NSA Conversation #30: Marie-France Mercier, Director of Coach Education at Tennis Canada

Whole Player Development Pathway: https://www.tenniscanada.com/play/whole-player-development-pathway/

In this episode, Bogdan Grygorenko interviews Marie-France Mercier, the director of coaching education at Tennis Canada, discussing her journey into coaching, the evolution of coach education in Canada, and the importance of competency-based coaching. They explore the qualities that make great coaches, the significance of community among coaches, and debunk myths surrounding coaching qualifications. The conversation emphasizes the need for a growth mindset and the development of essential coaching skills, encapsulated in the framework of the five Cs: culture, character, connection, confidence, and competence. In this conversation, Bogdan Grygorenko and Marie-France Mercier delve into the intricacies of coaching in tennis, discussing the importance of feeding and challenging players, developing a coaching eye, and the pathways for aspiring coaches. They explore mentorship opportunities, the increasing representation of female coaches, and the vital communication between parents and coaches. Marie-France shares personal insights from her journey as a coach and a parent, emphasizing the long-term goals of player development and the importance of maintaining a supportive environment for young athletes.

Here's what Marie-France says about herself:

"For over 35 years, my career has been dedicated to the development of both coaches and athletes at all levels in the sporting industry. I am passionate about seeing people evolve and nothing makes me prouder than to see an individual or team develop.

My path in tennis development has ranged from a competitor, on court coaching, a parent of 3 National level tennis players to overseeing the coaching development department at Tennis Canada. In my current role as Director, I manage the Certification Program, Community Tennis Development, and the Coaching Association (TPA) which has over 4300 members. I have also recently taken on the leadership of the Pickleball certification.

I am dedicated to the growth of tennis in Canada and focused on creating an ecosystem that supports coaching excellence and future tennis leaders. Increasing participation in the country and making tennis more inclusive and accessible is my key priority.

A couple fun facts unknown to many, is that long ago, I was an Alpine skiing coach and I also graduated from the Université du Québec à Montréal with a degree in Education. Reflecting on my career journey sport and education have always been part of my DNA.

I also enjoy speaking at international conferences to share perspectives, learn and collaborate to build innovative new ideas and approaches. The best innovative ideas are created when you come together and share."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Coaching Education
02:58 The Journey into Coaching
05:50 Evolution of Coach Education in Canada
08:59 The Shift to Competency-Based Coaching
12:01 Maintaining Gold Standard in Coaching
14:51 Qualities of Great Coaches
17:49 Transforming Coaches' Mindsets
21:01 Building a Community of Coaches
24:03 Debunking Myths in Coaching
27:00 The Five Cs of Coaching Competence
30:04 The Art of Coaching: Feeding and Challenging Players
31:50 Developing a Coaching Eye: Insights for Coaches
36:17 Aspiring Coaches: Pathways to Success
39:39 Opportunities for Coaches: Mentorship and Development Programs
43:31 Increasing Female Representation in Coaching
49:29 The Parent-Coach Dynamic: Building Effective Communication
56:33 Lessons Learned: Mistakes as a Tennis Parent