Coaches

National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)

The Coaching Association of Canada’s flagship program is the National Coaching Certification Program delivered by the Coaching Association of Canada with rowing specific workshops delivered by RCA and the Provincial Rowing Associations.

The National Coaching Certification Program workshops are a vital component to becoming the best coach you possibly can be. Whether you are coaching a community team or coaching a national team, an NCCP workshop will be beneficial for you. Workshops can be completed in a single evening or online for your convenience. The NCCP makes it easy to get started and stay motivated on the path towards coaching skills development.

RCA COACH EDUCATION PATHWAYS RCA LEARN TO ROW COACH PATHWAY RCA COACH PATHWAY RCA PERFORMANCE COACH PATHWAY RCA COASTAL COACH PATHWAY

NCCP Make Ethical Decisions

RCA Coach Education Database

The Coach Education Database is RCA’s Coach Project Management Database accessible for all RCA member coaches and Coach Developers who are registered in NCCP Coach Workshops. This database hosts RCA Coach Education resources and your own personal project site for your coaching portfolio documents.   

What Should I Put In My Portfolio?

Your personal project site will store all of your NCCP required documents and your professional development files and communications linked to your coaching career. With no obligation or cost to you, this portfolio is available to you to upload and store 1) Videos / photos / audio files of practices, competitions, athlete progress, professional development documents etc.; 2) Relevant documents such as a scan of your Pleasure Craft Operator Card, Emergency Action Plans, Annual Training Plans, Assignments and Evaluation documents. 

Who Has Access To My Portfolio?

RCA and Provincial Coach Developers and Mentors will be invited to your project site to support and collaborate with you in your coaching pathway including evaluation, certification and professional development resources. Your portfolio can continue to grow over time to demonstrate your progress and growth as a coach.  

Who Do I Ask If I Have Questions?

If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Coach Developers

NCCP Coach Developers are directly responsible for the development of coaches and need to be experts in learning as well as experts in coaching. They include: Learning Facilitators (LFs lead the coach workshops), Coach Evaluators (CEs complete sport-specific evaluations required for certification) and Master Coach Developers (MCDs train and certify Learning Facilitators and Coach Evaluators). If you are interested in becoming a Coach Developer, please contact colleenmiller@rowingcanada.org

Responsible Coaching Movement

 As a Champion of the  Responsible Coaching Movement,  RCA is  committed to creating an engaging environment with the consistent safe standards that  support our coaches  and ensure  rowers have the opportunity to develop and reach their dreams whether they row for Canada or row for life!   

Ethics training through Respect in Sport is now available  here  for PRAs and clubs. The cost is $30 and coaches receive three NCCP Professional Development points. 

For information regarding RCA’s commitment to the Responsible Coaching Movement, please click  here.  

Maintenance of Certification

The Coaching Association of Canada and Rowing Canada Aviron recognize the value of having certified NCCP coaches that are engaged in Professional Development programs which reinforce the values of lifelong learning and sharing amongst the coaching community. 

In order for NCCP coaches to maintain their certified status, they will be required to obtain Professional Development (PD) points. PD points can be earned through a multitude of activities that coaches already participate in, including: national and provincial sport organization conferences and workshops, eLearning modules, NCCP workshops, coach mentorship programs, and active coaching. In most cases coaches are already earning their required PD points — Maintenance of Certification Status is simply the introduction of tracking these points and recognizing coaches for their efforts. 

To find out more information on RCA’s Professional Development Opportunities and Maintenance of Certification please  click here.

RCA Athlete Development Pathway E-Learning Module  

This RCA Rowing Essentials module (available on The Locker) will help you develop and refine your understanding of the RCA Athlete Development Pathway. If you are a coach wanting to collect one NCCP Professional Development Credit for completing this module, contact us.

RCA Learn to Row Resources

Indoor Rowing Videos

Whether you’re new to rowing, coaching athletes, or running a training program, these indoor rowing videos are a great tool for developing efficient movement patterns and avoiding common mistakes. Covering key fundamentals, safety tips, and best practices, they’re designed to support skill development at any level.

INDOOR LEARN TO ROW VIDEOS

On-Water Videos

These on-water Learn to Row video resources provide clear, step-by-step guidance to help beginners develop fundamental skills and confidence on the water. These videos are great for new rowers, useful for coaches looking to reinforce key techniques, and a helpful tool for clubs running Learn to Row programs.

ON-WATER LEARN TO ROW VIDEOS

Women in Coaching

RCA is committed to supporting the development and mentorship of female coaches.   

Canadian Women & Sport is an informative organization detailing opportunities, grants and resources to assist in your development as a coach.  

Female Coach Mentorship Model Women in Coaching - Canada Games Apprenticeship Model World Rowing Women in Coaching Toolkit

Made in Canada Coach Program 

Developing Canadian Coaches for the Rowing Canada Aviron High Performance Coaching Team

To ensure sustainable success on the world stage, Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) needs a flourishing pipeline of developing Canadian coaches who want to coach crews that will excel and win medals for Canada.  

