Children - Instructor/Assistant
Work with children and youth.
Practicum Positions & Requirements
Practicum UPDATE
In response to COVID-19, changes have been made to current and future practicums in the Faculty of Kinesiology. Current practicum students should check D2L for updates. Spring practicums are suspended until further notice, and fall and winter practicums are being reviewed. Updates will be posted on KNES News in D2L and on this page.
For questions, please contact knespracticum@ucalgary.ca
Updated March 23, 2020.
Practicums were a valuable, hands-on experience that allowed me to connect all the classroom learning with practical skills. Picking diverse placements allowed me to figure out what population I work best with and what my interests are.
Naomi Brown
Bachelor of Kinesiology
Practicum overview
Gain course credits and professional unpaid workplace experience by taking a practicum. It's a great way to gain insight into a potential career path and make contacts in the community before you graduate. Browse more than 80 practicums listed below - some positions could easily fit into more than one category. Kinesiology students can complete up to three different practicum positions: KNES 441 (Practicum A), KNES 443 (Practicum B), and KNES 445 (Practicum C).
Begin exploring your career options now.
Practicum requirements
- current kinesiology student at the University of Calgary
- in good academic standing
- successful completion 20 courses (60 units); 10 courses (30 units) must be labelled KNES
- meet the practicum placement requirements described in the position description
Checklist for course credit
Have you completed everything you need to receive your course credit?
- Attend a mandatory orientation at the beginning of KNES 441 to learn all the details of being a practicum student.
- Complete 60-72 hours within the term dates, and meet the expectations of the practicum position.
- Complete a mid-point evaluation with your on-site supervisor.
- Complete a final evaluation.
- Attend a mandatory summary session at the end of each practicum.
How to enrol in a practicum course
The following steps are required to enroll in KNES 441, 443 or 445 practicum courses.
Check the criteria
Review the list of practicums below, and ensure you meet the position criteria. Next, contact the on-site supervisor listed in the position description to arrange for an interview. Make sure to introduce yourself, and include a couple of sentences as to why you're interested in the position.
At the interview
For the interview, bring a current resume and the practicum application with the student portion completed. If you're the successful candidate, the supervisor will complete their portion of the application form and return it to you. Here are some helpful tips on preparing for an interview.
Submit your application form
Once you and the on-site supervisor complete the application form, submit the application along with any necessary documentation to knespracticum@ucalgary.ca by the stated deadline. Watch your UCalgary email for important next steps.
Winter 2020 (Jan 13 - April 15)
Contact the on-site supervisor in early October.
Application and documents due at noon on January 10.
Complete 5-6 hours per week.
Spring 2020 (May 6 - June 17)
Contact the on-site supervisor in late February.
Application and documents due at noon on April 27.
Complete 10 - 12 hours per week.
Fall 2020 (Sept 8 - Dec 9)
Contact the on-site supervisor in early June.
Application and documents due at noon on Sept 3.
Complete 5 - 6 hours per week.
The kinesiology advisors must register you in the practicum course once your application is approved. Contact us.
Turning child's play into physical literacy
Everybody wins with practicums at campus daycares.
Practicum Positions
Winter 2020 applications are now closed.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Children's adapted physical activity assistant - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary Active Living: Adapted Physical Activity for Kids (APAK) and Kid’s Adapted Climbing Series (KACS).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Program for children 4-14 years old with special needs to gain independence and health benefits.
Program assistant - On Campus
Company: Stepping Out Program run by the Autism Aspergers Friendship Society (AAFS).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
A recreation program for people on the Autism Spectrum.
Children's development assistant - Off Campus
Company: Connect Society Early Childhood Services, Belvedere Parkway Elementary School.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
The program encourages a child’s whole development with emphasis on speech /language skills.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Children's coach/swimming instructor - Off Campus
Company: Just Keep Swimming, located at Crowfoot YMCA
Terms: Fall or Winter
Assist children with mild to moderate neurological and development disabilities to become comfortable in the water and ultimately swim confidently.
Children's physical literacy assistant instructor - Off Campus
Company: Monkeynastix
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides fun and challenging physical literacy lessons at preschools, daycares and after school programs around Calgary.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Children's physical literacy instructor - On Campus
Company: Be Fit for Life - University of Calgary Child Care Centre
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides services, programs and resources that promote active lifestyles to kindergarten students.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Children's special needs program assistant - Off Campus
Company: Getting Ready for Inclusion Today (GRIT)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Individualized early childhood education program for preschool children with disabilities.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physical Literacy Instructor
Company: Be Fit for Life - Niistitapi Learning Centre
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides services, programs and resources that promote active lifestyles to Indigenous students, from preschool to Grade 2.
Chiropractic Care/ Osteopathy
Also see the Physiotherapy section for physiotherapy/chiropractic positions.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Chiropractic assistant - Off Campus
Company: Balanced Health and Sports Therapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Family and sports-oriented clinic specializes in the multi-treatment approach for managing/preventing musculoskeletal injuries.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Chiropractic assistant - Off Campus
Company: The Vital Posture™ Clinic – National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Restore the appropriate biomechanical and positional relationship between the head and neck.
