(Cornwall, ON - December 3, 2010) The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association has completed yet another successful soccer season, recently hosting the CCAA 2010 Big Kahuna Soccer National Championships in Edmonton. The competition was intense, with schools across the country vying for the title. But among them were several squads with a secret weapon on their roster – student-athletes participating in the CCAA’s Female Apprentice Coach program.

Funded by Sport Canada, the program pairs mentor coaches with female student-athletes pursuing professional coaching careers. Soccer teams at Vancouver Island University in British Columbia and the University of King’s College in Nova Scotia took part in the program with spectacular results; both finished the regular season nationally ranked in the CCAA’s top 15 and were undefeated in their regular seasons.

The Vancouver Island University Mariners performed well throughout the year, narrowly missing out on the BCCAA (British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association) provincial championships. It was the first time Mariners head coach Anup Kang had participated in the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach program, and he felt it was enormously beneficial. “It was part of the reason the team excelled this season,” said Kang.

That’s high praise, as it was the first undefeated season in the team’s history.

His female apprentice was Aileen Holder, a former VIU player who served as soccer captain in the 2009/10 season. She applied to the program hoping to exercise her knowledge of the game and provide a female perspective from the bench. With the season now complete, Kang confirms Holder did just that. “As a former player, Aileen was instantly well-respected and helped with female-to-female communication,” stated Kang.

Holder herself also benefitted from the program. “I am really glad I had this opportunity. It allowed me to look at the game from a different perspective and understand the decisions coaches make that as a player you would not normally understand.”  Aileen also sees long-term benefits of the program. “It’s a great way to get more females interested in coaching. I am coming out a more knowledgeable and confident coach because of this experience.”

The women’s soccer team at the University of King’s College experienced similar success. Head coach Stacey Stocco and apprentice coach Leah Robinson led the Blue Devils to an undefeated season in the ACAA (Atlantic Canada Athletic Association) conference.

“When I was made aware of this female apprentice program, I jumped at the opportunity,” says Stocco. She firmly believes it was mutually beneficial to all involved.  “Leah's understanding of the game played a huge role in the success of our squad this season. Players looked to her for help on and off field.” Stocco also had the opportunity to “bounce ideas off Leah and have in-depth conversations about the situations we encountered over the season. Being able to pass my knowledge and experiences onto someone who was willing to learn was something I would love to be able to do again.”

Kang and Stocco’s enthusiasm for the program is of no surprise to chairperson Yvonne Becker. In addition to helping their teams’ performance, Becker is confident “the experience and education applicants receive will continue to enrich the Canadian coaching ranks.” And if the current results are any indication, it will be a win-win situation for all involved.

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Stephanie Wereley
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