General Responsibilities
The Coaching Development Committee works with Softball Canada’s Manager – Long-Term Player Development and Coaching Services to ensure the development and implementation of a fully integrated national coaching development program that responds to the needs of Canadian softball coaches.  The national coaching program includes the development and delivery of Softball’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), membership development, professional development activities which provide for on-going development of Canadian softball coaches, rule development, communication, and equipment reviews.

Composition
The composition of the Committee shall be: 
   •  a Chair 
   • Up to six members-at-large, of which not less than two (2) shall be Master Learning

      Facilitators. 
   • a Presidential appointed Board Liaison who will be deemed to be a full participating member

      of the Committee. 
   • Softball Canada’s Manager of Long-Term Player Development and Coaching Services. 
   • Softball Canada’s Coaching Association of Canada consultant who shall be considered a

Appointment
The Chair of the Committee shall make recommendations to the President regarding the selection of members to the committee. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President and ratified by the Board in alternating years for a two-year term using the Volunteer Appointment Procedure of the Corporation, after which the position/portfolio shall be deemed vacant and candidates will be invited to apply.  There shall be a maximum number of three consecutive terms.

When approving the committee membership, the President and the Board will consider the ability and experience of the candidate as well as the diverse nature of Softball Canada’s membership, which may include any of the following towards weighting for approval: language, gender, and geographic location.

Nominations from the community, including Provincial/Territorial Softball Associations shall be solicited.

Level of Authority
The Coaching Development Committee has sufficient authority to establish and implement programs and services within the strategic direction, corporate priorities, and budget determined by the Board of Directors, and the operational parameters (i.e. planning and budgeting processes, etc.) established by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Committee’s plans (annual and quadrennial, etc.) and the annual budget must be approved by the CEO.

The Committee can form sub-committees or working groups whenever necessary to facilitate the committee’s work.

Reporting
The Committee will report through the Manager of LTPD and Coaching Services to the CEO and Board of Directors. The Committee will report to the membership, through a written report, at the Annual General Meeting.

Meetings
The Coaching Development Committee shall meet as required, within the budget parameters approved by the Board of Directors. It is anticipated the Committee will hold at least one face-to-face meeting per year. In addition, the Committee will hold monthly conference calls and communicate via email on a regular basis.

Specific Responsibilities
• Understand and respect the Corporation’s mission, priorities, strategic direction, policies, and

   Long-Term Player Development principles and undertake the work of the Committee within

   same.
• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding strategic planning and

   implementation related to the area of coaching.
• Increase the quality and quantity of softball coaches in Canada.
• Manage all aspects of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) for the Community

   Sport, Competition and Instructor streams of the new NCCP, 
   o Revise and/or develop NCCP training workshops (format and content) and evaluation

      (guidelines and procedures) 
   o Revise and/or develop NCCP materials to include but not limited to Learning Facilitator

      Guides, Coach Workbooks, Reference Materials, Technical Manuals, and PowerPoint

      Presentations 
   o Develop Softball Canada’s NCCP operation guidelines and policies and ensure they confirm

      to Coaching Association of Canada minimum standards 
   o Host an annual Master Learning Facilitators (MLFs) meeting to train MLFs and provide

      professional development 
   o Assist Provincial/Territorial Softball Associations to deliver the new NCCP
• Assist in the revision of current Softball Canada coaching resources and/or in development of

   new resources for coaches
• Create professional development opportunities to raise the level of softball knowledge among

   softball coaches across Canada to include but not limited to the hosting of the International

   Softball Coaches Symposium
• Communicate with coaches through Softball Canada’s communication tools (web site,

   newsletters, etc.).
• Review proposed rule changes and make any pertinent recommendations.
• Attend meetings which may include the Softball Canada Congress and Annual General

   Meeting to create dialogue and understand the needs of the membership. 
   o Attend the Rules Forum and Special Operating Rules sessions at Softball Canada’s Annual

      General Meeting and speak to issues of concern.
• Assist the Sport Science Advisory and Technical Standards Committee of Softball Canada in

   the review and evaluation of softball equipment.
• Perform additional tasks as may be assigned to the Committee by the CEO or Board of

 

