The Yorkton Elementary School Sports (YESSA) program took another leap forward this year with the addition of curling to it annual activities calendar.
YESSA president Mark Schendel reports that this year has seen the introduction of the first ever YESSA Rock 'n Roll Funspiel which capped off a week of curling instruction for students in Grades 6, 7 and 8. The week featured a coaches' clinic Monday, practise sessions for students Tuesday and Wednesday and a funspiel top wrap things up.
There were sixteen teams from eight schools participating in the event, Schendel reports. The youngsters were playing modified two end games. Teams still had four members, a lead, second third and a skip. Each team was guaranteed four games.
The emphasis isn't on the final score in each game, but rather on youngsters learning a new sport and having fun doing so, Schendel states.
He thanks Yorkton Curling Club (YCC) manager Neil Weinmaster who's been very supportive of the new program. In addition to providing excellent ice conditions, the YCC has provided brooms and sliders free of charge.
Schendel also thanks the teacher coaches who've taken time out of their very busy schedules to work with the kids. Some of them were out of their comfort zone, having little or no curling experience. They came out to the coaching clinic and were working with the kids the next day. "Kudos to those adults in the building who went out of their comfort zones to learn the sport of curling and of course to ultimately pass their knowledge on to their kids as well," he says.
Expert shot making wasn't the aim of the new program. Instead the idea was to introduce kids to the basics of curling, Schendel says.
He also appreciates the support from the two directors of education, Mr. Daryl Zaba from the Christ the Teacher School Division and Mr. Dwayne Reeve from the Good Spirit School Division. "Both were quick to jump on board and thought it was a great idea," Schendel reports.
While it may not happen overnight, Schendel suggests eventually there may be enough interest in curling to develop a YESSA curling league like the volleyball and basketball leagues.
