Equestrian Canada has released an update on the progress of the Coach Licensing Program. They issued the following statment:
Dear Equestrian Community,
This will be the first of many updates as our way of keeping the Canadian equestrian community informed and engaged.
We are very proud to share that the Equestrian Canada (EC) Board of Directors unanimously approved the Coach Licensing Program with a vision that every coach is licensed and certified by 2025. This Program, which will be officially introduced at the EC Convention during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November 2019, is part of the collaborative agreement signed by the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) and EC last year.
We will be using a phased-in approach to give coaches time to get licensed and to put appropriate management tools in place.
- In 2020, coaches will need to be licensed at designated EC sanctioned competitions, taking place after July 1, 2020.
- In 2021, coaches will need to be licensed at all EC sanctioned competitions.
- In 2022, coaches will need to be licensed at all PTSO sanctioned competitions.
We are grateful to the members of the Canadian Equestrian Development (CED) Steering Committee and supporting working groups who have been working tirelessly over the last year to bring this vision to life. As stewards of equestrian in Canada, we share in our collective desire to ensure that equestrians of all ages receive a safe, welcoming, inclusive and positive experience. Coaches are often the main reason that athletes stay involved in sport. Sadly, the reverse is also true.
Our goal as an equestrian community is to continue to work collaboratively to ensure that coaches have the knowledge, experience, and skills they need to support our next generation of riders. Given today’s complex sport environment we also need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to minimize unnecessary risk and provide coaches with the support they need to reach their full potential. The Coach Licence, along with the modernization of our Coach Certification Programs will provide equestrians, coaches, owners, organizers and the general public with an industry-leading approach to quality coaching.
The benefits of the Coach Licensing Program will include the following:
- Industry-leading insurance program to cover all of your needs
- Access to independent third-party complaint management.
- Preferred rates for certified coaches and coaches enrolled in the certification process
- Access to educational material
For additional information regarding requirements, benefits and costs, please visit www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/coaches/coach-licensing.
Questions and comments can also be directed to coaching@equestrian.ca.
Full details regarding the program, including the list of events where a Coach Licence will be required will be released at the EC Convention during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November 2019.
EC is committed to providing the equestrian community with updates on a consistent basis as we get ready to launch this Program.
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