Press Release
Ottawa, ON, September 16, 2023 - The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and its National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) partners invite sports enthusiasts and communities across the country to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of coaches. Spanning from September 16 to 24, National Coaches Week stands as a testament to the valuable contributions that coaches make in shaping athletes’ lives and nurturing a culture of excellence within sports.
National Coaches Week is the opportunity to echo this message across the nation and give a well-deserved shout-out to coaches who support and positively influence athletes and sport participants. This week provides everyone the opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play, simply by saying #ThanksCoach.
“National Coaches Week is about celebrating coaches from coast to coast to coast. We invite you to celebrate your experiences with great coaches with the #ThanksCoach hashtag, says Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the CAC. “This year the CAC launched the ‘Mental Health is our Sport’ resource hub and campaign. Share your stories of how your coach impacted your positive well-being!
The CAC presents National Coaches Week in collaboration with National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (P/TSOs) and Aboriginal Sport Bodies (ASB), Provincial and Territorial Coaching Representatives (P/TCRs), along with a myriad of clubs, organizations, and millions of athletes across Canada. NCW is an event for everyone across the country and acknowledges coaches working at all levels of sport – from community clubs to national and professional teams, highlighting their exceptional contributions. Coaching contributes significantly to volunteerism in Canada – it is estimated that 1 in 7 Canadians will coach at some point in their lifetime. More than 2 million individuals have accessed coach training offered through the NCCP. Half of the training sessions delivered through the NCCP this past year took place at the community level, where most coaches are volunteers.
In 2022, the National Coaches Week campaign acknowledged COVID-19’s impact and celebrated the coaches who supported a safe return to sport. The digital ad campaign generated more than 2.2 million impressions and over 4.4K engagements.
Charting the Path of Appreciation: How to Participate in National Coaches Week
Not only athletes can participate; volunteers, parents, and everyone in the sport community is invited to say #ThanksCoach and participate in National Coaches Week in many ways:
1. Explore the Marketing Toolkit:
The Marketing Toolkit page contains:
- The National Coaches Week Participation Guide
- A large library of digital promotional content for social media, emails, letters
- Guidance on how to make the most of the tools to make National Coaches Week a success for your coach, team, and organization!
2. Enjoy FREE NCCP Education:
From September 16 to the 24, coaches can diversify their coaching knowledge with free NCCP education. The CAC and its partners will be promoting 12 FREE eLearning modules during the week, which must be initiated on the day indicated below to take advantage of the free offer:
- Saturday, Sept 16: NCCP Making Head Way in Sport*
- Sunday, Sept 17: NCCP Emergency Action Plan module*
- Monday, Sept 18: NCCP Coach Initiation in Sport
- Tuesday, Sept 19: NCCP Creating a Positive Sport Environment
- Wednesday, Sept 20: NCCP Sport Nutrition
- Thursday, Sept 21: NCCP Coaching Athletes with a Disability
- Friday, Sept 22: NCCP Leading Drug Free Sport
- Saturday, Sept 23: Mental Health in Sport*
- Sunday, Sept 24: Support Through Sport Series: Four Modules*
*These eLearning modules are available for free throughout the year.
You can connect with your local P/TCR or NSO to learn more about their National Coaches Week events and log in to the Locker to access the free eLearning modules from September 14-26, 2023.
3. Join us in Amplifying the Message on Social Media:
Follow National Coaches Week on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram using #CoachesWeek and #ThanksCoach. And don’t forget to watch and share the National Coaches Week official video. Visit www.coach.ca/NationalCoachesWeek for updates and more information.
Media Contact:
Selma Baaziz
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Coaching Association of Canada
About National Coaches Week:
National Coaches Week (NCW) is a national annual event to celebrate and recognize coaches for the invaluable role they play in shaping athletes’ lives and fostering a positive sports culture. The Coaching Association of Canada provides resources to promote participation in this event, including encouraging sport organizations and athletes to share their own messages to say #ThanksCoach.