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Life of a Coach By: Heather Parker-Nance Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had become a professional coach of your favourite childhood sport? Kim Poole is one such person. To many they consider being a coach (or head coach for Kim) to be a “hobby”, not really a “job” or not really “work” per say. Many will be surprised to learn what is involved in running and coaching for a “not for Profit” gymnastics club. Kim works for the Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club. She was hired in 1985 after she graduated with High Honours from Seneca with a diploma in Coaching Techniques/Gymnastics. Since then this gym club has had uphill battles and downhill coasting, surviving none the less primarily because of the dedication of individuals and in particular Kim. Kim has worked 6 to 7 days a week for as long as I can remember. Let’s take a look at the condensed week of a head coach. Monday starts off early, shortly after 4 am, where her children at one time were her children were bustled off to a babysitter with clothes, lunches, homework organized and ready for the day. The athletes start at 6am, Kim will coach until 8:15am today. She will motivate the athletes, address parent questions and check for safe arrival for starters. After coaching she has emails, addresses finances, payroll, board and staff meetings, banquets, tryouts, showcases, media events, rotation schedules, coaching clinics, level systems, hiring, demonstrations, filing and guiding her staff through the rigors of a club that builds children’s athleticism and confidence each and every year. Kim will do this day in and day out, and puts in 20 plus hours in the gym coaching. With such a hectic workload, one would wonder what keeps Kim coming into the gym year after year? Any parent or athlete of our head coach can attest, to that smile behind the eyes that shines through when one of her athletes learns a skill she has been guiding them towards, or watching one of her athletes succeed beyond what they believed they could ever accomplish. This is how Kim Poole marks success in her professional career. I have worked with Kim for over 2 decades, and was a teammate and friend to her throughout her public and high school gymnastics endeavours. I feel I know her. I know how much she loves the sport of gymnastics, The Barrie Kempettes and her athletes. This is how I know: I have waited in parking lots surrounded by blowing snow and frigid temperatures well before the sun rises, for her car to come chugging into the parking lot, hours before a competition, just to be “early for the kids”. Kim doesn’t want the kids to worry about whether their coaches are going to be late for their meet. Kim has all coaches car pool to save money so these funds can be reinvested into the club and the kids. I have received emails and texts early and well into the night because she is worried about an athlete’s injury, composition of a routine, or an athlete struggling with their self confidence. “How about we try this?” or “let’s add a leap or a cast to this routine” or “let’s coax, encourage or do some extra hours with this child”. The gym and athletes never really leave Kim’s consciousness. People always say that children are very intuitive. I have seen this proven time and time again in the gym. Sitting away from the bustle and noise of children chattering, the stereo and gymnastics equipment being used is Kim and an athlete. They are talking quietly, sitting on a box horse. She is trusted. She has heard, talked, counselled and just listened to athletes and what’s troubling them. Peer pressure, school, friend and family issues are just the beginning of this Pandora ’s Box that Kim has tried her best to help with. Kim knows the grandparents, siblings, parents, friends, cousins, neighbours of her athletes. She knows when the Prom’s, birthday’s, anniversary’s are. She knows where their cottages and vacation spots are, when they are leaving and when they will be back. She knows her athletes’ parents occupations and can work out a pick up or drop off if a parent is working late. Kim knows their dreams, and what they want to be when they grow up. Kim just knows, and her athletes know that she knows. The proof is in the pudding as they say, and the proof is shown when Kim finds just the right program for a child of one of her past athletes. Kim has been the Head Coach for the Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club for almost 25 years. On average our club sees about one thousand kids pass through our doors each year. One thousand kids’ times twenty five years are twenty five thousand lives that Kim has touched, directly or indirectly. For Kim, helping a child build confidence and showing them that accomplishments can be achieved through hard work, integrity, self respect and focus are all in a days’ work. Numbers or placing does not mean a lot to Kim. What does though, is when a student of hers does a routine of a lifetime at a meet, and her athletes rushes off the mat to wrap her arms around her, I can see in Kim’s slow smile why she does what she does and I know it’s just not a job or a hobby it’s the only place in the world to be and the best job in the world to her.
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