Team Nova Scotia skip Mary-Anne Arsenault third Kim Kelly, second Colleen Jones, lead Jen Bxter, fifth Nancy Delahunt coach Peter Corkum. The 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, February 16-24, Kingston Ontario, The Canadian Womans Curling Championship.

The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is a coach training and certification program for 65 different sports across Canada. NCCP workshops are designed to meet the needs of all types of coaches, from the first-time coach to the head coach of a national team. The NCCP is the recognized national standard for coach training and certification in Canada.

For more information about the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and the NCCP check out their website at www.coach.ca.

Levels 1, 2, and 3 no longer exist. For more information regarding this change, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding our coaching program, please contact Virginia Jackson.

Become a Learning Facilitator

To become a Learning Facilitator and deliver these courses/workshops for the NSCA/NCCP, please contact Virginia Jackson.

Host a Workshop

If you’d like to hold a workshop at your club, please contact Virginia Jackson to arrange.

Become a Coach

Below is a table to assist you in deciding which coaching pathway you should take. Additionally, click here to see Curling Canada's Coach Development Pathway

Tim Hortons Brier 2018,Halifax Curling Club, Halifax, Nova Scotia Skip: James Murphy Third: Paul Flemming Second: Scott Saccary Lead: Philip Crowell Coach: Bruce Lohnes, Curling Canada/ michael burns photo

The minimum coach certification requirements for each Championship Event are below. Any team that has a coach who doesn’t meet these requirements will not be permitted to compete in that specific event*. These rules will be enforced for the 2017-18 season and going forward. Please contact Andrew Paris if you have any questions or concerns.

* The Travelers Curling Club Championship does not allow for coaching at the Provincial or National events and therefore is not listed on the Chart.

* - To participate as a coach in the Canada Winter Games, the Canada Games Module must be taken as well. Coaches registered in the Canada Games electronic registration system must be Curling Canada NCCP Competition Development in Training (Competition Coach certified and completion of "Manage a Program" and "Health and Wellness" Curling Canada modules.  Coaches must be so certified no later than 45 days prior to the Opening Ceremony (January 4, 2023). 

** - As per Curling Canada rules, a coach may participate in a Scotties or Tankard (Brier) as a Certified Competition Coach or Competition Development "In-Training”. A coach may use this status for a maximum of one Curling Trials and a maximum of two Canadian Men's /Women's Championships. Curling Canada's position is that an individual coaching at this level should be working towards achieving a Certified Competition Development status. For more information regarding Curling Canada’s Coaching Qualifications for National Events, please click here.

Already a coach? You can check your current level of certification by visiting The Locker.

Prerequisites: None
Cost: $75.00
Background to the “one day” Workshop
(Day 1: 9am to 4pm)

This workshop has been designed to prepare community Coaches to meet the needs of children in community sport by training them to do the tasks (achieve the outcomes) described below. These outcomes represent the minimum standard for the training of Youth Curling Coaches within a competency-based NCCP. No formal evaluation is required in this context.

Outcomes for the Youth Curling Coach Program

1. Make ethical decisions relevant to the Youth Curling environment.
2. Prepare a safe Youth Curling activity session.
3. Lead Youth Curling activities using Youth Curling teaching methodologies and appropriate technical skills.
4. Model exemplary behaviour during Youth Curling activities.

Workshop Contents
Module 1: Setting the Scene
Module 2: Ethical Coaching
Module 3: Practice Planning
Module 4: Safety
Module 5: Game Orientation
Module 6: Teaching the Skills
Module 7: Program Management
Module 8: Games, Drills & Activities

Prerequisites: None
Cost: $125.00
Background to the “two day” Workshop
(Day 1: 9am to 5pm, Day 2: 9am to 5pm)

This workshop has been designed to prepare community Coaches to meet the needs of novice and intermediate curlers (all ages) in community sport by training them to do the tasks (achieve the outcomes) described below. The target group for the Club Coach Context will include novice curlers of all ages, curlers wishing to upgrade their own basic skills, school programs and bantam and junior recreational leagues and bonspiels. Upon completion of the workshop the participant will be a trained Club Coach. No formal evaluation is required in this context.

Outcomes, Criteria and Evidence for Club Coach Workshop
The Coaching Association of Canada has adapted the NCCP to fit today’s Coaching environment. Among these important changes has been a shift in emphasis from “what a Coach knows” to “what a Coach can do”. This transformation to a competency/outcomes-based approach has been a key factor in the redevelopment of the program. As a result, this workshop has been designed to prepare Coaches to demonstrate specific Coaching outcomes that are relevant to the Club Coach context.

The “NCCP Outcome” represents what Coaches in all sports do. All NCCP programs are structured around these outcomes. The “Criteria” represents what the outcome means for a Curling Club Coach. Will prepare Coaches to:

Provide Support to Athletes in Training

• Lead Participants in appropriate activities.
• Verify that facilities and equipment pose no safety risks.
• Explain and demonstrate one activity in a way that is consistent with the guidelines set out for the age group.
• Ensure the presentation promotes the self-esteem of the participants.
• Be a role model so the participants can see how an activity should be delivered.

Make Ethical Decisions

• Apply an ethical decision making process.
• Show an understanding of the simplified ethical decision-making framework.
• Analyze a commonly occurring Coaching situation, apply a decision-making framework, and describe a course of action for dealing with the situation that is consistent with the values and philosophy of the NCCP.

