When we think of coaching in rowing, we often picture someone on the dock or in the launch, guiding athletes toward excellence. But behind many of those coaches is another layer of support—Coach Developers—who are just as committed to performance, learning, and growth. Across Canada, these leaders are not only facilitating workshops or assessing coaching competencies; they’re also acting as mentors who shape the future of coaching in our sport.

Coach Developers are experienced, National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)-trained leaders who help support the development of coaches at every level. Whether they’re delivering a Learn to Row workshop or evaluating a coach in the RCA Performance Coach Pathway, their role goes far beyond instruction. They listen, observe, challenge, and collaborate—all with the goal of helping coaches thrive.

“Regardless of whether you are facilitating a workshop or evaluating a coach, you must remind yourself that you have an impact on the person first,” says Karol Sauvé, Technical Director at Aviron Québec and NCCP Master Coach Developer. “We both learn new skills and competencies to share and build the knowledge across the coaching community.”

Terry Paul, Olympic gold medal coxswain and coach, is one of many seasoned leaders helping to grow the next generation of Canadian coaches. As Technical Director for Rowing BC, he’s expanded his role to include workshop facilitation, evaluations, and mentorship through the Made in Canada Coaches program. For him, it’s all part of a bigger picture.

“A big part of learning about becoming a coach evaluator is the appreciation of the structure that the evaluation process requires,” says Terry. “Taking the time in the pre-brief to build a comfortable rapport with the coach candidate frees them up to be authentic during the actual on-water coaching evaluation.”

Terry sees this structured approach to self-reflection and critical thinking as essential to long-term growth for both coaches and athletes. “The benefit is the opportunity to network, share ideas, and ask good questions that encourage self-reflection and focus on the good things the coach is doing,” he explains. “As an evaluator, I’m learning that this process is an opportunity for the coach to categorize their skills and recognize the depth of their understanding and competence.”

Coach Developers embody the idea that learning never stops. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer conversations, and formal evaluations, they help coaches reflect on their own practices and chart a path forward, making the sport stronger at every level.

“Every evaluation is a two-way street,” adds Katie Bahain-Steenman, RCA Under 23 Coach and NCCP Coach Developer. “It’s about sharing ideas, building on each other’s experiences, and raising the overall quality of coaching and programming across the country.”

At its heart, coach development is about relationships. It’s about recognizing that coaching isn’t just a skillset—it’s a practice that evolves through feedback, community, and intentional support. And in rowing, Coach Developers are leading that evolution.

“There is always something to learn in every situation and from everyone,” says NCCP Coach Developer Chantal Lavigne. “When we take the time to listen and allow everyone to have a voice, we grow as a person, a group, and a sport.”

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Connect with your Provincial Rowing Association to learn more about the Learn to Row Coach, RCA Coach, or Coastal Coach Pathways, or reach out to Colleen Miller (RCA Manager, Coach Education and Development) directly for details about the RCA Performance Coach Pathway.