Adoption of coaching, safety and governance standards

869. Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh: To ask the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) how does the Ministry encourage the adoption of coaching, safety and governance standards among sport programmes operated by private commercial entities, industry partners, or community groups; (b) whether adherence to these standards is voluntary or are they required to partner national sports associations; and (c) what levers beyond engagement or accreditation exist to incentivise the adoption of these standards. 

Response:

1.             The National Registry of Coaches (NROC), the National Registry of Exercise Professionals (NREP), and the Safe Sport Unified Code under SportSG set baseline requirements for professional certification, standard first aid, and safe sport practices for coaches and exercise professionals.

2.             SportSG and public agencies that engage the services of significant numbers of coaches and exercise professionals have taken the lead to adopt these standards by engaging only NROC-registered coaches or NREP-registered exercise professionals for their programmes and initiatives. Some NSAs have also done so. For example, Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) requires all coaches at SSF-affiliated clubs, events and programmes to have full NROC membership from 1 July 2025.

3.             At this point in time, rather than mandating this, we are taking the approach to encourage private commercial entities and community groups to do so voluntarily, so that we can uplift standards for the sector together.

4.             We will continue to engage with the sector to encourage the adoption of these standards and monitor their impact on the industry and the sporting community.