THE AUSTRALIAN TRACK AND FIELD COACHES ASSOCIATION (ATFCA)

Founded in 1974, the ATFCA grew and was successful in outlining plans and activities to educate coaches to promote the sport of track and field.  Funded initially by the Rothmans National Sport Foundation, this lasted for twenty years, until the Foundation closed its doors.

State Branches were set up and by early 1975 all but the Northern Territory had functioning bodies.  NT joined the other states in 1982.  From early numbers of 205 affiliated coaches, the membership stabilised in the early 2000’s to a yearly figure of between 2,200 and 2,500.  The current figure of membership is much lower due to the national body conducting coaching courses also. The first AGM was held at the Australian Championships in Adelaide in 1975 and this tradition is still operational today with an AGM held at this time every year.  It is attended by coaches interested in the welfare, operations, and development of the Association along with two voting delegates from each branch.

The Association is governed by a Board of 4 Directors comprising a President, Director of Administration, Director of Finance, Strategic Director and the Executive Director.   Three to four board meeting are held each year.  The Association is an incorporated body and as such, is self funded.

The early accreditation system set up in 1975 was comprised of three levels and was used as a prototype by the Australian Coaching Council when it introduced the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme in 1980.  In late 2018 the ATFCA accreditation framework was reinvigorated after an intensive review by the National body and branches recognising that the current system needed to acknowledge current trends and standards in education and the sport. Of note is that we have moved away from the numbering system of accreditation to one of a descriptive nature that appropriately describes the skill and knowledge acquired for each level of accreditation.

The main objectives of the Australian Track & Field Coaches Association are:

• To promote coaching in Australia so as to improve the quality of performance and the level of participation in track and field athletics
• To encourage the accreditation, training and testing of persons to become qualified coaches and to arrange for the proper regulation of such activities
• To develop the coaching of track and field athletics within clubs, schools, universities, college of education and any other institutions
• To safeguard the professional integrity and image of ATFCA and its members
• To represent the interests of coaching and coaches in the decision making processes affecting the ATFCA

The Coach Education and Accreditation Framework (CEAF) (compared with the previous accreditation equivalent shown) is as follows:

New ATFCA CEAF	Alignment to Previous Levels
LAA On Track Basic Motor Skills (non-accredited – see Note 1 below)	LAA On Track Basic Motors Skills
Introduction To Coaching – Assistant Coach (See Note 2 below)	LAA Introduction To Coaching (non-accredited).
Foundation Coach	ATFCA Level 1
Event Group Specific Coach	ATFCA Level 2; ATFCA Level 3.
Elite Performance Coach	ATFCA Level 4; IAAF Level 4
Master Coach	ATFCA Level 5

Note 1: From ATFCA’s professional perspective, the LAA On Track Basic Motor Skills Course should be a non-accredited course as it provides only very basic skills and knowledge on coaching.  Accordingly, it is not included in the ATFCA CEAF.  However, coaches who have undergone these courses are encouraged to attend the LAA ITC course or the ATFCA Foundation Course as deemed appropriate.

Note 2: Membership of ATFCA is offered at a discounted price as coaches at this accreditation level have insufficient knowledge, skills and experience to coach independently (i.e. they are deemed to be an assistant coach under the guidance and mentorship of a higher level accredited coach) and are therefore not listed on the ATFCA coaching database.

 

Note also that accreditation is for four years. Being accredited means that you have been assessed as having the level of skills, knowledge and professionalism commensurate with the accreditation certification granted by ATFCA – a professional organisation with around 50 years of corporate experience in coaching.  After every four years your current skills, knowledge and professionalism is reviewed, assessed and re-accredited to confirm that you have maintained these facets of coaching at the level of accreditation certification previously granted by ATFCA.

Benefits of ATFCA membership

There are many benefits of being a member of ATFCA, and these are shown below:

Item #	Benefit Description	Annual Value
1	A coaching community environment within which coaches can freely exchange ideas. All ATFCA members are also automatically members of the Oceania Track and Field Coaches Association which allows them to link through to European coaching seminars.	Intrinsic Value only Membership of OTFCA is paid by ATFCA for all members
2	Entitlement to have a say in how your organisation is run.	Intrinsic value only
3	Quarterly editions of the ATFCA Newsletter and Coaching Journal, which has replaced the previously published Modern Athlete and Coach and the ATFCA Quarterly Newsletter. See Note 3 below. (Value is based on IAAF Journal)	$80.00
4	Accredited Coach. Access to coach education courses and accreditation by a coach education organisation, recognised internationally as being at the forefront of coach education in the world.	Demonstrable international standard attained in coaching knowledge, skills and experience
5	Re-accreditation: A system of monitoring and review of coaches’ professional accreditation levels that ensures each coach remains current, and continues to deliver the quality of coaching commensurate with their accreditation level attained.	Demonstration that the coach is maintaining their attained international standard in coaching knowledge, skills and experience
6	Members will receive a discount to the cost of ATFCA courses – i.e., they will not be charged the ATFCA course licence fee.	$10.00
7	Members will receive a discount to the cost of attending ATFCA Workshops – i.e. they will not be charged the IP component of the fee, as a minimum.	$10.00
8	Some State Branches may offer financial assistance to selected member coaches to attend National Championship events.  (Note this benefit has not been costed as (1) it only goes to a select number of coaches, and (2) the benefit provided depends on the costs incurred.	See Note 4 below this table
9	ATFCA will offer mentoring services from appropriately qualified coaches on request or as required for the higher level ATFCA courses.	Intrinsic value
10	Members will be able to purchase ATFCA apparel and coaching publications at a discounted price. (Benefit accrued depends on value spent.)	Est. average $20.00 p.a.
11	Members will be able to access additional resource material, including previous editions of Modern Athlete and Coach and the AFCA Newsletter and Coaching Journal, on the ATFCA website through an allocated password.	Est. average value $30.00 p.a.
12	Insurance cover for all coaches, including specific insurance for those delivering coach education courses or coach development workshops, and international coaches. (Value based on the equivalent cover provided by Fitness Australia, as quoted by that organisation.)	$140.00
13	Promulgation of their name, contact details, accreditation level (per event discipline, and events they coach, on the Find an Accredited Coach Database. (Intrinsic value only – but creates opportunity to derive income from such exposure.)	Intrinsic opportunity value
	Total Extrinsic Value	$290.00

