Shows
Coaching Kids CurlingA Collection Of Coaching Wisdom (AKA "The 100th Episode!")Send us a textAfter 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) Amélie Blais, Passion Curling(5:46) Andrea Ronnebeck, Kenora CC (ON)(6:30) Andy Jones, Calgary (AB)(7:03) Bill Tschirhart, "A Pane In The Glass" Podcast(8:45) Brandon Shintani, Mind-Design Sports(9:20) C...2023-08-0747 minCoaching Kids Curling"It Took Me 2 Years To Figure This Out!"Send us a textWhen 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.buzzsprout.com/1048435/7853596Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach and coach developer wh...2023-07-1614 minCoaching Kids CurlingManaging Different Ages & Skill Levels In Your Youth Programs (Part 2 of 2)Send us a textIn 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.NOTE: Interview recorded February 13/23Some of the topics we discuss:* The "behind the scenes" work organizing "Hit Draw...2023-07-1032 minCoaching Kids CurlingOpen House (AKA My Little Rocks Are Back!)Send us a textWhat’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 - HomeFollow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the co...2022-09-1510 minCoaching Kids Curling"Safe Sport 101 Playbook" With CAO's Eric McLoughlinSend us a textIn 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)* What is the "Safe Sport 101 Playbook"? (5:27)* A deeper dive into one of the modules, "Punishment & Discipline" (10:32)* An example from the TV show "Ted Lasso" (12:15)2022-05-2432 minCoaching Kids CurlingBeing A BIPOC Coach In A White Sport (An #AsianHeritageMonth Editorial)Send us a textMay 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" video from Sportsnet (May 6/22)https://youtu.be/HiQ6ORC40GkCurling Canada Diversity & Inclusivity Web Pagehttps://www.curling.ca/diversity-inclusivity/USA C...2022-05-1807 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Johnson Tao (Richmond, BC)Send us a textTHE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #6This 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 the sport.Johnson Tao is a silver medallist at the 2022 Canadian U21 Curling Championships. He also curls for the University of...2022-05-0840 minCoaching Kids CurlingDream Practice Draft 2022: The Results!Send us a textLast 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 own practices (14:51)* The ideas we left "on the table" (21:40)* How our "Honourable Mention" winner got their "celebrity guest" to vote for them (29:41)...2022-05-0146 minCoaching Kids CurlingOakville (ON) CC's "Instructor Co-Op" With Delores McCallum, Tim McChesney & Helen GarsideSend us a textWho 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 Oakville’s “Instructor Co-Op,” an instruction team that was founded to solve some of the challenges they experienced when it came to recruiting and training new coaches...2022-04-2443 minCoaching Kids CurlingLessons From "Ted Lasso" With Kim Tuck & Sean StevinsonSend us a textIn 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 Strathroy, Ontario. The three of us have a conversation about the lessons we can take from “Ted Lasso” and use in our youth programs.NOTE: Th...2022-04-1833 minCoaching Kids CurlingRay Kingsmith Memorial Bonspiel With Andy Jones & Marlene KingsmithSend us a textSince 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, the life of its namesake, the CYCA, and why the prize money doubled at the most recent "Kingsmith" in December 2021.NOTE: Both interviews were recorded in...2022-04-1049 minCoaching Kids CurlingHow To Make A Curling Mom Cry With Cheryl RajalaSend us a textEvery February, the curling community celebrates "Curling Day In Canada." One of the events is a story contest put on by Curling Canada where curlers from across the country submit their stories in the hope of winning a prize. In January 2021, Cheryl Rajala of Sudbury, ON, wrote about an incredible moment at the U18 Northern Ontario Provincial Championships in March of 2020.In this episode, you'll hear Cheryl read her story ("How To Make A Curling Mom Cry") and talk about what led up to that moment. We'll also talk about the...2022-04-0330 minCoaching Kids CurlingWisconsin High School Curling With Jim WendlingSend us a textThe state of Wisconsin has a long tradition of high school curling. It's also the only state in the U.S. that organizes a high school curling championship. In today's episode, I speak with Jim Wendling, a teacher at Wausau West High School. He gives me an overview of high school curling in Wisconsin, including his own program. We talk about a popular event called the Tietge High School Bonspiel. And, finally, he gives advice about how to get high school kids to love the sport.NOTE: This interview was recorded...2022-03-2750 minCoaching Kids CurlingDream Practice Draft (Part 2 of 2)Send us a textIn Feb. 2022, five youth curling coaches from across Canada gathered for a one-of-a-kind competition: To create their best youth curling practice. The twist? They were doing it in the format of a fantasy sports draft!In Part 2 of this 2-part series, we make our final selections, offer practice planning advice, and share what's going on at our individual clubs.Some of the topics we discuss:* SNACK category (1:25)* CELEBRITY GUEST category (16:04)* Advice for youth practice planners (25:32)Team Reviews & Club Program Updates:* Patrick Brown, Uxbridge...2022-03-2143 minCoaching Kids CurlingDream Practice Draft (Part 1 of 2)Send us a textIn late February 2022, five youth curling coaches from across Canada gathered on Zoom