The Sports Ministry is planning to create a dedicated National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to improve the standards of coaching in the country and bridge the gap between demand and supply of resources.

The decision follows recommendations from the P. Gopichand-led Task Force’s submitted in January. The NCAB will be tasked with, among other things, creating a National Coach Registry and preparation of Long Term Athlete Development-based coaching standards. The project is likely to be initially implemented in a couple of federations.

The ministry hopes it will lead to standardisation of coaching and better scientific support for athletes. “At the moment, there is absence of proper sports science and also reluctance on the part of coaches to accept and adopt new suggestions. We are also looking at better integration of coaching and sports science,” Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said during an interaction here on Thursday.

The ministry has also approved the conversion of Sports Authority of India’s existing training centre in Shillong into a specialised High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) at an estimated cost of ₹150 crore in partnership with the NSE Foundation.

The HATC, with a 450-athlete capacity, will have a dedicated sports science building, elite residential complex, indoor heated swimming pool and natural training trails. India currently has HATCs in Shilaroo, Uttarkashi and Ooty besides one in Leh catering to para athletes.