For information on Equine Canada’s Coaching Transition Project visit www.equinecanada.ca, click on Sport then Coaches.

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Equine Canada Canadian Eventing Coaching Committee Chosen to Participate in CAC’s Competition- Development Accelerated Program

Ottawa, Ontario---Equine Canada and Canadian Eventing Coaching Committee are pleased to announce that Eventing has been selected by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) as one of thirteen sports to participate in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) “Competition - Development Accelerated Project”.

The CAC Task Force of the chosen sports will commence working in January and conclude in March. When completed, the NCCP “Competition – Development” program will replace the NCCP Level 3 Coaching Certification program.

The NCCP, a training and certification program for coaches, founded in the 1970’s and offered across Canada in more than 60 sports is currently undergoing a transition to a competency-based certification program. With its competency-based approach, the CAC has adopted a more business-oriented strategy for creating and installing its new format for each individual sport, at all levels or “contexts”. These contexts reflect both the type of coach and the specific environments in which they work.

The new eventing coaching model or 'rubric' will comprise of a revised matrix, new assessment and evaluation tools, generic and specific learning opportunities and educational programs. The new NCCP certification program will place greater emphasis coaches abilities, competency in the field and in the competition environment, with certification based on proven ability rather than simply knowledge.

Equine Canada has been involved in the transition project since 2000 and anticipates piloting the “Instruction - Beginner” and the “Competition-Introduction” programs in 2005 under the leadership of CBET Transition Head, Victoria Andrew. Details on the progress of these projects will be available in early February. For information on Equine Canada’s Coaching Transition Project visit www.equinecanada.ca, click on Sport then Coaches. One of the conditions the “Competition–Development” Accelerated project was the hiring of an industry expert as the Project Leader. Equestrian, Eventing’s Project Leader is former National Coach and Team competitor, Lorraine Laframboise.
"Our immediate emphasis will be to establish the Competency Based Approach (CBA) to the Level 3 coach certification (Competition- Development) and education process for Eventing with work on Levels 4 and 5 (Competition- Advanced) to follow. The Jumper and Dressage disciplines will be very much involved and the model that will be tested and implemented for Eventing may then be used as the basis for the transition of the other Olympic equestrian disciplines under their own time frames,” noted Laframboise. “We will also be working closely with Equine Canada's other Coaching Committees, which represent all of its coached disciplines at the beginner and introductory competition levels. These committees have accomplished much and no doubt will be able to assist us to provide a sound continuum for the more advanced levels."

One of the first CAC, NCCP functions of the new year in early January is a three day workshop in Ottawa called "Shaping Our Future" in which Laframboise and Andrew are the invited Equestrian representatives. The end of January will bring a two-day session for the "Competition- Development Task Force" which will focus on Coach Evaluation and Education. In light of the national push to offer educational opportunities and upgrade the knowledge of our trainers and competitors, it is of note to mention the astounding success of the Eventing Coaching National Symposium with George Morris and Leslie Law of November 2004. This seminar met with unprecedented success and hosted upwards of 200 cross-discipline coaches and interested parties. Last summer over 100 participants attended each of two Jim Wofford Regional Coaching Clinics. It is hoped that such occasions will be offered on an ongoing basis in the future in Canada.Canadian Eventing is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for the sport of eventing in Canada from the grassroots to the international level. Canadian Eventing Committee is comprised of 12 members, including two rider representatives elected by the Elite Riders Association. Directed by the strategic plan for eventing, all Eventing activities are administered by this committee via six sub-committees with the support of Eventing Manager based at the Equine Canada office in Ottawa. For more information about Canadian Eventing, visit www.canadianeventing.com.