Plan a Practice

• Plan Clinic activities in a safe manner.
• Describe and demonstrate one specific practice plan, ensuring it is age suitable and describing the drills, giving the reasons for these activities and the time involved.
• Plan a clinic that keeps all the participants active and demonstrates a variety of activities for skill development in a fun manner.

Support the Competitive Experience

• Model exemplary behaviour at practice/clinic and during competition.
• Encourage participants to participate in a community-level competitive activity in a sportsmanlike manner.
• Assist a team in preparing for all the eventualities surrounding a community- level competition.
• Demonstrate respect to officials, competitors, spectators and fellow Coaches.

Analyze Performance

• Detect and correct basic skill errors
• Identify the basic athletic abilities required for the delivery and brushing technique.
• Assess the status of the participant in terms of these techniques and identify appropriate corrective measures.
• Communicate these corrective measures to the participant in a manner, which promotes the self-esteem of the participant.

Design a Sport Program

• Design a multi-week program.
• Work with participants to set goals and success indicators.
• Establish a sound progression of practices/clinics for the development of skills and some athletic abilities for participants competing at the community level.

Manage a Program

• Communicate program philosophy, organization and athlete progress to athletes and parents.
• Ensure the program meets the needs of all the participants in the program, which may vary greatly.
• Ensure the Coaching philosophies of the Coach are communicated to the participants and to their parents.
• Ensure the schedule of events is complete, and well communicated to all.

Workshop Contents
Module 1: Role of the Coach and Organizational management
Module 2: Game Orientation, Rules and Etiquette
Module 3: Introduction to Strategy
Module 4: Safety!
Module 5: Warm-ups and Cool-downs
Module 6: Delivery A, Delivery B and Delivery C
Module 7: Brushing
Module 8: Ethical Coaching
Module 9: Clinics!
Module 10: Practices
Module 11: Skill Analysis!
Module 12: Material for Special Interest Groups

Prerequisites: None
Cost: $175.00
Background to the “two day” Workshop
(Day 1: 9am to 5pm, Day 2: 9am to 5pm)

This workshop has been designed to prepare coaches to meet the needs of athletes who are relatively new to Competition by training them to do the tasks (achieve the outcomes) described below. The target group for the Competition Context will include curlers of all ages who wish to begin competing. Upon completion of the workshop the participant will be a “Competition Coach” “In Training” until the completion of the Make Ethical Decisions Module, at which time the coach will be “Trained.” Successful completion of the evaluation process is required to become a “Certified” Competition Coach.

To Become a Certified “Competition Coach”

Outcomes of the Workshop
At the completion of this workshop coaches will be able to develop athletes of any age by teaching or refining the curling skills, strategy and tactics required for athletes to compete at a Regional, Provincial and some national level competitions.

Outcomes, Criteria and Evidence for Competition Coach Workshop
The Coaching Association of Canada has adapted the NCCP to fit today’s Coaching environment. Among these important changes has been a shift in emphasis from “what a Coach knows” to “what a Coach can do”. This transformation to a competency/outcomes-based approach has been a key factor in the redevelopment of the program. As a result, this workshop has been designed to prepare Coaches to demonstrate specific Coaching outcomes that are relevant to the Competition context.

The “NCCP Outcome” represents what Coaches in all sports do. All NCCP programs are structured around these outcomes. The “Criteria” represents what the outcome means for a Curling Competition Coach.

Make Ethical Decisions

• Apply an ethical decision making process.
• Making Ethical Decisions Link - http://www.coach.ca/workshop-s14169

Provide Support to Athletes in Training

• Ensure that the practice environment is safe
• Implement an appropriately structured and organized practice
• Make interventions that promote learning

Plan a Practice

• Identify appropriate logistics for practice
• Identify appropriate activities in each part of the practice
• Design an emergency action plan

Analyze Performance

• Detect performance
• Correct performance

Workshop Contents
Module 1: Introduction Purpose of Coach
Module 2: Understanding the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)
Module 3: Teaching and Learning
Module 4: Plan a Practice
Module 5: Technical Skills
Module 6: Strategy and Tactics
Module 7: Analyze Performance
Module 8: Coaching in Curling
Module 9: Coaching Curling Athletes with a Disability
Module 10: Evaluation Logistics

At the Nova Scotia Curling Association, we consider the safety of our most vulnerable to be the utmost priority. All those coaching and volunteering with youth under the age of eighteen must have a current Criminal Records Check on file here at the NSCA office. Once current checks are submitted, they are considered valid for a duration of three years. In addition, everyone coaching youth under the age of sixteen, must have a current Child Abuse Registry Check completed.

For coaches in rural areas, please click here for an endorsement letter. This letter can be used to potentially receive a discount on your Criminal Record Check at your local RCMP detachment if you live in a rural area.

All questions regarding background checks should be directed to our Technical Director, Andrew Paris.

Additional Information

Halifax Area Clubs: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.

Cape Breton Clubs: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.

Truro Curling Club: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.

Bridgewater Curling Club: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.

Bluenose Curling Club & Stellar Curling Club: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.

All Other Nova Scotia Clubs: Click here for information on how to complete your Criminal Record Check.