Campaign Background and Aims

Initiated by the Sport Education Section of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) in 1999, a pilot Thanks Coach campaign was jointly organised by the ASC, the ACT State Coaching Centre and the ACT Bureau of Sport and Recreation. The Campaign involved nominations from the public for their coaches to be recognised. The campaign was well received by the public and the media that made the pilot a huge success.

Following the success of the pilot campaign, other states and national sporting organisations took up the campaign. The campaign was then expanded to cover officials.

The Australian Sports Commission has been assisting states and national sporting organisations to run the campaign by providing campaign grants, campaign materials and advice and information on how to run the campaign. Given the different resources and situations, each state and national sporting organisation follows its own schedule and devises its own strategies for its specific campaign. Nevertheless, all campaigns have the common goal in recognising coaches, officials and sport administrators.

Campaign aims

• To recognise coaches, officials and sport administrators at all levels, in particular the grassroots level
• To educate, assist and encourage sporting clubs and organisations to recognise coaches, officials and sport administrators
• To educate the community about what is a good coach/official and the importance of saying thanks to coaches, officials and sport administrators
• To raise the profile of coaches, officials and sport administrators in the community
• To raise awareness of the National Coaching & Officiating Accreditation Schemes to coaches, officials and the general community

Target Audience

• Coaches, officials and sport administrators (paid or volunteer)
• Parents and young children
• Sporting clubs and organisations
• Sporting participants
• Media

Why recognise coaches, officials and sport administrators_

Coaches, officials and sport administrators are the backbone of many sporting organisations. A sport or club that supports its coaches, officials and sport administrators has a better chance of recruiting and retaining their coaches, officials and sport administrators, given that most are volunteers.

Good coaching, officiating and administration are essential components of any sporting organisation. Good coaches ensure that people have positive experiences and good officials reinforce this during match play. Good administration ensures training and games run smoothly and safely. Participants are more likely to continue in sport if the experience is positive.

Ensuring that coaches are NCAS registered and officials are NOAS registered is recommended by the Australian Sports Commission to sporting clubs and organisations. The National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) and National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS) provide an education pathway for coaches, officials and sport administrators, leading them to improve their level of coaching, officiating and administration.
 

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Sport Education is a program of Sport Development at the
Australian Sports Commission