EDUCATES LOCAL COACHES AND ATHLETES
Volunteers needed to breathe new life into KW Sports Council
Volunteers needed to breathe new life into KW Sports Council
by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen
Although it has been in existence for over 10 years, the KW Sports Council’s impact has been inconsistent.
Often short of volunteers, the council struggles to focus the education and training programs it wants to provide for local athletes, parents and coaches.
The KW Sports Council is incorporated as a not-for-profit, and has been working with the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo since 2000.
John Cooper, who recently retired as the Co-ordinator of Athletics at the City of Kitchener, has joined the council as a director and is hoping to get more volunteers to come forward.
“Working on the board (for the KW Sports Council) is not onerous at all,” Cooper said in a telephone interview. The group meets once a month for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Each year, the Sports Council organizes three training sessions and hosts an annual meeting with a guest speaker. Some of the training session topics include sport first aid, nutrition for athletes, coaching fundamentals, media relations, and parenting issues related to athletes.
These sessions are open to everyone in the community
He said the group has also looked into hosting an annual provincial coaches conference.
Between 2000 and 2004, the Sports Council worked with KidSport Ontario, a group that raises funds for children who cannot afford registration fees and equipment. KidSport would like to start a KW Chapter and work with the KW Sports Council again.
In 2001, the Sports Council worked with Community Justice Intiatives to create the Sport Mediation and Reconciliation Team (SMART). SMART provides trained, volunteer mediators to help deal with sports conflicts, and provides training to help prevent disputes from escalating.
Cooper said the organization is often confused with the Kitchener Sports Association (KSA) which was formed in 1944 to raise money for the construction of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The KSA continues to raise money for facilities and local athletes, as well as recognizing athletes and sports volunteers.
“It’s fabulous what they do,” Cooper said of the KSA’s promotion and funding of athletes.
However, he said the Sports Council’s goal is different. Its purpose is education and training.
Cooper said the Sports Council currently has five members - Brian Horn, Gilles Butcher, Lynn McLaughlin, Ken Morris and Cooper.
Cooper said the group has benefitted in the past from having members who have volunteered with local minor sports organizations. They have the general knowledge about minor sports that is needed.
“Our major problem is the lack of knowledge that we exist,” Cooper said.
To get more information about the KW Sports Council or to get information about volunteering, contact Brian Horn at bhorn@sympatico.ca or 519-888-7681or John Cooper at johnco@golden.net or 519-886-6918.
Kitchener Citizen
Although it has been in existence for over 10 years, the KW Sports Council’s impact has been inconsistent.
Often short of volunteers, the council struggles to focus the education and training programs it wants to provide for local athletes, parents and coaches.
The KW Sports Council is incorporated as a not-for-profit, and has been working with the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo since 2000.
John Cooper, who recently retired as the Co-ordinator of Athletics at the City of Kitchener, has joined the council as a director and is hoping to get more volunteers to come forward.
“Working on the board (for the KW Sports Council) is not onerous at all,” Cooper said in a telephone interview. The group meets once a month for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Each year, the Sports Council organizes three training sessions and hosts an annual meeting with a guest speaker. Some of the training session topics include sport first aid, nutrition for athletes, coaching fundamentals, media relations, and parenting issues related to athletes.
These sessions are open to everyone in the community
He said the group has also looked into hosting an annual provincial coaches conference.
Between 2000 and 2004, the Sports Council worked with KidSport Ontario, a group that raises funds for children who cannot afford registration fees and equipment. KidSport would like to start a KW Chapter and work with the KW Sports Council again.
In 2001, the Sports Council worked with Community Justice Intiatives to create the Sport Mediation and Reconciliation Team (SMART). SMART provides trained, volunteer mediators to help deal with sports conflicts, and provides training to help prevent disputes from escalating.
Cooper said the organization is often confused with the Kitchener Sports Association (KSA) which was formed in 1944 to raise money for the construction of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The KSA continues to raise money for facilities and local athletes, as well as recognizing athletes and sports volunteers.
“It’s fabulous what they do,” Cooper said of the KSA’s promotion and funding of athletes.
However, he said the Sports Council’s goal is different. Its purpose is education and training.
Cooper said the Sports Council currently has five members - Brian Horn, Gilles Butcher, Lynn McLaughlin, Ken Morris and Cooper.
Cooper said the group has benefitted in the past from having members who have volunteered with local minor sports organizations. They have the general knowledge about minor sports that is needed.
“Our major problem is the lack of knowledge that we exist,” Cooper said.
To get more information about the KW Sports Council or to get information about volunteering, contact Brian Horn at bhorn@sympatico.ca or 519-888-7681or John Cooper at johnco@golden.net or 519-886-6918.
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