Coaching Kids Curling

Send a text So your Little Rocks program isn't running this season. What can you do to maintain the level of interest and engagement in the sport of curling for your kids? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn has a brainstorming session with Mike Gregotski of High Park Club in Toronto to come up with some outside-the-box solutions. Links to the resources mentione...

Send a text Not all lessons need to happen on the ice! In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn gives you eight off-ice ideas for your Little Rocks practice. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we recommend a book written by a former captain in the United States Navy. Links to the resources mentioned in this episode: FloorCurl iceless curling equipment https://floorcu...

Send a text What's in a name? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn argues that you should know the name of EVERY kid, parent, family member, volunteer and staff in your Little Rocks program. You'll also get tips and advice to help you remember! In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we'll recommend a new comedy series about an American football coach w...

Send a text In this COVID-19 era, Little Rocks/U12 coaches and program organizers are making tough decisions about their programs. In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn has a conversation with two youth curling coaches and organizers who are planning to run their program this season: Kevin Campbell and Damian De Shane-Gill of Dixie Curling Club in Mississauga, Ontario....

Send a text In a previous episode, we introduced you to the basics of Little Rocks or U12 bonspiels. Are you tempted to organize your own? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn tries to convince you NOT to do it. That said, if you decide to throw yourself in the bottomless pit of work, you'll get some tips to get started. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we...

Send a text Bonspiels are an important part of our sport and our age group is no different. In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn gives you the basics of Little Rocks/U12 bonspiels. What are they? Are your kids ready for them? And what do you need to consider as a program organizer? In an upcoming episode, I'll tackle the subject of organizing your own Little Rock...

Send a text I will be a good sport I will respect people and property, on and off the ice If I make a mistake, I will tell someone No “put downs.” I will play fairly I will accept the consequences of my behaviour This is the "Fair Play Code of Youth Curling," written at the Vernon Curling Club in B.C. In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn reveals the Code&apo...

Send a text Kids love swag, right? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn shares the dirty little secret of swag and tells you how to make your swag purchases more effective for your program. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we tell you about a podcast episode that spotlights the influential "Rocks & Rings" kids curling program. Links to the resourc...

Send a text Face it. You're going to make mistakes as a coach. But are you willing to reflect on those mistakes and learn lessons from them? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn talks about two past mistakes and the two different ways he handled each of them. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we'll pass along some information about a new game format ca...

Send a text Are you planning to coach Little Rocks curling next season? Are you new to coaching kids? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn goes in the time machine to give his younger self advice about coaching kids. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we tell you about a well-known curling manual and its author. Links to the resources mentioned in this episode: B...

Send a text Last March, COVID-19 put a sudden end to the curling season and sports in general. Now, sports organizations are making "Return To Play" plans for later this year. In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn talks about Curling Canada's "Return To Play Guidelines" document and shares his concerns about re-opening his Little Rocks program...

Send a text No one argues that sportsmanship is a lesson we need to teach our young athletes. But where do we start? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn gives you Lesson #1: Handshakes. Find out why we shake hands in curling. Know the elements of a proper handshake. And learn about the common "handshake faults" for kids. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbi...

Send a text Birthdays are often a time for self-reflection. So in this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn shares three facts about himself in advance of the special day: 1. He was a late bloomer to curling, 2. He never wanted to coach kids, and 3. He's a proud Filipino-Canadian. How do those personal experiences shape his coaching today?  In this week's  “Coaching...

Send a text What does an "ELM Tree" have to do with curling? In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn reveals what E.L.M. stands for and why it holds such a prominent place in his Little Rocks program. He also offers practical advice on how to implement a coaching philosophy into your youth curling program. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we recommend a...

Send a text Everyone agrees that safe movement on the ice is important. But in this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn asks if we as coaches have deliberately made this a part of our weekly lesson plans. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we recommend a Facebook group that makes learning curling strategy fun! Links to the resources mentioned in the episode: "Daily...

Send a text In this week's episode of Coaching Kids Curling , to celebrate Father's Day, Coach Glenn tells some stories about his dad and how he fostered his love of sports. In this week's  “Coaching Tidbit,” we recommend a podcast episode that looks at curling from a different perspective. Links to the resources mentioned in the episode: “Diversity in Curling Roundtable" - Gam...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn continues his discussion of teaching curling strategy to kids. After reviewing the basic lessons from last episode, he offers a different way to look at curling strategy. He also recommends some alternate game formats you can use with your kids. Finally, he urges coaches to "let the kids play," giving kids the chance to m...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn tackles one of the toughest curling subjects to teach: Strategy! In the past, new curlers were taught strategy using complex concepts like "FESRAIN" or "Probe/Pursue/Protect." However, Coach Glenn suggests that we need to start with three lessons first, the "building blocks" of strategy. In this week&a...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn teaches you how to get your kids to yell. Seriously? Yes, seriously! We know that kids can yell, but can they communicate effectively across the curling sheet during a game? Chances are the answer is no, so we'll give you tips and advice to teach that skill. We also bring you a book recommendation in this week's  “Coachin...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn talks about Long Term Athlete Development. What is it? And why should it matter to a Little Rocks organizer? We also bring you a “Coaching Tidbit” on the topic of improv and coaching. Links to the resources mentioned in the episode: "Long-Term Development In Sport And Physical Activity 3.0" (2019) - the latest version of...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn says “Thank You” to every youth curling coach. We answer the question: Why are youth sports coaches so valuable?  And we also list some of the practical ways that program organizers can recognize the work of their coaches. Finally, we bring you a “Coaching Tidbit” on the topic of positive reinforcement. Follow our podcast on Twitte...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn talks about the best practice he had last season and how you can increase the odds of a "magic moment" happening at your weekly Little Rocks practice. Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Lit...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , Coach Glenn shares three tasks that you can do during the off-season to prepare your Little Rocks program for the upcoming season. Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn 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 Curli...

Send a text In this episode of Coaching Kids Curling , we discuss an element of kids curling that is often overshadowed by teaching on-ice skills and playing games. If you're going to be in charge of a Little Rocks program, don't forget SNACK! Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been...

Send a text Welcome to the Coaching Kids Curling podcast! This podcast is primarily for those who coach and teach kids the sport of curling. Specifically, those who work with "Little Rocks" or the "U12" age group (i.e., those under the age of 12). In this episode, Coach Glenn Gabriel introduces himself, tells you why he decided to start this podcast and shares some of what you...