Send us a text 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) Amélie Blais, Passion Curling (5:46) Andrea Ronnebeck, Kenora CC (ON) (6:30) Andy Jones, Calgary ...
Aug 07, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 100
Send us a text 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 the 2023-2024 season. Some of the topics we discuss: * In-person interview...
Jul 31, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 99
Send us a text 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.buzzsprout.com/1048435/7853596 Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach and c...
Jul 16, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 98
Send us a text 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. NOTE: Interview recorded February 13/23 Some of the topics we discuss: * The "behind...
Jul 10, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 97
Send us a text 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 ages, skill levels and experience. How do you run a curling program that fits all those...
Jun 26, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 96
Send us a text 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: Code Ninjas https://www.codeninjas.com/ Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an ...
Jun 18, 2023•13 min•Season 2Ep. 95
Send us a text 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. (Interview recorded May 10/23) Some of the topics we discuss: * Basics of the Oakvil...
Jun 05, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Send us a text 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 for? (4:47) * Who are the coaches? (6:23) * What would you say to a potential new camper? (9:41) * T...
Feb 25, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 93
Send us a text 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 Beth Iskiw from Edmonton, Alberta. Beth has been involved with the development of a new national ski...
Oct 09, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Send us a text 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 organizers from Ontario: Abbie Darnley from the Stroud Curling Club and Maggie Dame from th...
Sep 25, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Send us a text 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: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He h...
Sep 15, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Send us a text 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 junior curling program at Curl Edinburgh (2:59) * Who coaches the kids on the ice? (8:48) ...
Jul 17, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Send us a text 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 creation of this award, how it differs from the "For The Love of Curling" scholarship...
Jun 26, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Send us a text 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) * What is the "Safe Sport 101 Playbook"? (5:27) * A deeper dive into one of the modules, "Punishment & Disci...
May 24, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 87
Send us a text 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" video from Sportsnet (May 6/22) https://youtu.be/HiQ6ORC40Gk Curling Canada Diversity & Inclusivity We...
May 18, 2022•8 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Send us a text 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 the sport. Johnson Tao is a silver medallist at the 2022 Canadian U21 Curling Championships. He also curls for th...
May 08, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 85
Send us a text 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 own practices (14:51) * The ideas we left "on the table" (21:40) * How our "Honourable Mention" winner got...
May 01, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Send us a text 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 Oakville’s “Instructor Co-Op,” an instruction team that was founded to solve s...
Apr 24, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Send us a text 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 Strathroy, Ontario. The three of us have a conversation about the lessons we can ...
Apr 18, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Send us a text 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, the life of its namesake, the CYCA, and why the prize money doubled at the most ...
Apr 10, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Send us a text Every 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 le...
Apr 03, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Send us a text The 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. NOT...
Mar 27, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 79
Send us a text In 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 pla...
Mar 21, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Send us a text In 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: * Dra...
Mar 20, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Send us a text In 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 ...
Mar 16, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Send us a text We 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: coachingkidscurli...
Dec 31, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Send us a text For 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 ...
Dec 19, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Send us a text Coaching 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...
Dec 12, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Send us a text THE "CURLING AS A KID & BEYOND!" SERIES: Episode #5 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 the sport. Sabrina Ribau is a member of the Portuguese National Mixed Curling Team who grew up in Oakville, ON, C...
Nov 21, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Send us a text In 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: @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 C...
Nov 14, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 71
