Coaches Corner
COACHING DIRECTORS REPORT
I was asked by the VWA Council to draft selection criteria for coaches and team managers and produced to following document, which was subsequently endorsed by the Council.
VICTORIAN WEIGHTLIFTING ASSOCIATION WEIGHTLIFTING COACHING
AND TEAM MANAGER OPPORTUNITIES
Expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons are sought to fill positions of Coaches and Managers of Australian Teams participating in the following events:
Coach Selection Criteria:
- Current accreditation as a Weightlifting Coach, under the NCAS or equivalent
- Demonstrated capacity to successfully manage an integrated state level weightlifting program, with the coordinated delivery of support services, including Sports Medicine, Sports Science, Athlete Career and Education.
- Experience in coaching state representative level Weightlifters in the training and competitive environments.
- Well developed inter-personal skills and proven ability to manage people
- Well-developed written and verbal skills to facilitate interaction with individual athlete’s coaches, support service providers, administrators, program partner’s sponsors etc.
- Clear vision for the future of VWA Weightlifting and an awareness of the capabilities required to achieve success in the future
- Experience in long term planning and an ability to develop individual training plans and squad plans · Demonstrated ability to manage the competition budget
- Demonstrated competency with Information Technology
- A capacity to implement emergency procedures in training and competition environment.
- Execution of a Consent to Police Check form.
Manager Selection Criteria;
- Demonstrated capacity to successfully manage an integrated state representative program, with the coordinated delivery of support services, including Sports Medicine, Sports Science, Athlete Career and Education.
- Sound knowledge of VWA policies, responsibilities and competition rules, and ensure that the conduct of the affairs of the team is in accordance with these policies and guidelines.
- Demonstrated capacity to be responsible for the overall welfare and well-being of team members and officials travelling with a team
- Capacity to maintain a ‘duty of care’ towards team members and be accountable for the management of the team.
- Demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative approach to the management of the team
- Execution of a Consent to Police Check form
During the year I received and application for accreditation from Mr Wang Zhiqiang. He was previously coach at the Chinese Department of Athletic Sports, and head of weightlifting at the Nanjing Institute of Physical Education. Mr Wang has taken on some coaching responsibilities at the Gym, he shows considerable dedication to the task of acquiring a facility in the language and aptitude as a weightlifting coach.
AWF Coach Training Programs
The ASC has recently endorsed the AWF’s new coach education and training system.
The system incorporates four new Training Programs (formerly known as courses) – Club Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach 1 Licence, State Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach 2 Licence, National Weightlifting Coach Licence and International Weightlifting Coach Licence.
The highest level Training Program, International Weightlifting Coach Licence, is still being developed, it is envisaged that this Training Program will be ready for implementation from January, 2006.
The AWF Executive Board has made a decision to reaccredit all former current level 1 coaches to the new Club level for the next two-years, all former current Level 2 coaches to the new State level for the next two-years and all former Level 3 coaches to the new National level for the next four-years. Before re-accreditation takes place, coaches are obligated to sign the Code of Conduct form and be capitated members of the AWF.
Any coach , after examining the competencies for each new licence, who believes he/she may meet the designated competencies are encouraged to apply for Recognised Prior Learning /Recent Competency. Recognition of Prior Learning/Current Competence (RPL/RCC) in AWF Training Programs.
What constitutes appropriate prior learning/current competence?
Prior learning is learning that enhances a person’s competence. Prior learning takes place before a Training Program is undertaken, and which results in a coach’s acquisition of appropriate competencies for a particular standard (eg. Club Weightlifting/Sports Power Coach 1 Licence). A major reason for including RPL/RCC in this Training Program is to avoid the problem of participants having to unnecessarily repeat learning experiences.
The AWF recognises that prior learning may be formal (e.g. training programs, structured coaching/officiating experiences) or informal (e.g. a range of weightlifting/life experiences).