For Coaches

Thank you for coaching with GMFA. This page puts everything you need for the season in one place.

Become a coach

You don't need to be a football expert to coach young players. GMFA provides age-specific coach manuals and practice plans. Interested? Email admin@thegmfa.ca or see the Head Coach – Call for Interest page.

Training and certification

Coaches in Canada train through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), run by the Coaching Association of Canada with Football Canada. Courses are booked and tracked in The Locker.

Football Canada: NCCP pathways and requirements (flag and tackle)
Football Canada: coach training
Football Canada Safe Contact (tackle coaches)
The Locker: create your NCCP profile, find courses and check your transcript (how The Locker works)
Football New Brunswick sets the certification each level needs: NCCP Coaching Pathways (Football NB)

Before your first practice

Every GMFA coach needs the following. Online courses are in The Locker, and GMFA covers the registration fees once you complete them.

All coaches

A vulnerable sector check every calendar year (anyone 19 or older). Send a copy to vsc@thegmfa.ca. If you don't have one on file, we'll email you the package.
An NCCP certification number (create your profile in The Locker)
Safe Sport Training (Direct Athlete Contact)
Making Headway in Football (concussion awareness)
Understanding the Rule of Two

Tackle coaches, also

Safe Contact (offered by GMFA and Football NB). If your Safe Contact is more than 5 years old, take the Safe Contact 2.0 refresher. Contact us for a prepaid code.
NCCP community coach course (Combined). Contact us for a prepaid code.

Flag coaches: Safe Contact and the NCCP community coach course (non-contact) are optional.

Coaches of U12, U14, U16 and U18 Girls: Keeping Girls in Sport, and Introduction to Competition (optional for flag).

Head coaches: first aid with CPR C and AED (offered by GMFA; optional for flag). Already certified? Let us know when it expires.

Have other training, like mental health first aid? Email admin@thegmfa.ca.

Full details: Coach requirements, tackle (PDF) · Coach requirements, flag (PDF)

Coach manuals and practice plans

Age-specific manuals from U6 to U18, with skill progressions, drills and plays. Experienced coaches are welcome to adapt plays and play names. Coach manuals: coming soon.

Safety protocols and forms

Concussion, Heat Safety, Lightning Safety, Air Quality and Helmet Removal protocols (see By-Laws, Policies & Protocols)
Emergency action plan template (coming soon)
Injury report form (coming soon)

Policies

Code of Conduct and Ethics
Fair Play Policy (FNB)
Conflict of Interest Policy
Discipline & Complaints Policy

Video library

Canadian resources first. Where there isn’t a Canadian option, we use American videos (marked U.S.): skills carry over, but plays may differ from our 6- and 9-a-side formats.

Canadian games and skills

Move Think Learn: Football in Focus from PHE Canada, the CFL and Football Canada (free games and skill practice for grades K to 9; free account needed)

Flag skills (U.S.)

NFL Flag Football Drills series (warm-ups, quarterback, receivers, running backs, flag pulling, coverage, demo plays)

Flag drills (U.S.)

NFL Nike 11 Online drills (QB accuracy, route running, ball security, flag-pulling angles)

Tackle drills (U.S.)

USA Football drill videos from Northwestern (backs and receivers) and the Miami Dolphins (defence)

Tackling and contact

Taught through Football Canada's Safe Contact course

Videos belong to their creators and are linked from their official sites.

Questions? Contact the Coaching Development committee at admin@thegmfa.ca.