Scottish Curling Junior Club development Conference 2020
The second Scottish Curling Junior Club development Conference was hosted online recently, with almost a full house of clubs represented. Split over two days, a daytime session, which was recorded, and an evening session; the agenda focused on feedback from Junior Clubs who had replied to an e-survey earlier in the summer.
Development Manager Iain Stewart tells us more…
Day One – Key Note Speech – ‘Secondry School Curling’s Cool; How we Made it Happen in Fife’
Greg Stewart, Academic Lead for Sport & Fitness at Fife College was our engaging and inspiring key note speaker. Despite a heavy managerial load, Greg still finds time to lecture, and is passionate about further education, sport and most of all his students gaining great experiences to give them the best opportunity of a bright future in the sport and fitness sector.
Greg talked through the Secondary Schools Curling’s Cool project that has started at Kirkcaldy’s Fife Ice Arena, with his students as the bulk of the coaching workforce. Greg told the gathering how an approach from Scottish Curling and local Curling stalwart Bill Creevy, saw him instantly impressed at the vision for this project which builds on the existing Kirkcaldy Curling’s School primary school Curling’s Cool project. He stated that hearing about the successful primary school Curling’s Cool programme at Dumfries Ice Bowl that involves D&G College, also added credibility to the approach from the curling community, that this could be a robust project for his students to be a part of. That workforce, which Bill and his colleagues are the first to admit is of a more ‘senior’ demographic than the college students, simply could not commit to another schools programme in the same way, they felt passionate that High School aged pupils need to try the game, either for the first time or for a refresher of how much they enjoyed it at primary school. Greg was eager to stress he is keen, as are colleagues at FE colleges around the country, to offer coaching and development opportunities in sports out with the ‘big sports’ such as football and rugby, so they can produce graduating students at the end of their HNC/D for moving on to university or work, that are much more rounded in a wider array of sports.
Fiona Harfield, our Workforce Development Manager delivered a Ready, Steady, Curl introductory coaching course and with a partnership with Robert Fraser at Fife Active Schools, the project has not looked back. An increase in Junior Club numbers was noticeable after the project, unfortunately the COVID19 pandemic put an end to it….for now. Greg, Bill and Robert are eager to get the project back on the go as soon as it is practically possible. Fife College are looking to enter the SSS student league, for so long the domain of universities and not colleges, which is a great step forward. It is also hoped, as well as the continued growth in Junior Club membership, that more entries for the Scottish Schools Championships will grow over time if more rinks can follow this example and deliver more secondary school curling via a link with their local FE college or university under graduate Sport Coaching courses.
Wellbeing For Young Curlers – Breakout Groups
Jayne Stirling, Scottish Curling Competition Manager and a former Team Scotland representative at World Mixed Doubles Championships, led a session and facilitated discussion on wellbeing to our young curlers. Many great ideas were discussed with real onus on addressing any issues that arise from curling competition requiring national travel during busy academic periods, be it prelim exams or assessments. Education was highlighted, and much thought around a wellbeing area, room or even a table to allow for a space at competitions to study or undertake some mindfulness practice was discussed. Information on anti-doping, nutrition and other lifestyle advice was discussed, as often this can be a shock to the system for young curlers if they progress up the pathway to Academy level.
Day Two – The New Skill Awards
Scottish Curling Development Manager for the South West, Olympic Silver Medalist Scott Andrews presented on the new Skill Awards, although Fiona Harfield will go into more detail at the upcoming Coaching & Development Conference on Saturday 12th September.
The process of overhaul started in May 2019 when the Development Officer network critiqued the Skill Awards and then in August 2019 the inaugural Junior Club Development Conference when in depth in looking at the awards. A working group was pulled together with some of the people from that day and some curling professional staff from around Scotland and changes have been made. Much more to come in September, however feedback was positive that clubs had been engaged and a proactive approach had been taken in updating the popular awards so they are fit for purpose for coaches and young curlers a like.
Updates on The Junior Pathway
Iain Stewart, Development Manager National Projects and N&E Scotland, gave updates on several projects, along with Maggie Wilson, Development Manager for Central Scotland. Moving On is an initiative designed to support young curlers moving from one locality to another, be it for college, university or work. Scottish Curling development staff will receive the reply from the form, and link up an introduction with the local rink and student club for the youngster.
Scottish Curling has been working closely with Jim Whittle and the Scottish Student Curling committee and are providing line scoring and match day manager for SSS League days to offer any club development advice to student clubs and to provide social media coverage of action and results of league days.
Floor Curling was highlighted as an area that will need to grow in activity in 2020/21 if we are to engage youngsters and schools and junior clubs were encouraged to contact the Development Manager team if they wish advice on grant funding to support the purchase of more sets for their local schools.
The conference closed on a hugely positive vote of thanks from Scottish Curling President Andrew Kerr, who thanked Iain and the Development Team team for their hard work in laying on such an engaging conference.
