SHE CAN RISE

Phoenix FC was announced as one of fifty-four clubs across Canada to participate for a second year in the TELUS She CAN Coach Program, an initiative led by Soccer Canada.

The program, as stated by Soccer Canada is specifically designed for new and entry-level women coaches, it focuses on those interested in starting or continuing Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Coach Education. By providing access to education, training, and tailored support, the initiative aims to break down barriers, encourage more women and girls to participate in soccer and soccer coaching and promote gender equity at all levels of the sport” (Soccer Canada, 2024).

This tremendous growth reflects the incredible dedication of the soccer community to support and empower women in coaching. As we expand the program, we remain committed to ensuring that women coaches have the tools and resources they need to thrive and create lasting change in Canadian soccer,” said Sara McConaghy, Director of Community & Fund Development at Canada Soccer, in reference to the TELUS She CAN Coach program (Soccer Canada, 2024).

In the same month, capitalizing on the energy and excitement of this announcement, Phoenix FC’s Coordinator of Competitive Grassroots Girls - Colleen Skitsko, Member Services and Grassroots Registrar - Mel Russell, and Member Services and Registrar – Amanda Smith, launched the She Can RISE Initiative! This initiative, in conjunction with the TELUS She CAN Coach program, seeks to identify and remove the barriers that our female leaders face, so that we can best encourage the development of experienced, confident and educated female coaches, who feel supported by their co-coaches, their club and their community. 

To listen to the first podcast on the She Can Rise program, with emphasis on its goals and objectives, follow this link: https://youtu.be/ayiJfRSOol8

We’re proud of the efforts of Colleen, Mel, and Amanda, having built upon the success of the Telus She Can program to create She Can Rise for our Phoenix community. This new initiative is designed to attract and support emerging female leaders and coaches. The strong connection with our Junior Coaching program, where more than 85% of participants are female, further enhances the potential for developing female coaches and leaders within our club.

For more information on the Phoenix FC She Can RISE Initiative, join the Google Classroom (code: m3pyron) or contact Colleen at c.skitsko@spdsa.net.