Queen's Athletics & Recreation Launches Inaugural TriColour Community Coaches Clinic

Queen's Athletics & Recreation (A&R) marked an exciting milestone with the successful delivery of its inaugural TriColour Community Coaches Clinic, a new initiative aimed at sharing best practices and strengthening community coaching connections across the Kingston-area. The event brought together 60 coaches from a wide range of local programs, alongside Queen's A&R coaches and staff members, creating a dynamic space for collaboration, professional growth, and shared passion for sport.

Community coaches representing various sports—from youth development programs to school-based teams and competitive organizations—engaged in hands-on sessions, discussions, and presentations from Gael's head coaches, athletic therapists, strength and conditioning coaches and more, all designed to enhance their own community coaching practices and athlete development.

Participants had the opportunity to connect with peers, explore modern coaching techniques through Gael's head coaches, athletic therapists, strength and conditioning coaches and others who and shared insights rooted in coaching  The event also highlighted the vital role that community coaches play in shaping positive sport experiences for athletes at all levels.

"With 60 coaches from across our community and countless Queen's Athletics & Recreation staff involved, our first TriColour Community Coaches Clinic has been a success," said Colin McAuslan, Queen's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and clinic organizer. "It's because of the passionate local coaches that are willing to share, connect and learn from each other."

The clinic reflects Queen's A&R's broader mission to extend its impact beyond campus and into the community. By creating opportunities for local coaches to access the high-performance expertise and connect with university resources, the program helps bridge the gap between grassroots sport and elite development environments.

In addition to technical instruction, the event fostered meaningful dialogue around athlete wellbeing, inclusive coaching practices, and long-term athlete development—topics that are increasingly  fundamental to sustainable sport and student-athlete success. The shared learning environment encouraged coaches to exchange ideas openly, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.

The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation underscore a clear demand for initiatives that bring coaches together. For many attendees, the clinic offered not only practical tools but also a renewed sense of connection to a larger coaching network within the Kingston region.

Queen's A&R plans to expand the TriColour Community Coaches Clinic targeting with schools, clubs, and provincial sport organizations. The inaugural event has laid the groundwork for what promises to become a cornerstone initiative in supporting coaching excellence across the community.