Congrats @AssumptionHCDSB Kathryn Carlone who’s supported students & athletes for 25+ yrs! Kathryn coaches flag football, ultimate, rugby, basketball, hockey, soccer & more. “When there is no coach, there is no team; it’s as simple as that.” #ThanksCoach for stepping up! @OFSAA

Congrats @rslomke, a cornerstone of @TBCDSBStPatrick and with @tbmha, whose dedication & passion for coaching and teaching have made a lasting impact for over 30 yrs! Roger wears many hats and it always a beacon of positivity, optimism, and selflessness. #NCW2024 @OFSAA

For 18 years, the Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards program celebrates the dedication and commitment of exemplary individuals who inspire, innovate and share knowledge of sport with others.

The Awards recognize the importance of leadership, performance and the value of human insight which are all integral to great coaching. Coaches were recognized across Ontario at the 2024 Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards celebration on September 14.

The event marked the start of the special 10th annual National Coaches Week, a celebration of the tremendous positive impact coaches have on this nation’s athletes and communities. The week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by simply saying #ThanksCoach.

To celebrate National Coaches Week (September 16-22), representatives from OFSAA, the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO), Ministry of Sport and Hydro One were on hand to present the province’s most prestigious coaching honour, an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award.

The OFSAA School Sport Coach Award winners were selected by OFSAA based on their unique contribution to sport through continuous development. The Award does not reflect the accomplishments of a teacher-coach in any one year, but the contributions over a period of years.

The 2024 male recipient of the “Coaching Excellence Award” in the School Sport Category is Roger Slomke of St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay, ON. (NWOSSAA)

The 2024 female recipient of the “Coaching Excellence Award” in the School Sport Category is Kathryn Carlone of Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, ON. (GHAC)

Whether it is winning OFSAA championships or a student improving their grades, Roger and Kathryn are advocates for sport as more than just a team, but as a family.

“We are excited to honour coach Roger and Kathryn for their steadfast commitment and support in developing athletes both on and off the field. The bonds formed through sports play a crucial role in strengthening our communities, and coaches like Roger and Kathryn are instrumental in creating those safe, enjoyable, and nurturing environments for youth to thrive,” said Jeremy Cross, Executive Director of CAO.

National #CoachesWeek is when we recognize the various coaches in our province – regardless of level – for their immeasurable positive impact in our communities. We want to thank all NBIAA coaches for their commitment to their athletes and their schools. Follow the link below to check out events and free courses for you to take in week thanks to our partners at Sport NB Coach/Entraîneur.

National Coaches Week

La Semaine nationale des entraîneurs (SNE) est l’occasion de reconnaître tous les entraîneurs de notre province – quel que soit leur niveau – pour l’impact positif immesurable qu’ils ont sur nos communautés. Nous voulons remercier tous les entraîneurs de l’ASINB pour leur engagement envers leurs athlètes et leurs écoles. Suivez le lien ci-dessous pour découvrir les événements et les cours gratuits que vous pouvez suivre cette semaine grâce à nos partenaires Sport NB Coach/Entraîneur.

Let’s all take a moment this week to celebrate our coaches. Coaches are integral to the success of a team and can be an inspiration to so many. Let’s make sure they know they’re appreciated. Say #ThanksCoach!

#SchoolSportsNL#NationalCoachesWeek

National #CoachesWeek celebrates the positive impact coaches have on athletes, participants, and communities across Canada. This week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by saying #ThanksCoach.

This week marks the 10th Annual #NationalCoachesWeek, and we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of coaches across BC who invest in student-athletes. Thank you for your never-ending passion for school sports! #ThanksCoach #CoachesWeek

Our 2025 National Athletic Directors Conference will be held at the Hotel Arts in Calgary, Alberta on April 10-12, 2025! Save the date on your calendar and start looking at funding opportunities. More information and conference registration will be posted in the Fall. The Conference is our BEST event of the year and you don’t want to miss it.

OFSAA is pleased to announce a new partnership with SMART GOLF Software.

We are excited that the software will provide live scoring at the upcoming OFSAA boys and girls golf events taking place October 16 and 17. The software will also be offered at local and association level tournaments and SMART Golf will work with our convenors on printable scorecards, live scoring links, shareable leaderboard, TV display, divisions and tee sheet management.

The software is used by NCAA program in the United States and the new agreement offers full access to this program to all high schools in Ontario.

