First Competition Development Coach Workshop a success

On March 27-30, 26 coaches from Ontario, Northern Ontario, B.C., Quebec and Alberta gathered at the Glendale Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., for the Canadian Curling Association’s first Competition Development Curling Workshop. “We are thrilled with the response to our first workshop,” said Jennifer Ferris, NCCP Transition Consultant for the CCA. “We were hoping for 6-10 (participants). To have 26 was beyond our expectations. We love large groups – so much more sharing and learning occurs. We’ve had a great group – they are completely engaged and contributing 100% even at the end of day four!” The four-day workshop was only one component of the 14-month training program. Coaches learned about updates to the NCCP program, including sessions on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD), Wheelchair Curling, Performance Planning, and How to Manage a Curling Team. Coaches also learned the latest technical skills, and refined and practiced their delivery and brushing analysis. They learned how to apply technology to their coaching programs with special guest speakers Stephen Orr (Curl Coach) and Will Hamilton (Smart Broom). Coaches received two integrated multisport modules – Prevention and Recovery, and Developing Athletic Abilities. Later this year the coaches will participate in webinars to train strategy and advanced practice planning. A team of expert facilitators was brought in to deliver the workshop. Dick Henderson and Andrea Ronnebeck (Northern Ontario) and Jennifer Ferris (Ontario) are all members of the team who created the program. Bob Comartin (B.C.) is the CCA’s Strength and Conditioning Consultant who delivers the integrated multisport modules. What did the coaches think about the training?

• “The workshop was very informative. It gave us many tools to help us bring our athletes to the next competitive level.” – Megan Balsdon and Nicole Westlund
• “The wealth of knowledge shared through networking at workshops like this, can do nothing but better the sport.” – Carl Gray
• “The course was extremely informative! The facilitators provided an immense amount of practical knowledge that I can’t wait to implement when I get home. The cutting edge hi-tech tools and networking with other coaches were also highlights of the training.” – Sabena Islam

Over the coming months, coaches have homework: they will all be writing their team’s annual plan, which they will implement with their teams and debrief at the completion of the season. Coaches will need to complete several evaluations in order to become fully certified. The next Coach Development Workshop(s) will be delivered in spring 2015, the location(s) will be determined in late 2014 depending upon the interest of coaches who want to take the workshop. If you are interested in potentially participating in our next workshop please email Jennifer Ferris at [email protected]. Story by Jennifer Ferris, NCCP Transition Consultant, CCA