Sehmbi, Inderpal
Inderpal is currently a Canadian Men’s U21 Field Hockey Coach and is also a Physical Health Educator with the VSB. He has attended the Pan-American Games, Youth Olympics, the World Cup, the Junior World Cups twice, and the Commonwealth Games as a coach and performance analyst.
He initially decided to pursue the MHPCTL degree to seek a challenge and a way to advance his coaching and leadership skills. The program has provided him with skills that he can apply in his coaching and educational environments.
“My major paper had a huge impact on my everyday practice. Having a framework to anchor drills design and technical skill development allowed me to focus my attention on the things that really mattered.” Inderpal’s area of research on his final project was “Goal Scoring in Men’s International Field Hockey. A deep dive into how field goals are scored at the Men’s 2016 Rio Olympics.”
He believes that the MHPCTL program allows the culture of coaching to change by practice, that it will impact his athletes and those he works with and will have some long-lasting effects on sport in a positive way.
He reflects, “the program was the catalyst for my leadership and coaching evolution. The content in the program provides you with the tools to advance your practice. The relationships you build with other Canadian sport leaders provide you with an amazing support network.”
Maximizing the impact of global and national physical activity guidelines: the critical role of communication strategies
The paper presents a new planning framework to communicate global and national physical activity guidelines. Use of the planning framework may increase the effectiveness of communication and help maximise the impact of physical activity guidelines.
Clear communication strategies to accompany the publication of physical activity guidelines has not been usual practice. The aim of the paper is to provide a planning framework for communication of physical activity guidelines. The specific objectives are to:
- Outline a process for communication planning and implementation.
- Describe the key audiences, aims and approaches to physical activity guideline communication and,
- Identify future research directions.
Read the article: Click Here.
In Memoriam: Robert Laycoe, 1947- 2020
It is with great sadness that the School of Kinesiology has learned that one of its highly noted alumni, Bob Laycoe passed away on December 28th, 2020 at the age of 73 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
The son of Hal Laycoe, the NHL Canucks first head coach, Bob graduated from the School of Kinesiology (then known as the School of Physical Education) with his Masters of Physical Education in 1969. While studying for his masters, Bob played football for the Thunderbirds and was named the Most Inspirational Player. This same 1968/69 season Bob was a member of the UBC wrestling team and was the Western Canadian Champion, National (USPORTS) Champion and Canadian National Champion.
In 1973, after serving four years as head football coach and Athletics Director at the University of Saskatchewan, Bob returned to UBC to work in the School of Kinesiology (P.E.) as the head coach of the UBC wrestling team and assistant coach with the Thunderbird football team. Bob continued teaching a full academic schedule in the School and was also involved in academic planning for the school.
From 1973 through 1979 Bob guided the wrestling team to four Western Canadian titles, and in 1978 he was named CIS Wrestling Coach of the Year. And from 1973 through 1987, Laycoe partnered with head coach Frank Smith to coach some of UBC’s best football teams including the 1982 and 1986 national champions. Bob is still lauded by coaches and players for his strength and conditioning program, his thoroughness, his motivation and his meticulous preparation.
Frank Smith remembers Laycoe “Immediately made an impact on the program coaching defence… Bob’s rapport with his players was remarkable… Bob’s defence… was one of the most feared in the country.” He was considered a great coach and mentor to many.
Bob left UBC for the University of Toronto where he coached the Blues football team for 3 decades from 1988-2001 and turned the U of T team around to guide them to the 1993 Yates and Vanier Cup championship titles.
In 2019, Bob was selected for induction into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. We are proud to include Laycoe as one of our alumni.
Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Suzanne and children David and Tonya and granddaughter Stevie in British Colombia, brother Bryan in Ridgefield, Washington, and sister Rhonda in Portland. Our condolences go out to his family.
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Biomechanics of Human Movement
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Faculty of Education
School of Kinesiology
Vancouver Campus
The School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the area of Biomechanics of human movement. The successful candidate will contribute basic and applied research that supports the areas of neuromechanical and systems biology. In addition to basic research into the biomechanical and aspects of human movement, the successful candidate will be able to contribute to teaching in areas that require expertise and advanced knowledge in applied biomechanics (e.g. occupational, sport performance, injury biomechanics, robotics and human factors). The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2021 or as negotiated with the successful candidate.
The candidate must hold a PhD at the time of application in biomechanics or a closely related discipline. Post-doctoral training would be an asset. The candidate must have a record of research dissemination, in terms of peer-reviewed articles in recognized academic journals in the field, and evidence of presentations at national and international scholarly conferences. Demonstrated ability to participate in scholarly activity and to secure competitive research funding (e.g. tri-council and partnership grants) in biomechanics is required.
