TORONTO – In celebration of International Women’s Day, U SPORTS is proud to announce 18 former student-athletes have been selected for the 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program.
Among this year’s class for the program’s third iteration is Sarah Chase of the Dinos women’s volleyball team.
Chase joined the Dinos women’s volleyball team in 2021-22 as an assistant coach and is pursuing a master’s degree in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. The Campbell River, B.C. native played four years at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA before beginning her professional volleyball career overseas. Chase made her senior national team debut in 2017 and had appearances at the FIVB World Grand Prix, FIVB World Championships, and Pan American Cup during her time representing Canada.
“We are thrilled to have Sarah chosen for the 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program,” said Dinos director of athletics Ben Matchett. “Her experience as a student-athlete, a leader among her peers, and now working on her master’s degree positions Sarah very well to take on this challenge and enhance her coaching experience. This grant will allow Sarah to develop her capabilities in the sport she loves, and be mentored by a female U SPORTS head coach who made a similar transition in her pathway to a career in coaching.”
The program aims to increase the number of females in coaching positions across Canadian universities, by matching apprentice coaches who have recently graduated, with a head coach in one of the 11 U SPORTS-sanctioned sport offerings for female-identifying student-athletes.
“We’re excited to continue to build upon our Female Apprentice Coach Program. Despite the unprecedented COVID-related challenges faced in the first two years of the program, this initiative has already proved to provide the tools and atmosphere needed to open new doors and further coaching development in the U SPORTS ecosystem in the name of equity and diversity,” said U SPORTS director of sport Jennifer Smart. “This program is built to foster the success of our proud alumnae who look to become coaches themselves in the future.”
A total of 37 applications were received for the 2022-23 edition of the program, with 18 apprentice coaches selected for the third consecutive year. Eight of the 11 sports are represented – including football, rugby, soccer, cross country, track and field, hockey, basketball and volleyball– as well as all four U SPORTS member conferences.
All participants in the program will be a member of the coaching staff at their respective schools and where possible, will provide feedback to colleagues as well as student-athletes, while taking part in team activities. Each apprentice coach will also attend at least one National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), with the option to also take additional professional development courses and seminars in the field of coaching.
The 2022-23 U SPORTS Female Apprentice Coach Program begins on Apr. 1.
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