Beers inspired to advance her coaching through FACP

By Lethbridge Herald on October 3, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Herald photo by JUStin SEWARD Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks assistant coach Kayla Beers, far left, watches as players practice on Thursday. Beers is participating in the FACP program, which aims to open more access for young women to coach competitvely at the post-secondary level.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s soccer assistant coach Kayla Beers is trying to make a difference not only for herself but perhaps for other females interested in getting involved in the coaching ranks at the post-secondary level in a competitive way.

Beers is just starting her second year of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s (CCAA) Female Apprenticeship Coaching Program.(FACP)

“The goal of the FACP is to increase access for young women to coach at a post-secondary competitive level, provide high level quality coaching mentorship, and support their professional development to facilitate their continued pursuit of coaching,” states CCAA in a media release.

Beers gets involved in a monthly online session with FACP leaders, which did include D Cyr who is the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Halifax’s Mount Saint Vincent University.

“The FACP program caters to all sports rather than just soccer, so it was nice that my leader happened to be in the same sport as myself,” says Beers, in a press release prior to an interview.

“D seemed very enthusiastic about the program and was an excellent leader. They were engaging and provided a great opportunity for all of us apprentices to connect with each other in an easy going way.”

 “It interested me just because I wanted to kind of take more steps into becoming a leader and a better coach,” said Beers.

“Eventually my goal is to be a head coach. So it just seemed like a good opportunity, like (a) good stepping stone, to get there.”

The program does about the lack of females filling coaching roles.

“I think the statistics show that there just aren’t that many females in those roles of coaching, especially at a head coach level,” said Beers.

“ I think it’s important for females to be getting into those roles. It’s great for visibility, it’s good for the athletes that we’re coaching to see that they can become a coach, a head coach at some point as well.”

Beers has seen a difference in her coaching since getting  involved in the FACP.

“I think last year I was really results driven and this year, after going through the course, it’s more about the culture and the players and just developing good players on and off the field,” said Beers.

Beers has enjoyed the amount of coaches that the Kodiaks have for their soccer teams.

“Sean (head coach Carey) doesn’t really make it feel like Sean’s  the head coach and then we’re all just assistants,” said Beers.

“It’s a really equal playing field for all of us coaches,  which has been really nice, (and) is also given me a lot (of )opportunities to take on more leadership roles.”

Those leadership roles for Beers has included anything from running full  practices to doing game day stuff.

Beers fellow assistant coach, John D’agnone, continue to be her mentor as she goes through the second year.

 “The biggest evolution that I noticed, almost immediately, is how proactive and confident Kayla was in her own coaching abilities,” says D’Agnone, in a press release.

“She needed very little direction and wasn’t afraid to introduce a lot of her own very good ideas. The relationship ended up being more of sharing information between the two of us.’’