Editor:
In B.C., our government is recognizing the immense contributions of coaches in every athlete’s personal and professional development by proclaiming the week from Sept. 15 to 22 as B.C. Coaches Week.
Coaches are mentors for kids and adults alike. They are powerful influences with the potential to change lives. The Coaches Association of B.C. represents some 40,000 coaches, of which 98 per cent are volunteers.
It is coaches who teach the youngest athletes the essential skills of their sports; coaches who inspire and motivate athletes of all ages; and coaches who spot excellence in an athlete and work hard to develop it. Coaches also teach ethics and fair play-critical lessons for young athletes that last a lifetime.
Our collective goal is to ensure that every coach receives the training he or she needs to provide effective leadership. With that in mind, we will invest more than $2 million in coach development over the next year.
Since last year, more than $100,000 has been directly targeted to develop coaches in northern British Columbia in the lead-up to the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George. In addition, the Coaches Association of B.C. is offering free National Coaching Certification Programs in many locations around the province.
I call on all British Columbians to recognize the critical role played by coaches as valued contributors to the health and social development of children and youth in this province.
Bill Bennett
Min. of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