• Develop the strategic plan and an annual plan for the Coaching Program
• Work with the Manager – LTPD and Coaching Services to develop the Coaching budget
• Work with the Manager – LTPD and Coaching Services to develop meeting agendas for the

   Coaching Development Committee and Master Learning Facilitator Network
• Chair Coaching Development Committee meeting(s)
• Act as ex-officio member of all sub-committees of the Coaching Development Committee
• (i.e. NCCP, Web Site, Coaches Association, etc.)
• Oversee and provide leadership for the transition to the new National Coaching Certification

   Program (NCCP) including the ongoing review and evaluation of the NCCP
• Supervise the development & evaluation of NCCP resources and services
• Consult with the Coaching Development Committee & knowledgeable coaching personnel on

   coaching program matters & issues
• Collaborate with the Manager – LTPD and Coaching Services & Coaching Committee on the

   recruitment, selection and evaluation of coaches suited for further developmental

   opportunities
• Assist in the development of coaching services as determined by the strategic plan
• Assist in the recommendation of revisions to the Softball Canada rule book, special operating

   rules and constitution
• Represent Softball Canada’s coaching program at the National level & international level, if

   requested

Selection Criteria

• Minimum Secondary school completion (or equivalent educational background)
• Strong leadership abilities
• Proven administrative experience in a volunteer or professional capacity
• Proven competence in instructing/facilitating adult learning programs
• Good interpersonal and organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills, especially written
• Certified Level 3 in the old NCCP or Competition – Development Certified in the new NCCP
• Minimum 10 years experience coaching softball and evaluating coaches (combination of Slo-

   Pitch or Fast Pitch)
• Member in good standing with their Provincial/Territorial Association & Softball Canada
• Application endorsed by Provincial/Territorial Softball Association
• Bilingual (English and French) an asset

 

Chair Selection Process and Selection Committee

 

The Board of Directors shall approve and ratify the recommended candidate. The procedure for the Appointment of Volunteers will be used to select the Chair of the Coaching Development Committee with the following refinements to the application process: 
   • Provide a coaching resume including coach education 
   • Provide an outline of professional or volunteer experiences 
   • Provide an outline of Learning Facilitator experience 
   • Provide three references (two of which are registered Softball Canada coaches)

 

Review and ranking of Candidates will be completed by a Selection Committee comprised of three members which will include: 
   • Softball Canada President or designate 
   • Board Liaison to the Coaching Development Committee 
   • Softball Canada Manager – LTPD and Coaching Services

 

 

 

The following is a list of the job responsibilities of the members–at-large for the Coaching Development Committee: 
   • Attend Coaching Development Committee (CDC) meetings (minimum of 1 per year) 
   • Prepare & develop CDC meeting agenda items in consultation with the Chair & National

      Office Staff 
   • Provide input on the Coach Program budget 
   • Provide on-going leadership to specific policy & project assignments for coaching

      development program area(s) 
   • Direct the development & evaluation of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) in

      collaboration with the Chair & National Office Staff 
   • Review & evaluate the NCCP as required 
   • Develop coaching educational resources including, but not limited to, NCCP materials,

      Technical Manuals, newsletter information, and coach’s guides. 
   • Assist with the review of equipment 
   • Perform other related duties as requested by the Chair, CEO or National Office staff person

 

   • Minimum Secondary school completion (or equivalent educational background) 
   • Leadership, planning or administrative experience in a volunteer or professional capacity 
   • Experience in leading/instructing/facilitating softball NCCP programs 
   • Excellent oral & written communication skills 
   • Softball coaching experience 
   • Member in good standing with Provincial/Territorial Softball Association & Softball Canada 
   • Application endorsed by Provincial/Territorial Softball Association 
   • Fluency in both of Canada`s official languages (English and French) an asset 
   • Three References provided

 

Members-at-large will be appointed by the Chair (in collaboration with the Coaching Development Committee Board Liaison and designated staff person) and ratified by the Board of Directors to the Coaching Development Committee for a two-year term, or a specific term determined by the extent of their area of job responsibility. Members-at-large will attend Coaching Development Committee Meetings as the business of the committee dictates.

 

The Chair of the Coaching Development Committee will evaluate the performance of the member-at-large on an annual basis.