Coaches

Accreditation pathways, safety standards and resources for coaches within Rowing SA.

Coaches engaged by Rowing SA to work within the Pathway Program, State Teams, Masters squads, or the Oceania State Team must meet the standards set out in the Rowing Australia Coach Accreditation Program. This ensures that every coach is appropriately qualified, up to date with current best practice, and committed to delivering safe, inclusive, and rewarding programs for all athletes — from school and club level through to elite performance. Rowing SA fully supports Rowing Australia’s commitment to ongoing coach education and expects all coaches to actively participate in continuous learning and accreditation to maintain the highest standards of safety, integrity, and coaching quality.

Coaches play a vital role in protecting the welfare and safety of the athletes in their care, especially when working with juniors and developing rowers. Coaches must be fully informed of all relevant safety procedures, rules, and compliance requirements, and are expected to uphold these standards at all times as a core part of their role. This includes continuously monitoring weather conditions and carefully assessing the environment, equipment, and each athlete’s capabilities to ensure it is safe to proceed with training or competition and to assess whether it is safe for rowers to go out on the water. Coaches have a duty to make sound, risk-aware decisions to prevent harm and create a safe, supportive environment for all participants.

RA’s Current List of Accredited Coaches

Coach Accreditation

Becoming an accredited Rowing Australia coach is a necessary pathway for any coach within South Australia and ensures that all coaches are providing a quality service to its rowing participants.

The Level 1 Online Coaching Accreditation Course is provided by Rowing Australia under the National Rowing Coaching Accreditation Scheme at a cost of $180 incl. GST.

National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS)

Rowing Australia has recently completed a review of the structure, content and delivery of its coach education program with the ultimate aim of improving the National Coach Accreditation Scheme. There are 4 levels of coaching accreditation which each build on the last.

Level 1

The Level 1 course is delivered online and the cost is $180.

• ✓At least 16 years of age
• ✓Completed the Community Coaching General Principles course: learning.ausport.gov.au

Level 2

The Level 2 Coach course is aimed at senior school and club coaches. This program trains coaches who already have some experience in the sport and aims to provide the coach with the knowledge and skills to develop athletes to their potential. They will have enough knowledge to develop an annual program, rig boats appropriately and develop younger athletes. Club/School coaches will provide coaching to the majority of athletes and will be required to tutor rowers of all ages and physical capacities. These coaches will have a basic sports science knowledge. The course has two components, including an online course and a one-day workshop run by your state rowing association.

• ✓Level 1 completed
• ✓1 year of coaching experience as a Level 1 coach

RA now offers a Level 2 National Rowing Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NRCAS) online course. To register for the online Level 2 please click here.

Upon completion of the online course you will receive a certificate. You will need to send this to your State Rowing Association to reserve a place in their next available one-day workshop. The workshop will cover Rigging and Rowing Technique and includes assessment. The total cost of the course is $350.

Level 3

The Level 3 Coach is aimed at coaches intending to work with State level teams, junior National teams and School head coaches.

• ✓Level 2 completed
• ✓1 year of coaching experience as a Level 2 coach

Next Level 3 course: Rowing Australia has confirmed the next Level 3 course will run in 2027. Coaches wanting to register interest, or find out about the Rowing Australia Coaches Conference (Gold Coast, Sunday–Monday 25–26 October 2026), should contact Rowing SA’s coach education contact, Bec Lannan, at blannan@rowingsa.asn.au.

Level 4

The Level 4 Coach is an advanced accreditation level. It is aimed at ‘professional’ head coaches working within high performance clubs and National Training Center networks who are dealing with elite athletes.

• ✓1 year of coaching experience as a Level 3 coach

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Unaccredited coaches with existing experience can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning instead of completing a course from scratch. The cost is $66 for Level 1 and $154 for Level 2. Applicants need to follow the steps in Rowing Australia’s RPL Policy and Procedure.

Riggers

Rowing Australia also offers an online Riggers coaching accreditation course. This is an introduction to coaching indoor rowing using rowing ergometers. It is for anyone who wishes to deliver Rowing Australia’s Sporting Schools program called Riggers, including coaches, teachers and students over the age of 16 years. The cost of the Riggers course is $100.

Re-accreditation

Coaching accreditation lasts for four years, after which coaches need to reaccredit. You will need to list how you have earned the required number of points in both Practical Coaching and Personal Development over the last four years. For example: Coached MU19 4x at Nationals, Lake Barrington 2021 for Queens RC = 10 points, Gained Red Cross Senior First Aid, Melbourne, January 2022 = 10 points.

Re-accreditation is now done online through your coaching profile on the Rowing Australia Coaching Portal, including paying the re-accreditation fee and re-signing the Coach’s Code of Ethics electronically. Please ensure your Working With Children Check details are also kept up to date.

For any queries about coach education or accreditation, contact Rowing SA’s coach education contact, Bec Lannan, at blannan@rowingsa.asn.au.

Level 1 Coaches Course

Become an accredited Rowing Australia coach. Click the link to be taken to the online course for all beginner coaches.