For more information, contact:

Paula Keyes Kun (703) 476-3461; pkun@aahperd.org

QUALITY SPORTS THROUGH QUALITY COACHING

RESTON, VA, March 7, 2001 – Coaches, administrators, coaching certification representatives and coaching educators from around the country will meet to learn how to plan and implement quality training and education programs for sport coaches, June 28 – July 1 in Indianapolis, IN, at the Marriott North. Hosted by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the focus of the “Quality Sports Through Quality Coaching” conference will be the National Standards for Athletic Coaches.

Workshops will address each of the eight domains of the National Standards for Athletic Coaches (1995) that have been endorsed by over 140 sport organizations. These standards serve as the cornerstone for quality coaching and provide the basis for coaching education guidelines which address aspects of coaching skill and knowledge. They also outline the administrative support, personnel and operational policies needed to provide coaching education. The domain workshops that will be offered are:

1) Injuries: Prevention, Care and Management

2) Risk Management

3) Growth, Development and Learning

4) Training, Conditioning and Nutrition

5) Social/Psychological Aspects of Coaching

6) Skills, Tactics and Strategies

7) Teaching and Administrative Aspects

8) Professional Preparation and Development.

Examples of how to train coaches in each of these areas will be presented.

Experts from national sport organizations, including the American Youth Soccer Organization, North American Youth Sport Institute, USA Gymnastics, Notre Dame’s Center for Sport, Character and Culture, Sport Work and the Coalition of Americans to Protect Sports (CAPS), will provide the workshops on how to train coaches. Other organizations invited include: American Sport Education Program and the American Red Cross.

"A quality, well-planned and implemented sport program, led by a trained coach, will enhance an athlete's skillful performance, physical fitness and health, establish positive attitudes, and improve life skills," said NCACE President Patricia Sullivan, a professor at George Washington University. “Coaching education programs must develop the critical skills and knowledge to facilitate individual and team performance in sport.”

NCACE will hold its Annual Delegate Assembly in conjunction with the conference on Sunday, July 1^st. Workshops will also be held for organizations seeking accreditation of coaching programs and for folio readers for NCACE.

NCACE is accepting memberships to the organization from all sport and coaching organizations that have or support coaching education programs or components, and

advocate for certification of coaches at all levels of sport. In addition, NCACE is recruiting organizations that train coaches to join the NCACE Registry as an indication of support for quality coaching education and the intent to seek program accreditation.

Contact Christine Bolger at NASPE for more information relating to the upcoming “Quality Sport Through Quality Coaches” conference, coaching or coaching education, 800-213-7193, ext. 417 or cbolger@aahperd.org, or visit the website www.aahperd.org/naspe. The National Standards for Athletic Coaches may be ordered by calling 1-800-321-0789. The price is $22. Stock number is 304-10084.

The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) is an organization established by the coaching education community across the country. Representatives include members from the single-sport, multi-sport, science/medical/educational fields and colleges and universities concerned about the availability and quality of coaching education in all levels of sport. NCACE is a not-for-profit organization comprised of organizations and individuals involved in or supporting coaching and coaching education. NCACE supports, facilitates development of, and accredits coaching education programs and established program standards to conduct the program review for organizations seeking to provide effective coaching education programs at all levels. For more information, visit the NCACE homepage at www.aahperd.org/naspe/programs-ncace.html or contact NCACE at 800-213-7193, ext. 417.

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