The SPA and NSRCA pattern sequences for Novice/Sportsman are quite different. You should probably pick one or the other based on what is more commonly flown at your club and in your region. Having friends with which to practice is quite handy, and if you're the only pilot flying SPA while everyone else in your club is practicing NSRCA schedules, you might end up without anyone to call for you. You can fly both, but you'd have to learn and practice two completely different schedules.

If you discover that most of the pattern pilots you fly with are NSRCA pattern fliers, you're in luck. The World Models Spot On 50 would also be an excellent choice for learning to fly NSRCA pattern routines. The National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics website has listings of all schedules (routines) for each class of pattern from Sportsman on up, they also have .PDF slide shows of each sequence that explains each manuever and how it is judged and scored. There is also an event calender that notifies you of all upcoming sanctioned pattern contests.

The Sportsman schedule:

http://www.nsrca.us/ama-classes/sportsman.html

The Sportsman sequence explained in detail:

http://nsrca.us/documents/judging/cu...rtsman2007.pdf

The calender of district events:

http://nsrca.us/calendartop/districteventslist.html

The calender is a little clunky to navigate, but at least it's there.

Whichever type of pattern you decide to fly, you're in for great deal of fun. Practicing and learning your particular routine is very rewarding. Your very first actual contest while flying in front of judges can be very daunting, but you'll be surprised at how helpful and encouraging experienced competitors are with regard to "new guys." Even if you go out and stink it up during your first contest, pattern pilots are glad to see folks coming out and giving it a try.