Community coaching
In collaboration with the sport sector, the Australian Sports Commission has developed a modern approach to coaching.
The modern coaching approach
The approach is about supporting the development, education and training of coaches and empowering them to provide safe, fun and inclusive environments that focus on the needs and motivations of participants.
The modern approach will reshape the sporting experience and encourage more people to play, coach and enjoy sport.
Evolution to modern coaching
Historic approach | Modern approach |
|---|---|
Coach centred | Participant centred |
Formal learning only | Bespoke learning opportunities |
Compliance | Developing competencies to deliver an optimal experience for participants |
One size fits all | Adaptable coaching to meet the needs of participants |
Skill-based | Holistic approach that develops participants’ physical, social, psychological and cognitive skills along with sport-specific skills |
Commanding coaching style | Open, inquisitive, collaborative coaching style |
Competitive, outcome focused | Fun, inclusive, flexible, social |
Decrease in retention and recruitment of coaches | Increases retention and recruitment of coaches |
Coaching courses
Whether you are a new coach or you have many years of experience coaching community sport, we have a course for you. Learn more
Support for sport
The Australian Sports Commission will provide blended learning opportunities to support the new approach to coaching.
The benefits
The new approach will deliver a range of benefits for the whole sporting sector, from sporting organisations and clubs to coaches and most importantly, the participants themselves.
- Grow income.
- Improve culture and reduce risk.
- Increase diversity and integrity.
- Increase recruitment and retention.
- Attract new participants and fans.
- Cohesive skill and sport connection from school through to club.
- Personal and professional development to assist coaching and other aspects of life.
- Improve participant and athlete experiences through understanding and servicing participants motivations.
- Motivated to coach and inspire.
- Learning and engagement opportunities to compliment and extend their own existing knowledge.
- Re-education and training to support modern environment issues, problems and opportunities.
- Deliberate and ongoing learning through bespoke education and training.
- Playing sport on their own terms.
- Improved FMs/physical literacy skills.
- Inspired to participate in sport for life.
- Safe, positive and inclusive environments.
- A sense of belonging within a sporting environment.
- Quality sporting experiences that focus on the participants current motivations.
Related resources
- Community-Coaching-Position-Statement.pdf(PDF • 182 kb)
- Modern-coach-approach-fact-sheet.pdf(PDF • 1.1 mb)
- Community-Coaching-Hockey-Australia-case-study.pdf(PDF • 125 kb)