SURREY — During the summer, as Walter van Halst contemplated some of the best ways to both recognize and enhance the many dedicated teachers who volunteer their time to coach rugby in B.C. secondary schools, he kept asking himself the same fundamental question.
“Why can’t we develop coaches the same way we develop teachers?” asked the history teacher from Surrey’s Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, who also happens to double as the commissioner of the B.C. Secondary Schools Rugby Union.
With that in mind, van Halst came up with the idea of the BCSSRU offering a pair of free high-level coaching clinics at two spots around the province this Friday.
The key, of course, is that the clinics coincide with the province-wide Professional Development Day in place at secondary schools around B.C.,
On a day in which the so-called pro-D has centred around a myriad of other education-related topics, those who embrace the value of the teacher-coach in the high school system, can perhaps celebrate a little victory that their efforts are being recognized in the grand scheme of things.
The clinics will be held at both Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island and at Clarence Fulton Secondary in Vernon.
Between sessions and lunch, each clinic will run from approximately 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Presenters at the two clinics include some of the most renowned coaches in B.C.
In the Okanagn, they will include new Pacific Pride boss and Rugby Canada stalwart Jamie Cudmore, as well as UBC Thunderbirds’ Curry Hitchborn.
On Vancouver Island, Canadian internationals Ander Monro, Ray Barkwill, Jeff Williams, Ian Hyde-Lay and Laura Russell, among others, will feature at Shawnigan.
For those wishing to attend and for a full breakdown of clinic schedules at each location:
For the Vancouver Island clinic, contact Ian Hyde-Lay by clicking ian.hydelay@smus.ca
For the Okanagan clinic, contact Stephen Rowell by clicking stephen.rowell61@gmail.com
If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.
