Education & Training

Taekwondo Canada has taken the pledge and is proud to promote the Responsible Coaching Movement. Our organization has also joined True Sport and partnered with Respect Group. By taking these steps, Taekwondo Canada is committed to training and implementing updated practices to ensure professional and ethical standards of behaviour of all athletes, coaches and referees.

Responsible Coaching Movement

The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a multi-phase movement, coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. It addresses the role coaches play with issues relating to the health and safety of athletes. Taekwondo Canada is currently implementing the first phase which includes:

Rule of Two: Two coaches will always be present with an athlete, especially a minor athlete, when in a potentially vulnerable situation such as in a locker room or meeting room
Background Screening: All National Team coaches go through an interview process, reference check, a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check
Ethics Training: All coaches participating in the Taekwondo Canada National Championships must complete the Making Ethical Decision training available via the Coaching Association of Canada

As per the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) policy, the validity of background checks ensure that all coaches are delivering support in Taekwondo clubs across Canada. All Taekwondo Canada members are welcomed to use a Sterling Backcheck service offered through the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC). Taekwondo Canada coaches are required to be Registered Coaches through the Locker.

Respect and Ethics Training

Coaches take part in various training to ensure they exemplify and maintain ethical conduct and behaviour. This would include the Make Ethical Decisions (MED) module within the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), as well as training in abuse and harassment prevention, such as Respect in Sport, before and during their coaching career.

The Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC) NCCP certification standard requires that all new coaches pass the online Make Ethical Decision (MED) module, as well as Safe Sport. In addition, all coaches transferred from the old to the new NCCP are required to pass this module within the first five years of the transfer to maintain a valid NCCP certification.

The CAC’s Safe Sport Training is available through its online learning platform, the Locker. It is offered in English and French and takes 90 minutes to complete. This training meets the minimum standards for mandated Safe Sport training for individuals under the authority of all Sport Canada-funded organizations.

In addition to Safe Sport training, Taekwondo Canada recommends the following additional online training offered by the Respect Group:

- Respect in Workplace online activity for all staff working within the Canadian Taekwondo Community, Board Members and Committee members.
- Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders online course for all coaches, all professional staff working within the Canadian Taekwondo Community, Board Members and Committee members.
- Respect in Sport for Parents online course for all parents of children and youth involved in Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Canada’s staff, Board of Directors, National Team coaches and athletes, officials and key volunteers are all required to take the Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training. This training will help participants recognize, understand and respond to issues of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.

The online activities outlined above are automatically registered in the CAC Database as Professional Development points for certified NCCP coaches.

Individuals involved in activities sanctioned by Taekwondo Canada or its members, are subject to standards of behaviour as presented in Taekwondo Canada’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy.

Minimum Certification Requirements

To enable implementation of the above initiatives and actions, Taekwondo Canada is recommending minimum coaching certification standards for Taekwondo clubs delivering programs in Canada and for those coaching athletes in competition. These certifications are as follows: