Despite it being early days, here is an initiative to watch, support, and adapt. Ringette Canada’s Female Coach on the Bench Policy and the subsequent Action Plan may offer a blueprint for other sport organizations to produce a realistic pathway to develop and retain female coaches.

Complementing Ringette Canada’s initiatives are two new tools, one nation-wide that focuses on increasing retention and advancement of female coaches. The other is Alberta-based and aims to increase gender equity and leadership diversity in sport organizations.It is crucial to recognize the role of partnerships in these developments with Ringette Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) working together, the CAC and the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) jointly developing the Female Coach Mentorship Model, and the CAC and Alberta Sport Connection supporting the Women in Sport and Leadership Impact Program. Funding for the latter two came from Status of Women Canada.

The Journal Editorial Board is encouraged by these developments and will monitor the movement from policy to progress. – Sheila Robertson, Journal editor

To read the full article in the  Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching.