We understand and appreciate that our coaches are volunteers and commit a significant amount of time to our athletes. To ensure that our coaches are prepared to teach football skills and to adhere to ethical requirements of coaching in minor sports, we require certain standards to be met.
A Vulnerable Sector Criminal Check will be required prior to coaching for any team. The Criminal Check must be submitted to the league and will be valid from 2 years of certification. The process is free of charge and you can access the Criminal Check Form Here.
1) Visit coach.ca and register as a coach. This is free of charge. Once registered, you will receive a NCCP#. Record this number and keep it safe for SAMFA registration.
2) Register with SAMFA. Go to our Registration Portal and register yourself as a coach. Enter all fields including your NCCP#.
Any coaches working with players in tackle football, the "Safe Contact" Module will be required as well for all coaches under the Football Canada umbrella. Football Alberta is currently offering Safe Contact Courses and will continue to do so until all coaches have obtained the certification. All Safe Contact courses can be completed with footballalberta.ab.ca and all fees will be covered by SAMFA.
If you are a beginning coach involved at the Atom or Pee Wee level you need to complete: the on-line Community Sport Program through Football Canada (the cost is $85 and reimbursable by SAMFA); in addition to the half day workshop for the specific level you are coaching.
If you are coaching Bantam or Midget you should take the Competition Introduction- Position coach clinics. The Clinic “season” is typically each Spring, with NCCP courses being offered anywhere from January to April mostly. Please visit Football Alberta to find out when the NCCP clinic is being offered. You may also want to visit Coaching Association of Canada (NCCP) to find out more about what the NCCP entails.
Football Canada is completing the requirements for Coordinator training in the Competition Introduction Stream. The proposal is to have the Coordinator trained in two relevant areas as well as advanced systems and a coaching mentorship module. The proposal is to have the Head Coach be trained in three positions (at least one being on the opposite side of the ball from the others) as well as the Evaluator training and advanced tactics and systems.
Contact the Vice President of Coaches and Member Relations.