On Sunday, a group of forty Bill Koch Youth Ski League Parent-Leaders, coaches, and community members gathered at the Holderness school for a day of education, connection and inspiration for the season to come. #LearningBetterTogether
We had a full day’s worth of time to connect and share experiences. Topics on the agenda included our NENSA Bill Koch League Philosophy and NENSA Resources for Youth Coaches from NENSA’s Mackenzie Rizio, The Beaver Dam System for Club Development led by NENSA’s Isabel Caldwell, an update on Norwegian Youth Skiing culture from Tricia Groff of Ford Sayre, Making Practices Fun even with low or no snow from Sarah Holton and Heiner Baumann of EMXC, a technique session which covered some progressions and tips and tricks for introducing new ideas by Liz Hollenbach, of MNC, an adventure approach to creating a positive BKL Team Culture led by Jamie Hannon, and a discussion on group management for BKL clubs led by Chris City of Patient Leadership.
All of the attendee’s presence, enthusiasm, and commitment to fostering the next generation of Nordic skiers made this event an unforgettable experience. Above, the Northeast Vermont district representatives discuss group managment.
Jamie Hannon, of the Holderness Ski Club runs the Mousetrap exercise with a group of brave and adventurous volunteers. The small middle circle represents the comfortable zone for young skiers, and as they move out into the larger circle, the (SET!) mousetraps are representative of all of the social risks a skier may feel just by coming to practice. The goal is to get skiers out of their comfort zone so that they may develop skill and have fun, all while minimizing the social risks they may feel by promoting a strong team culture.
It was inspiring to witness such a collaborative spirit, as the group came together to share experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss the challenges we all face in building a stronger, more vibrant BKL community. Above, the Southern/Central New Hampshire district coaches brainstorm solutions to everyday group management challenges that youth coaches feel and work to combat.
We are grateful for all of the coaches that invest their time, energy, and dedication to the BKL program. We are truly fortunate to have such a passionate and supportive group of leaders, and we hope to see everyone out on the trails this winter!
