Further to proposals offered by ICCE member the Hellenic Federation of Sport Coaches and Trainers (POPA), a new sports law has been implemented in Greece which regulates important issues of the coaches, bringing pioneering changes in their field.

Specifically, the new laws stipulate the following:

• Participation of a coach representative in the Boards of Federations if there is a Coaches Association in the respective sport
• Sports Federations, Sports Associations and sports clubs are obliged to employ a coach in every sport, individual or team – Olympic or not – and for every sport they cultivate; for all divisions, of all age and competition categories
• In the General Secretariat of Sports (GGA) a school is established under the name “National School of Coaches” (NSC), responsible for the training of coaches of all levels, for all sports and sports
• Coaches are distinguished in A ‘, B’ and C ‘level from the highest to the lowest, depending on their education and qualifications
• Awarding of diplomas for 3rd level (C) of the specific sport of the periodic coaching schools of the GGA or a corresponding diploma level of the National Coaching School of the GGA
• Every coach must contract in writing with the sports organization to which he provides his
  services under a full-time, part-time or periodic contract, contract work or independent
  services
• The association of coaches of the sport or, if there is no such, the relevant sports
  federation issues a Coach Identity Card (CIC) to those who have registered in the electronic
  register of coaches, kept in the General Secretariat of Sports

For the full document, please click here.

POPA are a partner of the Erasmus+ POPA project with the ICCE.  The project aims to strengthen coach representation at national and European level through the provision of guidance and support for existing and developing Coaches’ Associations in the EU. News of the new Greek law is welcomed by ICCE and the CF21 project.