Coaching Revamp Along Pullela Gopichand-Led Unit's Proposal To Be Implemented In Phases, Says Sports Minister

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Thursday that the recommendations from the Pullela Gopichand-led Task Force for revamping India’s coaching ecosystem will be implemented gradually. Among the initial steps is the establishment of a national board for accreditation and governance.

In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha regarding measures to strengthen India’s coaching network, Mandaviya outlined the Task Force’s recommendations.

“Implementation of the Task Force recommendations will be phased. Initial steps include the establishment of the National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) and finalising a unified curriculum, followed by the rollout of licensing and tiered pathways,” Mandaviya stated in the upper house without providing

a specific timeline.

The nine-member Task Force, led by Gopichand, who is also the national badminton coach, described India’s coaching ecosystem as fragmented, inconsistent, and overly dependent on individual effort rather than institutional strength.

The 43-page report proposed several remedies to fix the system, which was designed decades ago and cannot meet the scale, quality, and speed required today for international excellence.

It suggested a three-tier system overseen by a certification board and a Government-funded Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for coaches, similar to the one for athletes.

The Task Force advocated for a practice-oriented training model, mandatory licensing and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for coaches, performance-based evaluation mechanisms, and strengthening ethics, safety, and inclusivity in coaching.

The NCAB is proposed as an apex authority responsible for setting national standards for coach education and accreditation.

Its responsibilities would include approving and monitoring coaching pathways, accrediting coach education institutions, and designing a unified core curriculum across sports.

The Task Force recommended implementing a structured, tiered national coaching pathway encompassing Grassroots, Intermediate, Elite, and National Team coaches.

Additionally, the panel suggested that former athletes should receive credit for their competitive experience during certification, along with stringent entry criteria for coaches at various levels.

(With Inputs From Agencies)