Graduate Certificate and Master’s in High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership

1. Complete the Graduate Studies online application form.
2. Submit the following documents to the School of Kinesiology:

• Upload a copy of your official transcript of every post-secondary institution attended in the online application system. This includes official transcripts from educational institutions where you went on exchange and/or received transfer credits. Even if your primary degree transcript indicates your exchange and/or transfer credits on it, we require the transcripts from these educational institutions.  Your application is considered incomplete until we receive copies of all official transcripts from all your post-secondary institutions.
  Important: Please remember to include the marking or grading key, which is usually found at the back of the official transcript. Your application will NOT be assessed with unofficial copies. Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution will only be required if you are accepted.
• Curriculum Vitae. Include your coaching experiences and your National Coaching Certification Program qualifications (include NCCP #). Upload CV at the time the online application is submitted.
• Three reference letters. Referees can fill the online reference form and submit this form online if the applicant provides their email address in the application. This is the preferred method to submit reference letters. Mailed in reference letters will not be accepted as UBC Campus is now closed. For tips on soliciting reference letters, download this resource sheet.
  ** One of your reference letters must be a recommendation from your National or Provincial Sports Organization.
  

Referees can submit either the online reference form and/or upload their own reference letters online after the applicant provides the referee's email address in the online application form. An email link will be sent to the referee AUTOMATICALLY after the application form is completed and paid. Please DO NOT ask your referees to email reference letters to the Program Assistant. Reference letters must be submitted online as indicated above.

Applications meeting minimum eligibility requirements are forwarded to the admission committee for assessments. If accepted, an official admission letter will be issued by the School.

The following criteria, which must meet UBC’s minimum admission requirements, are used to review applications:

• Scholastic Performance (transcripts)
• Reference Letters
• Statement of Purpose
• CV

In addition, evidence from the application will weigh the following criteria for consideration:

1. Previous academic standing
2. NCCP qualification
3. Coaching or leadership experience
4. Level of athlete coached
5. Major games experience

High performance coaches who may be lacking formal academic experience are encouraged to apply.

The School of Kinesiology will send a formal offer of admission to successful candidates; those not recommended for the School’s graduate program will also receive written notification. All candidates will receive a notification usually by mid April.

International students do not usually require student visas to enter Canada for the one week Face-to-Face component of the program. For more information about visas and entry into Canada, please contact UBC International Student Advising.

The Graduate Certificate includes 3 elements:

A Face-to-Face (F2F) course component: A 4-day face to face on campus orientation and introduction requires mandatory attendance and begins the second Monday in June annually.   

Scheduled weekly webinars: between 9 and 15 hours a month (up to 3 hours a week) of synchronous webinars; candidates should also plan for at least 3 hours a week of preparation and homework.

Weekly classes will normally occur on one morning and one evening per week, with the provision that any missed online class will be recorded for later viewing with student assignment to ensure continuity in learning.

On-line course work: Approximately 6-9 hours per month, completed on your own time (“asynchronous”) and will vary per course.

A 4-day face to face on campus orientation and introduction to all courses will start the second Monday in June annually.

All four courses that form the Graduate Certificate will be introduced during the online course:

KIN 515 – Gap Analysis

KIN 585 – Performance Planning

KIN 586 – Coaching Effectiveness

KIN 597 – Application of HP sport

*The 4-day online orientation is mandatory and no exceptions will be made.

The Graduate Certificate earns successful candidates 12 credits towards the 30 credit Master’s Degree. The graduate certificate also provides transfer credit for the NCCP Advanced Coaching Diploma for eligible students who possess NCCP entry requirements.  Students must apply for the Advanced Coaching Diploma through the Coaching Association of Canada NCCP locker and selecting CSI Pacific as the designated Canadian Sport Institute. Students are encouraged to apply for NCCP ACD either before or shortly after enrolment in the UBC graduate certificate.

If students lack prior academic experience, NCCP credentials may be assessed for prior learning experience.  It is recommended that a minimum NCCP Comp-Dev trained, Level 3 certified, or equivalent accreditation (foreign coaches) is required. NCCP qualifications are weighted in applicant assessment particularly where there may be a lack of formal post-secondary academic standing.  Those individuals who apply as a technical leader and may have some NCCP qualification, more weighting will be considered toward prior post-secondary standing in their application.

Students who posses minimum NCCP Competition-Development trained status can apply for transfer credit in the Advanced Coaching Diploma.    

