Baton Twirling Foundations Coaching Course
This course is available for purchase through the CBTF Education Portal.
The pre-requisites to taking the Baton Twirling Foundations course are:
- You must be 15 years of age to apply for the THEORY portion of the course.
- You must have general knowledge of and ability to demonstrate the skills in the SDP White through Bronze Pin.
- You must have general knowledge of and ability to demonstrate the Pre-Competitive Level I & II standard routines.
- You must have a Mentor Coach in place.
- You must hold a Technical Association membership within your province.
The SDP written descriptions and demonstration videos are available by subscription within the CBTF CanTwirl mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The Pre-Competitive Level I & II standard routine written descriptions and videos are available on the CBTF website using your login access - they are also included as lessons within the online course.
The CBTF Coaching Courses have been designed to be completed in stages. There are four stages to becoming fully certified at the Baton Twirling Foundations coaching level.
BTF STAGE ONE – THEORY CONTENT
This is an online course. There are lessons and quizzes that you may do at your own pace. You can stop and start as needed, and when you return to the online course, you will continue where you left off. You must complete all of the theory content (lessons and quizzes) BEFORE you attend the in-person PRACTICAL portion of the course.
While you are in the process of completing the THEORY content for this level, you are considered a "Foundations In-Training" coach.
BTF STAGE TWO - PRACTICAL CONTENT
This is a one-day, in-class course instructed by a Course Conductor. Here, you will dive deeper into some of the lessons that you studied online. You will also spend time "hands-on" with batons - learning how to teach contact material. There will also be a portion of the day spent actually teaching students the elements from the Skills Development Program and the Pre-Competitive Standard Routines (Level I & II). At this level, you must be able to demonstrate that you can execute the skills as well as effectively teach the skills.
Once you successfully complete the PRACTICAL portion of the course, you are considered a "Foundations Trained" coach. At this point, you are eligible to begin teaching classes, keeping in touch with and seeking advice from your mentor coach.
Over the following year (or longer as needed), the “Foundations Trained” coach should complete their NCCP requirements, and build their coaching portfolio in preparation for their formal evaluation. “Foundations Trained” coaches will be working with Recreational Athletes as well as athletes in the Pre-Competitive Program Levels I & II (although it’s likely that their focus will be on Level I).
BTF STAGE THREE - NATIONAL COACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) training is the third stage in becoming fully certified at the Baton Twirling Foundations level. If your province offers the NCCP Courses as a ‘bundle’, you must obtain “NCCP Part A”. If your province offers the NCCP Course as individual sessions, you must obtain “Making Ethical Decisions (MED)”, “Planning a Practice”, and “Nutrition”.
BTF STAGE FOUR - EVALUATION
The fourth and final stage to becoming fully certified is the EVALUATION. In the year after you have become TRAINED, you will begin to build your Coaching Portfolio. Your coaching portfolio will include:
- Coach Profile (template will be provided)
- Program Description (template will be provided)
- Lesson Plans (template will be provided)
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Activities (template will be provided)
Once your coaching portfolio is submitted, an on-site visit will be scheduled. A Coaching Evaluator will attend one of your classes to evaluate your coaching skills. It may also be possible to submit a video of you coaching your class (instructions to be developed).
A coach who has successfully completed the NCCP requirements and passed the EVALUATION CONTENT is considered "Foundations Certified".