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Sport coaches to formalise credentials
Almost 350 people will converge on the University of the Sunshine Coast’s campus on Tuesday 20 September to participate in the State Government’s Get Active Queensland Accreditation Program.
The program provides free training for teachers and school sport volunteers that can ultimately lead to coaching, officiating and sports first aid qualifications.
Fifteen courses are being offered in sports that include football (soccer), rugby league and swimming.
USC’s Lecturer in Coaching Sciences Angela Calder said the workshops would provide a great opportunity for University students to obtain extra qualifications.
“While our Sport and Exercise Science degrees look closely at the methods of preparing and training athletes for competition, we don’t have any accreditation to provide specific coaching qualifications,” she said.
“For example, if it’s coaching for cricket, basketball or netball, these qualifications have to come through the national bodies for those sports.
“So this will be a wonderful opportunity for our Sport and Exercise Science students to become more specialised in their knowledge and coaching practice.”
Ms Calder said the free accreditation program had attracted plenty of interest from students who might otherwise struggle financially to obtain certifications.
“If you were to do these programs in the community, for example, the costs can range from $80-$350,” she said.
Ms Calder said USC’s excellent on-campus sporting facilities had enabled the University to team up with the State Government to host this accreditation program.
— Michelle Widdicombe