Note 3: The ATFCA Newsletter and Coaching Journal, amongst other things, contain unique and original articles that have been written specifically for ATFCA by leading Australian and international coaches.

Note 4:  The total value stated above excludes the benefit of financial assistance that may be provided by ATFCA State Branches to selected coaches for attending National Championship events.

So even without the discounted and intrinsic benefits, the value of the insurance and the ATFCA Journal amounts to some $220.00 – almost $100.00 in excess of the annual fee paid.

ATFCA continues to offer a ‘personable’ approach – should you contact the association, I will always endeavour to do whatever I can to help.  If I am unable to help I will make enquiries to get some information on the request.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How does the ATFCA membership year run?  All ATFCA membership runs from 1 January to 31 December of the calendar year. Regardless of when you sign up with ATFCA, your membership fees will always be due on 1 January every year.
2. Is this the same for Insurance?   Yes! When you take out your membership, insurance is a compulsory part of membership and this coverage takes you until 31 December.  It is imperative, therefore, that you renew with ATFCA as soon as you can at the start of the calendar year.  This will ensure that you have adequate insurance for the athletic season
3. Do I need insurance?    Yes, you do. In this day and age, it is essential for you to have insurance because you put yourself at risk when you are in the capacity as a teacher or coach.  A very attractive insurance package has been sought and a comparable insurance package outside of membership may cost up to three or four times your membership fee.
4. What if I do a coaching course half way through the year? Is membership reduced?     No, the membership is not reduced as we still forward you all the publications that have been developed prior to your participation in the course. These publications offer you essential reading about the technical aspects of the sport and go towards your reaccreditation in the four year period.  If you do the course in the later part of the year, the next years’ membership is generally included in the course fees.  It is also impossible to reduce the cost of insurance as the company only offers insurance for the same time as membership.  This is the same case in many other sports too.  While this might seem a little disproportionate, the rate that we have negotiated is very competitive.
5. Where does my membership fee go?    ATFCA is a not for profit organisation which is autonomous and independent and membership fees is the only source of revenue to cover the cost of providing all of the benefits shown earlier. As you can see, the value of these benefits far outweighs the fees paid, and that is because ATFCA receives a number of discounts from its service providers due to the tremendous relationship it has with these providers that has been built up over many years.  ATFCA invests all revenue back into the development of the sport we are all so passionate about.  The education of coaches, development of resource material and advocacy for its members is of utmost importance.
6. What is the Code of Ethics?      Adherence to the Code of Ethics is something that all coaches that join the ATFCA sign off on. This assumes that you have read them and presumes that the coach will conduct themselves in a professional and ethical way whilst in the athletic arena (whether it be coaching or competition).   The Code of Ethics can be found on the website.
7. Why do I need accreditation?    It is essential for people involved with the teaching and coaching of Track and Field to be abreast of changes within the sport. It is important for everyone to continue to further their education and knowledge by updating their coach accreditation every four years.  The ATFCA distributes our technical coaching journal and newsletter to all members quarterly to ensure that regular information is available to our member base.  There are also numerous activities in states that assist you to develop yourself further.  All activities that you undertake can be credited towards your updating.

Glynis Nunn OAM     Executive Director

About Us

 Board of Management

President
Dennis Goodwin
Email: dennislgoodwin@gmail.com
Queanbeyan NSW

Vice President & Director for Finance
Chris Lewis

Email: cplew@bigpond.net.au

Director for Education, Marketing and Administration

Don Hanly

Email: donhanly99@gmail.com

 Director for High Performance and Strategic Planning
Simon Baker

Email: sfbaker1958@gmail.com

Executive Director 
Glynis Nunn

PO Box 126, TAMBORINE QLD 4270
Telephone: 07 5543 8546

Email: g.nunn-cearns@atfca.com.au

OR     enquiries@atfca.com.au

ATFCA’s head office is located at:  57-73 Sundown Court, TAMBORINE QLD 4270

Postal Address:

PO Box 126

Tamborine.  QLD  4270

Staff

Executive Director: Glynis Nunn

 Coaching Journal Editorial Board: Peter Lawler, Glynis Nunn

New South Wales
For further information contact:
Glen Howell
Ph: 0412 143 977
Email: glen25_howell@hotmail.com.au

For further information about courses in rural NSW please contact:
Yvonne Puller / David Puller
Phone: 02 4975 4584
Email: david.puller@westnet.com.au

Australian Capital Territory
Details from: Dennis Goodwin

Email: dennislgoodwin@gmail.com
Phone: 0412 518 980

Queensland
Details from: Noel McBride

Email: nmcbride3@bigpond.com
Phone: 0419 021 366

South Australia
Details from: Kathy Blute
Phone: 0416 214 439

Victoria / Tasmania
Details from: John Crane
Phone: 0421 951 811

Western Australia
Details from: Anne Masters.
Phone: 0407 470 949
Email: anne_masters2004@yahoo.com.au