“We’re thrilled to announce that SMART Golf Software will be the official scoring provider for OFSAA for the 2024-2025 season”, said Rob Sunstrum, CEO of Smart Golf.  “After proudly serving as the unofficial provider for the past two years, we’re excited to take this collaboration to the next level. With this partnership, we will provide live tournament scoring for all high school golf competitions across Ontario.”

Here is an example of one of the events: https://smartgolf.online/tournament_access/2023-648ed764

Please contact Rob Sunstrum at rob@smartgolfsoftware.com to learn more about what SMART Golf can offer at your next golf tournament.

The 2023-24 school year finished with a flourish in May and June!

We saw many repeat OFSAA champions in our team events and also with the exceptional track & field competitors in June. Not to be lost in the excitement was the emergence of the outstanding young class of novice and junior medalists on the provincial landscape this past school year.

Read about their exploits in the pages of the Fall Issue of the Bulletin Magazine and learn about the accomplishments of the deserving recipients of our various annual scholarships and awards.

We know that your are focussed on our 2024-25 championships and festivals as the weather turns to fall. Be sure to find all of the event details in our 2024-25 OFSAA Calendar in the centre spread of this issue.

Best of luck to all coaches and student-athletes in punching your ticket towards excellence this year!

Just click here.

Click here to view the 2024 SHSAA Fall semi-annual newsletter. 

Click here to view the 2024 BC School Sports September newsletter

Nouvelles nominations au RSEQ au secteur scolaire et collégial

Le RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) est fier d’annoncer la nomination de Marie-Claude Lamontagne au poste de responsable du secteur scolaire.

Durant ses trois années comme responsable des sports dans des cégeps et son rôle de coordonnatrice au RSEQ provincial collégial depuis 2017, Marie-Claude a su allier passion et professionnalisme. Depuis 2014, elle est également formatrice pour Égale Action, où elle a activement contribué à la promotion de l’égalité et de l’inclusion dans le sport.Dans son nouveau rôle au secteur scolaire, Marie-Claude continuera à développer et améliorer l’offre sportive pour les élèves, en s’appuyant sur son riche parcours et sa vision stratégique.

Le RSEQ est convaincu que son leadership et son dévouement feront progresser le secteur scolaire vers de nouveaux sommets.

Le RSEQ est heureux d’annoncer également la nomination d’Alexandre Lizotte au poste de coordonnateur au secteur collégial (Sud-Ouest).

Depuis son arrivée au RSEQ en 2023 en tant que coordonnateur au secteur collégial et universitaire, Alexandre a fait preuve d’une remarquable expertise en administration sportive et d’une profonde compréhension des besoins des athlètes et des institutions. Sa vaste expérience sur les terrains sportifs et son engagement passionné pour le développement des sports font d’Alexandre un atout précieux pour le réseau.

Le RSEQ est confiant qu’Alexandre amènera une dynamique intéressante à la conférence Sud-Ouest. Son dévouement et son expertise favoriseront la poursuite des objectifs ambitieux du RSEQ en matière d’organisation, de promotion et de rayonnement des sports.

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New appointments to the RSEQ in the school and college sector

The RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) is proud to announce the appointment of Marie-Claude Lamontagne to the position of head of the school sector.

During her three years as head of sports in CEGEPs and her role as coordinator at the provincial college RSEQ since 2017, Marie-Claude has combined passion and professionalism. Since 2014, she has also been a trainer for Égale Action, where she has actively contributed to the promotion of equality and inclusion in sport. In her new role in the school sector, Marie-Claude will continue to develop and improve the sports offering for students, drawing on her rich background and strategic vision.

The RSEQ is convinced that her leadership and dedication will advance the school sector to new heights.

The RSEQ is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alexandre Lizotte as College Sector Coordinator (Southwest).

Since joining the RSEQ in 2023 as College and University Sector Coordinator, Alexandre has demonstrated remarkable expertise in sports administration and a deep understanding of the needs of athletes and institutions. His extensive experience on the sports field and his passionate commitment to sports development make Alexandre a valuable asset to the network.

The RSEQ is confident that Alexandre will bring an interesting dynamic to the Southwest conference. His dedication and expertise will help the RSEQ pursue its ambitious goals in terms of organizing, promoting and expanding sports.

