Nakkertok Nordic Cross Country Ski Club Learn-To-Ski Program

1. NakkertokNordic Cross Country Ski ClubLearn-To-Ski Program Leaders/Assistants Information Session December 2013

2. Agenda • Nakkertok • Learn-to-Ski (LTS) program overview • Coach development • Coaching tips • Skills and evaluation • Weather, safety, facilities • Open forum, questions

3. What is Nakkertok? • Founded in 1971 by a group of families interested in ski racing • Nakkertok is an Inuktitut word for “moving swiftly on snow” • Nakkertok has grown into the largest x-ski club in Canada • ~1400 members • ~80 kilometres of trails in two locations (North, South) • Various programs and events

4. What is Nakkertok? • Nakkertok is uses a co-operative approach • Adult members are expected to volunteer with various tasks • Trail clearing • Ski instruction • Facility maintenance • Race/event organization • Club administration/organization • Social activities

5. Nakkertok Governance • Board of Directors • President, Marten Burns • Past President, David Goldsmith • VP, Programs Director, Thom Lyon • Treasurer, Jon Digney • Secretary, Ian Mackay • Communications Director, Peter Hadwen • LTS Director, Noel Harrington • Racing Director, Carolyn Johnson-Grall • Trails and Facilities Director, Ken Lindfors • Competitive Events Director, Fiona Hennessy • Fundraising, Michael Koros • Nakkertok North, David Wilson • Governance and Volunteering, Robert Hornung

6. Nakkertok Programs Recreational Competitive Ages Ages Racing Program 11-18 Adventure Program 17+ Train to Compete Learn to Compete 15-17 Train to Train 12-14 Learn-to Ski Program Racing Rabbits 9-11 12+ Wapoos LTS+ 7-8 6-12 Jackrabbits 4-5 Bunnyrabbits

7. Nakkertok Programs Learn-To-Ski Bunnyrabbit/Jackrabbit: 4-12 yrs Mud Monsters: 4-12 yrs, fall training at Nakkertok South Adventure 11-17 yrs and L3 Autumn (2x wk), winter (2x week) Adirondacks, orienteering, back-country safety, winter camping, Loppets, etc. Racing Learn-To-Train (Racing Rabbits): 9-12 yrs and completed L3, 2x week Train-To-Train (Midgets): 13-15 yrs Learn-To-Compete, Train-To-Compete, Compete-to-Win: 16+ yrs

8. LTS Program – Who We Are • Nakkertok Learn To Ski Teamlearn-to-ski@nakkertok.ca • Administrator • François Blain: administrator@nakkertok.ca • Director • Noel Harrington: • Day Coordinators • Saturday AM: Lisa McMurray • Saturday PM: Luk Arbuckle • Sunday PM: Andrew Batchelor • Sponsorship/Coach Nights: Kelsey Robin • Coaches – Leaders and Assistants • Other Helpers • Barn Parents, Photo Day, Birkebeiner (North cookout), end-of-season picnic • Canadian Ski Patrol • Parents • Kids

9. Administrator • Paid administrator to provide a central point of contact and reduce volunteer requirements • Roles related to LTS • Registrar – verifying and fixing data • Correspondence – respond to administrator@nakkertok.ca emails and information requests from CCC, CCO and SFQ • Order materials and goodies from CCO and SFQ

10. Director • Spokesperson for the Learn-to-Ski programs (Bunnyrabbit, Jackrabbit, Adult, Mud Monsters, LTS Plus) • Set the goals and direction for the LTS program • LTS representative at Nakkertok Board meetings • Recruiting individuals for the LTS administrative positions • Creation and tracking of Learn-to-Ski budget   • Set the calendar in consultation with the Nakkertok Board and LTS Admin team • Oversee the LTS programs to ensure that they are running smoothly • Ensure trails & grooming staff have trails track set appropriately

