Help guide and inspire our future leaders!

The ACA encourages all experienced cheer coaches to contribute to our sport by mentoring our future coaches through the ACA's Coach-in-Training (CIT) Program.

To fulfill the role of a Mentor Coach, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age.

• Have 3+ years of coaching experience as an ACA-Certified Coach.

• Have a current and approved coach membership with the ACA.

• Coach with an ACA member school or all-star club program in good standing.

Please review our CIT Program details for more information on the role of the Mentor Coach at www.albertacheerleading.ca/cit.

View the Mentor Coach Checklist HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many CITs can a coach mentor at the same time?

Coaches can mentor more than one CIT, but ideally no more than two CITs.

What age group or level can a Coach-in-Training CIT with?

It is recommended that Coaches-in-Training do not work with a team of the same age group or level as the CIT. This would mean they would CIT with a lower-level team of athletes younger than they are.

Does a coach need approval from their school or all-star club before being a Mentor Coach?

Yes. It is up to the coach to get the required permission from their program director (scholastic staff advisor or all-star club owner/manager) and follow any additional requirements of the school or gym. The Mentor Coach is responsible for keeping in touch with their program director as to how the CIT is doing (according to the requirements of the respective programs are).

How and when is the ACA involved throughout the CIT program?

The ACA:

• Confirms the CIT is an ACA member and meets program requirements.

• Confirms the CIT’s Mentor Coach is an ACA-certified coach and meets program requirements.

• Provides the CIT with a CIT Workbook

• Facilitates virtual CIT Training Sessions throughout the season x3 (August or September, January, and April)

• Facilitates virtual Mentor Coach Session at the start of the season x1 (September)

• Checks in with Mentor Coaches throughout the season and answers any questions they may have.

• Collects the CIT’s evaluation of the program upon program completion.

• Collects the Mentor Coach’s evaluation of the CIT upon program completion.

• Issues a Certificate of Completion to the CIT upon program completion.

• Issues ACA $25.00 Voucher to CITs upon program completion.

• Issues ACA Voucher for 25% off the ACA Coaches Conference registration to Mentor Coaches upon program completion.

• Conducts draw and notifies the Mentor Coach winner of the ACA Coaches Conference registration.

• Recognizes CITs and Mentor Coaches who completed the program via social media announcement at season’s end.

Does the Mentor Coach receive anything from the ACA at the conclusion of the program?

YES! The ACA is pleased to offer eligible Mentor Coaches 25% off the ACA Coaches Conference registration fee.

The ACA will also conduct a draw for eligible Mentor Coaches to win a FREE ACA Coaches Conference registration.

The winning Mentor Coach may apply their 25% off voucher to their co-coach, provided that their co-coach is not already a designated ACA CIT Program Mentor Coach.

The Voucher must be redeemed by December 31st of the year it was received, e.g.: Mentor Coaches who completed their duties on April 30th, 2025, must use the voucher by December 31st, 2025.

What is the Mentor Coach’s role after the program ends?

At the end of the season, the Mentor Coach provides final feedback to the CIT and lets them know of the next steps within their program, e.g.: how to apply to coach at the school or all-star club.