The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) features six first-year participants this season in the Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP). Two of these coaches in training are working with Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) institutions.
The FACP, which is funded in part by Sport Canada, is designed to identify and support female graduating student-athletes who demonstrate the desire and skills for coaching by providing them opportunities to share in the coaching experience in the CCAA.
At Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne, Océane Barrette is being mentored by Sylvain Noël in the Cavaliers’ Women’s Volleyball program.
Even prior to learning about the existence of the FACP, Barrette was thrilled about the potential idea of becoming part of the coaching staff on a team she played for from 2019-22.
“For me, this program is a perfect opportunity to turn this new experience into something more serious and rewarding,” she said.
Barrette is quite familiar with most of the student-athletes on the Women’s Volleyball team at Bois-de-Boulogne and is enjoying supporting them on a more personal level thus far.
“Volleyball has a very important place in my life and now that I won’t be playing competitively anymore, I want to continue contributing to this wonderful sport by sharing this passion with the young athletes I’m guiding,” she said.
Continuous development and student engagement are major institutional priorities at Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne; they form an integral part of how academic success is viewed for students and staff at the RSEQ school. For this reason, Barrette will likely be supported by the Cavaliers beyond the 2022-23 season as her outstanding work ethic, volleyball IQ and leadership continue to have a lasting impact on the program.
“Océane is the prime example of an athlete who doesn’t rely on eloquence to lead and drive people towards shared goals,” said Karine Bibeau, Athletic Director at Bois-de-Boulogne. “Instead, she leads by example and her charisma, openness and helpfulness make her an excellent teammate.”
Meanwhile, at Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Gabrielle Cloutier is being mentored by Eric Segal in the Dynamiques’ Women’s Basketball program.
Cynthia Côté-Beaupré, Athletic Director at Sainte-Foy, had the opportunity to watch Cloutier’s development over her years as a student-athlete at the institution.
“She stood out for her passion, her fighting spirit, her determination and her eagerness to give it her all until she graduated in 2019,” said Côté-Beaupré.
While Cloutier continues her studies in university, the transition from student-athlete to coach at Sainte-Foy has also been a dream come true for the CCAA and RSEQ alumnus.
“Gabrielle demonstrates great leadership, self-reliance, availability and willingness to learn the ropes of coaching,” said Côté-Beaupré. “She is undoubtedly able to pass on her determination, confidence and respect for herself and others.”
Prior to her experience this season as a CCAA female apprentice, Cloutier had already built an impressive coaching resume.
While in high school, she was head coach of a Division 1 atom women’s basketball team for three seasons. She continued to work with high school athletes during her time at Sainte-Foy, leading a Division 2 cadette women’s team in her first year, before taking on an assistant role with a juvenile women’s team in her second year with the Dynamiques.
“Thanks to these experiences, I will be able to pursue my dream of becoming head coach of a high-performance basketball team and share my knowledge with other young adults,” said Cloutier. “The Female Apprentice Coach Program is an amazing opportunity for me to develop and improve my coaching skills by joining a Division 1 collegiate basketball team.”
Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
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