No, UBC does not recognize credit for the ACD.  However, students who possess ACD will be able to use this qualification in the program admission.  Furthermore, the graduate certificate provides 12 academic credits toward the Masters program and therefore all courses must be completed within the HPCTL program. 

The KIN 597, Practical Application in High Performance Sport, requires a series of practically based assignments that link to other courses in the certificate program. 

The practical environment will be largely student driven, with coaches working in their own training environments or technical leader role within a sport organization. Depending on National Governing body needs and availability, coaches and leaders may have an opportunity to engage national team programming or other high performance experiences unique to their current coaching or leadership context.

All coaches and technical sport leaders will be provided with a mentor who will assist coaches in the practical experiences. Mentors must be approved by the Canadian Sport Institute in conjunction with National Sport Organization or other key sport partners. The UBC course advisor will oversee all mentorship and practicum assessments.

The program is designed for a class of 20 students, however, typical cohort size varies from 14-18 students.

Yes, international students with qualifications equivalent to the Canadian entrance qualifications, and with an English language internet-based TOEFL overall score of 96 and IELTS overall score of 7.0, are eligible to attend (please see admission requirements for additional details).

Yes, both the HPCTL and MHPCTL are offered online on a part-time basis, including a 4 day face-to-face delivery at UBC in June each year.   As this is a part-time program, students are not eligible for student loans.  However, scholarships may be available through sport organization and CSI Pacific.

*International students will not be issued any student visa as they are not required to enter the country. Students may contact International Student Advising for more information.

The Graduate Certificate will provide you with an in-depth, research-based command of high performance sport, and help you enhance your skills and abilities to become a leading high performance coach or technical leader in Canadian (or international) sport. The curriculum has been developed by experts from the National Sport Organizations, Canadian Sport Institutes, Own the Podium and Coaching Association of Canada to reflect the demands of high performance sport.

You will acquire a university-recognized credential and develop a network of important contacts in high performance sport. Many graduates have been hired into coaching or leadership positions with their national sport organization, university sport, professional sport, or with Own the Podium.

Please see the Tuition tab for more information.

In order to maintain registration in the program, students must register and pay tuition for a minimum 2 courses.

While not ideal, coaches can register and complete individual courses over two years. Students who wish to intermittently engage the program must:

• Meet minimum requirements for entry into the Graduate Certificate
• Complete KIN 515 Gap Analysis in the first year

Attend residential component for each course that is registered (i.e. multiple residential requirements).

Students unable to complete all requirements within the academic year will be subject to re-engagement fees as established by UBC. Normally a student will be granted 6-month period to submit all course requirements after the end of the course. Students unable to complete the requirement after 6-month extension will be withdrawn from the course.

Candidates will normally have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics, Physical Education, Kinesiology or other related field of study with one of the following:

• A minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) in third- and fourth-year level courses.
• Academic standing with at least 12 credits of third- or fourth-year level courses in the A grade range (80% or higher at UBC) in their field of study.

Alternatively, applicants may be considered for admission who do not meet the academic requirements stated above, but who have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience, and/or otherwise possess demonstrable knowledge or expertise that would prepare them adequately for successful study in the graduate certificate program.

Prior Experience

In addition, candidates will normally have:

• 5 years of coaching experience, including coaching athletes at the national or provincial level, or involvement in major game (Canada Games to Olympic games), or 5 years as a carded National Team athlete
• National Coaching Certification Program qualification at level 3 or “Competition Development”, and
• recommendation of the National or Provincial Sports Organization

For more information, please see How to Apply.

Yes, special admission into graduate studies will be considered for candidates who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership potential and impact in their coaching careers, but may lack formal academic (undergraduate) training or credential. These candidates will need to demonstrate the drive to excel and the intellectual capability required to succeed, where ability to progress in the program will be assessed within the graduate certificate.

In addition, evidence from the application will weigh the following criteria for consideration:

• Previous academic standing
• NCCP qualification
• Coaching or leadership experience
• Level of athlete coached
• Major games experience

High performance coaches who may be lacking formal academic experience are encouraged to apply.

