Mentorship -

Given the widespread success of mentorship for professionals in non-sport domains, it is not surprising that mentorship has become a targeted development strategy for supporting new coaches in the sport domain. Current national strategies have targeted under-represented populations in coaching such as women and aboriginal coaches.

Some provincial sport organizations (PSO) have also implemented various forms of formal and informal mentorship. Contact your PSO to find out if they have a mentorship program in place.

Programs for Women

The Canada Games Apprenticeship Program:

The Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send 2 female coaches to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles. Selected coaches have direct involvement in preparation and competition and receive support from an identified mentor coach throughout the duration of the program.

University Female Coach Mentorship Program:

In 2015, the CAC piloted a University Female Coach Mentorship Program with three Canadian Interuniversity Sport Universities (USport) aimed at increasing the pool of female coaches in the Canadian University system. As a result of the program, within one year, the number of female assistant coaches in the program increased from three to 13.

The CAC continues to support the increased recruitment and retention of female coaches through financial and human resource support, and building strategic partnerships with Universities with similar objectives. Grants of up to $5,000 per year are available to U Sports Universities that provide a matching grant to support the coach for a one-year or two-year term.

Black Female Coach Mentorship Program:

The Black Female Coach Mentorship Program is a pilot mentorship program that seeks to create equitable opportunities for Black female coaches in Canada.

Programs for Aboriginals

Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP): The AACP is a partnership between the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies, the Provincial/Territorial Coaching Representatives, the Canada Games Council, and the Coaching Association of Canada. The program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send 2 coaches of aboriginal ancestry to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles.