Mentor Program | WeCOACH

Questions or need help? Email: events@wecoachsports.org

Program Description

WeCOACH offers unique mentoring trios for coaches in all sports, levels, and years of experience. Research shows us that women coaches who have been coaching between 7-10 years are at a pivotal point in their career and statistically leave the profession at the highest rate. To best support coaches at this point in their career, they are the central figure in each trio, serving as both mentor and mentee.
Now in its eighth year, this annual development program aims to provide connections, networking and learning across sports. We remain committed to keeping women in coaching by creating trios to best serve each level of coach, while fostering growth for each individual across experience levels.
Mentoring Matters. This is what you can expect when you are a committed participant in the mentor program:

Experience enhanced job satisfaction.
Develop better critical thinking skills by addressing challenges at all levels.
Grow your professional network across various sports and levels.
Be exposed to new and relevant ideas as well as reinforce successful, current practices.
Share leadership and management methods.
Empower future generations of coaches by creating a culture of empathy, positivity, and respect.
Share the importance of networking and mentoring as a channel for professional advancement.
Be the catalyst for advancing the mission and values of WeCOACH; generating collaborative and inclusive culture amongst members.

The WeCOACH Mentor Program requires a commitment to your own self-investment, discovery and development, as well as a commitment to the other two coaches in your trio. You will get out of this program what you put into it. Your group members are counting on you to make this a priority in your schedule for the duration of the 4-month or 8-month program.

Our one-of-a-kind mentorship model features “Trios,” three levels of mentor/mentee group dynamics based on level of experience:
GOLD MENTOR (10+ years coaching experience, with head coaching experience preferred),
SILVER MENTOR/MENTEE (5-10 years coaching experience)
BRONZE MENTEE (less than 5 years coaching experience)
Trio assignments focus on harnessing the power, depth and richness generated by integrating & engaging coaches from all sports & levels so unless otherwise specified in the application, participants will not necessarily be grouped with coaches of the same sport and level. Participants are assigned to trios based on a variety of considerations: coaching experience (Gold, Silver, Bronze), sport(s) coached, working title (head, assistant, admin, other,) sport level (youth, high school, collegiate, professional, other, etc.) and time zones/regions.
Trios will receive monthly discussion prompts to help in guiding your monthly meetings.
Participants must commit to making every effort to attend all scheduled Monthly Trio Meetings and bi-monthly Mentor Meet-Ups. We certainly understand conflicts with personal/family obligations, team practices/competitions, team & recruiting travel, etc. will arise. Please communicate conflicts with your Trio members in advance.

Time Frame

July 25: Registrations open!
August 23: Registrations close (WeMENTOR is only open to WeCOACH members who have registered)
November 1- November 15: Special Registration period for new members wishing to participate in the Spring session.
September 9: Participants will be emailed their Mentor Group Trio Assignments & additional program details. Including an orientation video with a check-list for everything you need to get started and be successful. Check spam/junk folder if you do not receive this email in your inbox. Email events@wecoachsports.org with issues.

New This Year!

Historically, there has only been one option for the Mentor Program, an 8-month long program. To increase engagement and participation throughout the entirety of the program, we will offer three different cohort options. During the registration process, you will select which session you would like to commit to for the upcoming Mentor Season, Fall Cohort I, Spring Cohort II, or Full Cohort III.

FALL Session Cohort I (4-months):
September-December

SPRING Session Cohort II (4-months):
December-April

FULL Session Cohort III (8-months):
September-April

Monthly Trio Meetings
Participants must commit to meeting with their assigned Trio monthly, at a minimum. Each group is responsible for assigning a time that works for your group. Participation in these trio meetings is mandatory to get the most out of your Mentor Program experience.

Monthly Prompts
You will have access to a library of monthly discussion topics to help you engage conversations within your monthly trio meetings.

Mentor Meet-Ups
Mentor Meet Ups are additional virtual meetings that will be scheduled by WeCOACH to bring all participants together for continuing education and networking. We understand conflicts with personal/family obligations, team practices/competitions, team & recruiting travel, etc. will arise. Please communicate conflicts with your Trios in advance and make every effort to attend.

September 11 OR September 12: First Mentor Program Meet-Up for all Participants

Pick either date to attend. This is a requirement. If you are unable to attend either day, please notify Marci Kornegay marci@wecoachsports.org
12:00-1:00 pm ET/9:00 – 10:00am PT
Mentor Program Orientation Q&A, Best Practices, and Connections
You will receive a Zoom Link that week. Go ahead and save the date in your calendar.

*More Mentor Meet-Ups will be added to the schedule.

Mentor/Mentee Eligibility and Requirements

GOLD MENTOR

To apply to serve as a Gold Level Mentor, members must:

Be a current member (or become a member) of WeCOACH
10+ years of coaching experience, with head coach experience preferred
Agree to an 8-month commitment to the program
Commit to meeting virtually or via phone at a minimum of one time a month with trio group members
Be willing to provide support and communicate with trio group members between meetings
Complete assessments (before, during, after) to provide feedback for WeCOACH to continually improve the program

SILVER MENTOR/MENTEE

To apply to serve as a Silver Level Mentor/Mentee, members must:

Be a current member (or become a member) of WeCOACH
Have more than five (5) but less than ten (10) years of coaching experience (head, associate or assistant)
Agree to an 8-month commitment to the program
Commit to meeting virtually or via phone at a minimum of one time a month with trio group members
Be willing to provide support and communicate with trio group members between meetings
Serve as a liaison between gold and bronze mentor group members by planning, participating in and facilitating group communications
Complete assessments (before, during, after) to provide feedback for WeCOACH to continually improve the program

BRONZE MENTEE

To apply to serve as a Bronze Level Mentee, members must:

Be a current member (or become a member) of WeCOACH
Have less than five (5) years of experience cumulative as a head, associate or assistant coach, including as a GA, student assistant or Volunteer Coach
Agree to an 8-month commitment to the mentor program
Commit to meeting virtually or via phone at a minimum of one time a month with trio group members
Be willing to provide support and communicate with trio group members between meetings
Complete assessments (before, during, after) to provide feedback for WeCOACH to continually improve the program