GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // YOUTH CORNER
‘Wax on, wax off’ Winning consistently means playing consistently
By Dave Jensen, Chairman, USCA Youth Committee
at the Fort Wayne Cash ’Spiel. Tey are a new team, but all of them are very experienced curlers – in fact, they all finished in the top four at Junior Nationals last year. Good curlers who were playing together as a team for the first time. Teir hometowns are spread throughout the country, making it unlikely they will practice much together this year. Tey were, however, chomping at the bit to win their first cash ’spiel. Imagine the look in their eyes when I told them in our pre-event meeting that I didn’t care if they won any games that weekend. Tat wasn’t the goal. Teir goal for the year of course is to win Junior
I
Nationals and get to the Junior Worlds. Tis was the outcome goal they had established for their team. However, given their lack of opportunity to practice together, my goal for them that weekend was to put in place all the team systems necessary for them to achieve their goal. It was my pro- cess goal for them that weekend. You see, you can’t win consistently until you play consistently. Tose weekend goals – throw the same split times on takeouts, throw the same number of rotations with both in-turns and out- turns. Put in place a system for communication, and script for between-end meetings, and a way to keep the team at an even keel mentally. Team meet- ings? Counting rotations? Matching weights? Are you kidding? For me, their reaction conjured up memories of the “Karate Kid.” Do you remember the “Karate Kid?” Daniel was the young man who
wanted to learn karate from the old master Mr. Miyagi aſter being bullied at school. At first Daniel thought Mr. Miyagi was more interested in having him paint fences and wax cars than in teaching him karate, but he came to learn that all the motions in painting and waxing were vital to the sport of self-defense. Sure, four good curlers will win their share of games based purely on talent, but if they are to win consistently they need to pay attention to the
Member Services intern hired USA Curling welcomed Ryan Maier (Green Bay, Wis.) as the first
Member Services intern this September. Maier is a senior at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, majoring in communications and public relations with a minor in business studies. As a third-generation curler who became active in the sport at the age of 12, he has a strong understanding of the game and its culture. Te Member Services internship was developed by Growth & Devel-
opment Manager Kim Nawyn, as part of USA Curling’s commitment to improving customer service to member clubs. Among other things, Maier will work to support the various educational programs, respond to requests for information and materials, and provide administrative assistance for the club insurance program.
recently had the pleasure of coaching a team of fine young men
details that allow them to play consistently as a team. You can’t just play games, you have to practice, too. All games do is tell you what you need to
practice. Practice is the foundation for success. Kevin Martin says the suc- cess of his team is based on the fact that they probably practice more than any other team, and by practice I don’t mean throwing draws to the four- foot on your home ice. It’s more intentional than that. Tey work on those competencies that keep them performing consistently, and that’s what wins championships. Tose are process goals, and every team, and I mean every team, would benefit from having them. In curling, there are so many things that can go wrong that are outside of
your control. Tey could very easily negate your goal of winning the game, winning the bonspiel, or winning the championship. Te weekend or the season could end in disappointment. However, if you put less emphasis on that end goal (outcome) and start placing more weight on smaller goals (process), you’ll likely end up much more satisfied. At the end of the day you’ll do better in your event because of the confidence you have built. Your team probably has the same goal for the season as every other team.
Implementing process goals in everything you do this season will set your team apart from the others who are simply playing the game. Have a great season, everyone.
// CERTIFICATIONS
Level I Instructor Tom Haferman, Tri-City Curling Club Chris Nazar, Kansas City Curling Club Allison Peterson, San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club Joe Smith, Wine Country Curling Club Rebecca Thompson, Oklahoma Curling Club Chris Viau, Stevens Point Curling Club
Level II Instructor Richard Lazarowich, San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club
Level I Official Ricardo Bulala, Chesapeake Curling Club Cynthia R. Bush, Philadelphia Curling Club Michael Eickbush, Granite Curling Club Annette Streiff, St. Paul Curling Club
Level II Official Glen Novak, Duluth Curling Club Yvonne Novak, Duluth Curling Club Annette Streiff, St. Paul Curling Club
USA Curling (( 7
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