It’s May 1 so let me be the first to wish you all a Happy Coach Development Month. Coaches are a central part of our sport system and I’m proud of the progress we’re making in professionalizing the coaching career pathway. May is a month to celebrate that progress and to continue to charge forward.

In addition to appreciating the contributions coaches make to our athletes, clubs and communities, May is also a month to develop the coaching profession by educating and certifying more paddling coaches.

You can find workshops happening near you through your Division/Provincial Association and by viewingour workshop calendar. Whether you’re signing up yourself or encouraging young club coaches to get certified, your help goes a long way in ensuring we have quality coaching in Canada to develop the fastest paddlers in the World.

On Friday, May 30 at 10 a.m. EST, I will be hosting an online workshop “From intro to excellence: The four stages of technical progression”. The workshop be hosted through Adobe Connect. Please register using The Lockerhttps://thelocker.coach.ca/access/event/calendar , or email pniedre@canoekayak.ca

We will be promoting Coach Development Month on Twitter, Facebook and our website. The social media world will be a buzz with fun coaching fact, tips and trivia. Look for, retweet and come up with your own #coachtidbits. We’ll also be profiling three of our star coaches on YouTube.

If you have a story idea or other suggestions for Coach Development Month, please email me at pniedre@canoekayak.ca.

I look forward to a great month ahead,

Peter Niedre

Director of Athlete and Coach Development