The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has announced a major change to the coaching courses offered by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala. The existing Six-Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching will be replaced by a Four-Week Certificate Course from 2027.
According to an official NSNIS circular dated October 23, 2026, the first session of the new course will be held in May–June 2027.
The biggest change is that the entire course will now take place offline. Earlier, candidates attended online theory classes for four weeks before completing two weeks of practical training at a designated centre. Under the new format, participants will have to attend all four weeks of classes and training in person.
What Has Changed in the New Course?
Under the old system, the six-week course was divided into two parts:
- Four weeks of online theory classes.
- Two weeks of offline practical training.
From 2027, the course will be reduced to four weeks, and all classes and practical sessions will be conducted offline.
Physical attendance will be compulsory for every participant. The institute has also made it clear that there will be no online or hybrid option.
This means the total course duration will be reduced by two weeks, while candidates will have to attend the complete programme at their allotted training centres.
However, NSNIS has not yet released the new course timetable or explained how the theory and practical sessions will be divided across the four weeks.
How Did the Previous Courses Work?
Looking at the previous two editions gives us an idea of the admission and training schedule.
For the 2025 course, applications opened on March 20 and closed on April 14. Online classes began on May 6 and continued until June 2. The theory examination was held on June 6, followed by practical training from June 16 to July 2.
In 2026, applications opened on April 1, with April 22 as the last date. Online classes were held from May 18 to June 15. Practical training was then conducted in five different groups between June 23 and September 30.
For 2027, the first session is scheduled for May–June. However, the exact application and training dates are still awaited.
What Were the Previous Fees and Eligibility Requirements?
Under the previous six-week course, the total fee was ₹14,800.
The fee included:
- Course fee: ₹10,000
- Establishment and miscellaneous charges: ₹4,000
- Library fee: ₹300
- Syllabus and notes: ₹500
Candidates also had to pay a non-refundable application fee of ₹1,000. Boarding and lodging charges were extra, wherever applicable.
For eligibility, candidates were required to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board and meet the prescribed sports-achievement requirements. These included participation or achievements at district, state, university, national or international-level competitions.
However, NSNIS has not confirmed whether these same rules will apply to the new course in 2027. The new fees, age limit and eligibility conditions will be announced separately.
What Information Is Still Awaited?
Although the new course format and its first session have been announced, several important details are still missing.
NSNIS will issue a separate admission notification with details about:
- Educational and sports eligibility.
- Application opening and closing dates.
- Admission and selection process.
- Course fees and application charges.
- Number of seats available.
- Sports disciplines offered.
- Training centres.
- Revised curriculum and course schedule.
Is This Change Applicable to the One-Year NIS Diploma?
No. The new announcement is specifically about the Six-Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching.
It is separate from the regular one-year Diploma in Sports Coaching offered by NSNIS. The diploma is a longer programme spread across two semesters and includes subjects such as sports science, coaching theory, practical training, sports psychology, biomechanics and sports nutrition.
The October 23 circular does not announce any change to the one-year diploma programme.