Profitable program offers Canadian athletes between the ages of 14 and 25 the prospect to be scouted by fifteen Staff Canada sports activities without spending a dime, together with Area Hockey
TORONTO, January 29, 2025 — RBC Coaching Floor is again for a tenth season, and has grown to incorporate new Nationwide Sport Group companions.
Developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Basis, and with assist from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Community, RBC Coaching Floor is a nation-wide expertise identification program devoted to discovering and funding Canada’s future Olympians.
New NSO companions Area Hockey Canada and Biathlon Canada be a part of longstanding companions like Biking Canada, Rugby Canada and Freestyle Canada to find athletes for his or her nationwide groups.
Since its inception in 2016, RBC Coaching Floor has helped 21 program alumni attain the Olympic Video games, 12 of whom have introduced residence medals for Staff Canada. Most lately, 16 program alumni have been named to Staff Canada for the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games.
At every qualifying occasion, individuals from a variety of sport backgrounds carry out pace, power, energy, and endurance benchmark testing in entrance of Nationwide Sport Organizations (NSO) companions. 100 hopefuls will then compete at a Nationwide Ultimate. As much as 35 athletes shall be chosen as RBC Future Olympians and obtain funding, mentorship, and different assets to pursue their Olympic goals.
Along with new sport companions, for 12 months 10 RBC Coaching Floor is offering extra funding assist for athletes and implementing program updates designed to supply higher entry to high-performance sport for athletes from a variety of backgrounds.
Andrea Gibson, Area Hockey Canada’s NextGen Director stated this matches seamlessly into Area Hockey Canada’s long-term system constructing, and identification. “As we proceed to construct our expertise system, we’re excited to companion with RBC coaching floor to additional improve our expertise identification program throughout Canada,” Gibson stated. “It is a nice alternative for our golf equipment, PSOs, and recognized athletes to check themselves in opposition to the highest athletes throughout the nation. It additionally supplies us with the chance to establish excessive efficiency athletes in complementary sports activities and maximize their potential in discipline hockey.”
“RBC Coaching Floor has at all times been dedicated to breaking down limitations and guaranteeing younger athletes throughout Canada have fairer and extra inclusive alternatives to take part in sport,” stated Shannon Cole, chief model officer, RBC. “These significant new program updates will assist make chasing Olympic goals extra accessible for all athletes throughout Canada. We stay up for persevering with our partnership with the COC and dealing alongside our sports activities companions to search out and fund the subsequent technology of Staff Canada athletes.”
Program Updates for 2025
RBC Coaching Floor Girls’s Hour – an optionally available, scheduled participation timeslot in any respect RBC Coaching Floor qualifying occasions reserved for ladies. Athletes will be capable of choose this selection in the course of the registration course of. This program replace supplies girls with the choice to compete in an setting that will really feel extra snug for them.
RBC Coaching Floor Athlete Accelerator – a brand new funding and assist alternative for RBC Coaching Floor individuals dealing with monetary limitations to high-performance sport. Along with funding, recipients will obtain instructional growth, mentorship assist and monetary literacy assets. All eligible athletes are capable of apply following participation at a 2025
RBC Coaching Floor Inclusion Council – a council to assist additional advance RBC Coaching Floor’s dedication to offering truthful and inclusive alternatives for all athletes. Members will embody representatives from the Canadian Olympic Committee, RBC, Nationwide Sport Organizations (NSO), former athletes and different trade leaders targeted on inclusion.
Increasing program entry to extra communities – program schedule to incorporate new qualifying occasions (i.e., in Yellowknife, N.W.T and Windsor, ON) meant to succeed in expertise who haven’t at all times had the identical entry to take part (e.g., Indigenous and racialized communities, geographically remoted teams, amongst others).
“Whereas some individuals need to re-energize or increase an Olympic dream in a sport they’re already pursuing, others take part with the hope of being found and directed towards an Olympic sport they could have by no means thought of,” stated Evan MacInnis, Sport Technical Lead for RBC Coaching Floor. “However all of them depend on uncooked athleticism and dedication to draw the eye of our sport companions and are excited to see the place this program can take them.”
Athletes are inspired to register for the most recent season, which is able to embody 20 native qualifier occasions, right here. The whole schedule of 2025 RBC Coaching Floor qualifying occasions is on the market at RBCTrainingGround.ca.
