This report is about the Newcomer Coaching Mentorship Project (NCMP), a collaborative initiative between the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and Action for Healthy Communities (AHC). NCMP aims to support newcomers to Canada trying to integrate into the Canadian sports system through the mentorship project.
The NCMP was piloted over a six-month period, from February to August 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. The project was based on CAC’s Female Coach Mentorship Model and gave the opportunity to six newcomers to Canada and paired them with experienced coaches in their sports. Established Canadian coaches guided mentees through the process of achieving their coaching certifications and acclimating to the Canadian sports environment, culture, legislation, and norms. Six newcomers to Canada were enrolled to the project, however, only four of them graduated. NCMP included comprehensive research, that is presented in a separate document. In this report, we provide information about the NCMP, its structure, and the evaluation of mentees and mentors’ experiences and progression.
The main outcomes of the NCMP were that the mentorship initiative considerably enhanced the participants’ comprehension of the Canadian sports scene, refined their coaching skills, and boosted their self-assurance in pursuing coaching roles.
The implications of these discoveries are significant as they emphasize the importance of tailored mentorship projects in addressing the unique challenges faced by newcomer coaches. The report concludes with recommendations for scaling the project and implementing similar initiatives nationwide to promote diversity and inclusion in sports coaching.