11.12.2009

Get ready, get set, get accredited in 2010!

Athletics Australia is excited to announce the introduction of its new coaching accreditation procedures for 2010 for coaches at all levels.  

From January 1, 2010 all coaches will be required to register with the sport’s governing body, Athletics Australia. For those coaches who choose to be members of the ATFCA, registration with Athletics Australia will be completed as part of the normal ATFCA membership process.

Together Athletics Australia, its state member associations (MA’s) and the ATFCA are determined to recognise only Accredited Athletics Coaches.  

All accredited coaches will receive an Accredited Athletics Coach (AAC) card, current for 12 months from the date of registration. The AAC card will be verification for all currently accredited coaches.   

Through clubs, schools and all other networks, Athletics Australia, the state MA’s and the ATFCA strongly encourage all in the athletics community to support and employ only the services of coaches who hold a current Accredited Athletics Coach card.       

An information brochure will be distributed to all coaches prior to Christmas.

The process for accreditation from January 1 is as follows:

Each coach has a choice:

Option 1
Register with Athletics Australia as an Accredited Athletics Coach and pay a $40 accreditation fee to Athletics Australia.

Option 2
Become a member of the ATFCA, which includes registration with Athletics Australia as an Accredited Athletics Coach. ATFCA membership includes the $40 accreditation fee payable to Athletics Australia.

OPTION 1: Register with Athletics Australia only

Coaches who choose this option will:

1.    Be recognised as an athletics coach by the sport’s governing body (Athletics Australia), the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC)

2.    Be accredited at the level for which they are currently competent, from Levels I to V (at January 1, 2010)

3.    Be fully insured by Athletics Australia for their coaching practice, covering professional indemnity, public liability and personal accident

4.    Agree and declare they meet the member protection provisions and rules of the sport, including the working with children and young persons requirements of the state in which they coach

5.    Be included on the single national database of athletics coaches and with the ASC Sport Accreditation Online program

6.    Be a registered coach with the state member association in the state where they reside

To register:
New registrations:
www.athletics.com.au/coaches/getaccredited

Renewed registrations:
Email reminders will be sent to confirm registration period.

For all enquiries please call (03) 9686 5000.

OPTION 2: ATFCA membership and registration with Athletics Australia

Coaches who choose this option will:

1.    Be subject to all components as per Option 1 for registration as an Accredited Athletics Coach

2.    Be a member of the Australian Track & Field Coaches Association and receive the full membership benefits including:
a.    Quarterly publications: Modern Athlete & Coach and ATFCA newsletters
b.    Discounted resources, publications and reference material
c.    Access to workshops and the ATFCA Congress. Exclusive membership rates apply
d.    Listing on the ATFCA member database, including the Find a Coach feature
e.    Professional networking opportunities  
f.     Scholarship opportunities
g.    Subsidised courses as part of state branch links
h.    Other membership benefits (eg. Association clothing, periodic specials)

Registration and ATFCA membership option:
New registrations: www.atfca.com.au
Renewed registrations: www.atfca.com.au

For all enquiries please call (07) 5597 4499.