NOT AVAILABLE SPRING 2020: Osteopath assistant - Off Campus
Company: Calgary West Osteopathic Wellness (WOW) Centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Uses a drug-free non-invasive manual medicine for total body health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework.
Exercise Physiology
Exercise physiology, research assistant - On Campus
Company: Human Performance Lab (HPL), Exercise and Aging Lab
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Group investigates human responses to acute and chronic exercise.
FULL for Spring - Exercise physiology (applied) assistant - Off Campus
Company: Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Spring
Pre-screen and test athletes/test participants in the Sport Performance Lab.
Exercise physiology (applied) assistant - On Campus (Foothills)
Company: Clinical & Transitional Exercise Physiology (CTEP) Lab.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Fostering a healthier Canada by advancing the field of exercise physiology for the prevention and management of disease.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Exercise physiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: TCR Sport Lab.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Applied testing and training centre for the general public using advanced equipment.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Exercise physiology (applied) assistant - Off Campus
Company: Calgary Fire Department, Wellness Clinic.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Occupational medicine and team approach to proactive screening and physiological testing.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Exercise physiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Copeman Healthcare Canada Inc.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Complete health care including screenings and disease prevention programs.
Health Promotion
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Health promotion assistant (physical literacy) - On Campus
Company: Be Fit for Life, located in Faculty of Kinesiology.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Working to have people in Alberta be more physically active.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Health promotion assistant - On/Off Campus
Company: Ever Active Schools.
Terms: Fall only
Assists schools in Alberta to create and sustain healthy school communities.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Health promotion assistant - Off Campus
Company: Shell Canada
Terms: Fall only
Help to create, implement and evaluate a physical activity challenge for Shell Canada employees.
NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FALL 2021: Health promotion assistant - Off Campus
Company: Kids Cancer Care (KCC).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Charity that helps build bridges of hope and pillars of support for families fighting childhood cancer.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Health promotion assistant - Off Campus
Company: Heart & Stroke Foundation, Jump Rope for Life
Terms: Winter only
Promote heart health to children and youth through Jump Rope for Heart.
Sports communication assistant - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary Dinos Athletics
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Communicating the successes of 22 varsity teams and the athletes competing in 12 sports.
Nutrition and exercise community outreach support - Off Campus
Company: NSTEP (Nutrition, students, teachers, exercising and parents).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Creates, develops and implements interactive nutrition and physical activity programs for children and communities.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Health Promotion Assistant
Company: Healthy Dancer Canada (HDC)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Organization committed to enhancing the health, well-being, and performance of all dancers.
Kinesiology
Kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: INLIV
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Delivers premium corporate, executive and personal health services.
Kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: United Active Living.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develop and implement programs and services supporting residents for “Live Well in Our Community.”
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Alberta Hip and Knee Clinic.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide treatment options and follow up care for people with hip and knee concerns.
Neurology
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Neuro recreation assistant - Off Campus
Company: Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Rehabilitation & recreation programming for those with moderate to severe acquired brain injury including strokes.
Neuro rehab/exercise instructor assistant - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary Rehabilitation and Fitness Program.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides those with physical disabilities the opportunity to continue their rehab and fitness goals in a community setting.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Neuro rehab assistant - Off Campus
Company: Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured (ARBI).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Rehab programming for individuals with moderate to severe acquired brain injury including strokes.
Neuro rehab/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Alberta.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides support, service, information and advocacy to Albertans with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.
Occupational Therapy
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Occupational therapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Renfrew Educational Services.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Offers early childhood services and elementary education programs for children with special needs.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Occupational therapy assistant - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary, Staff Wellness
Terms: Winter only
Ergonomics for employees ensuring a safe and comfortable work place.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Occupational therapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Providence Children
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides educational and therapeutic services to preschool aged children with disabilities.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Occupational therapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Lead Foundation.
Terms: Winter only
Work with children (and their families) who have mild speech, motor, or behavior delays, to those with more complex challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorder.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Occupational health assistant - Off Campus
Company: Bethany Care Foundation.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Helps those in long-term care reach health goals.
Performance and Coaching
Biomechanics & performance analysis in sport - On/Off Campus
Company: University of Calgary Centre for Video & Performance Analysis (CVPA) and Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Works to implement technologies for use with elite/Olympic athletes.
Coach assistant - Off Campus
Company: Special Olympics Calgary.
Terms: Winter or Spring
Provides competitive and non-competitive sport and recreation programs year around for individuals with an intellectual disability.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Coach education assistant - Off Campus
Company: Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Observe and provide feedback for training and competitive sport environment.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Coach/athletic trainer - Off Campus
Company: Calgary Seawolves Polo Club.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Offers introductory water polo to new athletes ages 6-17 and trains experienced athletes at a basic level through high school.
Dance and movement assistant - Off Campus
Company: Dubasov Dance and Wellness.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides quality dance, movement and yoga programs to children, youth and adults with special needs.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Exercise instructor for research study - On Campus
Company: Brain in Motion II Study, University of Calgary
Terms: Fall or Winter
Aerobic exercise for older adults at increased risk of alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
*Please note, this study is not accepting students at this time.