for a one-of-a-kind competition. Their mission: To each create their best youth curling practice. The catch? They were creating their "dream practices" using the format of a fantasy sports draft!In Part 1 of this two-part series, we lay down the ground rules, introduce ourselves to the listeners, and make our first four draft picks. Let the competition begin!Some of the topics we discuss:* Draft Format (2:28) & Ground Rules (3:38)* Draft Participants Introduce Themselves and Their F...2022-03-2049 minCoaching Kids CurlingLive At The Oshawa Youth Funspiel With Liz WrigleySend us a textIn a first for the podcast, Coach Glenn takes a road trip for an in-person interview at the Oshawa (Ont.) Curling Club. On March 5, 2022, OCC hosted its Youth Funspiel, which hosted many U12 and U21 teams from clubs across the Greater Toronto Area.In this episode, Coach Glenn speaks with OCC Little Rocks and Junior Co-Convenor Liz Wrigley at the end of a busy bonspiel day. We talk about the excitement of the day, the challenges of organizing a bonspiel during COVID, and what she wants the kids to get out...2022-03-1610 minCoaching Kids Curling21 Random Facts For 2021: A Podcast Year-In-ReviewSend us a textWe produced roughly 40 episodes of this podcast from January to December 2021. In this episode, Coach Glenn shares his personal podcast highlights of the year. And, like many year-end reviews, it's a list - of 21 random facts!NOTE: I name check a LOT of previous episodes and guests in this week's episode. There's no easy way to post show notes for this, so I encourage you to visit the podcast Web site to listen to the episodes and read the individual show notes: coachingkidscurling.comLinks to the resources mentioned...2021-12-3113 minCoaching Kids CurlingElementary School Curling Championship (Ontario) With Kathy Waechter, Mike Cottrill & Jen ElstonSend us a textFor more than 30 years, kids representing elementary schools from across Ontario have played in the annual elementary school curling championship. The 33rd edition of this event was originally scheduled to run in March of 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. In today's episode, I speak with the three co-chairs of the 2022 event - Kathy Waechter, Jen Elston & Mike Cottrill - of the Wingham Golf & Curling Club. We talk about the plans for the event, what COVID protocols they’ve implemented, and why this event is meaningful for all of them.2021-12-1930 minCoaching Kids CurlingFunny Coaching Moments With Mike Gregotski & Greg WilsonSend us a textCoaching kids can be serious business, but not all the time! No matter how serious it gets, there are always moments of fun. In fact, they can be some of the most memorable moments of your coaching career. In today's episode, I share funny coaching moments with two previous guests of the podcast: Mike Gregotski of High Park Club and Greg Wilson of Brantford Golf & Country Club. Can those moments help improve your youth curling program?Some of the topics we discuss:* Watching small kids use a big scoreboard (3:16)...2021-12-1234 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Sabrina Ribau (Oakville, ON)Send us a textTHE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #5This 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 the sport.Sabrina Ribau is a member of the Portuguese National Mixed Curling Team who grew up in Oakville, ON, Canada...2021-11-2138 minCoaching Kids CurlingBe There On Day One! (Lessons From A Soccer Summer, Part #1)Send us a textIn the Summer of 2021, Coach Glenn and his 5-year-old son joined organized soccer for the first time. In this episode, he shares the story of his son's first-ever soccer practice and what all youth sports organizers can learn about their first contact with kids and parents!Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) program at East York Curling Club in Toronto since 2011. If you have a question...2021-11-1415 minCoaching Kids CurlingRunning A Junior Program During COVID With Tenielle Bachek (Okotoks CC, Alta.)Send us a textTenielle Bachek is the Junior Program Coordinator at the Okotoks Curling Club, in Okotoks, Alberta, just south of Calgary. Their situation was unique, because they ran youth programs last season and are running them again this season. In this episode, we talk about her opening day in October, the preparations she made to get things ready for her program, and the advice she would give to fellow organizers who want to re-open their youth curling programs this season.Some of the topics we discuss:* What happened in the 2020-2021 season? (1:57)2021-10-3135 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Jenna Burchesky (Walpole, MA)Send us a textTHE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #4This 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 the sport.Jenna Burchesky is a two-time U.S. Junior National Champion and will be competing in the U.S. Mixed...2021-10-2437 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Monica Walker (Boston, MA)Send us a textTHE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #3This 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 the sport.Monica Walker is a three-time U.S. national champion and currently the third for Team Jamie Sinclair. In this...2021-10-1737 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling Podcasts I Listen To (International Podcast Day 2021)Send us a textSeptember 30 is International Podcast Day. In this episode, Coach Glenn shares some of the curling podcasts he listens to and why