National Coaching Certification Program

Canada Basketball NCCP Coaching Pathways

Coach education aligned with each stage of athlete development.

Canada Basketball’s NCCP coach education pathway is based on the Long-Term Development Model. Coaches may begin their training at the level that best matches the athletes they currently coach.

NCCP Community Sport

FUNdamentals

Ages 6–9

The FUNdamentals pathway equips community, recreation and house league coaches with the tools to create safe, fun and inclusive basketball experiences for young athletes. Participants receive NCCP training credit for both stand-up and wheelchair basketball.

Workshop Topics

• Child-centred coaching
• Knowing your participants
• Safety
• Long-Term Development
• Teaching basketball skills
• Practice coaching
• Implementing purposeful games
• Putting it all together

Learning Outcomes

• Identify a coaching role and philosophy
• Create a safe, inclusive and positive environment
• Understand basketball rules, equipment and game modifications
• Teach basic basketball skills
• Coach age-appropriate games and activities
• Modify practice plans to meet athlete needs

Key Content Highlights Child-centred coaching, emergency preparedness, Long-Term Development, age-appropriate teaching, physical literacy and purposeful games.

Pathway Requirements

Requirement	Time
FUNdamentals Workshop	4 hours
NCCP Make Ethical Decisions eLearning	1.5 hours
NCCP Emergency Action Plan eLearning	15 minutes

✓ Trained

Complete all listed pathway requirements.

Certification

No additional certification evaluation is listed for this pathway.

Register for this workshop and other NCCP opportunities through Game Plan.

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NCCP Instruction – Beginner

Learn to Train

Ages 9–12

This pathway is designed for coaches working with athletes ages 9–12. It focuses on building fundamental basketball skills through a games-based framework while balancing technical progression, play and fun.

Workshop Topics

• Long-Term Development
• Teaching skills
• Variations of drills
• Logistics and safety
• Practice-planning logistics
• Writing the next two practices
• Modified games

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the importance of logistics in practice planning
• Establish an appropriate practice structure
• Select suitable activities for each part of practice
• Use loading, de-loading and technical layers
• Understand the basics of skill development

Key Content Highlights Technical progressions through constraints, effective athlete feedback, physical literacy, introductory skill development and play-based activities.

Pathway Requirements

To Become Trained	Time
Coaching Basketball 101 eLearning	1 hour
Learn to Train Workshop	13 hours
NCCP Make Ethical Decisions eLearning	1.5 hours
NCCP Emergency Action Plan eLearning	15 minutes

✓ Trained

Complete all training requirements.

✓ Certified

• Portfolio evaluation
• Practice observation

Register and learn more through Game Plan.

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NCCP Competition Introduction

Train to Train

Ages 12–15

This pathway serves coaches working with athletes ages 12–15, a critical stage in Long-Term Basketball Development. Its blended model connects self-directed learning with practical application so coaches can design purposeful development environments.

Workshop Topics

• Knowing your athletes
• Season planning
• Practice planning
• Game planning
• Performance safety
• Style of play
• Activity design
• Implementation and intervention
• Reflection

Learning Outcomes

• Refine coaching values and philosophy
• Develop reflective thinking
• Design purposeful practices and activities
• Create performance-safe learning environments
• Build effective season, practice and game plans

Key Content Highlights Constraints-based activity design, the biopsychosocial model, coaching the whole athlete and the Explore–Nudge–Adapt framework.

Pathway Requirements

To Become Trained	Time
Coaching Basketball 101 eLearning	1 hour
Offensive Style of Play eLearning	1 hour
Defensive Style of Play eLearning	1 hour
Introduction to Mental Performance in Basketball	1 hour
Train to Train Workshop	9 hours
NCCP Make Ethical Decisions eLearning	1.5 hours
NCCP Emergency Action Plan eLearning	15 minutes

✓ Trained

Complete all training requirements.

✓ Certified

• Portfolio evaluation
• Practice observation

Register and learn more through Game Plan.

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NCCP Competition Development

Train to Compete

Ages 15–18

This pathway is designed for coaches working with athletes in the later stages of club or high school competition as they prepare for post-secondary opportunities. It covers advanced technical execution, tactical development and comprehensive program planning.

Workshop Topics

• Teaching Basketball Skills: biomechanics, skill-teaching phases and training transitions
• Strategies and Tactics: tactical concepts, penetration principles, special situations, zone systems and FIBA rules
• Planning: program logistics, scouting, staff management and training methods

Learning Outcomes

• Apply advanced biomechanics
• Design high-performance practice cycles
• Create advanced basketball strategies
• Construct periodized season plans
• Execute scouting plans and tactical adjustments
• Integrate holistic performance conditioning

Key Content Highlights Individualized Performance Plans, tactical loading, special situations, macro load monitoring and training-to-competition ratios.

Basketball-Specific Modules

Module	Time
Teaching Basketball Skills Workshop	15 hours
Strategies and Tactics Workshop	15 hours
Planning Workshop	12 hours

NCCP Multi-Sport Modules

Module	Time
Make Ethical Decisions eLearning	1.5 hours
Leading Drug-Free Sport eLearning	1 hour
Managing Conflict	6 hours
Coaching and Leading Effectively	8 hours
Developing Athletic Abilities	8 hours
Prevention and Recovery	8 hours
Psychology of Performance	8 hours

✓ Trained

Complete all basketball-specific and multi-sport modules.

✓ Certified

• Portfolio evaluation
• Practice observation
• Game observation

Register and learn more through Game Plan.

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NCCP Competition Development Advanced

Learn to Win

Ages 18+

This is Canada Basketball’s advanced stream for high-performance coaches of post-secondary and next-generation athletes. It is paired with the Advanced Coaching Diploma and emphasizes sport-science integration, technical leadership and international standards of play.

Workshop Topics

• Coaching Effectiveness and Leadership
• Performance Planning
• Training and Competition Readiness
• Gap Analysis and Sport Analytics

Learning Outcomes

• Integrate sport-science systems into daily training
• Execute system-wide gap analysis
• Manage high-performance programs and operations
• Build sophisticated annual plans and periodization calendars
• Develop elite mental readiness
• Lead and adapt strategy in dynamic environments

Key Content Highlights Canadian Sport Institute resources, psychologically healthy daily training environments, advanced monitoring and prevention of overtraining and burnout.

Certification Requirements

Requirement	Time
Train to Compete Certification	75–80 hours
Advanced Coaching Diploma through the Canadian Sport Institute Network	1 year
Panel evaluation with a Canada Basketball representative	45–90 minutes

Prerequisite

Train to Compete certification.

✓ Certified

• Advanced Coaching Diploma graduate
• Canada Basketball representative participates on the assessment panel

Learn more through Game Plan or the Coaching Association of Canada.

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About the NCCP: Canada Basketball’s coaching pathways allow coaches to begin their education at the level in which they currently coach, helping ensure that the learning is delivered in the most relevant athlete-development context.