BITS & PIECES

What is a Coach Developer?

Meet our newest coach mentors.

We all had at least one person outside our family who was responsible for teaching us key skills relevant to living in a society, that one person who made a difference in setting us up for success. More often than not, that person was a sports instructor or coach. These folks seem to have the ability to detangle knots and teach us how to work in teams while showing empathy towards others. Instructors and coaches, usually from outside our family circle, teach us how to care for humans and animals because it is the right thing to do. Coaches have a different perspective on life, a different background from what we are used to. This is specifically the reason why their mentorship has such an impact on our lives. They teach us the unknown, the unfamiliar. Have you ever wondered who taught your instructor/coach? In the Equestrian Canada (EC) National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), coaches who mentor other coaches are called Coach Developers.

Coach Developers are individuals who strongly believe in lifelong learning. They are constantly seeking information to expand their knowledge and learn how to perform their role in the best way possible, and then share it with those who are beginning their path to improve others’ lives.

“An NCCP Coach Developer is an experienced coach trained to develop, support, and challenge coaches in training” (coach.ca, 2022), and they can play any of these roles:

• NCCP Learning Facilitator – train coaches to coach at all levels. • NCCP Coach Evaluator – evaluate coaches and guide them to certification. • NCCP Master Coach Developer – train, mentor, and evaluate Coach

Developers.”

The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) believes that education is fundamental to the success of our community. Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator, philosopher, and leading advocate of critical teaching methods, argues that one can only act and transform the society in which they live if they understand the reality in which they are immersed. From then onwards, reflection and criticism of this reality will feed and enable the enlightened thinker to transform their social context (Freire, 2011). Our team believes that the EC NCCP is consistent with our values, and provides networks and tools for riders, candidates, instructors, and coaches to safely act and transform their community with the changes we all aspire to see in our industry.

The AEF is proud to present short bios of our exceptional team of Coach Developers, our enablers across this diverse and extraordinary province.

KATHLEEN WINFIELD Millarville, AB

I am a Coach Evaluator for the driving discipline. I have been teaching driving skills for over 20 years, both competitively and for recreation. My goal is to ensure carriage drivers get a safe, fun start in the world of driving and continue to improve. The best way to accomplish this is to develop qualified, knowledgeable driving instructors/coaches who can guide students through the learning process. The coaching program is important as it teaches a consistent, basic format and guidelines that all accredited coaches follow and expand on with their own personal skills.

TIARA CHAMBERS Grande Prairie, AB

I am a Coach Evaluator, and I am in training for the Learning Facilitator role. I decided to become a Coach Developer because I wanted to give back to the equine community and help everyone feel that their goals and dreams are achievable. I also wanted to be a leader and keep challenging [the concept] that we are never done learning, and no matter what stage, we can succeed together. I enjoy inspiring new coaches to develop and go out and inspire more young athletes to be safe and pursue a career in our industry. This program is so important to our industry and sport, no matter which direction your path takes you. It’s important to have good animal husbandry and safety knowledge

for yourself, athletes, and equines, and basic roots knowledge you can keep expanding on each day to advance your skills, and bring up professionalism in the industry.

TARA LAMBIE Airdrie, AB

I am an EC NCCP English Competition Coach and Coach Developer. In addition to my Coaching Certification, Rider Level Assessor, Education Degree, and Biological Sciences degree, I felt it very important to add Learning Facilitator and Coach Evaluator to my roles. Currently, I am pursuing the required training to become a Master Coach Developer. As an educator, acquiring my coaching certification was a priority from the beginning of my career. My first love has always been education in one form or another, therefore, becoming a Coach Developer was a passion I embraced fully while teaching the Equine Science program at Olds College. I enjoy the opportunity to help instructors and coaches become the best version they can be and thereby significantly impact the development of young equestrians. I am located in Airdrie, but I travel to assist equestrians and coaches throughout Alberta and the surrounding provinces. I believe riders and coaches should strive to always be learning and growing. As lifelong learners, through education, we can ensure a consistent standard of excellence which benefits the sport and the horses we compete on. RAEMA RACHER

La Crete, AB

I hold four Equestrian Canada (EC) National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certifications: Western Competition Coach Specialist in General Performance, Reining, and Speed Events, and English Competition Coach. I became a Coach Evaluator to help new people entering into the program have a positive experience. Helping folks succeed in the coaching program became my main focus, so I went on to become a Coach Developer. What I enjoy most about my role as a Coach Developer is making the EC programs welcoming and safe. I strive to make our sport accessible and affordable for everyone.

WENDY JOHNSTON Bowden, AB

I love and support the Equestrian Canada programming and have grown personally and professionally in the use and application of the Learn to Ride Program, Instructor and Coach Certification Program, and now as a Coach Developer, a mentoring program. I believe in and value the coaching program because it aligns with my philosophy of “fostering horsemanship into the future.” The program promotes empowering riders, excellent care for our horses, providing a creative and thoughtful learning environment, ethical conduct of horsemen to ride, compete and grow, and the community connection and joy to the horse. I hold Western High Performance 1 and English Competition Coach certifications.

JENNIFER SMART Airdrie, AB

I am a Coach Evaluator and have started the pathway to become a Learning Facilitator. I love mentorship. I’ve had some amazing coaches from the grassroots level to the Alberta Horse Trials High Performance team. I know the positive experiences I’ve had with my coaches and want upcoming coaches to also pass that on to their students. Learning new things is what I most enjoy in my role as a Coach Developer! Every candidate has different experiences and ideas to bring forward. I also enjoy supporting those who want to reach their coaching goals. I believe in the coaching program because my first experience riding was with a certified coach, and her knowledge and enthusiasm of continued learning has set me up – not only in my riding

– but also in my career. I believe it sets a standard starting point, so that those coming into the sport have a positive experience.

SARA COMPTON Foothills, AB

I have been riding for more than 40 years and coaching for more than 20. I have been a Competition Coach Specialist for five years. I am a Coach Evaluator, and I am currently taking courses to become a Learning Facilitator as I am passionate about teaching. The Equestrian Canada coaching program has a great platform. I feel it’s important that all coaches are certified through the program.

For more information on how to become an EC NCCP Coach Developer or Certified Instructor/Coach, please contact coaching@albertaequestrian.com or at 403.253.4411 ext. 3.

Reference List

Coaching Association of Canada. (August 23, 2022). Become an NCCP Coach Developer. https://coach.ca/ become-nccp-coach-developer

FREIRE, P. (2011). Educação e Mudança [Education and Change]. São Paulo: Paz e Terra.