Sharks coach granted new certification

Thanks to a significant coaching grant, the Prince Albert Sharks Swim Club's head coach is on his way to an important certification.

The Sharks club was one of 51 athletic organizations across the country to receive a $2,000 Making Dreams Possible grant from General Motors, through the company's partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada.

With the money, Sharks head coach Rick Whitson was able to go to Calgary at the end of November for a three-day training program for the Sears I Can Swim program, a national beginner-level program that teaches children how to swim.

When he is certified, Whitson will be able to train instructors for the I Can Swim program.

"I think it's a really good thing for the community to have someone certified who can do that," Whitson said. "Otherwise, to certify your instructors you have to pay them to travel to attend courses."

Before he can qualify other Prince Albert swimmers to coach the I Can Swim program, Whitson will just have to do an apprenticeship, where he'll likely set up a course in Prince Albert or Saskatoon with Saskatoon Goldfins coach Richard Millns.

Whitson would teach nearly the entire course and Millns, because of his previous certification, would grade the Sharks coach.

Having Whitson able to teach swimmers in Prince Albert will save money that would be spent on sending others to be taught elsewhere, possibly out of province.

It's the second straight year the Sharks received the grant. Club vice-president Janice McLeod said the money from the 2007-08 season was used to have Whitson further his training in the National Coaching Certification Program.

tpruner@paherald.sk.ca