The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce its 2021-22 participants in the annual Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) for the sport of Soccer.
This season, three former student-athletes are being mentored in CCAA Soccer.
At Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Abbey MacLeod is being mentored by Danielle Cyr.
MacLeod has returned to her former team, the MSVU Mystics. She suited up for two years with the St. Thomas Tommies in the ACAA before finishing her collegiate career with three more seasons at MSVU.
MacLeod called Cyr a teammate in her first season with the Mystics, had her as a goalkeeper coach in her second season, and finally had her as a head coach in her third and final year at MSVU.
“The MSVU Women’s Soccer program truly shaped me into who I am today,” said MacLeod. “Danielle has been a mentor to me since I transferred to MSVU.”
Cyr is once again involved with the CCAA’s FACP as the leadership development lead. She is also currently an apprentice coach developer with Soccer Canada.
“I am very passionate about helping other coaches explore and develop their own coaching through evidence-based best practice and building strong relationships,” said Cyr. “I have been incredibly fortunate during my coaching career to have support and guidance from many sport leaders.”
Cyr is also a doctoral student, researcher and associate faculty with Royal Roads University working within sport, gender, and leadership, and is the Knowledge Mobilization Manager with Canadian Women & Sport.
“Gender equity and inclusion in sport is a strong purpose of mine and every day I work to ensure women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people have the opportunity to have a positive experience participating and leading in sport,” she said.
Meanwhile at Douglas College in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), Nisha Samra is being mentored by Robby Toor.
After five seasons with the Women’s Soccer team at Douglas College, Samra joined the Men’s Soccer team as an apprentice this season.
She participated in three CCAA Championships with the Royals and earned a bronze medal at the 2016 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship in Montreal, QC.
Samra has unforgettable memories from her time at Douglas and her student-athlete experience has shaped her tremendously.
“I believe that coaches are integral in an athlete’s athletic career, as they have been significant in mine,” said Samra. “I am excited to have a positive impact as a coach and share my knowledge and love for the sport as best as I can, just like my coaches have.”
And at Providence University College in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC), Dorothea Schulz is being mentored by Joseph Passi.
Schulz suited up for the Providence Pilots for four seasons. The former team captain is the first female apprentice coach from the MCAC to take part in the CCAA’s FACP.
She wants the student-athletes to relish the Women’s Soccer program at Providence as much as she did during her playing career.
“One of the greatest things coaches can do for their athletes is motivate them in the present and enable them to dream about the future,” said Schulz. “I hope that the women on the Providence team get to experience that kind of connection from their coaches.”
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 mentorship and practical coaching experience in the CCAA.
Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
Manager, Communications & Events
