Development Coach

The final step in the Development Coach process is registering for, and completing, your Evaluation, which includes the Portfolio & Support to Athletes in Training portions.This process was updated in 2025, and all coaches regardless of when they completed the Workshop component, must be evaluated under the new pathway.

The improved evaluation process is more of a mentorship opportunity, and will involve working with an evaluator one on one to ensure competency in the NCCP Development Coach context is demonstrated.

What does my evaluation include?

Step A: The Portfolio:

• Candidates must submit a practice plan, with a focus on Method 1 and Simulated Play drills, that meets all requirements.
  • Requirements are outlined in the Evaluation Package & Evaluation Tools and Forms Document. 
  • This plan will be submitted to your evaluator in draft, reviewed, and opportunity provided for revisions. 
  • Once the written plan is approved, the in-person Support to Athletes in Training session is scheduled.

Step B: The Support to Athletes in Training details:

• Candidates execute the approved practice plan created with live athletes. 
  • The focus during this session is the coach's ability to run their practice as designed, in a safe and responsible way, providing support to athletes throughout the session using the NCCP Teaching Process (Organization & Set up, Explanations & Demonstrations, Observation, Intervention & Feedback and Assessing the Effects of Feedback).
  • A debrief will occur after the live session is complete with the evaluator. They will let you know at that time if you are successful, or if a portion of your session may need to be re-evaluated.

How is the Evaluation completed?

You can complete your Evaluation in one of 2 formats: Online or In-Person.

• Note: For the 2025-26 season the cost is the same for either option, but if coaches are ok with the technology (see details below) we're asking them to try out the Online option.

Step A is the same for both options:

• Step A: Written Practice Plan

  • You will meet for a pre-brief with your Evaluator, using Zoom within Volleyball Connect, where they will walk you through the expectations, materials, and answer any questions. Together with you they will establish a deadline for Draft 1 of the written plan to be submitted, (usually within a week of the pre-brief).

  • Using the Practice Planning template and resources you will complete a practice plan that includes at minimum a Warm Up, a Method 1 and a Simulated Play drill. Once your Draft 1 is complete, you will also complete a self-reflection using the template provided on your Draft 1 plan before submitting.

  • Once submitted, the evaluator will review, and provide feedback using the Google Sheet template, and make any requests for edits, etc. They will email you when that is completed and you can go review on the Google Sheet., and complete any edits, if necessary. This back and forth continues until the plan meets standard (the Evaluator can also chat on the phone or schedule a zoom meeting to review as needed).

  • Once your written plan is approved, move to Step B.
     

Step B: Support to Athletes in Training (Observation)

• Here is where the online and in-person options differ:

  • Online Option:

    • You will film yourself running the approved practice of the Warm Up, Method 1 and Simulated Play drills (using your own device and wireless ear buds, there is an app to use which is free and easy to use).

    • Complete a self evaluation, then Submit that video for the evaluator to review, who will provide additional feedback. If needed, they may ask you to re-film a portion if the criteria was not demonstrated (criteria provided well ahead of time).

    • Debrief with you to identify things you did well, and some areas of opportunity to work on moving forward.

  • In-Person Option:

    • The Evaluator will come watch you run the approved practice in person in your gym, and will let you know afterward if you demonstrated the criteria.

    • If there are any "deal breaker" criteria not met, the Evaluator may have to return to watch another practice (any additional expenses may be at the coach's responsibility) or ask you to film a drill at a future practice while working on the criteria that didn't meet standard.

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There are lots of pros and cons to both options, but either way the coach gets lots of great feedback and chance to connect with a great mentor coach. In summary:

• • Online = less potential scheduling conflicts for coach & evaluator, can reduce pressure as you ability to re-film if not happy with it before submitting, but need to be comfortable and have access to the technology (phone/tablet to record, wireless ear buds)

  • In-Person = having a live human in your gym to connect with, less technology barriers, more of a "one shot" opportunity, more natural option for some coaches.

 

To register for your Portfolio & Evaluation, please follow these steps:
 

• You'll use the new Volleyball Connect platform, which you log into from your Sportlomo account - on the landing page under your Membership details you'll see a link to Volleyball Connect just underneath.

• Click there & Volleyball Connect will open:

  • Head to the "COACHES" section

    • Scroll down past the Resource Kit and you'll see a row for "Nova Scotia - Development Coach Pathway"

    • Use the arrow on the right hand side of that row to move the course options ahead, and you should see " Nova Scotia - Development Coach Evaluation - IN PERSON & Nova Scotia- Development Coach Evaluation  ONLINE".

    • It will tell you there are "no sessions available", but you can still register.

    • Select which option you'd like , and should then be able to add it to your cart and complete payment. Please email TD Megan at vnsmegan@sportnovascotia.ca to let her know you've registered, the new system doesn't have notifications set up yet.

    • You will be added to a "session" once you are assigned an Evaluator (which wait time can vary depending on what time of year it is).

 

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Advanced Development Coach - Indoor and Beach

What does my evaluation include?
The final step in the Advanced Development Coach process is registering for, and completing, your Evaluation, which includes the Portfolio & Support to Athletes in Training portions.This process was updated in 2017, and all coaches regardless of when they completed the Workshop component, must be evaluated under the new pathway.

The improved evaluation process is more of a mentorship opportunity, and will involve working with an evaluator one on one to ensure competency in the NCCP Advanced Development Coach context is demonstrated.

The Portfolio details:

• Candidates must complete the Design a Basic Sport Program Assignment.
• From the information used in the DABSP Assignments, candidates must submit a written practice plan, with a focus on a Warm-Up, Method 2 and Method 3 drills, that meets all requirements.
  • Requirements are outlined in the Evaluation Package & Evaluation Tools and Forms Document. 
  • This plan will be submitted to your evaluator in draft, reviewed, and opportunity provided for revisions. 
  • Once the written plan is approved, the in-person Support to Athletes in Training session is scheduled.

The Support to Athletes in Training details:

• Candidates execute the written practice plan created in the portfolio with live athletes. 
  • The focus during this session is the coach's ability to run their practice as designed, in a safe and responsible way, providing support to athletes throughout the session using the NCCP Teaching Process (Organization & Set up, Explanations & Demonstrations, Observation, Intervention & Feedback and Assessing the Effects of Feedback).
  • A debrief will occur after the live session is complete with the evaluator. They will let you know at that time if you are successful, or if a portion of your session may need to be re-evaluated.

How is the Evaluation completed?

• Please see the above options and registration information under Development Coach, as they are the same, you just register for the Advanced Development Online or In-Person option.

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Performance Coach - Indoor and Beach

For information on this context, please contact Technical Director, Megan Conroy.