As part of our commitment to coach development and providing valuable international experience to coaches, along with the benefit of input and involvement of different coaches from within our community, CKC will provide the following international competition Project Coach opportunities in the 2026 season.
| EVENT | LOCATION | TRAVEL DATES | ATHLETES | POSITIONS |
| JR & U23 World Championships | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | July 1-5, 2026 | 40 (5 per discipline in Junior and U23) | 6 (4 Jr/2 U23) |
| Olympic Hopes | Zemník, Bratislava, Slovakia | September 17-20, 2026 | 24 (6 per discipline) | 4 (2 Lead/2 development) |
*Note: Junior Worlds preparation camp will be held in Halifax, June 18-30, 2026.
Expectations
Being selected as a Canoe Kayak Canada Coach means representing Team Canada as a unified coaching staff. Applicants are encouraged to reflect the following:
- Discipline group assignments are made by the selection committee. Being selected does not guarantee priority to a coach’s home club athlete’s discipline
- Coaches are responsible for every athlete in their assigned group
- Selected coaches will work collaboratively to support decisions on preparation, strategy, and competition execution
Coaching Structure
| JUNIOR & U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS | ||
| ROLE | RESPONSIBILITY | REPORTS TO |
| CKC Lead Junior / U23 Coach | Oversees entire coaching staff and team. | Canoe Kayak Canada |
| Discipline Lead Coach (x4) | Junior coaches lead discipline groups of ~5 athletes. U23 lead ~ 10 athletes. | CKC Lead Junior / U23 Coach |
| OLYMPIC HOPES REGATTA | ||
| ROLE | RESPONSIBILITY | REPORTS TO |
| National Development Coach | Oversees entire coaching staff and team. | Canoe Kayak Canada |
| Discipline Lead Coach (x2) | Leads discipline group of ~6 athletes. | National Development Coach |
| Development Coach (x2) | Supports discipline lead, mentorship role within same discipline. | Discipline Lead Coach |
At Olympic Hopes, each discipline lead is paired with a development coach from the same discipline, kayak or canoe. This mentorship structure ensures technical alignment and genuine learning, not just observation. The discipline lead directs all coaching decisions for the group; the development coach supports within that framework. This structure also supports effective coverage during a condensed competition schedule, allowing coaches to manage athletes’ needs while maintaining strong race observation and feedback.
Project Coach Duties:
- Coaching/assistant coaching a discipline training group for the project under the leadership of the Head Coach, National Development, and/or Senior National Team coaches
- Lead or support a discipline group of 5-6 athletes under the direction of Canoe Kayak Canada coaching staff
- Participating in all aspects of the project (coach meetings, team meetings, etc.)
- Includes supervising athletes through all phases of travel, training, and competition, as well as daily coaching responsibilities
- Contribute to a post-event debrief including athlete outcomes and self-evaluation of your coaching performance
Project Coach Qualifications & Experience:
- Preference given to coaches with minimum NCCP Competition – Development (“Trained”) or equivalent
- MANDATORY: Level 3 Safe Sport Screened: https://coach.ca/sport-safety/safe-sport-training
- Ability in the technical application of a training and competition plan
- Effective communication skills and positive contributor to a team environment
- If successful, the coaches must sign the Abuse-Free Sport Consent Form and will be considered an Abuse-Free Sport Participant for this project. Click
As part of our further commitment to encouraging Female Identifying Coaches, and to ensure that our CKC Teams meet or exceed our Safe Sport Policy standards in terms of persons of authority, certain coach opportunities may be designated for coaches who identify as female.
Compensation:
- CKC to cover costs of team travel, accommodations, meals, ground transport, competition participation fees, and international travel insurance during training and competition
- Honorarium provided to the coach’s home club for compensation of lost time at the club for dates of team travel
Application Process:
Please submit your application online using the link below and include the following documents:
https://canoekayakcanada.formstack.com/forms/ckc_project_coach_2026
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Letter of endorsement from your club or provincial employer indicating you are available for the project timeline, or dates of your availability
Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed by a committee including the Chief Technical Officer, CKC Development Coach and a Coaches Technical Committee representative. Selection considerations include:
- Alignment with event objectives, performance vs. development
- Ability to collaborate within a team environment and support all athletes
- Gender balance, regional representation, and bilingualism
- Mix of developing and establishing performance coaches
Deadline for applications (extended): April 21, 2026