FAQ from Women Coaching and Officiating in Alberta
These Frequently Asked Questions have been complied with input and suggestions from women in Alberta who
are/have been/want to be coaches or officials.
Do you have a question about coaching and officiating?
Please submit through this form
Coaches
For coaching, National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PSOs or PTSOs) and Local Sport Organizations (LSOs) work together to support the sport system at all levels.
These three levels of sport organizations work together with the Coaching Association of Canada to offer, deliver and support coaching courses. Where you access coaching courses would depend on a variety of factors including your sport, the level you would like to coach at, and your location.
A great first step in learning about a sports coaching pathway is to contact or look up information from your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO). An example web search like, "coaching baseball in Alberta" would be a great start for more information on coaching baseball in Alberta.
Sport coaching pathways are unique and there are a combination of both Sport Specific and Multisport Modules/Courses that will be required. In Alberta the Sport Specific Modules are most often offered through the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO).
In Alberta, the Multisport Modules are offered through Alberta Sport and the Alberta NCCP Multisport Calendar. This page also includes descriptions of the Multisport Coaching Modules, ELearning Opportunities, Home Study Program and the Canada Games Apprenticeship Coach Program. Any questions can be directed through their contact information on the Multisport Calendar Page.
The Coaching Association of Canada provides education and training on becoming a mentor, a mentee, and how to start a mentorship program for organizations. They also have a newly redesigned Female Coach Mentorship Model.
If you are looking for a mentor in your local area, connect with your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) or Local Sport Organization (LSO) to ask if/how they support mentorship in their coaching and officiating pathways, this can include women only events, professional development, tournaments, etc.
Coaching Mentorship Programs
Connecting with coaching networks in your community can be a start to find coaches who might fit with you and your team.
- Ask a Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PSOs or PTSOs) and/or Local Sport Organizations (LSOs) if they have any mechanisms to connect coaches. This may include message boards, newsletters, networking events and social media.
- Go to our ask a question area above to ask a question of other women in coaching and officiating roles.
- Depending on what level you are coaching, another place to look into could be post-secondary institutions or older age divisions of your sport.
A critical component for all coaching staff will be ensuring there are clear roles and responsibilities for each member, so the work can be distributed across the group, to ensure not all duties are the head coaches responsibility.
Officials
For officiating, National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and Local Sport Organizations (LSOs) work together to support the sport system at all levels. These three levels of sport organizations work together to offer, deliver and support officiating courses and training.
Where you access officiating courses would depend on a variety of factors including your sport, the level you would like to officiate at, and your location. Officiating does not have a national organizations like the Coaching Association of Canada does. Therefore sometimes officials are supported and managed by the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs), the Local Sport Organization (LSO), or sometimes they are supported through their own not for profit officiating organization at either level.
Some sports in Alberta have local/regional/provincial officials associations that oversee official development outside of the PTSO. Your sport PTSO can help connect you with the officiating group that would be the most appropriate for your context.
A great first step in learning about a sports officiating pathway is to contact or look up information from your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO). Sport officiating pathways are unique to each sport and might be linked to the Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO), Local Sport Organization (LSO), and/or sometimes they have their own officials/referee association separate from the PTSO or LSO.
An example web search like, "being an official for ringette in Alberta" would be a great start for more information on officiating ringette in Alberta and to find where to go for more information in your area.
When seeking mentorship support in officiating, connect with your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) or Local Sport Organization (LSO) to inquire about any:
- Officiating/referee mentorship development programs
- Official networks/organizations
- Other officiating resources available in your location
Additional Supports, Resources & Information
InMotion Network Get Inspired Stories - Through Take the Lead learn about some Alberta organizations who are working to get more women and girls in coaching, officiating and leadership roles.
Many Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations support women in coaching and officiating through networks, professional development opportunities, and women only events/training. Check in with your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) and/or Local Sport Organizations (LSO) to see what supports they provide or if they have funding/programs to support women in leadership, coaching and officiating roles.
Nationally, Canadian Women in Sport offers a Gender Equity in Coaching Grant program that supports sport leaders to advance gender equity in sport.
The Coaching Association of Canada provides a variety of resources, education and programs to support women in coaching.
This includes:
In Alberta the InMotion Network - Take the Lead provides support for leadership development for women and girls through a not for profit host, like a PTSO or LSO.
Nationally Canadian Women and Sport offers Gender Equity In Coaching - this program is geared to Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations.
Check in with your PTSO to see what supports they provide or if they have funding to support women in leadership roles.
Local Sport Organizations (LSOs) and Clubs are often organized and supported by volunteers who might be new to the Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation System in Alberta. In addition to your Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) and/or National Sport Organization (NSO), here are some organizations in Alberta that support the Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Sector either working provincially or in local regions.
The Coaching Association of Canada offers a numerous of courses outside of Sport Specific Modules called Multi-Sport Modules. These courses have a variety of topics for all types of coaches/volunteers from all different sports.
Multi-Sport Modules can be viewed on the coach.ca and registered for in the Locker with an NCCP Coaching Number or in Alberta you can look at upcoming courses on the NCCP Multi-Sport Calendar.
The NCCP Managing Conflict Multi-Sport Module introduces new and experienced coaches to the impact of conflict on sport in their day-to-day coaching practice. This module teaches key skills for achieving positive outcomes using effective conflict management techniques.
As a coach if there are specific topics you are more interesting in learning more about, beyond what is found in the NCCP course, consider expertise in other areas, like workplace training which might have similar content transferable to the sport setting. In addition you can always connect with your PTSO and/or LSO to suggest ideas for future training or resource development around a specific topic that is needed in coaching or officiating.
Go to our ask a question area above to ask a question of other women in coaching and officiating roles.
Many Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO) and Local Sport Organizations (LSO) have programs and resources to support girls and women in leadership roles.
This can include:
- Youth coaching and officiating mentorship programs
- Free/low cost certification/training
- Women only events/competitions which feature women and girls in leadership roles in sport, recreation and physical activity
Other Mentoring Information
- The Canadian Centre for Mentoring Research Webinar from Spring 2024 Unlocking Potential: Research meets Practice in Sport Mentoring shares research and practical examples of two organizations who are providing to support youth mentorship opportunities in sport.
- SIRC Article: The Power of Mentoring in Sports: Who, What, and How?
- Alberta Mentoring Resource with information and training: Alberta Mentoring Partnership