The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), as the leader of coach education and training in Canada, is pleased to announce a partnership with Football Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) to develop two sport-specific eLearning modules as part of their involvement in the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Active and Safe Initiative.
The Government of Canada is investing $1.5 million in this collaborative initiative led by the CAC, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Hockey Canada and ThinkFirst Canada which aims to reduce the incidence of brain injuries in team sports and improve decision-making about when it is safe to return to play after a head injury.
“Brain injuries are a significant issue, and these two sport organizations have really stepped up to be leaders,” said Cyndie Flett, Vice-President of Research and Development at the CAC. “The participation numbers in these two sports alone will translate into huge reach, and represent a tremendous opportunity to positively impact the sport experiences of Canadian children and youth.”
The importance for coaches, trainers and parents to be educated about the signs and symptoms of concussions, about proper equipment fitting, and the proper fundamentals of contact, in a collision sport like football, cannot be understated.
“The safety of our players is our number one priority,” said Rick Sowieta, Director of Sport at Football Canada. “Football Canada is extremely pleased to be part of this collaborative opportunity that will give us the ability to reach out to all of our football stakeholders regarding brain injury awareness and prevention.”
The CSA, as Canada’s largest participation sport’s governing body, has recognized that it is vital for coaches, trainers and parents to be educated about the risks associated with head injuries and to have access to tools that will enable them to learn how to manage such injuries as they occur — ensuring safe participation for all.
“A constant focus of the Canadian Soccer Association, and its Members Associations, has always been to foster a positive and safe soccer environment for all participants, from grassroots to national teams,” said Peter Montopoli, General Secretary of the CSA. “This initiative will provide front-line contributors additional tools so they can have that valuable impact on our Canadian soccer players across the country.”
Both organizations plan to integrate these eLearning modules directly into their National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) pathways, ensuring that they reach the maximum number of coaches.
The CAC will collaborate with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Hockey Canada and ThinkFirst Canada on this initiative.
About Football Canada
Established in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, they develop programs and resources for players, coaches, officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag and Touch Football. Football Canada’s vision statement is “from playground to stadium” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively and internationally.
About the Canadian Soccer Association
The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its membership and its partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but also encourages Canadians to develop a life-long passion for soccer. For more details on the Canadian Soccer Association, visit CanadaSoccer.com
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches.
The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is the CAC’s flagship program and has been identified as a world leader in coach education. It is currently the largest adult continuing education program in Canada. The CAC is committed to ensuring that all coaches receive training based on best practices in instructional design, ethical decision‐making and with content that is relevant, current and which leads to the development of competent coaches.
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