The NZ Coaching Pathway
A Snow Sports NZ – NZSIA collaboration.
About the Coaching Pathway
The Coaching Pathway will sit alongside current NZSIA certifications, allowing current and new members to explore the first two portions before committing to the final coaching qualification.
The Pathway has three stages to it:
1. The Intro to Coaching Seminars
2. The Development Coaching Online Course
3. The Development Coaching Certification
The Goal
To create a world-class coaching pathway for alpine ski racing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding, that integrates with the current NZSIA qualification system, whilst utilising the in-depth knowledge, vast experience and valuable resources from Snow Sports NZ.
As part of this, the Coaching Pathway will help expand the knowledge of current coaches working throughout NZ; provide a pathway for new coaches to become educated and certified; provide an alternative career pathway opportunities to current NZSIA members looking to side-step into the world of coaching; and offer further education to members that will help develop their establihed teaching skills.
Development Coaches Certification
The Development Coaches Certification is a qualification aimed at those coaching at the development level in New Zealand, taking their athletes to both regional and national level contests.
Stage One: Intro to Coaching Seminar
The Intro to Coaching Seminar is the first stage in our coaching pathway and is designed to develop awareness and insight for aspiring coaches. This course is ideal for those who are new or developing coaches, instructors interested in broadening their leadership skills, or anyone working with athletes in a support or leadership role. Upon successful completion you will have gained a deeper understanding of core coaching principles and how to how to approach coaching in a meaningful, athlete-centred way. You will then be eligible to progress to Stage Two: Development Coaching Online Course.
Summary
Length: 1-day with two participation options:
- In Person (Southern Lakes District only) : Held in either Wanaka or Queenstown. If you live locally, you must attend in person.
- Zoom (for candidates living outside the Southern Lakes District) : A live online option available for those residing outside the Southern Lakes. Participants are expected to remain actively engaged throughout the online seminar.
Prerequisites
To begin the Coaching Pathway, you must hold one of the following NZSIA or SBINZ certifications:
- Race One Certification (Intro to Race Coaching)
- Freeski One Certification
- SBINZ Level One Certification
If you believe you have experience that may qualify for an exception (e.g. Olympic level coach, former World Cup/Freeride World Tour athlete, extensive coaching experience etc.), please contact email nhski@nzsia.org with documentation before registering.
Important: All Coaching Pathway candidates must hold a minimum of a NZSIA/SBINZ Level One Certification (or foreign equivalence), regardless of prior experience.
Booking Information
This course can be booked through your NZSIA/SBINZ member profile when available. Be sure to select the appropriate attendance option (in person or Zoom) at the time of booking.
Stage Two: Development Coaching Online Course
This e-learning course has been written in partnership between Snow Sports NZ and NZSIA. It is comprised of four modules, each containing multiple sub topics and a quiz. The main four modules are:
- Lifestyle
- Off-Snow Training
- On-Snow Training
- Competition Formats
This online course will likely take 10-20hours to complete. You can work through it at your own pace but it must be completed before attending either of the on-snow Development Coaches Courses (Alpine Race or Park/Pipe/Freeride).
Visit the Online Course here – you must be logged in as a member to view this.
Stage Three: Development Coaches Course – Park, Pipe and Freeride
This is the on-snow component to the Development Coaches Certification for freeskiers and snowboarders. This five-day course and certification, builds on coaching concepts introduced during the Intro to Coaching Seminar and the e-learning, taking candidates into different areas of the resort, looking at two main aspects:
i) coaching the athlete
ii) coaching in the environment
The course is specific to the environment (i.e. park, pipe and freeride) not so much the discipline, so freeskiers and snowboarders will be trained together in the same group.
Stage Three: Development Coaches Course – Alpine Race
The focus of this six-day qualification is to develop race coaching skills including course setting, on-snow training environment and appropriate race demonstrations, whilst building on coaching concepts introduced during the Intro to Coaching Seminar. There is a course setting assessment as part of the course but no coaching assessment. Note that to join this coaching course you must be a Level Three instructor or have proven race background. This may be through previous FIS race results, the ISIA Speed Test.