Personal training assistant - Off Campus
Company: Calgary JCC, recreation centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Non for profit recreation center that serves Calgary’s southwest community.
Personal trainer assistant (group) - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary, TrymGym.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Eight-week exercise program for clients, two one-hour sessions per week.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Strength and conditioning high performance athletics assistant - Off Campus
Company: Edge School for Athletes/Duckett Performance Centre
Terms: Fall or Winter
Develops excellence in athletics, academics and character building.
Strength and conditioning personal training assistant - Off Campus
Company: Ironside Fitness Inc.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Fitness, wellness and nutrition training centre.
Strength and conditioning assistant - Off Campus
Company: Crash Conditioning.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develops elite hockey players from bantam age through to professional levels.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Strength and conditioning assistant - Off Campus
Company: Calgary Flames.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Administer training plan for Calgary Flames National Hockey League Club.
Strength and conditioning assistant - Off Campus
Company: ORKA Performance.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
We train a wide variety of athletes, all at different levels in their careers.
Strength and conditioning coach/trainer - Off Campus
Company: RAW Sports.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Develop youth football players and prepare them to compete effectively in their respective league.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Strength and conditioning coach (assistant)
Company: University of Calgary Swim Club.
Terms: Fall or Winter
A top competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching for all ages and abilities.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Strength and conditioning coach (assistant) - Off Campus
Company: Vergie Speed.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Develops speed and power for hockey, soccer, basketball, ringette, volleyball and football athletes.
Strength and conditioning/exercise physiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Peak Power Sport Development.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Located at SAIT and designed for athletic training and scientific testing.
Physiotherapy, Athletic Therapy and Rehabilitation
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Adaptive sports program assistant - Off Campus
Company: Ultimate Wheelchair Sports Foundation.
Terms: Winter only
Provide adaptive sport for people with disabilities.
Athletic therapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Fortius Rehabilitation Systems.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Prescription, application, supervision and education of patients’ therapeutic exercise programs.
Athletic therapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Innovative Sport Medicine (with Momentum Health).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provide effective diagnosis, comprehensive injury management and return to full function.
Cardiac rehabilitation kinesiologist - Off Campus
Company: TotalCardiology Rehabilitation and Risk Reduction Centre.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Promote heart healthy behaviours with education, counseling and intervention.
Physiotherapy/chiropractic assistant - Off Campus
Company: Active Sports Therapy (AST).
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Treat and prevent sports injuries, repetitive strain disorders and conditions involving the joints and soft tissues.
Physiotherapy/chiropractic assistant - Off Campus
Company: Coach Hill Chiropractic & Sports Therapy.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Alleviate symptoms, reduce pain and optimize biomechanics and function.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: CBI Health Group.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide physical therapy, neck or back pain therapy, and muscular-skeletal injury, rehab and work-injury management solutions.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Country Hills Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provides physiotherapy and kinesiology services to patients.
Position description & application (PDF)
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Equus Physiotherapy.
Terms: Spring only
Assess, diagnose and treat injuries, dysfunctions and asymmetries.
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Lifemark Health Group.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides physiotherapy, massage therapy and other healthcare services.
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Momentum Health.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Caleo Health.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Back and spine care.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Ranchlands Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide customized rehabilitative programs.
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Diverse Sports Physical Therapy.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Multidisciplinary clinic that sees a wide population of varied treatment groups.
Physiotherapy/kinesiology assistant - Off Campus
Company: Advantage Health Aspen - ptHealth.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provide customized rehabilitative programs.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Beacon Hill Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Provide a variety of rehabilitative programs.
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy assistant - On Campus
Company: Sport Medicine Centre, University of Calgary.
Terms: Fall or Winter
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Calgary Youth Physiotherapy (CYP).
Terms: Fall or Winter
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Physiotherapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Crowfoot Physiotherapy.
Terms: Fall or Winter
Multidisciplinary clinic with a wide variety of skills and areas of expertise in rehabilitation.
Physiotherapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Maximum Potential Physiotherapy - ptHealth
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides customized rehabilitative programs.
Physiotherapy assistant - Off Campus
Company: Bow View Manor.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Provides physiotherapy services at a long term care facility for seniors.
Position description & application (PDF)
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Prothetist/orthotist assistant - Off Campus
Company: Alberta Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre (AOPC).
Terms: Fall or Winter
Rehabilitation specialist (assistant) - On Campus
Company: JointEffort Program/GLA:D Program at University of Calgary.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Specialized pre & post rehab program for individuals with hip and or knee osteoarthritis.
Position description & application (PDF)
Research
NO SPRING PLACEMENTS: Biomechanics in sport research assistant - On Campus
Company: Sport Insight, Human Performance Lab (HPL)
Terms: Fall or Winter
Biomechanics research assistant - On Campus (Foothills)
Company: University of Calgary Department of Clinical Neurosciences, McCaig Institute.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Work with Dr. Ranita Manocha who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Cancer and physical activity research assistant - On Campus
Company: University of Calgary, Health and Wellness Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology.
Terms: Fall, Winter or Spring
Need some advice on practicum placements? Visit us in KNB 137 or contact us at knespracticum@ucalgary.ca