A powerhouse line up of top level coaches and athletes inspired more than 170 community coaches at the inaugural BC Sport Conference in Burnaby, BC. This first-time multi-sport coaching conference was themed around coaching and leadership, and speakers and conference-goers represented a diverse range of sports, including badminton, rowing, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, wheelchair sports, snowboarding, volleyball, and equestrian.
The day kicked off with an introduction by emcee Scott Rintoul, TSN 1040 radio host and BC Lions play-by-play announcer. Keynote presenter and Man-In-Motion, Rick Hansen, inspired the crowd with his message of innovation and perseverance and his uncanny ability to make a person cry and laugh at the same time. Watching him shed a tear as he shared an emotional story was a moment to remember. Anson Dorrance, the winningest coach of all sports across the NCAA, shared his approach to promoting athlete accountability – a system adopted by Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Sport psychologist Dr. David Cox also spoke about coaching individuals and how to foster an internal commitment to excellence.
After lunch, Allison McNeill recounted the road to the London 2012 games and her team building strategies at the helm of the Canadian National Women’s Basketball Team, which achieved its highest Olympic finish in decades. Doug Reimer, five-time CIS Coach of the Year, shared his coaching methodology that the whole team benefits when each individual is nurtured. The day wrapped up with an athlete panel sponsored by ViaSport, featuring rower Darcy Marquardt and snowboarder Rob Fagan discussing what they responded to most from their coaches.
Throughout the day, coaches from different communities and different sports had a chance to network and share ideas. The learning extended beyond the Michael J. Fox Theatre too, as participants tweeted their words of wisdom with Sport Burnaby. Use #BCSportConf to check out some of the day’s happenings.
The BC Sport Conference was held at the beautiful Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby, BC. The event was presented by Volleyball BC and sponsored by Canadian Direct Insurance and Sport Burnaby. Special thanks to Fortius Sport and Health, and FIFA Women’s World Cup for donating prizes.