11. Day Coordinator Coordination of ski lessons Primary contact for coaches Grooming requests Class cancellation Communications Class List Finding volunteers: Coaches signs Barn parents Birkebeiner Photo Day End of Year Picnic Be a member of the LTS Committee

12. Coaches – Leaders/Assistants • Provide a fun, safe but yet challenging environment where young skiers can learn FUNdamental skills • Create a season plan and lesson plans • Know what you are instructing and how to evaluate • Be mindful of the safety risks • Communicate • Introduction email to parents • Weekly email to parents • Ongoing feedback to skiers • Responsibility • For the skiers while coaching • To cover their own absences • Skier evaluations • To complete Police Records Check

13. Parental Responsibilities • Be an active participant in the program • Nakkertok is a cooperative; not a drop-off program • Participate with classes (a couple of times per year) • Help out with program activities and special events • Communicate with the leader • Let the leader know how your child is feeling on that day • Inform the leader if your child cannot attend a class • Help make skiing fun for the children • Ensure the skiers have correct equipment, clothing, snacks and drinks snack for skiing • Ski for fun with their child(ren) • Arrive on time! • Leave enough time to have children skiing at lesson time • Pick up children on time

14. Other Helpers/Roles • Barn Parent • Photo Day photographer and helpers • Birkebeiner organizers, lighting fires • End-of-season picnic organizer and helpers • Canadian Ski Patrol

15. Learn-to-Ski Program Overview Bunnyrabbits (~4-5 years old) Jackrabbits(~6-12 years old)

16. Learn-to-Ski Program • Learn To Ski: follows Cross-Country Canada athlete development • Bunnyrabbits: (~ ages 4-5) • enjoy structured ski fun • basic technique through games, and action songs that reinforce skiing skills • après-ski. (1.5 h ski + 30 min après-ski till parents arrive) • Active Start • Jackrabbits (~ ages 6-12) • enjoy structured ski adventures. • more complex ski techniques through games, drills and challenges. • explore the trail system by skiing longer distances each session • FUNdamentals • Wapoos (~ ages 11 and up- completed L4). • completed the Jackrabbit program • comfortable with classic and skate skiing, but do not wish the Racing or Adventure Programs • Active For Life • Adult • Beginner: classic (JR1-JR2 skills)

17. CS4L – Canadian Sport For Life • www.canadiansportforlife.ca • LTAD – Long Term Athlete Development Model • Where we fit? Active Start & FUNdamentals • important for competitive and recreational (Active For Life)

18. CS4L - Physical Literacy • The learning and practice of fundamental movement skills is the basic building block for the development of physical literacy • Critical if children are to feel confident when they engage in physical activity for • fun and for health • or for competition and the pursuit of excellence.

19. Learn-to-Ski Program Learn To Ski and Club Policies: Screening Policy Medium-level trust positions – police records check Privacy How we collect, manage, store and destroy personal information. Photography No photos list

20. Coach Development

21. Coach Development Our programs don’t succeed without qualified and skilled coaches at all levels: LTS, Racing, Adventure Nakkertok supports coach development Intro to Community Coaching (ICC) Community Coaching (CC) Learn-To-Train (L2T) ages 8-12 (LTS/Racing Rabbits)

22. Coach Development ICC/CC Courses: Games that teach technique Developing successful lesson plans Safety Appropriate equipment Skill improvement Trainer/Facilitator Geoff Tomlinson birdseye@rogers.com, Head Coach for our Nakkertok Train-to-Train Athletes

23. Coach Development Coach technique sessions (tentative) Free Technique Sessions with Geoff Tomlinson (Nakkertok T2T Coach) 4 sessions in January Sign-ups will happen the week before each session.  Maximum of 12 participants per session

24. Coaching Tips • First Day • Wear something distinctive • Arrive early • Select a site in the stadium and post your class’ sign • Name tags for kids • Speak with parents – allergies, health concerns • Evaluate class – skill level, speed, endurance • Check equipment and clothing • Check every child has water bottle and snack in a pack

25. Coaching Tips • Every Day • Welcome child and determine if OK/not so OK • Have one of the assistant coach play with kids while waiting to start • Start on time • Know the trails • One leader at front and one at back, minimum of 2 adults with class • Parent volunteer to ski with class • Bunnyrabbit skiing ends at 11:30/3:00 and then snack with coaches until 12:00/3:30. Parent snack schedule.

