Become a coach at HDSA!

.	To become at coach with HDSA, you must complete an accreditation. This process is a simple one that consists of online modules and a practical component.   For more information, please refer to the guide below from Softball NSW.

FOUNDATION LEVEL COACHING (OLD LEVEL 1-3)

For information about Coaching Education and Development for Club Level coaches (Old levels: Community Coach, 1, 2 and 3).

The foundational level aims to develop coaches at the club level with the focus on teaching and enjoyment over winning. 

There are four online courses that make up the theory component of the Foundation Level of Coaching:

 1.     Softball Batter Up Coaching Induction (Old Community Coach): is the first step in the coaching pathway. If you are new to the sport, or ready to make a move to coaching, this course is where to start.  The course is a great resource for new coaches but also parents of players and teachers conducting Softball Batter Up programs through Sporting Schools.

 2.     The Softball Fundamental Skills (Old Level 1) course is ideal for someone who wants to learn more about specific softball skills.  The course helps to develop greater understanding of core skills that coaches need to understand in order to teach players the basics at club or school level.

 3.     Softball Training and Practice  (Old Level 2)  introduces how to run practice sessions to maximise the development of players. This is still in development and will be released soon. 

 4.     Softball Managing Games (Old Level 3)  covers everything you need to understand about coaching a softball team on game days.  It covers how to prepare for games, game strategies and how to observe players during a game and feed learnings into practice plans for player development.

Practical Competency Assessment takes place after the completion of all theory modules. This will assess the practical competency of the coach in relation to the theory learned in the online modules. 

STEP BY STEP PROCESS FOR FOUNDATION COACH ACCREDITATION

Step 1 - Complete General Principles

Save the certificate after completion.

Step 2 - Complete Play by the Rules online

• The Child Protection online training course

• The Harassment and Discrimination online course 

Save the certificate after completion.

Step 3 - Sign the Coaches Code of Conduct

Save the document after completion

Step 4 - Complete the Foundation Coach online theory modules

Save the certificates after completion.

Step 5 - Obtain a Working with Children Check

Save the certificate after completion.

Step 6 - Register for the Practical Competency Assessment 

PERFORMANCE COACH (OLD LEVEL 4)

Performance Coach provides the coach with the knowledge and skills to manage state teams and programs and to help state-level players develop more advanced individual softball position-specific and strategic skills. Focus is on optimising all aspects of preparation (physical, mental, technical, tactical, nutritional, recovery) through individualized programs maximising performance, peaking for national competition, and managing people and resources.

Please contact SNSW Director of Coaching Adam Rindfleish at director.coaching@softballnsw.org.au to register your interest in attaining your performance coach accreditation.

HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH (OLD LEVEL 5)

High Performance Coach is designed to assist coaches to develop the competencies necessary to work with state senior and national junior (U19) level players. Coaches develop expertise in program, resource and people management; advanced skill development and analysis, positional play and game strategies, basic anatomy biomechanics and physiology, and advanced planning and training methods.

To register your interest in becoming a High Performance Coach, please contact Softball Australia.

MASTER COACH (OLD LEVEL 6)

Master Coach is designed to assist coaches to develop the competencies necessary to work with national senior team level players in international competition. Coaches complete a tertiary graduate Degree or Diploma of elite sports coaching through either one year full-time (or the equivalent part-time) study with the University of Queensland.

The Master Coach program is designed to assist coaches to augment their proven elite coaching abilities. The program prepares coaches with the most advanced training and planning methods; tactics and sport science are applied specifically to softball coaching. The program aims to produce coaches who are successful at coaching the highest level of softball and who will be competent to act as leaders in the field of high performance coaching.

To register your interest in becoming a Master Performance Coach, please contact Softball Australia.