Targeted coaches may be able to access financial assistance through their NSO, Work BC, or other provincial work related subsidies. CSI Pacific may offer incentive based funding to coaches who demonstrate ability to complete program requirements and meet eligibility requirements. Students entering the first year of the Masters program may be eligible for the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Mikulec Family Award for Sport Coaching which is given on an annual basis based on the following description:

Awards totalling $2,000 have been made available through an endowment established by the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and Mark Mikulec (B.Ed. 1967) and Barb Mikulec (B.Ed. 1969), for outstanding domestic students entering the Masters in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership degree. Recipients must have outstanding academic achievement in the HPCTL Graduate Certificate, be a Charter Professional Coach of the Coaching Association of Canada and be currently coaching or in a leadership position supporting high-performance athletes. The Canadian Sport Institute Pacific is an Olympic and Paralympic training environment in British Columbia. One of its mandates is to develop coaches through formal education and by providing life services and collaboration opportunities to improve athlete performance within the Canadian high performance sport system. Mark and Barb Mikulec wish to support future leaders in athletics as they work to advance and develop their coaching skills. The awards are made on the recommendation of the School of Kinesiology, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. (First award available for the 2020/2021 winter session).

Both the HPCTL and MHPCTL programs are not eligible for government funded loan assistance. Students are responsible for checking with the financial assistance office for further information. Students may also contact their financial institutions to find out if they may be eligible for student's line of credit.

These awards will be assessed based on the quality of applicant which includes assessment of 1. Prior Academic Experience and 2. Prior Learning Experience. Prior Learning Experience includes level of NCCP qualification, level of athlete coached, years of coaching experience and major games involvement. Applicants will be notified of award upon acceptance into the program.

Students interested in the MHPCTL must apply to the HPCTL Graduate Certificate and successfully complete this program before being recommended for admission to the MHPCTL program.

We hope to inform all applicants by mid April of the committee's decision, whether or not they are accepted into the program. Applicants will be informed by email (from the email contact provided in the application).

Yes, the tuition, education, and any textbook amounts will allow you to reduce any income tax you may owe.

UBC will provide you with the T2202A slip in January for the total eligible tuition fees paid as well as the months you were enrolled either part-time or full-time. For more info, please see CRA website.

Instructors

Cote, Anita: PhD (KIN 585)

Anita is cardiovascular physiologist researching how exercise affects the heart in health and disease. As an avid athlete growing up in Ontario, Anita was always interested in how exercise affected the body, specifically how to train to optimize physical performance. This interest led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at UBC and certification from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

Anita worked in high performance sport with athletes of various disciplines as a physiologist and strength coach, and particularly with the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. During this time, she also lectured in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley, and later as a high performance advisor for the Canadian Sport Institute.

Presently, Anita holds the positions of Assistant Professor in the School of Human Kinetics (TWU), Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (SFU), and Instructor for the Graduate Certificate and Masters in High-Performance Coaching Program (UBC). When she is not working, you will find her enjoying an active lifestyle in Whistler with her family.

Gallo, Maria: PhD, Program Director - Academic, Professor (KIN 596)

As a Sr. Instructor in the School of Kinesiology, Maria teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the area of exercise physiology, human health and sport performance.

As a trained coach and retired national team athlete (rugby and bobsleigh), Maria is able to supplement her teaching and can interest the students further with real-life examples and cases encountered in the world of sports science. Her current role as the Head Coach of the Women’s Varsity Rugby Team compliments her duties as the primary advisor of the Master in Kinesiology (coaching stream) and the new Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership.

Maria is strongly committed to the highest pedagogic standards and dedicated to achieving outstanding distinction in areas of instruction and service.

Read more.

Hill, David: MSc, Program Director - Industry, Adjunct Professor (KIN 598)

Dave has dedicated his career to legitimizing the role of coaches in Canada and raising awareness of the value of coach education, coaching and athlete development. He started his coaching in Alpine skiing, coaching from the introductory to the High Performance Levels. During this time he began coaching rugby and has coached at all levels of the game in Canada and on the international stage. Professionally, Dave has grown as a leader in the development of the National Coaching Certification Program, facilitating sports in the transition to a competency-based coach education model. Dave spent three years at the Coaching Association of Canada in Ottawa, before moving back to Victoria where he was engaged in regional and high performance athlete/coach programming with the Canadian Sport Institute. Currently, he is the Lead for Coaching and System development at the Institute As a graduate of the National Coaching Institute-BC, Dave's qualifications include a Master of Science (UVIC), Bachelor of Education (UCalgary), Bachelor of PE (UCalgary). As a leader in coaching education, Dave envisions a world leading coach education programs that enable coaches to further their skills and experiences and to help athletes reach their full potential.

McEwen, Carolyn: PhD, Associate Professor (KIN 596)

Carolyn is an instructor in Research Methods and Statistics in the School of Kinesiology. Having specialized in sport and exercise psychology and receiving advanced training in research methods and statistics, she instructs undergraduate and graduate students in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research design, and statistics. Carolyn employed a mixed methods approach to her own research, which examined athletes’ experiences with high performance team selection processes.