26. Coaching Tips • Equipment/supplies • Extra mitts, socks • Socks with holes cut to fit over boots • Emergency blanket • Hand warmers • Whistle • Matches (e.g. lighting fires at Nakk North) • Map • Duct tape • First aid-kit • Wax: recommended plus 1 warmer, 2 colder, cork/scraper • Bribes/treats: gummy bears • Petroleum jelly for cold weather

27. Coaching Tips • Equipment for Lessons (Shed) • Ropes • Pylons • Large balls • Small balls • Hula hoops • ‘Grab-n-Go’ equipment bags

28. Coaching Tips • ‘Grab-n-Go’ Equipment Bags

29. Coaching Tips • End of Class • Finish on time • Make sure every child has found a parent • When appropriate, let parent know if any, good things or issues that arose in the class • Pass info along for the next week (e.g. Nak North, skating/classic)

30. Coaching Tips • Bored, frustrated skierwaiting • Prevention: game for those who show up early, brief explanations and demonstrations, long enough (time) loop for drills • Games, Games, Games • Wax not working • Ensure wax works for the day • Carry extra wax • Educate parents, remind them of the free wax cliniques

31. Coaching Tips • http://nakkertok.ca/learn-to-ski/ • Leader’s Golden Notes • Skill Levels and Evaluations • Bunnyrabbit and Jackrabbit Games • Lesson Plans

32. Skills and Evaluation

33. Sport Specific Fundamentals

34. Evaluating Skills • Why? • Improvements in FUNdamentals • Safety • Evaluation Spreadsheet

36. Evaluation How To • 1st class ensure the skiers are at the appropriate level • Safety and ability to keep up - can be moved to another class *Note: There are variations in skills in each class and per day per child • Keep notes on each child for each technique • Strengths • Areas for improvement • Have a 100m time trial (Becky Scott Award) • Get an estimate on the number of hours skied outside class (Richard Weber Award) • Pierre Harvey “Hat Trick” Award • Be TOUGH but fair!!!

37. Evaluation How To

38. Weather, Safety, Equipment, Facilities

39. Weather Class may be cancelled or delayed due to ice, snow, cold, etc. Decision is made by the Day Coordinator Communication with parents It is important your lesson plans be adapted to the weather conditions

40. Safety Injured skier Learning how to fall, appropriate terrain, we are here cones Canadian Ski Patrol – cell phones Hospital Cold injuries – Hypothermia, frostbite Proper clothing, food, water, “emergency kit”, stay out of wind, warm-up break Allergy – Use of Epi-pen Lost skier or coach Coach at front and back (+ parent), stop at intersections, ski in pairs, count kids Know the map, carry a map, give out maps! Other: Rocks on trail, fireplace, snow falling off Johannsenhus or Ostromhus

41. Hospital (From North, same hospitals apply) • Nakkertok South • C.H. Gatineau (~10min) • Ottawa Hospital, General Campus and CHEO (~25min)

42. Emergency Action Plan for Injured Skier In the event of an injured skier. Stay calm. Ensure you don't endanger yourself or group members while managing this crisis. Go to Gatineau Hospital or CHEO. Secure group members. Is a patroller on duty? Can you call the patroller now? Get injured skier back to chalet to continue aid. Call the patroller and let them guide care. Yes Yes No No Immobile or unconcious? Administer first aid and prevent hypothermia (use emergency blanket). Do not move the injured skier. Wait for patroller to guide care. Send someone to the chalet to call the pattroler (number posted on the outside whiteboard). No Yes Administer first aid and prevent hypothermia (use emergency blanket). Monitor airway, breathing, circulation (ABC). Do not move injured skier if there is a risk of head or spinal injury. Call 911. Send a skier to parking lot with details of injuries to direct EMS. Nakkertok South 900 Gatineau Ave, Gatineau, end of the lane; Nakkertok North 139 Route du Carrefour, Val-des-Monts

