The Ottawa Hunt Curling Club has in recent years become synonymous with successful Curling Development Programs. Their Adult Learn to Curl “ALTC” program has become a model of success for all who would listen and their innovative approaches to teaching the sport are being heralded by many other curling clubs in the Ottawa Valley.
Not more than 10 years ago, the Hunt Club’s curling program number approximately 160 curlers. Today, their numbers exceed 425 and the growth continues. Why? The Club’s emphasis on the ALTC program and delivering programs that met and exceed the needs of their curlers.
“Growth in the curling program has been phenomenal and there are no signs of slowing” says Bill Duck, Ottawa Hunt Club curling manager. “The strong reputation and the commitment of our instructors to deliver the very best development program fuels word of mouth and we have been at full capacity for more than 5 years.” With the ALTC program almost fully self-sufficient, efforts have begun to shift to an entirely new initiative, growth of women’s curling.
“While the overall growth in curling and most of the leagues has been impressive, the women’s league has been under-performing in terms of growth”, says Doug Kreviazuk. Given this reality, Doug Kreviazuk had undertaken to investigate the issue and propose remedial action for the club.
The result of these efforts is a program specifically designed for women, that focuses solely on the art of skipping. This fall, the Ottawa Hunt club will launch a 5-night seminar series specifically for women, and taught by women that outlines the roles, responsibilities and activities of a skip; the development of a game plan, as well as the various strategies that could be pursued in the early, middle and late ends of a game, with and without the hammer.
Given the changing complexity of the game of curling, lead instructors will also focus on the need for enhanced leadership skills in efforts to explain concepts like: throwing to your tolerance; developing a game-plan or end-strategy; team communications; ice-reading and line-calling; the most common strategy mistakes to avoid; and leveraging and understanding risk/reward assessments.
Although still in the development stages, The Ottawa Hunt club announced its intent to offer this pilot program and to be led by Cassandra De Groote and Lynn Kreviazuk. On day one of registration, the program was oversold and even after expanding the number of participants allowed, the program has reached capacity and a wait-list has been created.
The objective of the program is to impart broad skipping knowledge and experience from seasoned curlers so that more women will be prepared to accept the challenge of becoming a skip and allow the women’s league to grow and better accommodate the female graduates from the ALTC program.
From all accounts, the program is already a hit and interest is only rising at the Ottawa Hunt club and at many other curling clubs in Ottawa region. It is only a matter of time before this type of program is embraced and adopted all across Canada. Doug is available for questions at dkreviazuk@gmail.com
Looks like another home run from the Ottawa Hunt Club – well done.
