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COVID-19 Specific Coaching Certification Adjustment

By Staff, 04/26/21, 2:30PM EDT

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In order to allow our Coaches to continue with their education and to work towards their Coach Education Program Certifications, Ontario Soccer has temporarily delayed the requirement to complete the practical component in order to coach in 2021.

Play. Inspire. Unite. 

Ontario Soccer continues to work in consultation with Canada Soccer and the Government of Ontario, as we prepare for Return to Play 2021. Ontario Soccer will continue to keep the membership updated with the most recent developments surrounding Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Plan.

Ontario Soccer is cognizant of the difficulties that COVID-19 restrictions present for coaches aiming to complete the practical components of Coach Education.

In order to allow our Coaches to continue with their education and to work towards their Coach Education Program Certifications, Ontario Soccer has temporarily delayed the requirement to complete the practical component in order to coach in 2021.

However, please note that Coaches are still required to complete Making Ethical Decisions, Making Headway and Respect in Sport for 2021.

Coaches that complete the Theory portion, through either Google Classroom or the new Canada Soccer Online Grassroots Coach Education Program, will be approved to actively coach in 2021 and classified as “Theory-Trained” until a practical component can be safely provided. 

For Ongoing Courses (through Google Classroom)

  • Course hosts that have pending practical components from courses, which started via Google Classroom in 2020 or early 2021, must aim to run these practical components once it is safe and feasible to do so.
  • All coaches that have already completed the Theory portion through Google Classroom must attend the practical that they have already registered for, once these are scheduled.

For New Courses (through the online Canada Soccer Grassroots Education Program)

  • At this time, Ontario Soccer is not able to approve requests to host practical sessions for the online Canada Soccer Grassroots Education Program. Ontario Soccer will update the membership again, once the Learning Facilitator training is available, which is required to host these practical courses.

Looking ahead to the following year, to actively coach in 2022, any “Theory-Trained” coach must attend and complete the practical training session, in order to ensure their certification is complete, prior to the 2022 season start.

Coaches who only have the designation of “Theory-Trained,” at the start of the 2022 season, will not be permitted to coach until their practical component is completed and their certification received.

This temporary decision is designed to assist hosts with maintaining or increasing their coaching pools while being cognizant of the challenges the current restrictions present to hosting practical components.

This will also reduce the administrative and technical workload of the Hosts for the balance of the 2021 season as we all work towards a successful and safe Return To Play.

Ontario Soccer asks for your patience during this transition period as we navigate these changes together.

If you have further questions please contact Nicky Pearson, Sr. Manager Match Officials Development and Community Education.