VNS's Premiere Female Coach Mentorship Program:

She CAN Coach
 

She Can Coach is proud to be returning for 2025 and is a Coach Mentorship program being launched by VNS to increase the number of females in leadership roles within the sport of volleyball in Nova Scotia, with a focus on coaches shifting from an athlete priority role into a coach priority role. This program has been designed to prioritize coaches from racialized communities, as well as coaches who live in all geographic regions in Nova Scotia.

The program will include:

1. Connecting the mentee coaches with 9 female champions of women in sport, to create a network of support, guidance, and knowledge.
2. Pairing mentee coaches with a specific Champion for more frequent support and guidance during their Winter 2025 coaching journey.
3. Ongoing monthly meet ups (online) which will include some professional development, as well as an opportunity to share experiences and have conversations around coaching in a supported environment.
4. Financial credits for furthering their formal NCCP Coach Education.

Who is this program for?

• Coaches who identify as female or non-binary.
• Coaches born in 2006 or earlier, there is no age cap - coaches of all ages welcome and encouraged!
• Coaches who are shifting (or have recently shifted) from an athlete role priority to a coach role priority, Coaches who are newer to coaching (any role), or Coaches who are coming back to the sport after some time away, and looking for some support.
• Coaches who are actively coaching with a team (in any role) from January 2025 - June 2025
  - We could help support you to find a team if needed.
• Coaches who reflect the diverse populations of Nova Scotia with respect to age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexual orientation, education and culture. 
• Coaches from any region of Nova Scotia (priority will be considered for coaches from a variety of geographic locations).

 The expected commitment:

• January 2025 - June 2025
• Actively coaching a club team / community team for Winter 2025
• Bi-weekly check-ins with your Champion Coach (text/email/phone call/etc.)
• Monthly large group Meet Ups:
  - January 19th, 2025 - In Person, HRM - all costs covered to attend - Topic TBD
  - February 25th - 8:00-9:30pm - Online - Topic TBD
  - March 26th - 8:00-9:30pm - Online - Topic TBD
  - April 16th - 8:00-9:30pm - Online - Topic TBD
  - June 3rd - 8:00-9:30pm - Online - Program Wrap Up

Female Champions of She CAN Coach:

• Jamie Brown, Megan Conroy, Trudy Delorey, Julie Gow, Hillary Hommy, Hilary Sears, Lauren Sears, Allison Saunders, Veronica Sweeney, & Shaniya Vance.

Application Details:

• Complete the Expression of Interest Application form (HERE) by 11:59pm, December 17th, 2024.
• There is space for 14-16 Mentee Coaches.
• Coaches will be admitted into the program on a first come, first serve basis - with priority given to coaches of racialized and/or marginalized communities, as well as a diverse geographic representation.
  • We actively encourage applications from persons of diverse backgrounds who identify as women, Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, members of the Black and/or African Nova Scotian communities, Newcomers, as well anyone from all other racialized communities. Self-identification by candidates is voluntary, and those wishing to self-identify are encouraged to do so in Question 3.
• ​All applicants will receive notification of their application status by end of day Thursday, December 19th. Some applicants may be waitlisted.

 

If you have any questions, please contact VNS Technical Director, and Program Lead, Megan Conroy at vnsmegan@sportnovascotia.ca.