The successful candidate must have advanced knowledge and a demonstrated history of publications using biomechanical approaches in 3-Dimensional kinematics and dynamics. Demonstrated research experience in electromyography, tissue mechanics, mechanical energy, modelling, as well as evidence of using these biomechanical techniques in applied settings would be preferred.
The candidate will have demonstrated capability to provide effective instruction at introductory and advanced levels of biomechanics. The candidate will be expected to teach three courses, including a core undergraduate course in biomechanics as well as develop and teach a new advanced undergraduate/graduate course in a) injury biomechanics and b) applied biomechanics (e.g. occupational, sport, robotics and human factors).
The successful candidate will be encouraged to collaborate across the diverse research areas in the School and, more broadly, the University. The successful candidate will complement the School of Kinesiology’s strategic plans for interdisciplinary research excellence within the School and across Faculties at UBC and play a key role in generating and disseminating knowledge on the role of physical activity and health in diverse populations. The successful candidate is expected to establish a program of original, externally funded research (e.g. tri-council and partnership grants) and teach undergraduate courses in the School, and contribute to the growth of the School through supervision of graduate students, participation in service activities within the University and in the broader scholarly community, and collaboration with scientists within the School and across Faculties at UBC.
The School of Kinesiology currently has 24 full-time tenure stream faculty members, 1350 full-time undergraduate students, and 160 graduate students. We offer a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with specializations in Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Multi-disciplinary Science. The graduate program includes M.A., M.Sc., Master of Kinesiology (non-thesis), Master of High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership, and Ph.D. degrees. For further details about the School of Kinesiology and its research, please visit the School’s website at http://kin.educ.ubc.ca/.
The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading faculties of its kind in the world, advancing educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that celebrates diversity, equity and innovation, and welcomes international collaboration in an increasingly borderless globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For further details about the Faculty of Education and its research and teaching programs, please visit www.educ.ubc.ca.
The UBC Vancouver campus is located on the traditional ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people in Vancouver, currently a multicultural, multilingual city ranked as one of the best places to live in the world. The University is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university.
The School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their teaching, research experience and service that they can contribute to this goal. Familiarity with, and experience using pedagogical methods and designing research that enable students across Indigenous, racial, ethnic, sexual and gender identity and socio-economic groups to reach their maximum potential will be considered an asset. Candidates should have a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and teaching in a welcoming and politically astute environment.
This is a tenure-track position in the Professoriate Stream. The successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, tenure and promotion in subsequent years, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. For a detailed description of the Assistant Professor rank and criteria for reappointment and promotion, please visit, https://hr.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/2020-09/Faculty-CA2019-2021.pdf. The position is subject to final budgetary approval. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress scale within the UBC Faculty of Education.
Interested applicants are invited to send:
(i) a cover letter,
(ii) curriculum vitae,
(iii) a five year research plan,
(iv) a summary of teaching interests and philosophy,
(v) evidence of teaching excellence (such as course outlines and student evaluations if available),
(vi) three papers that are the most significant and relevant to their research interests, and
(vii) a Diversity Statement. Diversity is an important part of the School of Kinesiology/Faculty of Education/UBC mission. Please provide a Diversity Statement (max 1 page) that describes and documents how diversity figures into your past and present experience of teaching, research, and your lived experience. Going forward, how would you imagine incorporating attention to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion?
The complete application file must be submitted in the format of one bookmarked PDF file, addressed to Dr. Robert Boushel, Director School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca by the application review start date (below). Please indicated in subject heading: Biomechanics of Human Movement. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the anonymous Equity Survey is strongly encouraged as part of the application process.
Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to kin.hr@ubc.ca by the application review start date (below).
While applications will be received until the position is filled, interested parties are encouraged to submit by February 15, 2021, to ensure optimal consideration.
Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Robert Boushel, Director School of Kinesiology at kin.hr@ubc.ca.
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Congrats Dr. Riazi!
Dec. 8th, 2020 – Many congratulations to Dr. Negin Riazi who recently passed her doctoral defence!
Tim Frick (BPE 75) appointed to the Order of Canada.
Congratulations to the legendary wheelchair basketball coach Tim Frick, who has recently been appointed to the Order of Canada. Frick was the first Paralympic coach to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame. He served as head coach of the Canadian women’s team for two decades, during which he guided the nation to three Paralympic gold medals and four world championship titles.