he likes listening to them. A big shout-out to all the podcasters who are doing this for the love of it, 'cause most of us ain't making any money! :-)Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:International Podcast Day (Sep 30) Web sitehttps://internationalpodcastday.com/Rocks Across The Pond Podcast Web sitehttp://www.rocksacrossthepond.com/Game of Stones Podcast Web site...2021-10-1012 minCoaching Kids CurlingNational Day For Truth & Reconciliation: What Can I Do?Send us a textIn 2021, the Government of Canada declared September 30 as "National Day For Truth And Reconciliation." According to the Govt. of Canada Web site: "The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities." In this episode, Coach Glenn explains why this day is important to him and shares some actions he is planning to take to broaden his knowledge of Indigenous issues.Links to the resources mentioned in this episode:National Day For Truth & Reconciliation Government of Canada Web sitehttps://www.canada.ca/en...2021-10-0313 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Jill Officer (Winnipeg, MB)Send us a textTHE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #2This 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 the sport.In 2019, a TSN poll named Jill Officer the greatest female second in Canadian curling history. In this episode, I...2021-09-2647 minCoaching Kids CurlingCurling As A Kid & Beyond! With Kerry Galusha (Yellowknife, NWT)Send us a textNEW SERIES! PRESENTING "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!": Episode #1This is the first episode in 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. I'll also be asking these curlers about their experience coaching youth. And, in some cases, I'll ask them about what it's like having their own children in the sport.Kerry Galusha is a longtime competitive curler and member of the famous Koe curling family. In this episode, I...2021-09-2144 minCoaching Kids CurlingWhen A Club Closes (Bayview Golf & CC, Thornhill, ON) With Julie HastingsSend us a textIn the Summer of 2021, Bayview Golf & Country Club (located just north of Toronto) voted to close its curling program. It was the latest club in the Greater Toronto Area to end its curling program, part of a trend in the last 10-15 years of golf clubs deciding to close their curling sections. In this episode, I speak with Bayview curling member, former Bayview Curling Manager and competitive curler Julie Hastings. We discuss what led to the club's decision, what will become of the curling membership (including the youth curlers), and talk about the...2021-09-1231 minCoaching Kids CurlingNew Curling Canada Funding For Grassroots Youth Programs With Helen RadfordSend us a textIn July 2021, Curling Canada announced that they were injecting $200,000 toward the creation of new grassroots programs for youth. In this episode, Helen Radford, Curling Canada's Youth Curling Manager, joins me to discuss the goals of this initiative as well as offering advice for potential applicants.Some of the topics we discuss include:* Why the emphasis on two-year plans (2:37)* Encouraging more BIPOC youth to try curling (4:24)* The importance of intercity/interclub leagues and why it's important for kids to go outside of their club (11:54)* Be creative with formats...2021-09-0630 minCoaching Kids CurlingSimplicity & Consistency: Keys To Teaching The Curling DeliverySend us a textWhen we teach kids how to deliver a rock, are we making the process easy for our kids to learn (and easy for our coaches to teach)? In this week's episode, Coach Glenn explains how simplicity and consistency can make your teaching methods more effective and efficient.Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) program at East York Curling Club in Toronto since 2011. If you have a q...2021-07-0416 minCoaching Kids CurlingAre We Speaking Their Language?Send us a textAre we putting in the effort to learn about the kids we coach? Can we step into their shoes and see our sport through their eyes? In this week's episode, Coach Glenn challenges youth coaches to learn the "language" of their athletes.Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) program at East York Curling Club in Toronto since 2011. If you have a question or feedback on the...2021-06-2711 minCoaching Kids Curling"So... When Is Your Son Joining Little Rocks?" (Father's Day 2021)Send us a textWhen parents find out that Coach Glenn is a dad, they ask the same question: "So... When is your son joining Little Rocks?" In this week's episode, Coach Glenn explains why the answer is harder than it sounds. Then he brings on a special guest to help him answer the question!Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurlingGlenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) program at East York Curling Club in Toronto since 2011...2021-06-2009 minCoaching Kids CurlingNutrition for Young Curlers With Registered Dietitian Melissa KazanSend us a textDo we think about what our young curlers eat, even if it's what we feed them for snack after practice? In this episode, I speak with Melissa Kazan, a registered dietitian (RD) and sport nutritionist in Richmond Hill, ON. We have a wide-ranging conversation that includes why we shouldn't label foods as "healthy" and "unhealthy," what we should feed our kids before and after practice, and the importance of variety, tradition and taking pleasure in the food we eat. I also reveal my own nutritional "Achilles heel" as a Little Rocks coach (while g...2021-06-1356 min