By Ryan Flaherty for the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan
For young athletes, competing in the Canada Games can be an important step on the path to higher levels of sport.
But athletes aren’t the only ones for whom the Games can serve as a proving ground. They’re also a prime opportunity for coaches to further their development and gain valuable experience. As with many things in life, however, in order to get experience, one first needs an opportunity and those can be hard to come by, especially for coaches from underrepresented groups.
Enter the Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program, which gives female coaches across the country not only the practical experience of being involved in a multi-sport, national competition, but the support of an individual coaching mentor.
Each province and territory gets two spots in the year-long program. For the 2025 Canada Summer Games, Saskatchewan is represented by track and field coach Taylor McGregor and softball coach Madison Garchinski, whose participation is already paying dividends even though the Games themselves are still months away.
McGregor highlighted a gathering of program participants in November.
“It was truly inspiring to connect with such a passionate and driven group of women who share a commitment to increasing female representation in coaching and leadership roles,” she said.
McGregor, an assistant coach with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies track and field team who works with the pole vaulters, was encouraged to apply for the apprenticeship by Huskies head coach Jason Reindl and assistant coach Jamie Epp. In doing so, she saw an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of women in coaching and become a more effective coach and leader in her own right.
For Garchinski, the program offers a chance to give back. A former member of the Saskatoon-based 222’s fastpitch team who went on to play at Black Hawk College (NCJAA) and William Penn University (NAIA), she’s since had opportunities to coach with the 222’s and several U17 and U19 teams in Saskatchewan.
“My time in the States solidified my desire to pursue coaching once I returned to Canada,” she said. “As a coach, I’ve learned so much from individuals like Ryan Ray, Mel Basillio, Keith Mackintosh, Dean Holoien, and Nevada Delver.”
Delver, the head coach of Saskatchewan women’s softball team for the upcoming Games, is serving as Garchinski’s coaching mentor.
“I’ve learned so much from her already about what it takes to coach a Canada Games program,” Garchinski said.
McGregor is being mentored by University of Regina track and field head coach Sabrina Nettey. “Sabrina has encouraged me to celebrate the wins, navigate challenges, and push beyond my comfort zone to grow as both a coach and a leader,” McGregor said.
As the Games draw nearer, the apprentices will be involved with every aspect of preparation before traveling with their respective teams to the competition itself, which is set for August 8-25 in St. John’s, NL. Along the way, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn, grow and develop.
“I’m eager to learn from some of the best coaches in the province and build on my own coaching skills,” Garchinski said. “I feel extremely grateful to work alongside such knowledgeable coaches at a high level, and I hope to continue developing the skills necessary to pursue coaching at even higher levels.”
McGregor is looking forward to the track and field team selection process and learning from other coaches as they work with the athletes trying to earn a sport, and on a broader level, she’s grateful for the chance to pave the way for others.
“As a female coach, I recognize the importance of strong mentorship and representation, and I look forward to contributing to a team that values this,” she said. “I am excited to learn more about the role of a coach at a major Games and how we can continue to create opportunities for more women to step into leadership positions in high-performance sport.”
