As the seventh annual National Coaches Week approaches, the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and its National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) partners are encouraging Canada’s sport community to thank its coaches for their commitment and dedication to a safe return to sport as they navigate the ever-changing challenges the sport community has been facing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Taking place September 18-26, National Coaches Week is a time to recognize and acknowledge the valuable contributions that coaches make to the quality of life in communities across Canada. It provides everyone the opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play, simply by saying #ThanksCoach. 

“National Coaches Week is a key opportunity to shine a light on coaches who have had a significant impact on their athletes and participants, their teams, and their communities,” says Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of the CAC.  “Despite the slowdown in sport brought on by COVID-19, coaches from coast to coast to coast found ways to motivate and inspire physical and mental health in a virtual world. “This past year reinforced the continued dedication of coaches to build resiliency as leaders in sport development throughout the country.“ 

The restrictions on in-person gatherings and physical distancing guidelines due to COVID-19 this past year have had an impact on sport activities. Despite being physically separated from their teams and participants, coaches have found innovative new ways to engage and motivate them through the pandemic. For example, coaches have: 

  • pursued their Professional Development within the NCCP through eLearning opportunities in the Locker, the CAC’s online coach education platform; 

  • supported their teams’ and participants’ mental health and well-being through CAC eLearning modules and web conferences; 

  • helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to new Return-to-Play guidelines. 

The CAC presents National Coaches Week in collaboration with National Sport Organizations, their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations and Aboriginal Sport Bodies, Provincial and Territorial Coaching Representatives, and the thousands of clubs and millions of athletes across Canada. It is open to everyone across the country and acknowledges coaches working at all levels of sport – from community clubs up to national and professional teams. 

Coaching contributes significantly to volunteerism in Canada – one in seven Canadians will coach at some point in their lifetime. This year, the CAC has reached a new milestone with over 2 million coach records able to access coach training offered through the National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP) and its partners.  Nearly half of the training sessions in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) this past year took place at the community level, where most coaches are volunteers. 

The 2020 National Coaches Week campaign acknowledged COVID-19’s impact and celebrated the coaches who supported a safe return to sport. The digital campaign generated 8.4 million impressions, a 71% increase over 2019, and generated over 14,370 posts using one of the campaign hashtags on Twitter and Instagram.  

The event calendar enabled organizations to post their celebrations, and the CAC made 5 eLearning modules freely available during the week. The modules were completed over 4,388 times, with 2,300 new accounts created in the Locker. 

How to Participate 

Athletes, participants, volunteers, and parents can participate in National Coaches Week in many ways: 

  1. Explore the Participation Guide: The National Coaches Week Participation Guide contains everything you need to make National Coaches Week a success for your coach, team, and organization. 
  2. Enjoy FREE or discounted NCCP education: During National Coaches Week, coaches can diversify their coaching knowledge with free or discounted NCCP education. Connect with your local P/TCR, or National Sport Organization to learn more about their National Coaches Week events, or log in to the Locker to access specific eLearning modules for free from September 18-26, 2021. 
  3. Join us on social media: Follow National Coaches Week on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #CoachesWeek and #ThanksCoach. And don’t forget to watch and share the National Coaches Week official video.  
  4. Join a community event: Organize a community event to say #ThanksCoach, or join one taking place in your province or territory. Submit your event to our National Coaches Week Event Calendar or use it to find an event near you! 
  5. Say ‘Thanks, Coach’ with a National Coaches Week Gift: Show your appreciation for everything your coaches do for you, your team, and your community with a National Coaches Week-branded notebook, tumbler,or backpack. Now available through our eStore. 
  6. Join Petro-CanadaTM to say #ThanksCoach! Take part in the Petro-Canada #ThanksCoach contest to win daily prizes for you and your coach during National Coaches Week. Visit coach.ca/NCW for full contest details to qualify. 

For up-to-date information on National Coaches Week, visit www.coach.ca/NationalCoachesWeek and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #CoachesWeek and #ThanksCoach.