Australia’s judo coaches are throwing themselves at the chance to update their accreditation or seek accreditation for the first time.
National Participation Manager Shane Alvisio has hosted Practical sessions to finalise the requirements for Sensei Judo and Senior Coach under the Coaching Accreditation Framework, and more than 30 coaches in Sydney and Melbourne have already graduated with new qualifications.
That number will grow exponentially as Shane delivers practicals in Perth on Sunday March 22, Brisbane on Saturday, April 18, and Adelaide on July 26.
This list is not exhaustive, with dates still available before and after Nationals in June.
Shane encourages remote and regional clubs to work together to host a CAF course; with more coaches on the mat, there’s more enthusiasm to keep things fun, and more coaching expertise available to be shared.
“I talk a lot about what I’ve done in my Club, and what I’ve seen working in other clubs, but it’s also important you talk among each other about what works for you, what works in your area. Our focus is on how to be better coaches, but for many of us that includes running better clubs and being better at the business of running a club.”
CAF courses are approximately four hours long, and cover coaching methods, safety essentials, member retention, club marketing, and ensuring your club is welcoming and inclusive. Many clubs work with their state Judo organisation to host their own CAF courses to Judo Australia’s requirements; others take advantage of Shane’s willingness to lead courses around the country.
All Judo Australia clubs are required to have at least one CAF-accredited coach, but best practice suggests all coaches should become accredited to avoid single-coach fatigue, enable the club to run more classes, and underpin succession planning.
“Plus it’s fun! We have a blast, and sharing our approaches lifts everyone’s game, everyone’s knowledge, and brings us closer together as a Judo community,” Shane concludes.
Green mats: the CAF course at the historic Caulfield Judo Centre in Melbourne on March 1st which had 17 coaches from clubs around Melbourne attend. Red and blue mats: in Sydney on March 8, 14 coaches undertook their CAF practical at the Judo NSW Training Centre, Newington Armory.
