College of the Rockies' Avalanche volleyball assistant coach Taylor Whittall has been selected to participate in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association's (CCAA) Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP). She will be mentored by Avalanche women's coach, Bryan Fraser.
College of the Rockies' Avalanche volleyball assistant coach, Taylor Whittall has been chosen to participate in the Female Apprentice Coach Program where she will be mentored by women's coach Bryan Fraser
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to partake in this program," Whittall said. "I grew so much as an athlete and player through college volleyball, and I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to continue to learn from and support female athletes in the sport."
The FACP, funded by Sport Canada, aims to identify and support female graduating student-athletes who demonstrate the desire and skills for coaching and provide them with opportunities to participate in the coaching experience at the CCAA level.
Now in its 20th season, the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program (FACP) was the subject of a recent longitudinal study to determine the program's success in reaching its goals. It found participation in the program has significantly increased opportunities for young women in coaching over the past two decades, with every participant during that timeframe having pursued and completed NCCP certification and professional development, helping them to become better coaches.
An average of 16 opportunities are available annually for female apprentices to gain valuable coaching experience. With 62 percent of those participants continuing to coach within the Canadian Sport System, it emphasizes the program's lasting impact. Whittall will be joined by seven returning apprentices and eight additional first-year participants in the 2024/2025 volleyball season.
Women's Avalanche coach Bryan Fraser looks forward to the opportunity to mentor Whittall.
"I am so happy that Taylor was accepted into this amazing program! She has a plethora of knowledge about the game and about how to develop players into successful student-athletes," he said. "The members of the women's team and I will greatly benefit from having Taylor more involved this year. She is already such a valuable asset to our staff during training and home games and now this program will allow us to bring her on the road for our ever-important away games".
The Avalanche volleyball program continually looks for ways to build the capacity of female coaches in the sport and to provide high quality coaching mentorship opportunities. Student Life and Athletics Manager, Cori Andrichuk, is eager to see Whittall's contributions to the women's team in the upcoming season.
"We are thrilled to be a part of the CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program for the 2024-2025 season and are so fortunate to have Taylor join the coaching staff as our apprentice coach. A former Avalanche student athlete, her knowledge and skill will be invaluable to our women's program," she said.
The women's and men's Avalanche teams will kick off the 2024/25 season in October.
