Team Canada Premier Program Coaches for the 2024-2027 Seasons

Cheer Canada, the recognized National Sport Organization for Cheerleading in Canada, is seeking coaches to volunteer within our High-Performance program and ultimately drive and sustain Team Canada Cheerleading’s future success. 

APPLICATION PROCESS  

Completed applications must be received by 11:59 pm PST on June 15, 2024.

PHILOSOPHY / VISION 

The Team Canada National Team program is both an elite athlete program that elevates Canada to the highest levels of International Achievement, and a program that develops Ambassadors who represent and promote Cheerleading in Canada. 

All National Team Coaches are responsible for developing a world-class training plan that establishes standards of excellence for the athletes and coaches to foster peak performance, respect for competitors and each other, and inspire integrity. We want to ensure that the Team Canada Cheer program is respected by the International Cheer Community and everyone across Canada. 

Cheer Canada will cover any travel and accommodation costs associated with these dates in accordance with our financial policies. Selected coaches will report to Cheer Canada’s Executive Director.  

PROCESS

The objectives of this process are to (i) contribute to Cheer Canada’s National Team optimal Team Performance, (ii) contribute towards the achievement of the Cheer Canada strategic plan with respect to High Performance, (iii) provide a safe and inclusive environment for the National Team at National and International Events, and (iv) contribute towards the advancement of clean and ethical sport in Canada and globally.

COMPOSITIONS OF COACHING TEAM

• Total of 3-4 Coaches for each Premier Team

ELIGIBILITY OF COACHING STAFF

All Canadian citizens/resident coaches who are eligible to participate in the applicable event in accordance with the event rules, are eligible to submit an application for the position of Team Canada coaching staff, as per the qualifications described in this process. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Following are the qualifications deemed essential or preferable for the coaching positions, as evaluated by the Selection Committee for recommendation to the Cheer Canada Board of Directors. 

Cheer Canada welcomes applications from all qualified individuals in Canada. Cheer Canada will consider the diversity of applicants, including gender, visible minorities, and language. Bilingualism is considered a strong asset. Selected individuals shall represent, to the extent possible, the diverse nature of Cheer Canada’s membership including geographic location, language, and ethnicity. Cheer Canada also wants to encourage mentorship opportunities between seasoned and new coaches, ensure an appropriate balance of experience and plan for succession planning/attrition of staff. 

Note that a Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization letter of recommendation is mandatory.

Preliminary Mandatory Qualifications  

• Must be 25 years of age or older, 
• Must include a letter of recommendation from their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization, 
• Must provide two (2) additional references from an institution or program, 
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada,
• Must be a member in good standing with their Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization and Cheer Canada, and be free of any outstanding disciplinary issues and/or complaints,
• Must be in compliance with, and not have served any sanction under, Cheer Canada’s or any Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization’s code of conduct, the World Anti-Doping Code, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Panam Sports, and/or Cheer Canada policies and guidelines,
• Must have a valid Canadian Passport (valid for 6 months past the end date of the event attending),
• Must include a criminal background check provided to Cheer Canada within 30 days of appointment to the position,  
• Must sign and abide by both the Cheer Canada Conflict of Interest Policy and Confidentiality Agreement, 
• Must adhere to and agree to the National Team Coach Handbook and Code of Conduct Policy, 
• Must take the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport Training (True Sport Clean Untracked, at a minimum) and abide by policies set forth by the CCES and WADA (World Anti-Doping Association); and,

All coaches must satisfy the following conditions or complete upon selection:

• Submit a Criminal Record Check dated within the current membership year.
• Fulfill all NSO and PSO coach education requirements.

Demonstrable Assets

• Commitment to fulfill the coaching roles and responsibilities in accordance with the requirements set forth in the National Team Terms of Reference for the applicable event, 
• Track record of success as an accomplished spokesperson and public speaker,
• Excellent media relations skills,
• Commitment to athletes/coaches and to creating an environment where they can compete to the best of their abilities,
• Commitment to clean and ethical sport,
• Excellent leadership skills, 
• A sense of vision and the ability to encourage team building,
• Demonstrated ability to work well with people (a team player),
• Ability to interpret and manage change that occurs and respond effectively (i.e. crisis management),
• Effective communication skills (oral and written).

