Disc golf is one of Australia’s fastest-growing sports, and it works almost anywhere: school ovals, public parks, community centres, and purpose-built courses. Whether you want to run sessions in schools, host come-and-try days, coach disability-specific programs, or deliver after-school and holiday activities, this free online course gives you the knowledge, practical skills, and formal accreditation to do it safely and confidently.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to introduce others to disc golf in a structured, safe, and inclusive way. That includes:
- PE teachers and school sport coordinators wanting to add disc golf to their curriculum
- Community coaches wanting to run come-and-try events or regular sessions
- Coaches and support workers delivering disability-specific programs
- Volunteers and club members running after-school or school holiday programs
- AFDA-accredited Ultimate coaches expanding into disc golf
- Anyone working in education, community sport, or support services who wants a formal coaching credential
No disc golf playing experience is required. Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are the only prerequisites.
What you’ll learn
By completing this course you will be able to:
- Explain the rules, terminology, and gameplay of disc golf to new players
- Identify the main disc types and describe their flight characteristics
- Teach fundamental putting, driving, and forehand techniques to beginners of any age or ability
- Plan and deliver structured disc golf sessions using ADG’s 5-Lesson Plan
- Adapt activities for different delivery contexts — schools, come-and-try days, disability-specific programs, and after-school or holiday programs
- Apply inclusive coaching approaches to support participants of diverse abilities, ages, and backgrounds
- Manage groups, maintain engagement, and apply practical behaviour management strategies
- Identify and manage safety risks specific to disc golf in open and shared-use environments
- Understand your duty of care, safeguarding obligations, and compliance requirements when working with children and vulnerable people
Course structure
The course is delivered online in 3 self-paced modules. Each module is unlocked by passing a short quiz. After completing all modules, you submit your compliance documents and a brief accreditation application.
| Module | Content | Time |
| 1. Understanding Disc Golf | The sport, disc types and flight characteristics, rules and scoring, terminology, the ADG Respect Agreement | ~60 min |
| 2. Coaching Disc Golf | Putting, driving, and forehand techniques. The ADG 5-Lesson Plan. Safety, compliance, and on-field risk management. Working With Children Checks, SIA safeguarding training, and first aid | ~75 min |
| 3. Putting It Into Practice | Coaching mindset and group engagement strategies. Adapting for come-and-try days, disability-specific programs, and after-school/holiday programs. Inclusive coaching approaches. Running your first session. Next steps after accreditation. Final assessment quiz (20 questions) and accreditation application | ~60 min |
Total time: approximately 3–4 hours at your own pace, plus time for external compliance training (WWCC and SIA Safeguarding).
What the course covers
Sport knowledge and coaching skills. Module 1 covers the fundamentals of disc golf — rules, equipment, scoring, and terminology. Module 2 builds your coaching toolkit with throwing techniques, the ADG 5-Lesson Plan, and session planning skills. You don’t need to be an expert thrower — you need to know how to teach beginners and keep them coming back.
Safety, safeguarding, and duty of care. Module 2 covers on-field risk management, Working With Children Check requirements, Sport Integrity Australia safeguarding training, first aid, and your responsibilities when working with children and vulnerable people. These principles are reinforced throughout the course, not treated as a standalone compliance exercise.
Practical coaching: mindset, behaviour management, and inclusion. Module 3 focuses on the reality of coaching: what makes a good coach, how to manage groups, how to keep participants engaged, and how to adapt your approach for different settings and participants. It includes dedicated guidance on coaching disability-specific programs, running come-and-try days, and delivering after-school and holiday programs.
Inclusive coaching. The course covers practical adaptations for participants of diverse abilities as part of core coaching practice.
Accreditation requirements
To receive your Level 1 – Community Coach accreditation, you must:
- Pass the Module 1 quiz (10 questions, 80% to pass)
- Pass the Module 2 quiz (15 questions, 80% to pass)
- Pass the Module 3 final assessment quiz (20 questions, 80% to pass)
- Hold a current Working with Children Check (or state/territory equivalent)
- Complete the SIA Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction (free online training)
- Hold a current first aid qualification, or confirm that a qualified first aider will be available at your sessions
- Agree to uphold the ADG Respect Agreement and the AFDA Code of Conduct
All quizzes can be retried as many times as needed.
How it works
- Register below with your name and email.
- You’ll receive an email with your link to Module 1.
- Complete each module and pass the quiz to unlock the next one.
- After passing all 3 quizzes, submit your accreditation application with your compliance documents.
- Your application will be reviewed within 5–10 business days and your accreditation issued via email.
Start your compliance early: The WWCC and SIA Safeguarding training can take time to process. We recommend starting these as soon as you register so they’re ready when you reach Module 3. SIA training is free at Sport Integrity Australia. Register, complete the module “Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction” and save a screenshot for submission.
This accreditation has been developed using resources from Australian Disc Golf, in partnership with RAD Creations and Bespoke Disc Golf. It incorporates Sport Integrity Australia safeguarding requirements, including the SIA Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction and Working with Children Checks, and has been designed to support delivery within education, community sport, and disability service contexts.
Coaches agree to uphold the ADG Respect Agreement and the AFDA Code of Conduct.