BC School Sports Celebrates Record High Participation in School Sports Burnaby, BC – BC School Sports (BCSS) is thrilled to announce that the 2023-2024 academic year has marked another milestone in school sports participation, with student-athlete registrations reaching an all-time high. Our member schools have wholeheartedly embraced the value of quality athletic programs, witnessing firsthand the positive impact on their communities and students. This year, BCSS member schools have proudly fielded an impressive 7,742 teams across the 18 sports we offer, showcasing the vibrant and growing
spirit of school-based athletics.

The 2023-2024 academic year witnessed a remarkable 123,313 student-athlete registrations, marking an 8.2% increase from last year’s record-breaking numbers. This impressive growth represents a 19% rise in participation over the past decade and a 12% surge since the COVID-19 pandemic. In tangible terms, this means 23,819 more students are participating in school based athletics
compared to ten years ago, with an additional 14,700 athletes joining since schools returned to normal operations post-pandemic.

Sport-Specific Growth:

• Cross Country: This sport continued its impressive multiyear trend of strong growth, with participation rising from 4,783 participants last year to 5,412 this year, marking a significant 13.2% increase. This sustained growth underscores the enduring popularity and accessibility of cross
  country among students.
• Winter Sports: These sports experienced the most substantial overall growth, with Ski/Snowboard participation surging by 15% and 21%, respectively. Wrestling saw an extraordinary growth in participation, including a 19.8% rise among female wrestlers and a remarkable 50%
  increase among the number of male wrestlers.
• Girls’ Sports: Acutely aware of the high dropout rate from sports by girls during high school years, BCSS has focused on retaining female athletes. In 2023-2024, 46% of total registrations came from girls, a strong indicator that the inclusive and welcoming environments is encouraging girls to get involved and stay involved throughout high school.
  
  Multiple Sport Participation and Coaching:
• A total of 27,835 (4.9% increase) student-athletes participated in more than one school sport in 23-24, with 15,071 male and 12,764 female athletes showcasing their versatility and commitment.
• The dedication of coaches remains vital to the success of school sports, with 14,827 coaches supporting students throughout the 2023-2024 school season. This includes 9,619 male and 5,208 female coaches.

BCSS Executive Director, Jordan Abney, expressed his enthusiastic praise for schools and coaches, stating, “Our 460+ member schools are doing an outstanding job of offering diverse and inclusive opportunities for youth to experience the transformative power of school-based athletics. This is
especially commendable given the limited resources available within the system. It is crucial that we continue to elevate the status of school sports within our communities and ensure that the necessary support is provided to sustain these invaluable experiences for generations to come.”

As BCSS gears up for the new school year, the organization is dedicated to expanding opportunities for students to participate in school sports, highlighting the crucial role these activities play in fostering mental and physical well-being. The positive impact of school sports on young lives is undeniable. BC School Sports invites everyone to rally behind their local school teams and join this inspiring journey of athletic growth and excellence. Your support can make a lasting difference in the lives of student-athletes and the broader community.

About BC School Sports:
BC School Sports is a voluntary organization of over 460 public and independent schools in British Columbia. It is the governing body for school sport and coordinates and delivers opportunities with our member schools for interschool competitions in over 18 activities to over 123,000 student-athletes each year. BCSS delivers 61 provincial championships annually, with thousands of student-athletes competing at the highest levels of interscholastic competition.

By Lindsay Reynen

Have you been asked to coach a sport that you don’t know much about?  Maybe you are hesitant to get involved because you aren’t an expert in the sport you are being asked to coach.  If the main goal as athletic educators is to increase participation and get more students involved in sports, we need to be able to offer a variety of individual and team experiences – but in order to do this, we may need to step out of our comfort zones and take a risk. Read on for some tips on how to create a positive learning experience for your athletes as well as yourself as you coach a sport you’ve never played.

Be confident

Open and honest communication with your team is important. You should be upfront with your players. Tell them that you are new to the sport and you are excited to take on a challenge. Does the team need to know you’ve never done a particular drill, or you don’t know the best strategy to use in every situation?  Absolutely not. Do your research and then have confidence in your decisions. You will earn more respect from your athletes if you are purposeful and confident in your actions than if you constantly second-guess yourself. For example, let’s say you want to work on blocking in volleyball. If you ask experienced volleyball coaches what the best drill is for learning blocking technique, they will all give you slightly different tips and ideas. There is no one right way. Have confidence in picking the drill you think will work best and present it to your team.

