See It. Be it. Lead It.
The TELUS She Can Coach Initiative is a national coach recruitment, development, and training program designed by Canada Soccer to increase the number of women coaches in the grassroots game, and to break down barriers for women in coaching.
At BSC, we are proud to be participating in this movement as part of Year 3 of the program (2025-26), helping create a more inclusive, supportive, and inspiring coaching environment for women.
Our goal is simple: Recruit. Develop. Inspire.
- Recruit – Engage new female coaches at entry level
- Develop – Provide education, practical experience, and support so that women coaches have real opportunities to lead and grow.
- Inspire – Grow the number of women coaches, and in turn, help more girls see themselves in leadership roles on and off the field.
Why this matters for BSC
At BSC we believe in “soccer for life” – and part of that belief is ensuring our coaching community reflects and supports the diversity of our players. By participating in the TELUS She Can Coach Program, we:
- expand pathways for women coaches in our club and in our community
- improve the experiences of all players by ensuring a richer diversity of voices, perspectives, and role-models on the sidelines
- actively contribute to closing the gender gap in sport participation and leadership, starting at the grassroots level
- build stronger networks of mentorship and community for women coaches at every level
Program Highlights
Here’s what participating coaches will receive and what the club commits to:
- Free-access to the four online modules of Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education: Active Start, FUNdamentals, Learn to Train, Soccer for Life
- Opportunity to attend an in-person practical coaching workshop (hosted centrally)*
- Access to a national virtual network (Coach huddles) led by Canada Soccer experts
- Local support: each woman coach will be connected to a club lead within BSC, attend local support/network meetings, and benefit from the club’s internal framework of mentoring
What we ask from our coaches
Recruited coaches will be asked to:
- Participate actively in the program, including three virtual Coach Huddles
- Complete at least one (1) grassroots workshop and achieve “trained” status by June 30, 2026
- Complete the Canada Soccer Safe Sport Roster modules by June 30, 2026 (incl. Making Headway in Sport, Emergency Action Plan, Rule of Two, plus MED and Respect in Sport)
Timeline at a glance (2025 – 2026)
| Phase | Timing | Key Activities |
| Coach Recruitment (BSC application opens) | November 7 – November 21, 2025 | Interested applicants to complete the BSC Application (virtually) by November 21, 2025 to be considered. |
| Coach Selection | November 22 – November 28, 2025 | Applications are reviewed (internally) and successful coaches are contacted. |
| Coach on-boarding – BSC | Week of December 1, 2025 | Selected Coaches are welcomed through a coach on-boarding at the BSC Office. |
| Coach on-boarding – Canada Soccer | January, 2026 | Coaches receive materials, attend first Canada Soccer Huddle |
| Coach Huddles – Canada Soccer | January, March, May of 2026 | Three webinars for coaches to connect, learn, and grow |
| Coach Collective – BSC | February, April, June of 2026 | BSC hosted networking, on-field and mentorship sessions |
| Practical Experience & Wrap-up | June/July, 2026 | Coaches implement their learning on field; program concludes, surveys conducted |
Ready to get Involved
All those interested in becoming a coach through this program are required to complete an application. All applications will be reviewed, and application closes November 21, 2025 at 5pm.
Have questions? Contact our Director of Marketing, Samantha Stewart here.
BSC Leads for the Program
Samantha Stewart, Director of Marketing– Samantha – known as Sam to her family and friends – is a passionate advocate for female sports and holistic athlete development. With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sports sector, an MBA, and a background spanning corporate sport, coaching, and playing, she brings both expertise and heart to her work. Her experiences- both the uplifting and the challenging – fuel her commitment to leave the sports world better than she found it, restoring sport to its true purpose: a powerful tool for holistic human development. When she’s not on (or beside) the pitch, you’ll find her with her rescue dog (a self-proclaimed lemon) and her partner, cheering on their favourite teams.
Jamie Shannon, Manager Grassroots – Jamie brings over 40 years of soccer experience to his role with BSC, having played and coached at various levels across Canada. A proud BSC alumnus, Jamie earned an NCAA Division I scholarship to Syracuse University, where he was a four-year starter and earned Offensive MVP honors. His playing career also includes being a two-time Men’s Ontario Cup Champion, a two-time National Champion, and a former member of both the Ontario Provincial and Canadian National Youth programs. Jamie’s love for the game runs deep, and his journey from player to coach reflects his belief in the power of sport to inspire and develop people on and off the pitch. When he’s not on the field, you’ll find him with his beautiful family of four and their spirited Boston Terrier – likely at a game, cheering on the next generation of athletes and yelling E.S.T. from the stands.
This program is delivered by Canada Soccer in Partnership with TELUS, and BSC is proud to partner as a participating club for the 2025-26 She CAN Coach Initiative.
