GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT // REPORTS FROM THE WARM ROOM
Change is in the air Future for our curlers is full of possibility
by Kim Nawyn, USCA Growth & Development Manager
opening their doors this season to the introduction of a redesigned coach- ing certification program and the first national arena club championship set for the summer of 2013, change is happening! Te new Darwin Curtis Fund Grant Program, implementation of abuse prevention training, and development of a number of initiatives designed to more effectively capital- ize on the surge in interest we expect during the upcoming Olympic year have also been at the forefront of the organization’s agenda. In fact, while this article was being written, USA Curling staff members were putting to- gether a preliminary proposal for a national learn-to-curl week immediate- ly following the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. While plans for this program are still in the beginning stages, work on other initiatives is well underway. Good training is an important component in both effective recruitment
I
and retention efforts. Recognizing the Olympic year is typically the sport’s major period for club member recruitment, a working group was established over the summer with members from across the nation to evaluate the cur- rent instructor certification program curriculum. Te instructor certifi- cation program focuses on training experienced curlers to introduce new curlers to the sport and improving the competency of intermediate level curlers, including teaching foundational delivery and sweeping techniques, strategy, and team member roles and responsibilities. Although the basic delivery that has been taught over the past few years in the Level I course will not markedly change, information on various delivery accommoda- tions (e.g., stabilizer, delivery stick, knee slider) and effective instruction techniques will be added to the curriculum. Changes in the administration process, such as centralized registration, have already been implemented, and a training clinic for course conductors is being organized for spring 2013 to ensure that all regions have people who are ready and able to teach these courses during the 2013-14 season. Following the 2010 Olympics, USA Curling staff received more than 200
inquiries from individuals and groups looking to start curling clubs. While a few of those inquiries developed into current member clubs, most of those people were never heard from again. To better assist regions in their efforts to help new clubs get off the ground, a practical, step-by-step guide to start- ing a curling club is being developed. Curlers interested in helping those who are serious about succeeding in this endeavor also will be identified to act as mentors for these groups, a practice that has already proven success- ful in the Grand National Curling Club, the region representing the East Coast. In addition, information garnered from the USA Curling Growth and Development Survey conducted during the spring and summer of 2012 (see update below) will be used as a basis to begin identifying and gather- ing information on programs around the country that have proven success- ful in recruiting and retention efforts. Such information will benefit both
t’s an exciting time to be part of the curling community in the United States. Articles throughout this edition of the Curling News highlight various new initiatives. From the four new dedicated ice facilities
emerging and established clubs. Several months ago, the United States Olympic Committee introduced
the USOC SafeSport training program to help raise awareness about abuse and misconduct in athletics. As the USCA is committed to developing more programs for youth in the upcoming years, including an update to the cur- rent Junior Merit Program for the 2013-14 season (see article by Dave Jen- sen), and seeks to cultivate a safe and positive environment in which curlers of all ages can excel, we are in the midst of developing an organization- specific safe sport program and policy. While no program can prevent all potential occurrences of abuse, it will be a major step in deterring such be- havior in the future and addressing any incidents that do occur. Te online USOC SafeSport training program will also be a requirement for various groups, including all members of the new USA Curling Coaches Associa- tion. In addition to the initiatives above, an exciting new program promot-
ing club growth was introduced in the spring of 2012. Te Darwin Curtis Fund Grant program, which was administrated by the USCA on behalf of Te Chicago Community Trust, awarded a total of $20,000 in matching grant funds to clubs through a competitive application process. Out of the 24 applications USA Curling received, six were approved for partial fund- ing. Successful applicants included: Columbus Curling Club (dehumidifier to address a serious mold issue); Evergreen Curling Club (low-emissivity ceiling for new curling facility); Norfolk Curling Club (equipment needed in rebuild of facility destroyed by arson fire last season); Oklahoma Curling Club (freezer for stones stored in an arena setting); Ocean State Curling (set of stones); and San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club (outreach/develop- ment program). Each of these clubs was effectively able to tie the initiative and its subsequent impact to the criteria set out by the Darwin Curtis Fund and its primary objective of growing the sport. Applications for funding for the 2013-14 season will be available online this spring. More information about programs and resources currently available
to members clubs, including the new on-demand membership materials request service, is available in the new 2012-13 United States Curling As- sociation membership brochure posted on the website. Te Growth and Development arm of the organization is also working toward a 5-10 year plan for program development. As previously mentioned, USA Curling dis- tributed a lengthy survey to club presidents earlier this year. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the current policies and practices in clubs throughout the nation, results from the survey will be used to help develop the strategic plan to create additional programming in the coming years. (A summary of results based on responses from more than 80 clubs is being prepared for distribution.) Some of these longer-term program de- velopment efforts will likely include resources for clubs seeking to build dedicated ice, more programs for junior and college curlers, and a greater focus on the business of curling. Te future for our community of curlers is exciting and full of possibility. n