Get online

You can find warm-ups, skill breakdowns, drills, strategies and more online. There is almost too much information – it can be overwhelming.  Guidebooks can be helpful but looking at x’s and o’s on a page can be confusing. So, what’s the best approach? You can try watching YouTube videos. Watching athletes move across the playing area while listening to the coach’s directions will show you exactly how to implement the drill. Listening to the videos introduces you to the sport-specific lingo that goes with the sport. You’ll be able to tell your team to “shag” the volleyballs or complete a “fartlek” run.  Slowly, as you watch the videos and plan your practices over the season, you will begin using this language without even thinking about it.

Browse the internet for practice schedules posted by other schools. It may not be exactly what you want to use but it will give you an idea of how to plan your season. When I first took on the cross-country team, I didn’t realize there were so many ways to practice running. After researching workouts online, I gained a better understanding of how to build a runner up using a variety of runs including hill repeats, tempos, long slow, interval, and race pace runs.

Find a mentor

Although you can find everything you need online, it can help to have an expert on hand to learn common training routines. This can be a retired teacher, graduated student, parent volunteer or a teacher from another school.

I was lucky enough to work with a retired teacher who came back to volunteer with the teams she used to coach. At the beginning of the season, she came to every practice and I observed and assisted. After practice, I recorded everything we did. The handover of the team was a smooth transition where I gradually took on more of a role until, I learned the routine. Once she felt I had a grasp of the training program, she came to practice only a few times a week. At first, the team members would always ask if the other coach was coming. It took some time for them to gain confidence in me. I had to prove to the team that I had the ability to lead them to success. Finding a mentor that can come to a practice here and there can be valuable to your development.

Keep in mind that it is important to find a mentor whose goal is to develop you as a coach. All too often, an expert coach will come in and take over the team. This will reduce the authority of the true coach. Choose your mentor carefully and make sure to communicate what you hope to accomplish together.

Rely on your leaders 

Identity the players on your team that have participated in the sport before and have a good rapport with the team. Pump up your potential leaders and reward them with praise for leading the group through simple tasks such as warm-ups or tracking jersey numbers.

There are several benefits to encouraging leadership on your team:  They will have your back in tense situations. They may say, “I think we’re out of rotation, maybe you should call a time out?” or “Jacob’s getting frustrated – he’s going to foul out soon!”  Your leaders will also help take the load off you and allow you to concentrate on fewer tasks. Having a group of students set up the flags for the championship soccer game will give you the time to greet the opposing team and double check your line up.

Developing student leaders will help you raise team players that aren’t dependent on the coach. Your players will be able to think for themselves and use each other to problem solve. If a player is constantly looking to the coach for direction, they are not using critical thinking or teamwork skills to get through a situation. In this case, having a coach that doesn’t know everything about the game will make for stronger, more independent, confident players.

You’re the coaching pro

As teachers, we have all received years of formal education focusing on how to effectively manage children. You may feel intimidated taking on a team with experienced athletes but the chances are, the athletes don’t know as much as you think they do.

I was nervous about coming up with some effective basketball plays when I took on the senior boys’ basketball team. I thought the team would have a bunch of complicated plays they already used in previous years and they wouldn’t think mine were good. It turned out that they didn’t know a single play and were eager to learn. They completely soaked up everything I had to say. Students can tell when you are working hard and putting effort into the team and they respect you for that. You might not be able to do the skills you are having your athletes perform but you are the pro at teaching, encouraging, managing, organizing; you are a pro at coaching!

The next time you are offered the chance to coach a sport you’ve never played, consider taking on the role.  Have trust in your ability to lead. Learn as you go. Not only will you gain confidence through tackling a new challenge, you will have given a group of young people an unforgettable experience.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is thrilled to introduce BodySense – a new e-learning course that was developed in collaboration with the National Eating Disorder Information Centre. In this interactive course, learners will explore self-reflection activities, tools, and resources to enhance their understanding of navigating body image, bringing balance to both physical and mental health, and working towards greater respect and compassion for the body within and outside of sport. For more information about the course, go to www.cces.ca/bodysense

Congratulations to April Kippers and Sander Sampson for being our June Athlete of the Month Winners!

For Athlete of the Month awards, the ASAA places high value on accomplishments achieved throughout the month.

This is our last Athlete of the Month for the school year. Have a great summer!

#albertamilk#asaaprovs#asaaathleteofthemonth#athletes