Case Competition 2026

Advancing Women in Coaching: Case Competition 2026

Contest Details

The Advancing Women in Coaching case competition offers a platform to generate bold ideas and actionable solutions to reshape women’s experiences in the sport sector. By addressing systemic barriers and promoting women’s participation in sport, teams can create solutions that not only transform the sport sector but also advance equity, innovation, and growth on a broader scale. 

Prizes

Winning teams not only have the opportunity to create a real-world impact in the sport sector—they also have an opportunity to win a cash prize.

• First Place earns $5,000.00 CAD.
• Second Place earns $3,000.00 CAD.
• Third Place earns $2,000.00 CAD.

Eligibility

The Women in Coaching case competition is open to students enrolled at Saint Mary’s University for the 2026/2027 academic year, and groups are welcome to apply in groups of four.  

Teams must be at least 50% varsity athletes and at least 50% women.

Teams must be primarily undergraduate students, with no more than two MBA students permitted per group.

Statement of Interest

Students must submit their Statement of Interest in established groups of four and be available to participate for the entire duration of the contest.

Your team’s statement of interest must include the following details:

• Name, @smu.ca email address, and program of study for each team member.
• Description of the team highlighting the skills, interests, and experiences each team member brings to the competition.
• A brief description of your team’s interest in engaging with the topic of women in sport.

 

Statements of Interest must be submitted to mccain.mcleancentre@smu.ca by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2025.

Contest Structure

Participating teams will be given a briefing presentation on best practices for completing a case competition prior to being given their case.

Teams will have one week to research and build their cases before presenting them to a panel for adjudication. Once the panel has deliberated and the winners are announced, there will be an opportunity for teams to debrief before the winning solutions enter their implementation phase.

Please ensure that each member of your team is aware of, and/or available on, the following dates:

Event	Date	Time	Location
Statement of Interest Submission Deadline	Wednesday, October 16	11:59 p.m.	Saint Mary’s University Campus – Details circulated to participating teams.
Competition Day One	Monday, October 26	5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Competition Day Two	Monday, November 2	5:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Competition Day Three	Monday, November 16	5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

 

Supporting Women in Sports Business

Coaching is a critical pillar in the business of sport, influencing team success, athlete development, and broader sporting culture. Despite the growing participation of women in sports, their representation in coaching roles remains disproportionately low, particularly at elite and professional levels.

The Advancing Women in Coaching case competition challenges participating teams to develop innovative strategies to address barriers to women’s recruitment, retention, and advancement in coaching.

Participating in this competition gives you and your teammates a unique opportunity to make a real, positive impact in the industry. The experience you will gain through this opportunity will help pave the way to a stronger, more diverse, and more inclusive culture in sport.