CanSkate Coach Certified: As of September 1, 2009, all CanSkate trained coaches must either be CanSkate Coach Certified or must have completed their Primary STARSkate Coach training within two (2) years of the date when he/she was first registered as a CanSkate Coach.

To become CanSkate Coach Certified you will need to complete the NCCP Instruction Beginner Certified CanSkate Coach portfolio. The portfolio consists of the following.

• Completion of a Mentorship program with an approved mentor coach. Please refer to the Mentor Coach List under Mentor Coach Resources for an approved mentor coach.
• Completion of a CanSkate session outline on paper
• If you have not yet completed the Make Ethical Decisions (MED) online evaulation you must do so as part of the portfolio.

PURPOSE OF THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: A good mentor will assist the coach to reflect on and make sense of his or her own CanSkate coaching experiences because of their proficiency, know-how and coaching skills in CanSkate. Mentor coaches ask questions about decisions, behaviors and actions to promote critical thinking; allowing a coach to take responsibility for his or her own growth.

Mentorship programs are designed to promote and assist in the development of great coaches, but also to create a legacy that includes future mentors. Getting involved in a coaching mentorship program is a great way to develop as a coach or to pass down useful knowledge and tools to those that want to learn.

MENTOR COACH QUALIFICATIONS: Approved by the Section Mentor Coaches for the CanSkate Coach portfolio are highly motivated individuals who possess the following qualifications:

• Be a current registered Skate Canada coaching member
• Be actively coaching CanSkate
• Have at least 5 years of CanSkate coaching experience
• Be at least NCCP Level 1 or Primary STARSkate coach certified
• Be dedicated to the coaching profession and on-going professional development (i.e. Holding a CEP status is an asset)
• Communicates effectively
• Clearly understand, articulate and model the Skate Canada Coaches Code of Ethics, NCCP Code of Ethics and philosophies