Coaching Corner

Lesson Plans & Games Nordiq Canada Resources Leader Development Equipment and Waxing

Rabbit Skills & Development Goals

We thought it might be helpful to share the skills development plan for the Bunnyrabbits and Jackrabbit programs. These files contain the outline of the skills we would hope to pass on by the end of the season for that level as well as a description of how to explain it to that age child.

Bunny Rabbit Skills and Goals

Jackrabbit #1 Skills and Goals

Jackrabbit #2 Skills and Goals

Jackrabbit #3 Skills and Goals

Jackrabbit #4 Skills and Goals

Progress Reports are an important tool for leaders and skiers to determine their readiness to move up to the next level. The following are examples that can be used for assessments:

Sample – All Level Progress Report

Jackrabbit #1 Progress Report

Jackrabbit #2 Progress Report

Jackrabbit #3 Progress Report

Jackrabbit #4 Progress Report

Jackrabbit 3/4 Progress Report

Lesson Plans & Games

Many of our club leaders are happy to share the lesson plans they’ve created in past seasons. It’s nice to have something to start with! Some plans contains links to useful videos on the Internet (YouTube can be a great resource for that).

“Connecting Ontario Youth” materials to enhance your lessons:  https://projectcoy.wordpress.com

Bunnyrabbit Materials:

Jeux sur Neige / Jackrabbit Games Videos (33 in all!)

Jackrabbit Level 1

Template of an introductory letter: Jackrabbit welcome letter

Lesson plans (all files are Microsoft Word); from Greg Watt:

Skills By Lesson & Level (from Greg Watt)
Excel file:  skill_breakdown_jr3_4
To use, open in Excel, click on the “Skills By Lesson & Level Pivot” tab then click on the “Level” dropdown at the top of the worksheet to select JR level. The pivot is based on the Community Coaching (CC) manual. If you need to find the skill in the CC manual, I’ve also included the original lesson number from the CC manual. Double clicking on a cell in the “Skills By Lesson & Level Pivot” worksheet will give you the lesson # from the manual (it also creates a new worksheet).

I find this a useful tool because it gives me an idea of when to introduce skills and also, based on the grand total line at the bottom of the worksheet (line 20), the relative importance Cross Country Canada has placed on a skill; the higher the number, the greater the importance.

Jackrabbit Level 4 (all files are Microsoft Word from Marlene Alt):

Nordiq Canada Materials

We have repackaged coaching advice from Nordiq Canada into focused sections for members to be able to self-coach or coach their own children.

Classic Diagonal Stride

Uphill Herringbone Technique

Downhill Skills

Double Poling Techniques

Skate Skiing (to be added shortly)

Technique Videos (Classic, Skate & General):

Introduction to Community Coaching Manual (Level 1)

This reference guide is designed for the Active Start age group (3-6), better known as Bunnyrabbits. Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Introduction and Setting the Scene
  2. Children and their Sports Needs
  3. Clothing and Equipment
  4. Teaching Cross-Country Skiing (esp. pg. 67-79)
  5. Seasonal Plan and Activity Plans (esp. Activity Plans pg. 89-103)
  6. Sport Safety
  7. Practice Coaching Session
  8. Coaching Environment

Community Coaching Manual (Level 2)

This reference guide is designed for the FUNdamentals age group (6-9) better known as Jackrabbits. Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Introduction and Setting the Scene
  2. Children and their Sports Needs
  3. Values and Ethics in Coaching
  4. Teaching Classic Technique (pg 60-103)
  5. Designing an Overall Plan for the Season
    1. Practice Plans for JR1 (pg. 125)
    2. Practice Plans for JR2 (pg. 160)
    3. Practice Plans for JR3 (pg. 206)
    4. Practice Plans for JR4 (pg. 282)
  6. Preparing for Your Practice Coaching Session
  7. Equipment Selection and Ski Preparation
  8. Introducing Competition to Children
  9. Teaching Skating Technique (pg. 411)
  10. Practice Coaching Session
  11. Coaching Athletes with a Disability (pg. 449)

Learn to Train Manual (Level 3)

This reference guide is designed for the Learning to Train age group (8-12) whether Adventure Rabbits, Teen Skate or the Kanata Nordic Racing Team Download it here (pdf). It contains the following sections:

  1. Developing a Team
  2. Equipment Selection and Ski Preparation
  3. Technique Development – Theory
  4. Technique Development – Skating (pg. 95)
  5. Teaching and Learning
  6. Athlete Support
  7. Technique Development – Classic (pg. 247)

Nordic Technique Refinement

Please see this page for more details: https://www.kanatanordic.ca/resources/ski-technique-resources

Leader Development

Upcoming Coaching Courses

View upcoming courses here. 

Coaching Certification Process

Cross Country Canada introduced a new competency based coaching certification program several years ago. Details of the program, certification levels, and a program flow chart may be found at:

http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=cat&ID=76&lan=0

These courses are specific to cross country skiing and are packed with valuable material for leaders and assistants alike.

Local coaching courses are typically posted on the Cross Country Ontario webpage: http://www.xco.org/coaching/coachcourses.htm

All coaches must complete the Making Ethical Decisions on-line survey: http://www.coach.ca/make-ethical-decisions-s13516

Equipment & Waxing Tips

Waxing Guide
Our coaches have put together this waxing guide, with advice on what you’ll need to buy and how to apply the waxes. You can purchase the tools over several seasons and the waxes themselves usually last a few years as well.

Choosing Ski Equipment
Some good basic information on how to choose ski equipment.