Frick, Tim
Tim Frick, is a member of the Order of Canada who graduated from UBC in 1975 with a BPE (Kinesiology) degree. From his position as Physical Education instructor at Douglas College, Frick coached the college’s Wheelchair basketball teams to numerous national club team titles. He also coached the VCC Langara men’s volleyball team to the national title in 1980 as Frick had volleyball experience as a member of the very good UBC Varsity teams of the mid 1970s. More recently Frick coached both the BC Breakers women’s Wheelchair basketball and Canada’s national women’s Wheelchair basketball teams. The latter he coached from 1990 through 2009 including guiding it to four consecutive World Championships and three Paralympic gold medals.
Tim has also had the distinction of coaching both Rick Hansen and Terry Fox in volleyball and track during their younger years and was involved with Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion Tour as he and Rick, just a few years apart in age, were both UBC Kinesiology students. Frick continues to mentor as he is involved in implementing clinics and training sessions for younger coaches.
Frick’s coaching career has resulted in an outpouring of acknowledgements. A sample includes seven Canadian Coaching Association Excellence Awards, 1998 Sport BC Coach of the Year, 3M Male Coach of 2001, BC Wheelchair Sports Coach of the Millennium, Geoff Gowan Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Hall of Fame and the Order of British Columbia. In 2010 the Tim Frick Paralympic Coach Excellence Award was created. He was the first Paralympic coach to be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.
Tim Frick was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2020.
Robyn Mildren (Ph.D. 20), Graduate Speech
Robyn graduated with a Ph.D. in neuromechanics. Her thesis examined the leg muscle reflexes involved in the control of balance, and how they change with ageing and after suffering a stroke. She has gone on to do post-doctoral work at John Hopkins University. Robyn is an elite long-distance runner.
Greetings friends, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and the graduating class of 2020! My name is Robyn Mildren and I am addressing you on behalf of the cohort of grad students who are graduating alongside me today in UBC’s school of Kinesiology. I first want to speak directly to the master’s and doctoral students students graduating today, and give them their own special moment to take a breath and reflect on this accomplishment. I’m going try my best to put into words why I think what you have done is special.
In grad school you are given the very unique challenge to discover what you are truly passionate about and to develop your own path and methods to understanding it. Over my time at UBC, I was lucky to have had the opportunity to be introduced to so many different projects via your presentations at grad research day, chats over drinks at social events, or being roped into participating in human experiments.
For example, I’ve seen projects that have examined kinematics of breathing during exercise, bicycles for development in Uganda, the influence of sporting events on the environment, how spinal cord injury influences cardiac function, perceptions of individuals with disabilities in the gym, how to better diagnose asthma, and the influence of Parkinson’s on how the brain controls balance… just to name a few to give a glimpse of the breadth of incredible work done by grad students here in the school of Kin.
In general, I think what binds this multidisciplinary research together in the school of Kin is a fundamental belief in the importance of movement for physical and mental well being across all populations, genders, cultures, and ages, as well as a desire to promote these ideas in the community and to the next generation of students. You’ve all taken charge of advancing a small piece of this concept, whether it’s from a physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, or neuromechanical perspective.
I’m going to tell you a brief story of a conversation I had at UBC that still resonates with me. There was a lunch event hosted by UBC that I attended that was put on to celebrate phd students university wide who had advanced to candidacy. I was on the fence about going because I didn’t know anyone else going, but there was free food so of course I went. I ended up sitting beside a stranger. So making small talk I asked him what department he was in and what his research was on. He was in computer science and truthfully I didn’t understand much of what he was talking about it was pretty above my head. Then he asked me what department I was in and I said Kinesiology. And he paused, and then asked me “how do you think kinesiology can help our society right now”. And he went on to say, it scares me that I see rates of depression increasing, and health disorders climbing, and people are more and more stressed. What role do you think kinesiology can have?
And it’s hard to come up with one perfect, succinct answer for him. But when I look out over this graduating class and reflect on all the incredible work and people I have met over my time in grad school at UBC, I think collectively we have the answers. You have all developed your own creative path to better understand how humans move, how disorders effect movement, how to improve health and performance and break down barriers to physical activity, and explain to individuals how their body and mind works. The need for your role in the world has only been amplified this past year, where health has been at the forefront of our minds globally. I think it has not been been said loudly enough that taking time, knowledge, and resources to improve our health is one of our society’s best defences against becoming really sick.
I want to congratulate you on the impact you have made with your research, teaching, coaching, and outreach during your time at UBC, and I am confident that you will continue to take your role in society seriously and continue to be creative and compassionate leaders while you relentlessly pursue your passions. I could not be more excited to see how your future endeavours impact on the world.