JANUARY 2011 FEATURE

Examining the Impact of Coaching Apprenticeship Programs

by Rose Mercier

Two apprenticeship programs for women coaches that have been operating for several years recently conducted evaluations on their impact. Although anecdotally and intuitively the programs seemed to be on target, the Coaching Association of Canada’s (CAC’s) Women in Coaching Program (WiC) and the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) wanted evidence that their investment was delivering the desired results. While the evaluations reveal that both programs are having a positive impact in terms of supporting women to continue coaching, this article goes beyond the numbers and gets the perspective of eight coaches who have been participants.

The Programs

The WiC Canada Games Apprenticeship Program (CGAP) is a partnership among CAC, the Canada Games Council, the provincial and territorial governments, Sport Canada, and the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (P/TSO). Coaches are recommended by the P/TSO and selected by their respective provincial or territorial government. Up to two coaches per jurisdiction can participate in the program at any one time. They are supported by the program’s partners to experience the full period of preparation and competition of their sport’s Canada Games team while working with a mentor coach. This facilitates their completion of Level 3 of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), which is compulsory for all Canada Games coaches. The apprentice coaches also attend two professional development seminars designed and facilitated by WiC.

To date, three programs have led up to the Canada Games in 2005, 2007, and 2009. Currently, a group of 19 apprentice coaches are involved in the CGAP preparing for the 2011 Halifax Winter Canada Games. Excluding the 2011 participants, there have been 61 participants from 24 sports in 10 provinces and two territories; only Nunavut has yet to have a participant.

The CCAA Female Apprenticeship Program is entering its sixth year. The program is aimed at the rich source of potential female coaches in the ranks of graduating student-athletes and at creating a new coaching position for the apprentice coach. The CCAA’s goal is to have at least one female coach on the staff of each women’s sport program. Institutions that offer apprentice coach positions within the CCAA sports of soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, golf, and cross country running receive a grant. The grant is identified for professional development opportunities in either NCCP or related coach education and for operational costs associated with the apprentice coach.

Since its beginning in the 2005/06 academic year, the program has supported 76 apprentice coaches; in 2010/11, 20 apprentice coaches are being supported.

The Evaluations

The CGAP evaluation report was completed in March 2010. The report was based on an online survey that solicited input from all previous participants; 50 per cent replied. The survey reported that 70 per cent of the apprentices are currently coaching, with 27 per cent indicating that they are planning to return to coaching in the future. The report also found that 74 per cent of the respondents had advanced their coaching certification status; all were NCCP Level 2 certified and 23 per cent were Level 3 certified. Two-thirds of the respondents reported that the program assisted with advancement in their coaching career.

The CCAA evaluation covered the 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, and 2008/09 programs. The evaluation was completed in 2008/09 and utilized an online survey and follow-up interview. The survey had a 54 per cent response rate. Of those who responded, 63 per cent were still coaching, with just over half now CCAA assistant coaches; another third were still involved with a CCAA apprentice program. During the program, 65 per cent completed NCCP Level 1 Theory and Technical components, 56 per cent completed Level 2 Theory and Technical components, and 13 per cent completed Level 3 Theory and Technical components.

A synopsis of the evaluation reports suggests that both programs are succeeding in starting and advancing coaching careers. But numbers never tell the full story so the author spoke with eight coaches to get further insight into the impact of their apprenticeship experience.