There is just one goal of the junior curling program in Bashaw — learn and enjoy.
That’s the sentiment from Leonard Kohlman, the one taking the lead of the junior program at the Bashaw Curling Club.
“It’s about teaching them the fundamentals of the game, helping them learn and hopefully enjoy playing,” he said of the twice weekly junior practice sessions.
“Once the kids start to love it, maybe they will go on to play more competitively or simply keep playing at the club level. Either way, it’s great to see so many out and continue to grow the game locally.”
Bashaw has had a junior curling program for several years, which Kohlman helped instruct when it first began. However, he stepped back for a time until being asked this year to take on the responsibility after Tyler Schickerowsky had to back away because of his schedule.
The season started in November with about 22 kids; the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon hour-long practices have seen an average of 12 to 14 showing up.
“Kyle Brachman really helped us set this up through the school and be able to gauge the interest level,” said Kohlman.
“As well, several other parents and others come out to help teach, which is great since I can’t do this on my own. It also helps the kids by providing another voice and way of learning.”
And Kohlman has been impressed the kids’ progress, especially the ones who have never been on curling ice before this program.
At first couldn’t stand up on the ice without slipping, but are now able to slide and throw rocks most of the way down the sheet. Meanwhile, he noted the six older first time curlers have grown by leaps and bounds.
“Even in the last three weeks, it’s unbelievable the amount of changes I’ve seen in all of the kids.”
Some of the older first-time curlers were included in the two rinks that competed in a junior under-18 bonspiel in Wetaskiwin last month.
“One of the teams won their first game before facing some much stiffer competition, while the other team lost that first one by a single point. However, it was a great learning experience for them and they all enjoyed the day.”
Kohlman is planning on taking a rink to the under-16 bonspiel this coming weekend (Feb. 10) in Stettler to help the younger curlers learn in a game situation as well as plans are in the works to have Bashaw host some junior curlers from Donalda in a fun day sometime in the next month.
“The hope is through all of this is to help the kids learn and enjoy the game as well as maybe start to generate more interest in the game at the younger levels and possibly have them continue as they grow older,” noted Kohlman.
