Female Apprentice Coach Program: Foglietta
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) is proud to announce its 2020-21 participants in the annual Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) for the sport of Soccer:
VIU Mariners, PACWEST
Apprentice: Nicole Foglietta
Mentor: Kevin Lindo
During her five-year career at Vancouver Island University (VIU), Nicole Foglietta led the Mariners to three Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) titles in Women’s Soccer. Now, she has re-joined the team as an apprentice coach in the CCAA’s FACP.
Foglietta will be mentored by Kevin Lindo, her former coach at VIU. Together, they also earned a silver medal at the 2019 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship.
“I think there is no better way to improve upon my coaching skills than from learning from the coach that has already improved my skill as a player so much,” said Foglietta. “Adding this program to my coaching resume will help me greatly in achieving my future goals by giving me the chance to have hands-on learning experience from a highly trained coach.”
The FACP 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 CCAA sports.
“The CCAA is excited to support another group of talented young female apprentices in their journey to becoming coaches and the next generation of female coaches paving the way for other young apprentices to follow,” said Brittany Tierney, CCAA VP Sport Development.
The goal of the FACP is to increase opportunities for young women to have access to the coaching experience as well as to support identified graduating female student-athlete coaches in their pursuit of professional development opportunities.
In the program’s 15-year history, 233 female apprentices have been supported. This year’s 20 apprentices across the CCAA are the second highest total ever. The opportunity to recognize so many female apprentice coaches speaks to the growing efficacy of the CCAA program, according to Tierney.
“More young females within the CCAA community are seeing other women go through the program and thinking ‘that could be me’,” she said. “It is great to see the interest grow in supporting female coaches, and I believe will only continue to strengthen over time.”
Last season, Foglietta was fortunate to also participate in a year-long coach apprenticeship class led by an NCCP Certified professor Rick Bevis. They discussed coaching theories and reviewed tactics and leadership. She also completed 60 hours of coaching, working with the Upper Island U18 Girls Storm, as well as 10 hours of professional development.
Foglietta, who is graduating with a Kinesiology Major, would like to work as a personal trainer as well as help train and protect players from preventable injuries.
At VIU, Foglietta has already established herself as a well-respected leader. She earned the 2018 VIU Mariners Unsung Hero Award as voted on by her peers and has also been a valuable asset as a student worker with the Athletics and Recreation team.
While the PACWEST Soccer season has been cancelled due to COVID-19, the Mariners are currently training and will continue to do so throughout the fall.
The 2020-21 season is like none other in CCAA history and even though CCAA Championships will not proceed, coach education and training – which is key to the CCAA’s FACP – is being further supplemented via the FACP Leadership Development Program.
This Leadership Program is developed by former CCAA student-athlete and current CCAA Head Coach and Doctoral student Danielle Cyr, who will be facilitating the mentorship process. Cyr who recently completed her Master of Arts at Royal Roads University where she researched how a university sport program can lead female student athletes to develop transformational leadership skills.
The ‘Developing Future Leaders’ program’s purpose is to provide transformational leadership development to help increase competence and confidence leading in sport. It will also encourage current sport leaders, including athletic directors and mentor coaches, to embrace an environment that supports transformational leadership for the apprentices and current female student-athletes. Cyr’s goal is to help increase the number of CCAA female head coaches.
Lindo, who is in his fifth season with the Mariners, brings plenty of experience into his mentor role with the CCAA. He is also Learner Facilitator for BC Soccer and the NCCP program as well as the Athlete and Coach Services Coordinator for PacificSport Vancouver Island.
Danielle Hyde, Interim Director, Athletics & Recreation at VIU, is a former participant in the CCAA’s FACP and fully understands the benefits that the program provides young women as they propel into the coaching world.
“When I finished my playing career, I missed the camaraderie and competition immensely and I wanted to remain involved,” said Hyde, who was inducted into the CCAA Hall of Fame (2017) in the Athlete category and was a CCAA apprentice coach in 2005-06 (the first year of the program) and again in 2008-09. “I was able to do so as a mentee with this program and stuck with coaching for a number of years after participating.”
As a future coach, Foglietta wants to help create that great team environment in which she first fell in love with the sport. Along the way, she’s had several coaches who have inspired her to keep playing.
“All of my coaches have made impacts on me as a player and as a human and I would not be who I am today without their help,” said Foglietta. “Knowing how large of an impact a coach can make on a player inspires me to make positive impacts as a role model for future players.”FacebookTwitterEmailPrintAddthis
Media Contact:
Rodney Wilson / rodney@ccaa.ca
Manager, Communications & Events
About the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association:
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association enriches the academic experiences of student-athletes by providing leadership, programs and services that foster development through high-level competitive opportunities in intercollegiate sport.
Today, CCAA student-athletes compete in seven sports at 10 CCAA national championships, each hosted by a CCAA member institution. Our 98 member institutions include colleges, universities, technical institutes and cégeps located in eight provinces and regionally governed by six member conferences
In addition to governing the national championships, the CCAA also provides national awards and recognition to CCAA student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors and member institutions.