Carolyn draws on her understanding of high performance sport contexts through her experiences as an international level athlete and national level official to demonstrate the necessity of research design and statistics in informing best practices in sport contexts. She emphasizes how understanding the strengths and limitations of research designs will allow coaches and technical leaders to critically evaluate the latest sport research and make informed decisions about their professional practice.

Neutegem, Andy Van: PhD, Adjunct Professor (KIN 515)

Andy Van Neutegem returned to Canada in 2006 after a 15 year stint in the UK working in various roles including UK anti-doping and university athletic director. Upon returning to Canada he began working for Canadian Sport Institute Pacific as a High Performance Director working with provincial and national sport organizations as well as undertaken the Lead role in the Performance Readiness. He has formally worked for a number of NSOs including Rowing Canada Aviron and is currently High Performance Director for Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association (Wheelchair Rugby) and has attended three Paralympic games (Beijing, London and Rio). He has consulted and continues to collaborate on Canadian Sport for Life (LTAD), Game Plan – Athlete transition and wellness, and National Coaching Certification Program delivery and development. Andy is current working for Own the Podium as a High Performance Advisor leading podium pathway and gold medal profiles with a number of targeted National Sport Organizations.

Pattenden, Wendy: PhD (KIN 517)

CEO of Canadian Sport Institute, Wendy holds an MBA (Royal Roads University 2004) and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia (School of Kinesiology in the Faculty of Education). Pattenden is one of the country’s leading advocates for sport, athlete and coaching development.

After playing an instrumental role in forging a dynamic $3 million naming rights deal with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) for the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sports Institute Network, Pattenden is resolute in her commitment to building a sustainable funding model for Canadian Sport Institute Pacific in particular and the national network overall. In addition, Pattenden and her team have built a series of programs and athlete services that inspire $3.5 million in annual support from business leaders and the community.

Pattenden’s legacy of executive leadership and community philanthropy includes her role as one of the main architects of the PacificSport regional network in 1999, serving as a guiding force behind the Canadian Sport For Life (CSFL) framework — a Federal-Provincial/Territorial framework promoting competency in fundamental motor skills. To this day, Pattenden serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Sport For Life Society.

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Seguin, Benoit: PhD (KIN 517)

Dr. Benoit Séguin teaches in the area of sport marketing, sport management and Olympic sponsorship and marketing. His research investigates sponsorship, ambush marketing and brand management topics, primarily in the context of major sports events such as the Olympic Games. He is a co-author of several textbooks including Sport Marketing: A Canadian Perspective, Olympic Marketing and Global Sport Marketing: Sponsorship and the Olympic Games. In addition to his academic work, Benoit has extensive experience in the management of Olympic sport organizations as a staff (Synchro Canada and Diving Canada), volunteer (past-president of Diving Canada; Vice-President of the Aquatic Federation of Canada) and since 2020 as Director of MEMOS (Executive Masters supported by Olympic Solidarity).
Benoit is a full professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. He is also a supervising professor at the International Olympic Academy.

Taylor, Shaunna: PhD, Adjunct Professor (KIN 586 and KIN 516)

Dr. Shaunna Taylor has been consulting with coaches and athletes from grassroots to the Olympic/Paralympic level for 15+ years, involved in athlete and integrated team support for over 6 Olympic/Paralympic cycles. Shaunna has published journal articles on coach learning in the International Sport Coaching Journal and Reflective Practice, and book chapters on coach communication and social learning for coaches. Shaunna is the Co-Chair of the Managing Council of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association, and she sits on the High Performance Committee for the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the International Women in Sport Committee with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). She was a Director at Triathlon Canada, and a coaching consultant at the Coaching Association of Canada. Besides her focus on mental preparation for performance and mental health support for athletes, Shaunna has an interest in nurturing a sport system that promotes excellence, equity, fair play and accessibility for all. Her current research interests are projects promoting positive body image in sport, coaching athletes with a disability, and adding to a sport landscape that empowers female athletes and leaders. She earned her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Health Sciences (spec. Sport Psychology) from the University of Ottawa, and she is a certified counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Shaunna consults on specialty topics such as disordered eating prevention, athlete transition, mental training for sport, and personal support and self-care for coaches. Shaunna is a service provider to nationally carded athletes through the Canadian Sport Institutes in BC, ON and QC.

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Mentors/Guest Speakers

Students will be exposed to guest speakers who are experts in the field of coaching and who will present on cutting edge topics.