Your national coach accreditation framework is NOT your sport's coaching pathway.
Look at any athlete pathway document and chances are, the points along the journey depict the context (programs and competitions) that athletes are participating in.
But when we look at coaches, a cursory glance shows that many NSOs still position their formal coach accreditations (Level 1, Level 2 etc.) as the 'pathway'.
In the same way that progressing from high school ➡️ undergraduate degree ➡️ postgraduate study is not one's career pathway for 99.9% of us, formal coaching qualifications are not the destination but rather a supporting tool on the journey.
They are a valuable tool as professional development, as evidence of learning, and as a compliance measure for peak bodies and leagues to support a minimum experience quality for players. But they are just one piece of the education mix to help coaches achieve their goals on their actual coaching pathway: the non-linear journey they take between different coaching roles and contexts across their career.
I’ve previously written about coaching pathways being like a 3D prism, or a game of snakes and ladders, but I’m currently viewing them as more like the London Tube or the New York City subway - in all their complex glory:
◾ There's many different lines serving many different passengers, and no single line is valued more than others
◾ Sometimes you get delayed at one station, sometimes you get the express route (the role of luck)
◾ Some people are intentionally going the other direction to you, depending on their goals and life stage
◾ You can change lines and destinations along your journey, and hop-off and on as you please
Through this lens we can value all coaching journeys and pathways, including those who seek coaching excellence outside the high-performance domain and those who switch sports, codes or disciplines along the way.
Forward Pivot exists to help peak bodies craft their coach development frameworks with these principles front of mind - reach out today for an obligation-free chat about your sport’s coach development system!
