Ottawa, ON (September 23, 2020) – Gymnastics Canada is pleased to launch our new online Values-Based Coaching Module, developed in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), as part of National Coaches Week celebrations.

The module, which takes about 45 minutes to complete, will help coaches learn about the True Sport Principles, and how to implement values-based programming in real-life situations. Coaches will also be able to claim three professional development points by successfully completing the module.

“We’re so excited to be able to offer coaches this opportunity to learn how to live the True Sport Principles through their coaching practice,” said Ellen MacPherson, Director of Safe Sport for Gymnastics Canada. “We’ve been building the True Sport Principles into the foundation of our sport for the last few years, and so are very pleased to now have this tangible educational initiative made available to our coaches to continue to foster their life-long learning, and to support how they interact with their athletes.”

True Sport defines Canada’s commitment to values-based and principle-driven sport and is based on the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion and fun; and is driven by the seven True Sport Principles: Go For It, Play Fair, Respect Others, Keep It Fun, Stay Healthy, Include Everyone and Give Back. These values and principles were developed in consultation with Canadians who identified the potential of sport to instil character, strengthen community, and increase opportunities for excellence, but who felt the sport system was falling short. True Sport, an initiative of the CCES, is designed to give people, communities, and organizations the means by which to leverage the benefits of good sport from a platform of shared values and principles.

“I would like to applaud Gymnastics Canada for the exemplary leadership they are demonstrating in their ongoing commitment to incorporating the True Sport Principles into all aspects of their organization,” said Karri Dawson, Senior Director, Quality Sport at the CCES. “We hope that by sharing their story, other national sport organizations (NSOs) will be inspired to do the same and answer the call to commit to values-based sport.”

The module is available to everyone, free of charge. To claim their professional development points, coaches will need to send a PDF of the certificate they receive at the end and email it to coaching@gymcan.org.

The module can be found here: http://www.gymcan.org/resources/for-coaches/coaching-tool

ABOUT GYMNASTICS CANADA
First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada has been supporting the mastery of movement in Canada for five decades as the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada. We work closely with the twelve provincial federations and 700 local clubs to provide a broad range of programs and services to meet the needs of all participants. From athlete development, to coach and judge education, Gymnastics Canada sets the operating standards and practices for the sport in Canada. Our mandate is to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experiences through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming. Visit www.gymcan.org for more information, or follow us @gymcan1. From here, we soar.

ABOUT TRUE SPORT
The True Sport Principles define Canada’s commitment to values-based and principle-driven sport.  True Sport is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and is designed to give people, communities and organizations the means by which to leverage the many benefits of good sport from a platform of shared values and principles. Learn more at www.truesport.ca

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For more information, please contact:
Julie Forget
Director, Communications & Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
jforget@gymcan.org

Megan Cumming
Manager, Corporate Communications
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
613.521.3340 x 3233
mcumming@cces.ca