With the Winter Olympics only weeks away, Canada looks to lead the world. The Olympic Games gives Canadians an opportunity to feel inspired and proud of our athletes’ accomplishments. But behind each athlete medal is a sport system that is supported by coaches and technical leaders who strive to innovate and create world class daily training environments in which athletes can excel. Entering its 4th year of programming, the School of Kinesiology, at the University of British Columbia, has supported over 50 of Canada’s coaches and technical leaders in its Masters of High Performance Coaching and Technical Leadership program.
“This program is unique in Canada, targeting coaches or technical leaders who have demonstrated tremendous experience in sport”, said David Hill, Director of System Excellence for the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. Many of the coaches enrolled in the program have had experience as an athlete, coach, or leader at the Olympic and/or Paralympic Games. “Our students are lifelong learners who are motivated to improve their development and earn an academic credential at one of Canada’s premier universities”, added Hill. The program is on the cutting edge of Canadian sport, examining mechanisms to track athletes toward podium performances and gold medal profiling. There is also a heavy emphasis on leadership development and the ability to enhance coaches’ effectiveness in helping athletes to achieve their maximum potential. “Often the biggest impact for the athlete is a coach who works with the athlete in a trusting environment. This foundational coach-athlete relationship helps to enable the athlete to push the envelope within their sport”, said Dr. Shaunna Taylor, Chair of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association (CSPA) and instructor in the program. “We uphold the highest ethical standards, requiring our coaches to register as professional coaches with the Coaching Association of Canada”, added Hill.
Recent analysis of Canada’s targeted sport excellence strategy by Sport Canada has demonstrated the impact that Own the Podium (OTP) has had in helping to guide resources toward medal performance. Part of OTP’s initiatives is for sport leaders to examine data-driven and evidence-based research that informs athlete development and progression toward Olympic medals. “Many of our students have been sought by their National or Provincial sport organizations to assist in creating evidence-based programming to help athletes progress to higher levels in sport”, stated Dr. Andy Van Neutegem, a UBC instructor and OTP High Performance Athlete Advisor.
The School of Kinesiology’s Graduate Advisor and HPCTL Program Director, Dr. Maria Gallo, was instrumental in establishing the program at the University of British Columbia. Gallo complimented the student cohort stating: “These mature graduate students from diverse backgrounds and sports have enriched the learning environment of the program and have contributed to the translational knowledge we are trying to foster with this Masters. This world class program is impacting how we coach our current Olympians and our Next Gen athletes”.
Registration for the 4th cohort of coaches opens February 1st. For more information on the UBC Masters in HP Coaching and Technical Leadership please follow the link below.
Jan. 30, 2018 – In collaboration with UBC Studios, Negin Riazi, Dr. Erica Lau, and Dr. Guy Faulkner have developed an animated video about the new, integrated 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years). These guidelines address the interplay of movement behaviours through the whole day. Check out the full video on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube!
Jan. 26, 2018 – Dr. Guy Faulkner discusses the consultation process for the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years) and unveils animation video of the guidelines at the 2018 Early Years Conference.
Jan. 26, 2018 – The British Columbia Sport, Health, and Exercise Psychology Symposium (BC SHEPS) is a student-led conference that aims to provide students an opportunity for develop presentation skills, receive valuable feedback on research projects, and network with esteemed students and professors. This year the conference will be held at UBC Okanagan on May 4-5th, 2018. Abstract submission is now open – deadline March 2nd! Check out other important dates here.
Kim Cassar Torreggiani, 1983 Kinesiology graduate, has used her UBC degree together with her athletic background to carve a slightly different career path . . . that being marketing, publicity and fund-raising both professionally and in her extensive volunteer work.
While a student with UBC’s varsity swimming team, Kim was a top 10 diving finalist five years in a row at the CIS national championships. She was the team captain for three years and was awarded four UBC Big Blocks for her athletic achievements. Since, she has coached gymnastics, diving and soccer teams and has competed and medaled in Masters swimming and water polo competitions.
During the early 1990s Kim was director of development and communications for the BC Lions Society Easter Seals and VP Marketing and Corporate Sponsorship for the 1993 Canada Games Society in Kamloops. She has also served as promotions director for two radio stations and a television station. During the early 2000s Kim and her sister received media attention with their invention of an environmentally friendly method of wasp control. This product mimics an enemy nest keeping territorial wasps away without spraying or killing them. Kim was responsible for the product’s marketing and development resulting in world-wide distribution of this environmentally safe alternative.
Up until 2015, Kim worked in UBC’s Athletics Department as a marketing and alumni co-ordinator, part of the alumni relations and development team. Kim then transitioned and started working at Thompson Rivers University as the Director of Development for the School of Business and Economics. Kim says part of her job includes fundraising at Thompson Rivers University. This brings her back to her time when she received an athletic scholarship at UBC which allowed her to continue her education. “Without the athletic scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my degree. I had deferred my tuition when it was due, and had no idea how I was going to pay for it.” From her own experiences struggling to pay for her education, Kim is more motivated to help students at TRU achieve their dreams.
Kim is especially proud of her UBC roots and the fact she has been able to create a successful marketing/management career while also having a family life.
It could be fairly said 1973 Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate Bruce Kiloh “bleeds Blue & Gold.” For almost five decades Bruce has been a big supporter of UBC, a “Blue Chip” alumnus.
Bruce played both UBC varsity soccer and varsity football the latter under a coach Bruce still admires, the late Frank Gnup. Following a serious football injury Bruce became the student manager of the Thunderbird football team followed by being elected president of the UBC Big Block Club and of UBC Men’s Athletics. He also directed a regular TV program for UBC games in football, basketball and hockey. During this time and for many subsequent years Bruce had a close relationship with his UBC mentors, the legendary Buzz Moore and Athletic Director Bus Phillips.
Following graduation Bruce amassed a long and award-winning teaching and volunteering career which included being a school principal, teaching geography at Cambridge and coaching several sports in a variety of districts on the lower mainland.
Currently Bruce keeps busy on his Langley farm but is most proud of his and wife Patty’s shared alumni activity at UBC. Not only have three of their four children graduated from UBC but over the years the Kilohs have organized and participated in several events for both UBC soccer and football including the Joe Molnar Scholarship fund honouring one of our pioneer soccer coaches. The Kilohs can be frequently seen at UBC games and events – huge ‘Bird supporters.
Experience the South West of England at the University of Exeter. With a reputation in student excellence, historical architecture, rich culture and opportunities, this partner school has health science courses and transferrable upper level Kinesiology electives.
The deadline for September 2018 admission is fast approaching with a deadline of January 17, 2018.
Explore the potential of your Kinesiology degree on Tuesday, January 9 at the 2018 Kinesiology Career Fair.
The Kinesiology Career Fair is an excellent opportunity to find out information about further educational and career exploration opportunities, featuring a variety of employers from private and non-profit organizations, and graduate programs. This event is hosted in collaboration with the Kinesiology Undergraduate Society (KUS) and the School of Kinesiology on January 9, 2018 in the AMS Nest.
It could be fairly said 1973 Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate Bruce Kiloh “bleeds Blue & Gold.” For almost five decades Bruce has been a big supporter of UBC, a “Blue Chip” alumnus.