Preferable Qualifications  

• Previous National or International event experience,
• Bilingual in Canada’s official languages,
• Knowledge of current Cheer Canada and ICU policies, vision and mission,
• Linguistic and cultural qualification vis-a-vis the host country; and,
• A medalist at a high performance event, as applicable. 

Specific Responsibilities:  

• Act as a role model for athletes and exhibit good spirit on and off the mat, 
• Work collaboratively with all Team Canada coaches, athletes, and administrators, 
• Act as a chaperone at national team events, including training camps, 
• Create yearly training plans to increase fitness, skill development, and mental toughness and to maximize the limited training time to best prepare the teams, 
• Establish a competition plan to ensure preparedness and success,
• Provide debrief documentation to Cheer Canada after the World Championship to help improve and streamline the future growth of the program, 
• Must sign and abide by both the Cheer Canada Conflict of Interest Policy and Confidentiality Agreement,
• Must adhere to and agree to the National Team Coach Handbook and Code of Conduct Policy.

SELECTION PROCESS

The steps of the selection process of the Team Canada coaching team include:

• Call for Applications; 
• Review by Selection Committee; 
• Successful completion of background check of recommended candidate;
• Recommendation to the Cheer Canada Board of Directors by Selection Committee;
• Conditional approval by Cheer Canada Board of Directors;
• Signature of Coach Agreement for the event(s) applicable; and,
• Announcement of coaching staff.

Call for Applications

The call will be sent electronically to all eligible participants of the applicable event and posted on the Cheer Canada website and social media platforms. Cheer Canada will also leverage the reach of its member Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations to ensure all have equal opportunity regarding knowledge of the process.  

Receipt of Applications

An electronic confirmation will be sent to each applicant acknowledging receipt of their application, such acknowledgement shall not be considered in any way as acceptance or selection of the candidature.

The Selection Committee will receive all relevant documentation regarding the qualifying applications and will be instructed to list their top three (3) choices for each of the National Teams. A selection committee group discussion will not be held, as all evaluations are to be done independently of other opinions. If a selection committee member fails to provide feedback in the specified timeframe, the Board may choose to replace that person with another qualified individual to sit on the selection committee. The Selection Committee will be overseen by the Board.

The selection committee will be formed for one year’s selection process only, and a new selection committee selected for each Team Canada Coach selection process. 

Additional Notes Regarding the Selection of the Team Canada Coaches

• The Selection Committee will review the eligibility and qualifications of candidates for the role of Premier coach;
• The Selection Committee reserves the right to invite individuals meeting the qualifications other than those who have submitted candidature;
• The Selection Committee reserves the right to invite any, some or all candidates for interviews (whether in person or remotely, at the Committee’s discretion);
• The Selection Committee reserves the right to request any additional information on any candidature and contact references from any, some or all of the candidates;
• The Selection Committee will review each applicant independently in lieu of group discussion;
• The Cheer Canada Board shall not be under obligation to select anyone in connection with the application process and the candidatures received;
• Unsuccessful candidates will not be provided with any information other than who has been selected by the Board of Directors once such decision has been made public;
• The Cheer Canada Board shall not be under any obligation to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of applications or candidatures (other than if travel or meeting is actually requested by Cheer Canada during such process);

The Cheer Canada Board reserves the right to cancel this application process, to reject any or all candidatures, to re-open for new applications if necessary; to waive minor irregularities and formalities, and to accept application(s) which offers, in the Cheer Canada’s sole discretion, the best coach candidature for the applicable event.

SUBMISSION PROCESS:

Those interested in applying are required to submit a completed application through jotform prior to the application deadline. 

Questions may be directed to:  Joanna Low, Interim Executive Director, Cheer Canada at executivedirector@cheercanada.ca.