“Candice was an amazing and direct instructor for Sport Management. She offered us tangible benefits, such as certifying us with the Canadian Sport Coaching System. She was one of the best professors I have had. I was able to obtain real world experience and assets that will assist me in future job applications. I honestly believe Candice offering sport coaching modules for a Camosun discount has been the most valuable expense I’ve had during this degree.”
Candice is a term instructor in the Sport Management program who received a Camosun Teacher Recognition Award in 2026. A former athlete, coach, coach developer, and athlete advisor at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, she has taught SPMA 234, The Sport Coaching Process, since 2022.
I wondered about the connection between coaching and teaching, and what Candice enjoyed about both. “Both are about facilitating learning. I enjoy working with people who are eager to learn and creating space for them to explore their interests. I’ve been fortunate to have great coaches and teachers, and it brings me joy to support students on their learning journeys as others supported me.”
I was curious where students in Candice’s course come from and where they go when they have completed their program. “Some are athletes or coaches; others simply love sports and want to find a career in sport. At the start of the term, I ask what they hope to get out of the course to help shape the learning experience and explore their career interests. Although we have fewer international students than before, we still have students from abroad who are interested in learning about the Canadian system.”
Candice is also a career development practitioner. “In a previous role, I helped athletes transition into careers, and many of them also wanted to work in sport. I let students know I can support them in exploring their options, too.”
I asked Candice if she could tell me a little bit about how her class works. “Each week, we have one day in the classroom and one in the gym, where students put theory into practice. Even those who don’t plan to coach develop skills they can use in other careers. As I tell them, we all do some form of coaching in our lives, so these skills are very transferable.”
Candice has worked with the department and the Coaches Association of Canada to ensure students receive credit toward the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP). “Students complete five Competition Introduction modules and receive a Sport Coaching Process certificate. Those credits can help them pursue certification in their sports or work at summer camps. Some start coaching while still in the program; others discover a love of coaching they hadn’t expected, which is exactly what I hope to encourage.”
The two components of the course, gym and classroom, work together. “We work through an NCCP module each week and practise in small groups. In the Basic Mental Skills module, for example, students learn visualization and relaxation techniques in the classroom, then lead one their peers through the exercises in the gym.”
Learning and assignments throughout the term build toward a final project. “Students bring everything together by designing a sport program, including annual planning and budgeting. In the final class, they share their projects at a mock sport fair. It’s a highlight for me because I get to see their ideas come to life. A few years ago, one group’s project became the Camosun intramural soccer team, which is still running.”
In the gym, students practice coaching. “They learn to lead warmups and cooldowns, design safe practices, and work with both familiar and new sports. We include an Indigenous module to support inclusive coaching, and I bring in a guest speaker from ISPARC (Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council) to introduce students to the programming available in BC.”
One year, having a student with a physical disability in class provided opportunities to learn about adapting activities. “Students had to think critically about participation and adjust their practices—skills I hope they take beyond coaching.”
As for what the students typically choose to focus on in the course, Candice sees “a lot of basketball, baseball, and hockey, but I’ve also had swimmers, a mountain biker, skiers, and students interested in tennis. Some students choose unfamiliar sports to learn something new. I’m not an expert in every sport, so I bring in one or two experienced coaches to lead students through skill progressions.”
I asked Candice if she had any specific memories from her years of coaching and teaching to share. “One student was a freeride skier I’d coached in Banff when he was 11. It was lovely to reconnect and see the man he had grown up to be. I also value what international students bring to the classroom, particularly what they teach us about the sport system in their countries.”
Candice also noted the growing number of women in the course. “My first year, there were only two women. Last fall, women made up approximately 20% of the class. Having a female instructor seems to help female students feel more comfortable.”
Finally, I wondered if Candice might have some advice for new instructors at Camosun. “Get involved in school events and get to know your colleagues. Keep an eye on the CETL newsletter and take advantage of learning opportunities. I especially recommend TELŦIN TŦE WILNEW (TTW) and the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW). Both are fabulous courses.”