Ottawa Sport Council in Partnership with Tennis Canada National Bank launches Game.Set.Equity initiative called – She’s an ACE – Accelerate Coaching Equity for Women and Girls in Tennis
We encourage all community tennis clubs to champion female players in their clubs to participate in this initiative. We encourage clubs to champion their nominee with a sponsorship/fundraiser to cover the cost of the OTA Level 1 certification. All other program resources, curriculum and training will be covered by the Game.Set.Equity grant. The Ottawa Sport Council will support the clubs with sponsorship marketing, administration, fundraising event development and set the foundation to remove barriers for clubs to action this initiative. For more information and to be included in the details on the She’s an ACE initiative contact Lauren OSC Project Lead at [email protected] Support the Next Generation of Female Tennis Leaders!
We’re launching a new initiative, in partnership with Tennis Canada and National Bank FM, to empower women and girl tennis leaders in our community, and we need your help! By raising funds to cover the Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) Level 1 Certification fees, we can equip aspiring female coaches with the essential training they need.
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. We’re asking Club Administrators, Board of Directors, Coaches, Parents, and Club Members to consider donating the cost of just one hour of court time. This collective effort will directly support vital expenses such as:
- First Aid and CPR training
- Safe Sport Education
- Tennis Professional Association Instructor Insurance (required for each new coach)
- OTA Level 1 Certification
By covering these costs, we’re ensuring each new coach is fully prepared and confident to step onto the court and lead. This isn’t just about training coaches; it’s about fostering a stronger, more inclusive tennis culture within our clubs, driven by our entire tennis community.
Collective giving leads to collective impact! Join us in building a brighter future for women’s tennis players and leaders where all women and girls can feel like they belong.
How Your Club Can Get Involved?
We are asking clubs to:
- Circulate the Call for Female Coach Participants: Share the opportunity with your members (All ages welcome – must be 16+) who may be interested in coaching.
- Support Local Fundraising Efforts: We are aiming to support 12 female coaches
- Clubs are encouraged to collectively raise funds to support a coach through options such as:
- Hosting a tennis marathon or round robin fundraiser (The OSC can help mobilize)
- Adding a $5, $10, $20 optional donation to court bookings and online services
- Concession donation impact
- Sponsor a participant directly through family, friends, coaches, clubs, community
- Identify and Nominate Candidates: Help us identify passionate, diverse, and committed individuals who would thrive in a coaching role.
Who Should Apply?
We are seeking women and girl participants (16+) who are:
- Passionate about tennis, sport, and leadership
- Interested in coaching or mentoring future players
- Ready to give back and grow within their local tennis communities
- Recognizes the power they have as role models on and off the courts
Next Steps
If your club is interested in participating, please respond by July 15th to receive a toolkit with promotional materials, fundraising ideas, and timelines.
For questions or to confirm your club’s participation, please contact Lauren at [email protected]
Thank you for your continued commitment to growing an inclusive and supportive tennis community in Ottawa.
Warm regards,
Lauren Shearer
Ottawa Sport Council
She’s an ACE initiative curriculum was designed to develop more female tennis coaches in the Ottawa community tennis clubs and associations. This curriculum will also bring together leaders from the tennis clubs Board of Directors, club leaders, current coaches, volunteers and staff to learn more about retaining girls in sport and physical activity and by doing so creating stronger, more active and invested tennis clubs and in the communities they serve.
- Safe Sport Training with Coaching Association of Canada and is aligned with the UCCMS
- Certification of CPR and Emergency First Aid in person group format, valid for 3 years
- Ontario Tennis Association Tennis Level 1 Instructor Course
- Facilitate for participating community tennis clubs, current and new coaches the Canadian Women & Sport workshop Retaining Girls in Sport & Physical Activity
- Graduation celebration for all participants of the She’s an ACE initiative at TCWO where the new coaches are matched with a group of girls for a free community Try Tennis event with a social afterwards to celebrate this huge achievement for the coaches, their families and tennis in the Ottawa community
Goals of the Program
She’s an ACE – Accelerate Coaching Equity for Women and Girls in Tennis initiative will develop and increase female leaders in the Ottawa tennis community. The overall objective is to remove as many barriers as possible for women and girls in tennis, to build confidence in their strengths and skills, inspiring their contribution as role models and leaders to create more equitable environments where women and girls never have to question if they belong.
Below is a detailed outline of how the She’s an ACE initiative will achieve and reach the identified goals:
In partnership with 25 Ottawa community tennis clubs, a specific curriculum will be offered to advance women and girls’ passion for tennis into a professional coaching capacity. Each club will engage within their direct membership to apply to become a certified Tennis Instructor through this initiative.
The goal is to certify 5 or more new female tennis instructors in Ottawa who will increase the representation of female coaches from almost zero to every club having a female tennis coach available within their community.
Studies show that 63% of girls ages 6-16 and 43% of women ages 17-26 are participating in sport. It was recognized that almost half of girls are interested in leadership roles and careers in the sport and physical activity sector which makes this initiative achievable and relevant.
With the support of Tennis Centre West Ottawa, She’s an ACE initiative will be successful in meeting the accelerated goal of 12 or more new female tennis coaches in Ottawa by the end of 2025. With 6 indoor clay courts the curriculum and training schedule will not be affected by weather. With the OSC leading the operations and coordination of the program, logistical and operational barriers for the volunteer driven community tennis clubs are removed.
Links below for supporting documents and marketing material: