Elements and Performance Criteria

Legal responsibilities may include:
occupational health and safety
equal opportunity
anti discrimination
fair trading practices
duty of care
negligence
waivers and exclusion clauses
insurance
working with children
mandatory reporting
disability discrimination
racial vilification and harassment
racial discrimination
privacy and confidentiality
principles of natural justice.

equipment:
availability
standard
maintenance
ratio of coach to participants
provision of first aid
facilities and location
security:
participants
support personnel
environment
property.


Participants may include:
experienced or inexperienced
adults
children
infants
school or youth groups
club members and general public.

occupational health and safety
access and storage of information
confidentiality
conflict resolution
communication protocols
use and maintenance of equipment and facilities
hygiene practices
code of ethics.


Strategies may include:
elimination plans
risk management plan
adequate supervision and ratios
knowledge of participants backgrounds
record keeping
ongoing evaluation of potential issues or risks.

unsafe equipment
injuries
illness
unlawful behaviour of participants, coach, instructor or support personnel
suspected physical or sexual abuse
improper use of information.


Risks may include:
sport or activity-specific injuries
illnesses
collisions
accidents
hazardous objects
insufficient supervision resulting in injury
inappropriate behaviour resulting in injury.

bullying
physical, verbal and sexual harassment
physical, verbal and sexual abuse
inappropriate relationships
drugs in sport
cheating
reporting ethical breaches
maintaining professional standards of behaviour
responding appropriately to participants, support personnel and parents or guardians.

inappropriate behaviour of participants, coaches, instructors and support personnel
cheating
relationships between participants and coaches or instructors
bullying
dealing with non payment of fees
dealing with difficult supporters or parents.


Support personnel may include:
administrators and managers
other coaches or instructors
assistants
volunteers
sports scientists
health professionals
parents and guardians.


Sport or activity skills may include:
physical or motor skills
tactical or mental skills
a combination of physical and tactical, forming a sequence of skills.


Best practice principles may include:
sport or activity-specific codes of conduct and policies
the Australian Sports Commission Coach's Code of Ethics Policy
coaches or instructor's Codes of Conduct:
State Sport or Activity Education Centres
The National Coaching or Instructor's Accreditation Scheme
Sport or activity-specific national coaching or instructing organisations
the Australian Coaching Council's Coaches Code of Conduct policy
national sport or activity organisation regulations and guidelines
relevant national, state, territory or local government regulations and guidelines
employer organisation's policies and procedures
the culture of the sport or activity
accepted or expected preventative practices adopted by self or peers to minimise safety hazards and risks in the same or similar situations
current and past good practice demonstrated by self or peers in the same or similar situation.


Coaching styles may include:
friendly and approachable
directive regarding not-negotiable issues
casual
critical friend
motivational
disciplinarian.


Relevant information may include:
expectations and aspirations of participants
numbers, ages and gender of participants
previous experience and developmental stage of participants
activity national organisation codes and rules as they apply to the range of participants
support personnel and financial resources
cultural and political influences
involvement and interest of parents
length and number of sessions
equipment
precautions and other health and safety information.


Rules, policies and regulations may include:
relevant national sport or activity organisation's rules, policies and procedures
current edition of the relevant rules for a specific sport or activity.


Session plans may include:
aims or objectives
date, time and duration
location
coach and participant ratios
resources and equipment
drills, activities, games and competitions
safety requirements.

auditory
kinaesthetic
visual
sensory.

personal behaviours
dress
speech.

Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

carries out coaching role in a professional manner according to organisational policies and procedures, legal and ethical standards and sport or activity-specific codes of conduct
anticipates legal and ethical issues that may arise during sport or activities, and manages these appropriately according to legal requirements and sport or activity codes of conduct
determines coaching styles appropriate to the needs of participants and develops session plans according to best practice principles and specific rules, policies and regulations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure application of legal and ethical coaching practices as they relate to the candidate's current or intended sport.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

resources and information regarding legal and ethical information and organisational policies and procedures
specific sport or activity best practice principles, rules, policies and regulations, and information outlining the skills to be developed
participants to take part in the specific sport or activity
equipment and suitable location or facility to coach or instruct the sport or activity.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of legal and ethical responsibilities of a coach or instructor
observation of safe coaching activities, including management of potential legal or ethical issues
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

SISSCGP304A Coach junior sports players.

Guidance information for assessment