It’s National Coaches Week September 16 – 22 and Canadian Blind Hockey is saying #ThanksCoach to all of our amazing coaches that make Blind Hockey possible coast-to-coast! This is the 10th year of National Coaches Week and it’s a great time to reflect on the importance of our coaches, and what it takes to be one.
Canadian Blind Hockey wants to extend a huge stick tap to all of our coaches and volunteers from our many programs, returning and new! These volunteer coaches, participants and their families come to our programs all season to make Blind Hockey possible. Without their help, the growth of this sport wouldn’t be possible!
Please enjoy some insight from the coaches themselves as to why they fell in love with Blind Hockey and don’t forget to say #ThanksCoach
Coach Joe aka “Cowboy” – Toronto, ON
I knew I had something to offer when Mark and Luca DeMontis approached me. I was a hockey player my whole life and I know the sport, I’ve lived this sport.
With coaching Blind Hockey, there’s a little bit more to do. You need to remember who you’re teaching and how to adapt while adjusting to more of the communication and descriptive guidance required to coach people with low vision. For example, I got used to demonstrating it more closely, being more descriptive.
I can make the small adjustments because the game stays the same. I love it. I have fun with the National players, and I can’t wait to get out with the kids every Sunday. It’s amazing to see these kids over the past five years and their growth, some of them couldn’t skate and now they’re scoring goals! Their face lights up every time they walk into the arena. That’s the best part of coaching.
Coach Joey Ali:
“Being a Blind Hockey coach has taught me a lot of things. The biggest one being resilience and how to get through tough times based on being around the athletes and participants I’m with. Things aren’t always easy, so when I reflect on things in my life, I think about these athletes and all the hard work and ethic they keep putting in. Just as much I give, I get it back more and in so many ways. The most unique thing about being a Blind Hockey coach is the different teaching techniques required to teach athletes who are visually impaired. A lot is muscle memory but for example, we use holding and that’s when we ask permission from the athlete to hold them to show them what I’m trying to teach and they can feel what we’re trying to execute. Shout out to Gary Steeves and his wife who reached out to me to ask if I would be interested in teaching blind athletes. I thought it would be a unique challenge to help me grow as a coach.”
Coach Paul:
“I love being a Blind Hockey coach for many reasons but one of the main reasons is the fact that I’ve gotten to see some of our players start in our youth program and make their way all up through the ranks all the way to the national team. The dedication every player has to improving their game and skills from the youth programs to the national team is something I truly admire.”
Our new programs need new coaches!
In order to offer our community a quality sporting experience we are recruiting more coaches for our 6 NEW programs across London, Ottawa, Montreal, Regina and Winnipeg. Whether you have coached before, are a new Blind Hockey coach, or someone with a hockey background looking to get into coaching, we ask you please email our Program Director lucademontis@blindicehockey.com
