Coaching Kids Curling
The goal of this podcast is to help those who are involved with youth curling programs, including coaches, volunteers, program organizers and parents. Our primary focus will be on "U12" or "Little Rocks" curling, but this podcast will occasionally touch on topics of interest to U15/U18/U21 coaches and organizers. Coach Glenn Gabriel will offer advice, share resources and give you the occasional pick-me-up when you need it. To contact Coach Glenn, e-mail: coachingkidscurling@gmail.com Our Web site is: coachingkidscurling.com
Episodes
After 99 episodes, I decided to do something completely different for this 100th episode of my podcast. You're going to hear from more than 30 curling coaches, organizers and parents, all answering the same question: What advice do YOU have to make our youth curling programs better?
Podcast Contributors (in order of appearance):
(4:19) Abbie Darnley, Stroud CC Little Rocks (ON)
(5:07) Am...
What do you do when the biggest snowstorm of the season comes on the same day as your youth bonspiel? For Alison Harris of Tam Heather Curling & Tennis Club in Toronto, she had to react quickly. Find out what she did the night before the bonspiel and what she did to reschedule her event later that season. We also talk about the unique format of the “Curling Day At Tam Heather” bonspiel and her plans for t...
When I (Coach Glenn) teach new people how to curl, I often tell them that it took me "TWO YEARS to figure this out." What took me 2 years to figure out? Find out in this episode… (Hint: I had a breakthrough in my curling delivery!)
Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:
CKC Episode #41: "How I Met My Wife: A Valentine's Day Story"
https://www.buzzsprou...
In our last episode, I was joined by Mike Gregotski of High Park Club in Toronto and Mike Smith of Lindsay Curling Club. We shared strategies to help manage different ages and skill levels in our youth curling programs. In Part 2, we let loose! We continue our discussion of "Hit Draw Tap," talk about practice structure, obsess over attendance, and share our plans for the end of the curling season.
Early in 2023, I set up a Zoom call for several youth coaches in the Greater Toronto Area. We were there to talk about practice ideas and it was a successful meetup. Some of us wanted to do a follow-up, but I was at a loss for a topic to discuss.
That's when I heard from Mike Smith of the Lindsay (Ont.) Curling Club. He wanted to know how other people handled a wide range of kids with different ...
They call curling “Chess On Ice.” But the actual game of chess is something that means a lot to me and my family. In this special Father’s Day episode, I explain how chess connects me, my dad and my son.
Part #1: My dad teaches me the game (1:30)
Part #2: I teach my son the game (4:04)
Part #3: My son teaches me a lesson! (6:52)
Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:
<...
Many sports run camps for kids during the summer vacation, but it's rare for curling. Oakville (Ont.) Curling Club, just west of Toronto, will be running its youth camp in late August. In this episode, I speak with camp director Stephanie Thompson about the camp itself and what she hopes to accomplish this summer. We'll also talk about camps in general and what kids can get out of this experience. (...
If you're a youth curling coach in Ontario, you've probably heard of the two summer youth curling camps: Trillium & Amethyst. In this episode, Sean Turriff from the Ontario Curling Council shares details about the 2023 versions of these two camps. (Interview recorded Feb 1/23)
Some of the topics we discuss:
* What are the Trillium & Amethyst camps? (2:24)
* Who is this camp ...
If you have a child that is active in other sports besides curling, you might know of sports where they test their skill levels and earn badges or pins or certificates. For years in Ontario, we had a program called the "Skill Awards" where kids, having learned certain curling skills, would earn a badge that they could sew on their jacket or sweater.
In today's episode, I speak with Bet...
No matter which club or facility you curl at, the start of the season is an exciting time. Chances are it’s been a few months since you last saw the kids in your program, not to mention the volunteers and parents. And with your first practice approaching quickly, you’re thinking about what you need to do to prepare for “Day One."
In this episode, I have a conversation with two youth program orga...
What’s happening with Coach Glenn and his Little Rocks program this season? In this episode, he tells you about his club's recent Open House as well as his curling plans this fall, including an update about the podcast!
Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:
East York Curling Club (Toronto, ON) Web site:
East York Curling Club - Home
Follow our podcast on Twitter...
What does youth curling look like in Scotland? In this episode, I have a conversation with Scott Dakers, from Livingston, Scotland, just outside of Edinburgh. We talk about his experience working with the Gogar Park Young Curlers at Curl Edinburgh, the competitive pathway, as well as how success in Beijing affected their junior program.
Some of the topics we discuss:
* An introduction to the juni...
In the Spring of 2022, Curling Canada introduced the “All Heart Junior Curler Award.” Young people are encouraged to create curling programs that focus on diversity and inclusivity. The 8 winners will receive a monetary award that is split between themselves and their club.
In this episode, I have a conversation with Karsten Sturmay of Edmonton, Alberta. We talk about how he got involved with the cre...
In October of 2020, the Coaches Association of Ontario launched a Web site called "Safe Sport 101." This month, the CAO has launched an 8-part e-learning series as a follow-up to that Web site. In this episode, I welcome back Eric McLoughlin to learn more about this series.
Some of the topics we discuss:
* What is "Safe Sport" and why is it important for coaches? (1:52)
* ...
May is #AsianHeritageMonth in Canada. What's it like being a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person Of Colour) coach in a predominantly white sport? In this episode, Coach Glenn shares a personal story after reading a Facebook comment about diversity in curling.
Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:
"How We Can Make Curling A Truly Diverse Game/A Donnovan Bennett Essay"...
THE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #6
This episode is part of a series where I interview current and former competitive curlers to find out how they grew to love the sport of curling as a young person. In addition, I'll ask some of them what it's like to coach young people. And, in other cases, I'll ask them what it's like having their own children in t...
Last February, we held our first-ever dream practice draft. In this episode, the draft participants return to the podcast to re-evaluate our picks and to find out who won the popular vote.
Some of the topics we discuss:
* Which "dream practice" (besides our own) would we have voted for? (3:47)
* Which draft picks were we jealous of? (8:47)
* Practice ideas that we used at our ow...
Who teaches people how to curl at your club? In many clubs, it’s an ongoing challenge to find people who are interested, qualified and available to teach new curlers. That also applies to those who coach and instruct young people. In this episode, I interview Delores McCallum, Tim McChesney & Helen Garside of the Oakville Curling Club in Oakville, Ontario. They were all involved with in establishing Oakvi...
In August of 2020, Apple TV+ released the first season of Ted Lasso, the story of an American football coach who is hired to manage a soccer team in the English Premier League. After two seasons and 22 episodes, the show is a runaway hit, winning 7 Primetime Emmy awards in 2021, including “Outstanding Comedy Series.” In this episode, I speak with Sean Stevinson of Lafayette, Colorado, and Kim Tuck of Strathro...
Since 1989, the Ray Kingsmith Memorial Bonspiel is held every December in the Greater Calgary Area of Alberta. The bonspiel is one of the oldest, most prestigious junior bonspiels in the country with arguably the biggest prize purse. In this episode, I speak with Andy Jones of the Calgary Youth Curling Association (CYCA) and Marlene Kingsmith, Ray's daughter. We talk about the history of the bonspiel, th...
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