National Coaches Week roundup

Highlights of the week at Douglas

By Tessa Rumpel and Lauren Kan, Contributors

During the week of September 19-27 Douglas College celebrated National Coaches Week. Over 100 “thank you” dedications were pinned to a “THANKS COACH” sign across the New Westminster and Coquitlam campuses, many of them thanking coaches for always putting their athletes first and being dedicated to improving their athletes on and off the field.

Among the highlights was the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEC) Coach Awareness Booth in the College’s concourse, which was full of nutrition myths, taping tips and techniques, skeleton Q-and-As about injury prevention, and fitness testing ideas. The booth gave great insight into what BPEC students are learning every day to help them become successful coaches and teachers.

Douglas College athletes won the Right to Play “Go Shoeless” Facebook picture post contest during the week. Right to Play is an organization which works with volunteers and partners to use sport and play to enhance child development in areas of disadvantage. Athletes learned to look at what they have with more appreciation, knowing some children around the world have no access to equipment or even access to running water.

Zarina A. Glannone a M.A student at UBC gave an impassioned talk to over 60 Coaches Week participants which left them with one main thought: “A coach’s mental preparation of athletes plays a large role in how well the athlete performs.”

Douglas College’s strength and conditioning coach, Jake Elder, shared his tips with multiple groups of students and athletes at his open training sessions with both men’s baseball and men’s soccer players. Elder’s most valuable tip to coaches was “get to know your athletes on a personal level, and then base each individual’s training plan on their own strengths and weaknesses.” These sessions were extremely informative, and allowed the audience to get a look at just how hard Royals athletes work.

To keep up to date with the Royals as they move past the week, be sure to check their website at www.douglife.ca/dcroyalsathletics