A total of 13 first-year aspiring female coaches will participate in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) during the 2023-24 season.
At Cégep Garneau in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Noémy Lacasse will be mentored by Vincent Filion in Cross-Country Running.
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.
Lacasse graduated from Garneau in 2021 after representing the Élans as team captain for three seasons.
As she transitions into coaching, her attachment to the team at Garneau is still very strong.
“When I finished Cégep, I had a hard time believing that my experience with the Élans was over,” said Lacasse. “I felt and still feel like I’m part of the team.”
At Garneau, Lacasse’s coaches instilled values that helped shape her into the successful runner she is today. Lacasse learned to push her limits, accept, and respect herself and teammates and most importantly, she learned to enjoy the experience and have fun while competing.
“I’ve never enjoyed running more than when I was with the Élans,” said Lacasse, who is now studying Sport Intervention at Université Laval. “This team taught me so much.”
Now, she hopes to pass along her knowledge to current student-athletes competing in the RSEQ and CCAA, while helping them grow as athletes and individuals. And even though Cross-Country Running is an individual sport, Lacasse believes that teamwork paves the path to excellence.
Filion, who led the Élans to three consecutive CCAA Championships from 2016-18, is excited to get the opportunity to work with Lacasse, who he has known for several years.
“Noémy is helpful, cheerful, positive and sensitive to others’ needs,” said Filion. “She set an excellent example as an athlete, and I’m sure she’ll do the same as an apprentice coach.”
Filion has been a member of the coaching staff at Garneau for more than a decade and took over head coaching duties with the program in 2014. He is a truly passionate person who is involved in all aspects of Cégep life, according to Éric Lavigne, Athletic Director at Garneau.
“Vincent is an excellent ambassador for the school,” said Lavigne. “He is patient, experienced, diligent and has a constructive approach to coaching and therefore, he will be a very good mentor to Noémy.”
The hope is to have Lacasse be a part of the coaching staff with the Élans on a long-term basis. Her knowledge and skills in Cross-Country Running will be a tremendous asset to the program.
Lacasse is eager to learn a new craft.
“I believe there’s no such thing as too much knowledge,” she said. “Joining the Female Apprentice Coach Program will help me learn more about coaching and assistant coaching and equip me to better support athletes in their development.”
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The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) enriches the academic experiences of student-athletes by providing leadership, programs and services that foster development through high-level competitive opportunities in intercollegiate sport.
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Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
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