Support your coaches. Strengthen your club.
Sports coaching - host organisation
Sport Coaching (Level 3)
Summer facilitated cohort 2026-2027
Get your coaches ready for the summer season with a nationally recognised qualification — supported directly by your club.
Te Mahi Ako delivers work-based, practical learning that helps beginner and developing coaches build confidence, improve athlete experiences, and strengthen the coaching culture in your club.
Your coaches learn while actively coaching their own team, and your club plays a key role in supporting their success.
NZQF Ref: 3228 | Level 3 | 40 credits | approximately 8 months.
Enrolments are open throughout August and September 2026.
Enrol now – Tono ināianei
To enrol a coach, two documents are required. These are simple and take only a few minutes to complete. Download, complete and return to becca.jacka@temahiako.org.nz. For more information, see below.
Volunteer Relationship Agreement
Workplace Relationship Agreement
Why clubs should encourage their coaches to enrol
Build confident, capable coaches
Your coaches will learn athlete-centred, inclusive coaching and strengthen the foundations of good practice - planning, delivering, reviewing and ensuring safe sessions. This helps lift the standard of coaching throughout your club.
Improve the experience for your athletes and whānau
Great coaches help participants stay engaged, positive, and supported. Developing confident, capable coaches contributes to a stronger coaching culture and a more positive experience for everyone involved.
Professional recognition for your volunteers
Coaches who successfully complete the programme earn the New Zealand Certificate in Sport Coaching (Level 3), nationally recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
Low cost, low disruption
- Free for eligible New Zealand and Australian citizens or residents aged 16+
- Flexible learning: Around one hour per week completing course questions or planning and completing practical work, in addition to online sessions and on-the-job learning with their team
- Online support: Six facilitated online sessions throughout the programme (60min sessions) - no travel required
- Learn while coaching: Practical learning happens with their own team
- Any sporting code: From cricket and basketball to tennis, touch, athletics, volleyball and other community sports.
What your club needs to provide
Te Mahi Ako works in partnership with your club to support your coaches. This simply means ensuring your coach has:
- A team of at least three participants or athletes to coach, with access to suitable facilities and equipment
- A safe, supportive environment for their learning
- Ideally, access to a mentor or experienced coach within your club to ask questions or observe
- Someone who can act as a verifier for practical evidence if needed
- Internet and device access for online facilitated sessions and to capture video evidence.
The two agreements your club will sign
Te Mahi Ako delivers programmes using a workplace learning model. To enrol a coach, two documents are required. These are simple and take only a few minutes:
-
Volunteer Relationship Agreement
(or Workplace Relationship Agreement if your coach is a paid employee)
This outlines how your club and Te Mahi Ako will work together to support coaches through work-based learning.
It covers:
- Your commitment to providing a supportive environment
- Health and safety expectations
- Adherence to the Pastoral Care Code and basic regulatory requirements.
This agreement covers all of your learners and protects your club, the coach, and Te Mahi Ako by making expectations clear and shared.
Download the forms, fill-in and return to becca.jacka@temahiako.org.nz
-
Learner Agreement (signed digitally)
Once the coach submits their online enrolment form, the Learner Agreement is completed digitally.
This agreement is signed by someone from your club such as a manager, coordinator, coach or committee member, and Te Mahi Ako.
Enrol now – Tono ināianei
Who is eligible?
Coaches must:
- Be aged 16+
- Be a New Zealand citizen or resident, or an Australian citizen or resident
- Coach at least three beginner-level athletes
- Coach under a recognised club or organisation (school teams only eligible if under a club/trust)
- Have internet access and a device with camera and microphone, plus a phone or other device for filming coaching sessions.
Why this partnership matters
By supporting your coaches to complete this qualification, your club:
- Builds a stronger, safer, more inclusive environment
- Develops a pipeline of skilled coaches
- Strengthens community trust and wellbeing
- Shows commitment to coach development and good practice.
Te Mahi Ako has delivered work-based learning across Aotearoa for decades, supporting thousands of workplaces and volunteers in active recreation and sport. This programme aligns with that kaupapa and helps grow capability from the ground up.
Key dates - Summer 2026-27 cohort
- Enrolments: August-September 2026
- Enrolment approvals: 28 September-11 October 2026
- Induction: Week of 12-16 October 2026
- Live facilitated sessions begin: Week of 19-23 October 2026
- Programme duration: Approximately 8 months
- Completion: March-April 2027.
Late enrolments may be possible where places are available and depending on the learner's sport and session dates. Contact us to discuss this.
Encourage your coaches to enrol and help them take the next step
Give your coaches the opportunity to build their confidence, develop practical coaching skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification while continuing to coach their own team.
Enrol now – Tono ināianei
Use the programme code - Coach
For more information, contact:
Becca Jacka
Email: becca.jacka@temahiako.org.nz
Phone: 021 1962 069