News

PCA Australia will be hosting the following International Events in the forthcoming years.

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTED GAMES  IN 2012      

INTER PACIFIC EXCHANGE IN 2015

PCA NATIONALS

will be hosted in

2011 by Victoria

2013  by Western Australia

2015 by  South Australia

PCA Rollout of new NCAS preliminary Coaching Manual

On Saturday 9th August 2008 Pony Club Australia rolled out the new PCA NCAS Preliminary Coaching Manual & Log Book.

The rollout took place at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport where a total of around 40 Instructors from all States/Territory throughout Australia arrived for a very successful weekend workshop which included a Dinner on the Saturday evening.

Pictured below are Greg Bailey National President and President of Pony Club South Australia, Clare Lewin Coaching Director of Pony Club Victoria and Don Nixon the past President of Pony Club Australia

REPORT

Pony Club Australia National Coaching Accreditation Scheme

Connie Rasso and David Levens from SportEd Victoria, the educational arm of The Victorian Institute of Sport, conducted an interactive assessor training workshop.

The workshop was non-sport specific and aimed at introducing and reinforcing the concept of competency based assessment. During the day participants were encouraged to reflect on their own performance through;

• Self assessment
• Correct use of questioning
• use of assessment tools

At the end of the day participants took part in a series of role playing scenarios which helped reinforce the messages learnt during the day

A Course Dinner was held on Saturday evening which provided a wonderful networking opportunity for delegates from across the country to exchange ideas on Pony Club in their area.

Sunday August 10th – PCA NCAS & Sports CONNECT launch

Clare Lewin from PCAV gave a presentation on the new NCAS course, which included competency based assessment, flexible delivery and inclusive coaching techniques. Participants were provided with a copy of the course material and given a comprehensive introduction which included;

• the differences between the old an new courses
• an introduction to the new terminology
• how competency based assessment can work in the Pony Club environment
• The Sports CONNECT and Inclusive Coaching message

Participants were given a Sports CONNECT pack which included the brochure and Exemption System paper work. They were then walked through the process of applying for exemptions where required. Examples of using adaptive equipment, exemptions from rules and general inclusive techniques were highlighted and discussed.

At the end of the session there was an opportunity to workshop individual plans for rolling out the new course and spread the Sports CONNECT message in each individual state/territory.

In Summary

This work shop provided a unique opportunity for pony club coaches from around Australia to come together. It is the first time such a large and truly representative group has been brought together at a national level. Those present were all very experienced and actively involved with coaching in their own state/territory and will be able to spread the information they have received down to grass roots at club level. They all enjoyed the opportunity to interact and share ideas on pony club and the challenges and opportunities they faced.

Participants

PCANSW - 4

PCANT - 2

PCAQLD - 10

PCASA - 8

PCATAS - 3

PCAWA - 5

PCAV - 17

Total - 49 participants