43. Emergency Action Plan for Lost Skier In the event of a lost skier. Stay calm. Ensure you don't endanger yourself or group members when managing this crisis. Secure group members. Can you call the patroller now? Is a patroller on duty? Quickly establish a search coordinator. Call the patroller and let them guide search. Yes Yes No No Go to the back of the chalet and find the file holder with emergency procedures. Let the patroller guide search. Send someone to the chalet to call the pattroler (number posted on the outside whiteboard). Share Missing Person Report Form with Police. Coordinator to call 911 at the conclusion of unsuccessful Hasty Search. Follow the intructions on the front of the envelope. Locate the envelope titled Nakkertok Missing Person Search. Mobilize outside help. Hypothermia is a real risk. Nakkertok South 900 Gatineau Ave, Gatineau, end of the lane; Nakkertok North 139 Route du Carrefour, Val-des-Monts

44. Physical Comfort Cold, Hot Prevention Properly sized boots Non-cotton socks and undergarments Mitts vs gloves when cold out Snowsuit for BR, layers for older. Leader “emergency kit” (extra gloves, balaclava, over sock) START ON TIME!!! (coach must be early and be prepared) Hungry food breaks, ensure they come to class fed Tired Treats Challenges Pull rope to bring them back Happy Don’t worry 

45. Equipment BR, JR1, JR2 Ski length is child height to wrist above head??? Fish scales are okay (not ideal) 3 Pin binding is okay (not ideal) No poles needed for BR Limited pole usage in JR1 and JR2 (length: underarm) Pole straps must be adjusted JR3, JR4 Combi skis are fine – between 5cm above head to wrist above head. Waxable skis preferred over fish scales No 3-pin bindings for skating Two sets of poles (underarm for classic, chin for skating) Check equipment at first lesson!!! Resource: www.nakertok.ca

46. Nakkertok Facilities

47. Nakkertok Facilities • Nakkertok South Buildings • Chalet (notice board and cubbies/mailboxes) • Learn To Ski Equipment Shack • Ski Patrol Hut • Johannsenhus • Owl Cabin • Nakkertok North • New chalet • Nakkertok South Trails • Class signs • Stadium • Bunny Bumps • Plateau • Play Park • Sprint courses • Owl Pond • Johansenhus field

48. Class Construction Based on skill level, speed, endurance, age, gender, friends, previous class, which class a parent wishes to coach Previous evaluations and parent comments used to put classes together 1:4 ratio is the goal of JR 1:3 ratio is the goal for BR Class lists communicated to Leaders/Assistants

49. Leader/Class Communications Shutterfly will be used again this year by each Day Coordinators Each day session as a separate Shutterfly website Intended restrictions have been set-up Automatic reminders will be sent few days prior to an event The idea is to reduce the number of emails and to ensure all the information pertaining to a session is available at one location We encourage you to use to provide us with feedback and to suggest postings such as lesson plans that would benefit new coaches

50. LTS Program Schedule - 2014 Jan 4/5 Lesson #1 Jan 11/12 Lesson #2 Jan 18/19 Lesson #3 Jan 25/26 Lesson #4 Feb 1/2 Lesson #5, North (Birkebeiner/cookout) Eastern Canadian Championships Feb 8/9 Lesson #6 Feb 15/16 Lesson #7, North Feb 22/23 Lesson #8 Cookie Race / Weber Loppet Mar 1/2 Lesson #9, Year-end Picnic