Game for Life (GFL) Programme by Character and Leadership Development (CLD), Coach SG

Introduction / What is CLD?

CoachSG's aspiration is to be recognised as a world-class centre for coaching and leadership. This entails inspiring lifelong professional and personal development as well as programme excellence.  The Character and Leadership Development (CLD) team within CoachSG focuses on character development, values education, and leadership development through sport - for both coaches and SportSG staff.

The CLD team focuses on curriculum development and capacity building of sport coaches and educators to facilitate positive behavioural and character development outcomes. One of the initiatives curated is the Game-For-Life (GFL) framework to encourage values-driven coaching practices. Initiatives include the GFL Mentoring Programme, GFL Documentary Series (which, to-date, profiles five exemplary coaches) and Values & Principles in Sport certification. In addition, the team runs onboarding programmes and cross-cultural communication workshops for national coaches. It is also involved in developing the coach competency framework to ensure intentionality in coaches’ upskilling.

Within SportSG, CLD assists in developing leadership competencies by working with different divisions in SportSG on upskilling and supporting their leaders and staff through leadership programmes (e.g. DISC workshops and sports-based team development interventions).

Given the need to be intentional and purposeful in the design of sport programmes to inculcate character values and attributes, the GFL framework provides a structure for developing character and leadership through sport. It contains practical approaches to enhance character development efforts. Its broad design offers a catalyst that still allows significant custom-crafting by sport coaches and educators. Individual coaches, clubs and educational institutions have substantial leeway to devise their own approach to performance and character development. 

The Framework, which was first initiated/introduced in 2013, constitutes three elements that must be integrated and implemented for effectiveness: 

• identifying values and attributes of good character; 

• establishing platforms through which desirable values can be developed; 

• executing a purposeful action plan for intentional teaching and effective values development. 

Why did CoachSG start the GFL Mentoring Programme

The affective domain in coaching practice is not widely emphasised by practising coaches in Singapore. Based on a review conducted amongst stakeholders in 2019, training and upskilling of our coaches was identified as a key opportunity for Character and Leadership Development through Sport (CLDS). Specifically, key components identified were the provision of 

(i) support programmes, and 

(ii) competency certifications to allow employers to identify competent CLDS practitioners.  

Hence, in late 2020, CoachSG initiated its first formal structured mentoring programme to develop and certify coaches who are competent in using sport as a platform for character development. PE teachers who are also a registered NROC coach continue to be welcomed to apply. 

The programme is anchored on SportSG’s Game-for-Life (GFL) framework’s approach to the intentional design of sporting activities and training sessions to facilitate the learning of values. Interested coaches / educators will be matched to an experienced mentor to guide them on effectively integrating the affective domain within their coaching practice before being assessed for their competency through observation of a coaching session.  

To date, the mentoring programme has had four intakes, consisting of 94 coaches / educators, anchored by a consistent group of 21 mentors. Our mentors comprise former and current practising coaches with a wide range of coaching expertise. There are also experienced former PE teachers and HODs (e.g. Mr Louis Ho), NIE lecturers (e.g. Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang), and some who have been both (e.g. Mr Alan Ch’ng, Mr Alvin Ong and Mr Kiran Kumar). Their mentoring of teachers on incorporating affective domains and values into students’ learning has benefited many of our mentees in this programme.

The programme’s overall feedback has been positive, with 95% of mentees (n=66) agreeing both that (i) the mentoring was beneficial to their development as a values-driven coach and (ii) they would recommend the programme to other coaches.

To ensure that this programme continues to remain robust and relevant to the needs of our coaches, reviews and appropriate enhancements are made after each intake. 

Examples of such enhancements include: 

• Revising the eligibility criteria for the selection of mentees 

• Establishing clearer delivery standards for benchmarking competency levels of coaches  

• Initiatives to provide upskilling opportunities for potential, new and existing mentors 

Through this programme, CoachSG hopes to bring more clarity to the coaching standards and competencies needed to effectively design sporting experiences that produce character development. The programme also allows ‘role-model’ coaches/educators in the area of CLDS to be identified and developed - for the coaching profession to leverage to build a community of coaches/educators that shares best practices.

More information on the structure and components of the mentoring programme can be found here: https://coachsg.sportsingapore.gov.sg/game-for-life-mentoring

What's next?

Back to content page - 2023 SPEA Newsletter Issue No.1 (June/July)

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