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FIFA Coach Educators’ Development Pathway workshop
FIFA and Canada Soccer collaborated to host a first-of-its-kind FIFA Coach Educators’ Development Pathway workshop specifically targeting women coach developers (educators). The five-day workshop took place from 8-12 April and saw participants from across eight Canadian provinces travel to Vaughan, Ontario to take part in the course.
The workshop was led by women master coach developers with the support of experts from both the FIFA Coach Education and Women’s Football Departments; representatives from Concacaf and the Coaching Association of Canada were onsite observing the workshop.
The coaches who took part in the event are completing the necessary components needed to be equipped to teach the C-diploma across the country. This program is one of many strategic initiatives Canada Soccer has organised to foster gender equity at all levels within the nation’s Grassroots and Advanced Coaching landscape.
“It was an honour to welcome leaders in women’s soccer from across the country and to host and collaborate with FIFA on this incredible initiative,” said Dave Nutt, Interim Director of Development at Canada Soccer. “The FIFA Coach Educators’ Development Pathway provides us with a framework and an opportunity to further develop our coach education workforce. Building a diverse and representative cohort of coach educators is a goal of the 2022-2026 Canada Soccer Strategic Plan and this initiative is a wonderful step in the journey toward achieving that goal.”
In January 2024, those selected to take part in the workshop were introduced to asynchronous and synchronous components to create a learning environment rooted in adult learning principles to help them better understand how “theories of practice” can assist them in developing their own personal “practice theories”.
“It was truly a privilege to have been part of the Coach Educator’s Development Course. Changing the environment and the culture, but not the expectations or standards, will allow passionate, driven women to step into leadership roles and become models for future generations. The wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for pushing the women’s game forward was evident to everyone involved.” said Taylor Peiser, Coach Development workshop participant.
The workshop provided an opportunity for the coach developers to apply newly learned concepts, reflect on their practices, receive peer-to-peer feedback, as well as gain a network of support.
“Continuous collaboration between FIFA and Canada Soccer has progressed to the next level. The first ever female-only coach educators course has been successfully organized,” said Branimir Ujevic, Head of Coaching Development at FIFA. “We’ve been able to work together with such a great group of ambitious young coach educators who are willing to make changes in the women’s coaching landscape all over Canada and inspire a new generation of female coaches. We are already excited about the next opportunity to collaborate with Canada Soccer and experience together FIFA’s motto: Football unites the world”
Following the completion of the on-site workshop, the participating coach educators will receive continued mentorship and support to co-facilitate the Canada Soccer C-diploma. Once all the necessary components have been completed Canada Soccer will welcome 13 new women Coach Developers who are equipped to deliver the C-diploma across the country.
Congratulations to the following women who took part in the workshop;
| Name | Member Association |
| Yasamin Alipour | BC Soccer |
| Sue Herring | BC Soccer |
| Cat Fox | Alberta Soccer |
| Ashlyn Therens | Saskatchewan Soccer |
| Miranda Wiley | Ontario Soccer |
| Hollie Babut | Ontario Soccer |
| Gabriella Trichilo | Ontario Soccer |
| Gilleanne Estrada-Cortez | Soccer Quebec |
| Taylor Peiser | Soccer Quebec |
| Natalie Fleming | Soccer New Brunswick |
| Marisa Colzie | Soccer Nova Scotia |
| Kimberly Kennedy | Newfoundland Soccer |
| Alexandra Valerio | Canada Soccer |
| Connie Marshall | Canada Soccer |
| Vanessa Martinez | Canada Soccer |
TELUS She CAN Coach
TELUS She CAN Coach is a national coach recruitment, development, and training project designed for women to address the challenges they face regarding soccer participation.
Learn more about the TELUS She CAN Coach Program
AccelerateHER
The AccelerateHER initiative will provide comprehensive support to women participating in Canada Soccer’s Advanced Coach Education Program. The program will empower and train a substantial number of women coaches. The program will also establish a progressive development pathway for women coaches, aligning them with the highest coaching standards in the country.
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