About Skate Canada Coaches

 

At the Richmond Hill Figure Skating Club (RHFSC), the quality and safety of our programs begin with our dedicated coaching team. All RHFSC coaches are trained and certified through Skate Canada, the national governing body for figure skating in Canada, and follow the rigorous standards set by the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).

Skate Canada & Coaching Standards

Skate Canada is recognized by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee as the official national sport organization for figure skating. It is responsible for developing coaching standards, delivering athlete pathways, and ensuring safety, inclusion, and excellence in all registered clubs and skating schools.

Through Skate Canada’s coaching system, our coaches receive formal education, evaluation, and ongoing training in both technical instruction and safe sport principles. Each coach must also be registered annually with Skate Canada and must adhere to the Skate Canada Code of Ethics and Safe Sport requirements, including background screening and first aid training.

National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP)

The NCCP is a nationwide program developed by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) that provides standardized training and certification for coaches in all sports. It is designed to support coaches at every stage of their career—from entry-level to high-performance—ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundation to coach effectively and safely.

All RHFSC coaches hold NCCP certifications appropriate to their coaching level and discipline (e.g., CanSkate, Regional, Provincial, National). Certification involves both sport-specific technical training and multi-sport modules covering topics such as ethics, safety, planning, and athlete development.

Coaches Association of Canada (CAC)

The Coaches Association of Canada delivers the NCCP in partnership with sport organizations and leads initiatives such as the Responsible Coaching Movement and Safe Sport Training. RHFSC coaches participate in these national efforts to ensure safe, respectful, and inclusive coaching practices.

Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO)

The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) supports coaches at the provincial level by offering professional development workshops, grants, and access to coaching resources. Many RHFSC coaches engage with CAO programming to expand their learning and stay connected to the broader coaching community in Ontario.

Ongoing Professional Development

Coaching doesn’t stop after certification. RHFSC coaches are committed to lifelong learning and are required to complete ongoing professional development (PD) to maintain their NCCP-certified status. PD activities include:

• Technical clinics and updates

• Sport science and mental performance workshops

• Safe sport and equity training

• Conferences hosted by Skate Canada, CAC, or CAO

This continuous development ensures our coaches are current with best practices in sport, athlete well-being, and program delivery—bringing the highest level of excellence and care to our skaters.