Our aim is to develop coaches who are both technically savvy and relationally strong. We will build on their solid foundation of results and relationships and seek to create learning experiences and a development plan that will deepen their technical skills and knowledge. Additionally, the program works to expand their exposure to the sport – nationally and internationally – as well as work to provide them with critical experiences on and off the water. 

RCA is moving forward to engage Canadian coaches nationwide with the voting support of the RCA membership. RCA thanks the membership for their commitment to supporting the development of coaches across the country.

Together, the rowing community is dedicated to prioritizing coaching development and building relationships that enhance the quality of coaching and diversity within the coaching community. Increasing the number of experienced and skilled coaches requires a special investment and commitment from all partners across Canada. Through collaboration with expert mentors, RCA will share the knowledge and expertise that supports and sustains coaches at all levels of the pathway.

Investing in the Future of Canadian Coaching

The RCA Special Investment Fee Program underpins this initiative, ensuring that resources are directed toward meaningful coach development opportunities. In 2026–2027, this investment will support:

• Hosting the in-person RCA National Conference with enhanced learning and networking opportunities
• Delivery of in-person clinics and virtual webinar series tailored to community coaches
• Honorariums for experienced mentor coaches
• Support for individualized development plans for Made in Canada Coaches
• Bursaries to activate development plans and mentorship opportunities

These investments will help RCA achieve long-term outcomes, including:

• A growing pool of skilled coaches across all provinces
• Increased representation of women and equity-deserving coaches in performance environments
• Improved technical consistency across all levels of rowing in Canada
• Enhanced international performance of Canadian development teams

RCA Canada Coach Development Program

The RCA Canada Coach Development Program is a national initiative designed to strengthen the coaching pathway from community to high performance. The program focuses on mentorship, technical development, and inclusive learning opportunities that empower coaches to grow within their local clubs, provincial programs, and national teams.

This initiative is part of RCA’s Special Investment Fee Program, which aims to enhance the quality of coaching and diversity within the Canadian rowing community. By 2032, RCA’s goal is to increase the number of skilled coaches across all provinces, improve technical consistency nationwide, and elevate international performance outcomes.

Meet the 2026–2027 RCA Mentors (Confirmed Now through March 2027): 

RCA is proud to introduce the first group of mentors who will guide and support coaches across the country. These mentors bring decades of experience from club, university, and national team environments, and will play a key role in shaping the next generation of Canadian coaches.

Mentors:

• Al Morrow, Former Olympic Coach
• Allison Ray, Director of Rowing, Women’s Head Coach Oakland Strokes, CA
• Ben Jackson, RCA Senior Men’s Pathway Coach
• Carol Love,Former National Team Coach 
• Christine Wilson, Head Coach of Girls Rowing, Kent School, CT
• Dane Lawson, RCA Senior Women’s Pathway Coach
• Katie Bahain-Steenman, RCA U23 NextGen Coach 
• Lauren Fisher, RCA Lead Men’s Coach
• Michelle Darvill, FormerCanadian and Netherlands Olympic Coach
• Phil Marshall, Row Ontario High Performance Director
• Richard Paterson, Saskatchewan High Performance Director
• Terry Paul, Rowing BC Director of Performance
• Tom Morris, RCA Lead Women’s Coach

In addition to their role as mentors in our Mentorship program, these individuals will lead a series of webinars throughout the year, sharing insights on topics such as team development, technical fundamentals, practice management, and long-term planning.

Webinars

The RCA Canada Coach Development Program will kick off with two webinars in May and June, featuring established Canadian coaches sharing their experiences and technical expertise.

Webinar 1:  Thriving at Coaching Peer Support and Shared Standards

Led by Michelle Darvill and Christine Wilson, this session will explore the coaching journey of two accomplished Canadian coaches. Participants will gain insight into leadership, mentorship, and the evolution of collaborative coaching in Canadian rowing.

WEBINAR RECORDING

Webinar 2: Coaches as Effective Communicators for Technical and Training Outcomes

In June, Canadian Olympic Coach Al Morrow will lead a session on communication strategies to advance technical and training goals and assist athletes in their performance goals. 

This session will be hosted on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 4:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm MT / 6:00 pm CT / 7:00 pm ET / 8:00 pm AT / 8:30 pm NT.
 Registration closes: June 22nd 
REGISTER HERE

Stay Tuned: Mentee Applications Opening Soon

Beginning in June, RCA will open applications for the RCA Canada Coach Development Program, inviting coaches from across the country to apply for mentorship opportunities. The program will include streams for community, regional, and performance-level coaches, ensuring tailored support for coaches at every stage of their development.

Applications will be available to coaches with diverse experience levels and backgrounds, with a focus on building inclusive and sustainable coaching networks nationwide.

Additional Learning Resources

To support ongoing learning, RCA encourages coaches to explore the following resources:

• Canadian Rowing Model Technique
• Canadian Rowing Model Technique Summary

Learn to Row Resources

• RCA On Water Sweep and Sculling Instruction Videos 
• RCA Indoor Rowing Videos

Looking Ahead

There is much more on the horizon for Canadian coaching. RCA will continue to expand mentorship opportunities, deliver targeted learning experiences, and strengthen the national coaching network.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming webinars, mentorship opportunities, and the launch of the RCA Canada Coach Development Program application process.