The National Coaching & Training Centre (N.C.T.C.) was established in May 1991 as a result of two government reports indicating the need to have a central agency to assist in the development of coaching and coach education. It is based in the University of Limerick.

The National Coaching Development Programme was launched by An Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds T.D., at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin on September 28, 1993. The Programme, which has secured the involvement of 71 National Governing Bodies in sport, will establish a coaching ladder at four different levels.

Chief Instructor of BMA Roy Baker 7th Dan is the National Coaching Officer for the Irish Martial Arts Commission.  He is level two Irish Sports Council  National Tutor and a level three international coach.  He is the primary developer of the IMAC level one and two syllabi.

Improved Standards

Speaking at the launch Mr. Reynolds said “The introduction of this Programme means that for the first time, all of the sporting organisations in the country will be part of a unified development plan which is aimed at improving standards in coaching and in performance. Such an initiative is particularly appropriate in Ireland where we are keenly interested in sport both as participants and supporters.”

Pat Duffy, then Director of the N.C.T.C., outlined the major elements of the Programme. He pointed to the central role which the education of coaches would play over the course of the first cycle of the programme between 1993 and 1998. Each Governing Body in sport will be assisted by the National Coaching and Training Centre so that a sport specific education programme can be delivered.

Different Roles

In referring to future developments in coaching, Mr. Reynolds alluded to the important role played by volunteers and he highlighted the importance of a smooth synergy between voluntary and full time sectors:

“The massive volunteer input into sport in this country bears testimony to the passionate love which we have for sport. There is now a great opportunity to maximise our reservoir of talent, both in coaching and performance, in the context of the National Coaching Development Programme. The Programme will, I believe, investigate ways in which the volunteer input to sport can be acknowledged and complemented with the inputs of suitably trained coaching and technical personnel operating in semi-professional and professional roles.”

Four Tier Coaching Ladder

The NCDP is centred around a four tier coaching ladder which presents coaches with the opportunity to advance their coaching ability and education from introductory to international level (see Fig. 1). The four levels have been carefully considered, taking into account national requirements and projected developments in Europe.

Level 1 = Assistant Coach/Instructor  ( Completed, Q review, course approved)
Level 2 = Coach/Instructor ( Course Subject headers approved, Subject matter in development)
Level 3 = National Coach/Instructor  ( Jan 2008)
Level 4 = International Coach/Instructor ( Jan 2010 )

Recognition for coaches

For the first time, the NCDP will provide the Martial Artists in Ireland with an accreditation mechanism which will ensure that standards are uniform across all systems. National certification will be available to all coaches at all four levels when developed.

Partnership