After 99 episodes, I decided to do something completely different for this 100th episode of my podcast. You're going to hear from more than 30 curling coaches, organizers and parents, all answering the same question: What advice do YOU have to make our youth curling programs better? Podcast Contributors (in order of appearance): (4:19) Abbie Darnley, Stroud CC Little Rocks (ON) (5:07) Amélie Blais, Passion Curling (5:46) Andrea Ronnebeck, Kenora CC (ON) (6:30) Andy Jones, Calgary (AB) (7:03) Bill Tschirhart, "A Pane In The Glass" Podcast (8:45) Brandon Shintani, Mind-Design Sports (9:20) Cher ..read more

What do you do when the biggest snowstorm of the season comes on the same day as your youth bonspiel? For Alison Harris of Tam Heather Curling & Tennis Club in Toronto, she had to react quickly. Find out what she did the night before the bonspiel and what she did to reschedule her event later that season. We also talk about the unique format of the “Curling Day At Tam Heather” bonspiel and her plans for the 2023-2024 season. Some of the topics we discuss: * In-person interview with Alison on April 8, the rescheduled bonspiel day  (1:22-5:20) * 30+cm of snow starts coming down March 3 ..read more

When I (Coach Glenn) teach new people how to curl, I often tell them that it took me "TWO YEARS to figure this out." What took me 2 years to figure out? Find out in this episode… (Hint: I had a breakthrough in my curling delivery!) Links to the resources mentioned in this episode: CKC Episode #41: "How I Met My Wife: A Valentine's Day Story" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1048435/7853596 Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach and coach developer who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) p ..read more

In our last episode, I was joined by Mike Gregotski of High Park Club in Toronto and Mike Smith of Lindsay Curling Club. We shared strategies to help manage different ages and skill levels in our youth curling programs. In Part 2, we let loose! We continue our discussion of "Hit Draw Tap," talk about practice structure, obsess over attendance, and share our plans for the end of the curling season. NOTE: Interview recorded February 13/23 Some of the topics we discuss: * The "behind the scenes" work organizing "Hit Draw Tap" (1:02) * East York Little Rocks uses "stations" for practice (2:19 ..read more

Early in 2023, I set up a Zoom call for several youth coaches in the Greater Toronto Area. We were there to talk about practice ideas and it was a successful meetup. Some of us wanted to do a follow-up, but I was at a loss for a topic to discuss. That's when I heard from Mike Smith of the Lindsay (Ont.) Curling Club. He wanted to know how other people handled a wide range of kids with different ages, skill levels and experience. How do you run a curling program that fits all those kids? Mike Gregotski, longtime friend of the podcast from High Park Club, joined us on Zoom. But our conversatio ..read more

They call curling “Chess On Ice.” But the actual game of chess is something that means a lot to me and my family. In this special Father’s Day episode, I explain how chess connects me, my dad and my son. Part #1: My dad teaches me the game (1:30) Part #2: I teach my son the game (4:04) Part #3: My son teaches me a lesson! (6:52) Links to the resources mentioned in this episode: Code Ninjas https://www.codeninjas.com/ Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach and coach developer who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coor ..read more

Many sports run camps for kids during the summer vacation, but it's rare for curling. Oakville (Ont.) Curling Club, just west of Toronto, will be running its youth camp in late August. In this episode, I speak with camp director Stephanie Thompson about the camp itself and what she hopes to accomplish this summer. We'll also talk about camps in general and what kids can get out of this experience. (Interview recorded May 10/23) Some of the topics we discuss: * Basics of the Oakville "Summer On Ice" Youth Camp (1:25) * Camp curriculum (6:06) * How fitness is incorporated into the camp (13:37 ..read more

If you have a child that is active in other sports besides curling, you might know of sports where they test their skill levels and earn badges or pins or certificates. For years in Ontario, we had a program called the "Skill Awards" where kids, having learned certain curling skills, would earn a badge that they could sew on their jacket or sweater. In today's episode, I speak with Beth Iskiw from Edmonton, Alberta. Beth has been involved with the development of a new national skills award program for Curling Canada called “RockStars.” We explain what the program is about, what feedback they ..read more

No matter which club or facility you curl at, the start of the season is an exciting time. Chances are it’s been a few months since you last saw the kids in your program, not to mention the volunteers and parents. And with your first practice approaching quickly, you’re thinking about what you need to do to prepare for “Day One." In this episode, I have a conversation with two youth program organizers from Ontario: Abbie Darnley from the Stroud Curling Club and Maggie Dame from the Ilderton Curling Club. The three of us share what we do to get ready for the new season and what to expect on th ..read more

What’s happening with Coach Glenn and his Little Rocks program this season? In this episode, he tells you about his club's recent Open House as well as his curling plans this fall, including an update about the podcast! Links to the resources mentioned in this episode: East York Curling Club (Toronto, ON) Web site: East York Curling Club - Home Follow our podcast on Twitter: @kidscurling Glenn Gabriel is an NCCP-certified curling coach who lives in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. He has been the coordinator of the Little Rocks (U12) program at East York Curling Club in Toronto since 2011. If y ..read more