USSA's Dave McCann elected president of national coaches ed council

USSA’s Dave McCann elected president of national coaches ed councilUSSA Director of Educational Services David McCann was named president-elect of the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education at its conference in East Lansing, Michigan, earlier this summer.

McCann has been USSA Educational Services director for three years. Prior to that he was the associate director of the American Sport Education Program. He will take over as NCACE president at next year’s conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“NCACE is the best opportunity we have to promote quality coaching education to more sports organizations and universities,” McCann said. “NCACE has developed a body of knowledge that programs can use as a foundation on which to develop and improve their coaches education programs. The National Association for Sport & Physical Education Standards for Sports Coaches and the NCACE accreditation process are the key elements needed to help us ‘professionalize’ sport coaching.”

NCACE’s mission is to support qualified coaches through programs that provide quality education. The essential function of the council is to review the quality of coaching education programs and encourage their continuous improvement. NCACE endorses national standards for coaches that facilitate the certification, evaluation and selection of coaches. In addition, the council oversees the development of new educational elements and guidelines for reviewing existing coaches education programs. NCACE reviews coaching education/certification programs that seek accreditation. Reviews are based on the program’s compliance with NCACE Guidelines for Coaching Education and the NASPE National Standards for Sport Coaches.

Cathy Sellers, USOC manager of coaching, noted, “David McCann’s election as the next president of NCACE shows the respect and dedication of the national governing body of coach educators and the efforts that they make to improve coaching in the United States. Dave’s efforts at USSA epitomize the development of quality programs and instruction.”

The conference attracted more than 100 attendees representing universities, national governing bodies, youth sport organizations and high school associations as well the USOC and National Federation of State High School Associations. Featured speakers included Ron Mason, Michigan State University athletic director; Dan Varner, CEO of Think Detroit/PAL; and Jack Roberts, executive director Michigan High School Athletic Association. Discussions and workshops were aimed at providing coach educators with information and tools that they can use in their programs.