; and creates targeted commu- nication, direct coaching support, greater col- laboration and specialized learning within each coach community. Finally, the Coach Working Group agreed to
a modified grandfather clause to be instituted for the period of one year (Dec. 1, 2013-Dec. 31, 2014) for existing Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 coaches into the new framework. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/USACurlingSportEduca- tion beginning on Dec. 1 to access and view the requirements and to download the new “USA Curling Guide to Coach Certification and Player