Indigenous coaches sought for apprenticeship program

Indigenous coaches from across the country have a few more weeks to apply for an apprenticeship program to participate in the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

Individuals have until Jan. 10 to register their interest to be part of the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program (AACP).

The application is available at https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/8609a0343b784f0ebe03562b955d6875

The AACP allows each province or territory to send a maximum of two coaches, who have Indigenous ancestry, to take part in the Games, which will be held in Ontario’s Niagara Region in August of 2021.

The AACP was first held during the 2017 Canada Summer Games, which were staged in Winnipeg. Ten coaches were selected for apprenticeship roles that year.

And 12 individuals were chosen to be part of this program earlier this year when the Canada Winter Games were held in Red Deer, Alta. from mid-February to early March.

Goals of the AACP include providing Indigenous apprentice coaches the opportunity to work alongside elite/high performance coaches and to give them the chance to take part in a multi-sport games competition.

The AACP is a partnership between five bodies. They are the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the Coaching Association of Canada, the Canada Games Council, provincial/territorial Aboriginal sports bodies and provincial/territorial coaching representatives.

Those interested in applying for the AACP must first contact their own provincial or territorial Aboriginal sports body. That’s because they will also require a letter of support from that body before continuing with the application process.

Those chosen to continue on with the AACP application process will also be required to attend a pair of professional development workshops that will be held prior to the 2021 Games.

Sports that will be contested at the 2021 Games are athletics (track and field), baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, box lacrosse, canoeing/kayaking, cycling (mountain biking and road events), diving, golf, rowing, rugby, sailing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and wrestling.

Age categories that will be offered vary from sport to sport. The majority of the sports, however, will feature youth, ages 19 and under.