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Coaches

Welcome to the Coaches section of the website. In this section you will find information on how to volunteer as a coach with Football Nova Scotia (FNS), as well as additional coaching resources. Please see below for information on coaching, certification, and clinics for the 2024 Flag Football season.

What is required to coach - Coaches will be required to sign up on the FNS Flag site, provide a background check, complete certifications, and take a Flag Football Coaching course.

Do I need previous experience - There is no previous experience required to coach flag football. Prior experience or knowledge as a coach in football or another sport is an asset, but is not necessary. No previous experience is required to be a flag football coach. All you need is an interest in coaching flag football and a commitment to the players, program and league. FNS Flag Football is committed to developing coaches with training through a combination of clinics, workshops, mentoring, evaluations and certification initiatives.

How to register - Sign up to coach flag football during the 2024 season using the following link:

Criminal Background Check - A background check is required to coach with Football Nova Scotia. If you have an existing valid background check, please send that to footballNSprograms@outlook.com upon completion of registration. Complete an updated background check using the link below, and the website will charge FNS directly for the check:

How to Complete Certifications - Coaches will complete two certifications, Safe Sport and Making Head Way, through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). First, coaches will need to make a profile on the NCCP website and then complete the Safe Sport and Making Head Way certifications. Please use the following links to complete the required certifications:

What Clinics are Required - The required course for coaching is the Community Sport Initiation for Flag Football clinic. Information on clinic dates and times are to be determined, and will be communicated with coaches in the near future. 

Clinics 

  •  Community Sport Initiation for Flag Football (New Coaches) - The goal of this clinic is to help prepare flag football coaches for the requirements and expectations associated with being a community based coach. Topics include NCCP + LTAD reviews, participant and sport needs, coaches role's, injury prevention, ethical decision making, fair play concepts, practice planning, and rules review. This is a mandatory course for any coach wishing to participate in any of the FNS youth flag football community U8 + U10 programs or the U10 + U12 + U14 + U16 + 18U divisions. Dates for Clinics TBD
  • Coaching Flag Football (New + Returning Coaches) - The focus of this clinic is to help new as well as returning coaches develop their knowledge and skills in order to work with athletes to improve their performance, review and discuss common drills, skills, offensive and defensive concepts, and strategies that are often used in preparation for practices and games. It is also an opportunity to review and discuss 5v5 flag rules, interpretations, applications, etc. with senior official(s). Dates for clinic TBD.

General Resource & Information Links

Flag Resource Material & Information Links: