Coaches
Football Ontario Coaches Hub
Your coaching toolkit, all in one place
The Coaches Hub is Football Ontario’s online home base for coach development. Build your practices, get quick Rule Book answers, test your knowledge and learn from coaches across the province.
Already a member? Use the same link to log in.
Practice Plan Builder
Plan every session by period and drill, then save it and run it from your phone on the field.
AI Rule Book assistant
Ask a rules question in plain language and get an answer drawn from the Football Canada Rule Book.
Knowledge quizzes
Test yourself on rules, technique and safety, and see where to sharpen up before the season.
Coach-shared content
Explore drills and techniques uploaded by coaches across Ontario, and share your own.
Which training do I need?
The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) helps you become the best coach you can be. Every NCCP course builds football technical skills along with leadership and decision-making skills that open doors in coaching and in life.
Before you register: you need an NCCP number to sign up for any course. Don’t have one? Create your NCCP number on The Locker.
Every coach
Making Headway in Football (free e-learning), Safe Contact and Safe Sport training. Mandatory for all coaches. Complete Making Headway before Safe Contact.
Contact coaches
Making Headway in Football, Safe Contact and Safe Sport training. Mandatory for all contact coaches. After 5 years, contact coaches complete the Safe Contact 2.0 Refresher.
Coaching athletes under 14
Community Sport Coach (contact or non-contact). Mandatory for all coaches of U14 athletes.
Coaching ages 14 to 18, contact
Recommended, not required: Competition Introduction: Position Workshop and Positional Academies, then Coordinator Workshop and System Academies, then Head Coach Workshop.
Coaching ages 14 to 18, flag or touch
Recommended, not required: Competition Introduction: Non-Contact Workshop.
2027 course schedule
All 2027 courses are delivered live on Zoom. Your Zoom link is sent after you register.
Safe Contact
$50 member / $150 non-member. 4 hours on Zoom. Full course, not the e-learning.
| Date | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 9 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
| Jan 27 Wednesday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Feb 6 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
| Mar 3 Wednesday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Mar 27 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
| Apr 24 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
| May 13 Thursday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Jun 9 Wednesday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Jul 5 Monday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Aug 14 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
| Aug 26 Thursday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Sep 7 Tuesday |
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Register |
| Sep 18 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Register |
Community Sport Coach
$50 member / $130 non-member. Full day on Zoom. Full course, not the e-learning.
| Date | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 16 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Jan 24 Sunday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Feb 20 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Mar 21 Sunday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Apr 10 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| May 8 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Jun 19 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Jul 18 Sunday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Aug 21 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
| Aug 28 Saturday |
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Register |
Complete the Community Novice Coach e-learning before your Zoom session.
Course details
Select a course to see what it covers, who it’s for and what you need first.
Making Headway in Football (free e-learning)
Format: online, self-paced | Length: 60 to 90 minutes | Cost: free
Concussion awareness training for all coaches. Complete it before taking Safe Contact.
Mandatory for all coaches. Start on The Locker.
Safe Contact
2027 dates open. See the schedule.
Format: full course on Zoom (not the e-learning) | Length: 4 hours | Cost: $50 member / $150 non-member
A core part of Football Canada’s NCCP, Safe Contact teaches safe tackling and blocking techniques along with safety education and awareness. Every player needs these fundamentals, whatever position they play.
Mandatory for all coaches. Certification expires every 5 years.
Renewing? The Safe Contact 2.0 Refresher, developed by Football Canada with the CFL, is a lower-cost refresher for coaches whose 5-year certification is up. All coaches must complete it every 5 years after their initial certification. It’s available now on The Locker.
Community Sport Coach
2027 dates open. See the schedule.
Format: e-learning, then the full course on Zoom (a full day) | For: coaches of athletes aged 6 to 13, contact or non-contact | Cost: $50 member / $130 non-member
The course covers seven modules:
- Participant needs and parents’ expectations
- Understanding the game
- Make ethical decisions
- Safety
- Fundamental movement skills
- Practice planning
- Football-specific fundamental skills
Mandatory for all coaches of U14 athletes. Complete the Community Novice Coach e-learning before your Zoom session.
Competition Introduction: Non-Contact Workshop
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 1.5 days | For: coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18 in flag or touch
Covers five modules: Make Ethical Decisions, Planning a Practice, Teaching and Learning, Analyze Performance, and Non-Contact Technical and Tactical.
Competition Introduction: Position Workshop
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 1.5 days | Cost: $125 member / $300 non-member | For: contact coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18
Covers four modules: Make Ethical Decisions, Planning a Practice, Teaching and Learning, and Analyze Performance.
Competition Introduction: Positional Academies
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 2 hours | Cost: $25 member / $50 non-member | For: coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18
Train with an expert coach in one position: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker or defensive back.
Competition Introduction: Coordinator Workshop
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 2 days | For: contact coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18
Covers mentor skills, mental skills, the role of the coordinator, nutrition and systems.
Prerequisite: the Position Workshop and 2 Positional Academies on the same side of the ball.
Competition Introduction: System Academies
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 2 hours | For: coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18
Train with an expert coach in one system: offensive, defensive or special teams.
Competition Introduction: Head Coach Workshop
2027 dates to be announced.
Format: Zoom | Length: 2 days | For: coaches of athletes aged 14 to 18
Covers four modules: Role of the Head Coach, Evaluator, Design a Yearly Training Plan, and Managing a Football Program.
Prerequisite: the Coordinator Workshop, 4 Positional Academies and 2 System Academies, one of which must be special teams.
Finished your course? Keep building in the Coaches Hub.
Questions?
Contact Aidan McKenna, Programs Manager, at amckenna@footballontario.net.
The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) supports coaches of all sports from community to high performance with coach development, funding and events. Learn more at coachesontario.ca.
