Beginner or developing coach? Get ready for the summer season and build the skills and confidence to become a better coach.
This facilitated cohort is designed for community coaches who want to sharpen their coaching skills while continuing to coach their own team, in their own sporting code.
You'll learn practical, athlete-centred coaching, apply what you learn with your team, and work towards a nationally recognised NZQA qualification.
NZQF Ref: 3228 | Level 3 | 40 credits | Approximately 8 months
Enrolments are open throughout August and September 2026.
Who it's for:
New and developing community coaches aged 16+ who are coaching beginner-level participants through a recognised club or organisation.
Commitment:
Around 2–3 hours per week for self-directed learning, planning and completing practical work, plus six 60-minute online facilitated sessions throughout the programme and on-the-job learning with your own team.
When:
Cost:
Free for eligible New Zealand citizens and residents and Australian citizens and residents.
Build confidence as a coach
Develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed coaching decisions and create positive experiences for your athletes.
Learn by doing
This is genuine work-based learning. You'll plan, deliver and reflect on coaching sessions with your own team and use evidence from your actual coaching as part of your assessment.
Develop practical coaching skills
You'll learn how to understand your athletes' needs, plan effective sessions, create safe and inclusive environments, and reflect on and improve your coaching practice.
Gain a nationally recognised qualification
Successfully complete the programme and earn the New Zealand Certificate in Sport Coaching (Level 3) — a 40-credit qualification recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
You'll build the fundamentals that great community coaches rely on, across people, practice and safety.
Know yourself as a coach
Explore why people play and coach sport, your coaching identity, skills, attitudes and beliefs, and your connection to others and your community.
Coach with care and respect
Explore what it means to be a good sport and how values such as whakamana, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga can shape your coaching.
Plan, deliver and review
Develop practical skills to plan coaching sessions, deliver them effectively, observe and reflect on your practice, and identify ways to improve.
Keep participants safe
Learn about safety management, injury prevention and creating a safe, inclusive and supportive coaching environment.
Know your sport
Discuss the rules of your sporting code and the key organisations that support your sport.
Live online sessions
You'll take part in six 60-minute facilitated online sessions throughout the programme. These sessions are designed to unpack key topics, share ideas with other coaches and help you prepare for your next piece of learning or assessment.
Individual session
You'll have one individual session with your assessor to complete a verbal assessment about the rules of your sporting code and the organisations that support it.
Learn with your own team
Your learning is practical and work-based. You'll plan, deliver and reflect on coaching sessions with your own team and gather evidence from your actual coaching.
Assessment is designed around your real coaching practice. You may complete:
You can use your phone or another suitable device to record your coaching sessions.
To join this cohort, you must:
You need to be coaching at least three beginner-level athletes and have enough time with your team to complete the practical requirements during the programme.
School-run teams aren't eligible unless they sit under a recognised trust or club.
You don't need to leave your team to study.
This is genuine work-based learning, so you'll apply what you're learning directly to your own coaching.
The programme is delivered online, with practical learning and assessment taking place through your own coaching environment.
Te Mahi Ako partners with clubs and volunteer organisations to support your learning.
Your club or organisation agrees to provide a supportive environment and access to:
Your club or organisation will sign a Volunteer Organisation Relationship Agreement or Workplace Relationship Agreement with Te Mahi Ako.
Before you start your enrolment, have a photo of your ID ready to upload.
Acceptable identification includes:
If you’re new, create an account in the learner portal; if you’ve enrolled before, use “Already have an account”
→ Click Forgot Password if needed.
Do you have a programme code? Select No.
Use these helpful answers where prompted:
o Job title: Volunteer Coach / Coach
o Workplace name: Your club
o Employment start date: When you began coaching for the club
o Employment type: Volunteer / Employed
o Manager contact: Your club manager (name + email)
o Industry: Sport
o Programme: Sport Coaching L3
o Assessor: (Leave blank).
You’ll receive an acknowledgement by email. When your enrolment is ready, we’ll email your Enrolment Agreement via an app called DocuSign to you and your club manager to sign electronically. If we’re still finalising your club’s Relationship Agreement, this may take a little longer.
Before induction week, you’ll receive:
- Your Learning and Assessment Plan (what you’ll complete and when)
- Learner support services info
- Your assessor’s details
- Portal login info.
We’ll confirm your facilitated session dates once your enrolment is approved.
Is this qualification nationally recognised?
Yes. The New Zealand Certificate in Sport Coaching (Level 3) is a nationally recognised qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
NZQF Ref: 3228 | 40 credits
How long does it take?
The programme is designed to take approximately 8 months, with this facilitated cohort running from October 2026 through to March–April 2027.
Do I need to be coaching a certain number of athletes?
Yes. You need to be coaching at least three beginner-level athletes.
Can I enrol if I coach a school team?
Only if the team operates under a recognised trust or club and that organisation can act as your host organisation for the Relationship Agreement.
What technology do I need?
You'll need reliable internet, a laptop or iPad with a camera and microphone for online sessions, and access to a phone or similar device to record your practical coaching sessions.
How are assessments delivered?
Most assessments are completed online. You'll also complete practical coaching assessments using evidence from your own coaching, including video where required.
What support is available?
You'll have support from your facilitator and assessor throughout the programme, as well as access to Te Mahi Ako learner support. Your club or organisation will also support your learning through the Relationship Agreement, and your Regional Advisor will be available to help with questions or concerns.