top of page

Sports Participation, Coincidence and Connection

Writer's picture: Kevin ShieldsKevin Shields

I had two chance encounters in the last twenty-four hours that caused me to think about how ‘Our’ sports participation shifts and is supported throughout our lives. These coincidental encounters left me feeling joy and happiness about sport—not as a competitive activity but as a community activity where people find support, belonging, and new or fresh challenges to remain active for life. 



Image Wix Media


Life has a curious way of delivering impactful coincidental events from random events and decisions. This morning, a guest skier joined the Carleton University ski team for our practice. He is from BC and was visiting family in Ottawa. On the drive to campus, he got lost and would arrive late. So, I sent the team ahead on warm-up and waited for our guest to arrive. Our guest arrived a few minutes later, and we took off to catch up with the group. I am unsure of the most direct route to cross campus, so we take a slightly longer route to the Rideau Canal and pathway through the Arboretum to connect us to the pathway along the North-South O-Train line. This pathway is a great cycling corridor from South Ottawa to the Ottawa River and a new pedestrian bridge that gives access to Gatineau Park. There are a few street crossings on this corridor, and at a major crossing, we had to stop and wait for the crossing lights. We reached the light a couple of seconds behind a cyclist. We stopped, I recognized the cyclist was Heather (not her real name), someone I knew from running. Heather and I trained in a group in Waterloo, Ontario, over twenty-five years ago. She is now a professor at Carleton University. Heather had a free morning and was heading to Gatineau Park. We briefly chat at the 30-second stop for the traffic light, and then she speeds off for a 30 or 40-km morning ride. It is fantastic to bump into Heather and see that regular physical activity remains an important part of Heather’s routine.


Another coincidence happened the evening before. I went to coach a routine Wednesday evening club practice. Our practice start time is 6 pm, and at a couple of minutes to six, no one has shown up. This was unusual. What has happened to our group? I waited a few more minutes, thinking traffic may have held people up. While waiting, I see Jeff (not his real name), an athlete I know, completing a running workout on the track. So, I watch him complete his intervals and then chat with him briefly. Growing up, Jeff was a cross-country skier and competed against my son. Jeff still cross-country skis; however, now in his thirties, he has dedicated more training to running. Jeff is enjoying this different sport and a new challenge. He told me he is preparing for the Québec 10k road race championships in a couple of weeks. It was good to catch up with Jeff and hear how his running transition is going. He stays fit, takes on new challenges, and is part of a healthy running community. (He will rejoin our ski training group when the snow comes.) It later dawns on me that I had made an error and gone to the wrong meeting location for our club practice—a practice I had planned! The training group was a few kilometres away, wondering where I was.


Image Wix Media


Life is interesting. Random events conspire to create chance encounters. A guest takes a wrong turn and is late meeting with a training group, and as a result, I bump into an old clubmate at a crossing light. A lapse of memory results in me going to the wrong park and getting to catch up with a former competitor of my son. Our life journey is a series of decisions and opportunities—some major and some seemingly insignificant or routine. Further, some are random or simply a consequence of directions or memory. But, however, or wherever we end up on any random day, our lives will intersect with other people—enriching and connecting us to a community. 


 

I am fortunate to be a sports coach and work to support sports participation. I am Head of Sports Participation with Canadian Winter Sports Inc. (Skiwax.ca/ TheFirst Lap Coaching). Here are some of our programs and partnerships:


Skiwax.ca Club Discounts: 

We offer ski clubs and organizations a 25% discount on ski equipment, wax, and tools. This discount applies to club purchases and can be shared with club members. (It’s a nice membership benefit!)

If your club still needs to get a discount code, please get in touch with us!


  • Clearance items and bulk orders: Clubs and individuals can get further deals on our clearance items. Currently, we have a big clearance on skis and poles. Visit Skiwax.ca


    Skiwax.ca Athlete Support Programs 

i) equipment discounts for individual

ii) Varsity team program

iii) Enhanced Athlete support program (in development). 


Skiwax.ca Community Leader Support Program

i) equipment discounts for individual


Coaching Consultations 

i) Presentations and workshops on current coaching issues:

  • Maintaining FUN in a High-Performance System

  • Effective and Ethical Coaching: Avoiding Unintended Consequences


ii) Developing Your Coaching Practice

  • One-on-One Coaching 

  • Small Group Coach Network


iii) Club coach recognition and appreciation program

  • Designing a club coach recruitment, development and retention program.


    Specials

  • Ski Giveaway Contests (2022, 2023 - recipients: Winter:peg and Hudson Bay Ski Club)

  • Coach Appreciation Contest (2023)

  • Coaching Masters Athletes with Dr. Brad Young (Ottawa, 2022)

  • Coming: Coach Development Grants


Please get in touch if you have questions or are interested in any of these offers and programs.



 (A further coincidence of these encounters is that thirty years ago, the father of the guest skier who joined the morning ski team practice and I had the same running coach in Ottawa.) 


End


 

The First Lap Coaching:

Are you interested in sustaining athlete participation for individual and community health and sport development? We are re-thinking how we design and deliver sports programs to build community and engage athletes.


Ready to elevate your club’s programs and make a lasting impact on your athletes? Click kevin@canadianwintersports.com to contact Kevin today and ask for a free consultation.


Let’s work together to create engaging and effective programs that foster athlete growth, and commitment and sustain participation.



All the best,


Kevin


Kevin Shields

Master of Coaching, University of Alberta

BEd, Nipissing University

BSc (Kinesiology), University of Waterloo



20 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page