We are always eager to invite people to join our group of coaches for the upcoming ski season.  Please do not feel that you have to be an expert to help out.  We will assist you however we can to make your coaching experience fun and successful.  Just bring a positive attitude and lots of enthusiasm and we'll help you take it from there.

Why Coach?

Here are just a few of the many benefits of coaching:

1. There is no price that can be placed on the reward of watching kids have fun plus develop skills throughout the ski season.

2. If you love the sport, coaching is a natural way to give back to the club (remembering those who took the time to coach you) and make the ski experience possible for our newer younger members.

3. If coaching is new to you, it is a great way to stretch yourself in a safe, supportive environment.  You also have the option of starting out as an assistant.

4. This is a phenomenal way to improve your own skiing ability.  Coaches training (including courses) come for free at the beginning of the season and our Head Coach will gladly give you pointers throughout the season if you need help.  Once again, we have a wealth of experience to draw from.  You aren't on your own.

5. You get to work with a great bunch of people.

6. Parents who coach and have kids in Ski League can have the registration fee for one of their kids refunded.

What training will I need to coach?

Overlander Ski Club supports the development of well-trained ski coaches and as such encourages all coaches to develop their coaching potential.  Overlander Ski Club covers the cost of coaching courses for club members in return for their coaching -- ask the coaching coordinator for further details.  Below are the courses required:

• To coach on their own, coaches must have completed the Introduction to Community Coaching workshop in order to supervise, instruct or coach ski activities for children six years of age and younger, or assist with the supervising, instructing or coaching of ski activities for children six to sixteen years of age.

• Coaches must have completed the Community Coaching workshop in order supervise, instruct or coach ski activities for children six to sixteen years of age.

Note:  If you do not have the required courses for coaching we are always looking for people to come along and to work with our certified coaches.  It is a great way to introduce yourself to coaching kids and to get some experience under the support and guidance of a certified coach.

Further Development

If our skiers are to get the most out of the Skill Development Program (Bunnies, Jackrabbits and Track Attack), we need to develop our skills as coaches by continual upgrading through refresher courses, NCCP courses and CCBC courses.  Click here* for more information on what is available from CCBC.  You can talk with the Ski League Coordinator, Darius Bucher, (250-374-9286) if you are interested in any of these courses.

What is my time commitment?

Those coaches responsible for leading a group will need to be available for lessons on Saturday mornings plus the Overlander Marathon and Mini-Olympics at a minimum.  This consists of 8 lessons plus a couple of fun events.  Lessons take 1 - 2 hours depending on age.  It will take an hour or two to prepare the lesson and a couple of hours at the end of the season to fill in report cards.  Assistants can help reduce the load a bit, but their main focus is to assist coaches with the group during lessons.  If for some reason you can't make a lesson we will try to help you find a substitute.

Also,

• If you haven't taken the coaching courses it will basically take two weekends to do the ICC and CC.

• One evening in the last week of November to review the upcoming season.

• Optional:  Tuesday and Thursday night lessons (6-7pm) as well as attending races with your kids.  Great opportunity to develop your own skills as well.  You will not be responsible to plan lessons those evenings, just guide your kids.  There is also coaches on-snow training for a day in early December.

How do I sign up?

By contacting Darius Bucher at 250-374-9286.