Saturday, March 7, 2009

Do you have what it takes to play for Team Canada?

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is how a player not already in the High Performance player pool can attract the attention of Team Canada coaches. Here's a way. Practice these 15 drills (Excel format) and if you can consistently score 160 - 170 then contact Joe Rea or Wendy Morgan, because they will want to check you out.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eric,

Andy chance of getting this article in Word for those of us who don't have Excel?

. said...

I've converted the XLS spreadsheet into a pdf document that can be read on any computer using the free Adobe Reader.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Thanks, Eric.

Anonymous said...

I believe this was done ages ago, and was a great promotion......Let Jim Armstrong go through the drills, post them, and there lies the challenge....lots of fun, ad a challenge, while letting us know in a "one shot, snap shot" how we are doing against the best.

Anonymous said...

Somebody will beat he score, and figure he should be skipping team Canada.

Seriously, it would be a great challenge...how about a sponsor who will accept a "nose to nose" challenge for the best qualifier in a one on one with Jim? Winner is wheelchair curling

Anonymous said...

Has anyone besides me bothered to see what percentages the 160 to 170 range equates to ???? Well it is between 67% and 71%. Now go to the CURLIT web site and check the percentages from the recent Worlds and see what the team and individual percentages were....not even consistently close....not even close period!!!!! Does anyone really think that TEAM CANADA is honestly looking for new curlers in the TEAM CANADA pool with the "bar" set at that level.Even Gerry Peckham's "pride and joy" only had a percentage of 52% over 9 games at the recent Worlds and that was good enough to win the Gold, ranking 2nd among skips.
I would suggest any aspiring TEAM CANADA hopefulls would be wasting their time trying to consistently attain 67 - 71% with todays equipment and commonly used throwing "techniques". Good Luck!!!
Please note I am not afraid to put my name to the comments I post...how about some others doing the same...

Anonymous said...

That would be great! A national challenge for the bestscore in the skills competition plays Jim Armstrong in a one-on-one exhibititon game. Wonder if there woud be a sponsor, and if Jim would go along?

Anonymous said...

Whoa, Bruce:

Drills in a pratice mode are significantly different than games on arena ice with new stones. Team Canada even had a team game of over 80%, playing simple shots.

Further some of the drills are only throwing consistant weight, with no concern for results.

Relax, old fella.

Anonymous said...

Bruce....

If you think percentages in a set of drills and a game are the same, you are destined to continue to be runner-up in Ontario.

Sorry pal, like comparing apples and oranges.I have seen Darryl and Jim throw hits for an entire end in practice, and never roll out.

Anonymous said...

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce:

Dumb comments, with little merit. You think they are not still looking for the elusive lead/alternate position? And now, when 2010 team should be named, so they can get on with real preparation for next year, there still is no announcement.

I'll bet there won't be an announcement untill some time after the Nationals.

Direct your acid comments at the CCA, not the team that just won the Worlds, and certainly, not Jim Armstrong, who was the missing link to make it happen.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Bruce,

For the comments you make, you should make them anonymously. You either don't understand much, or your contempt of the CCA and Jim Armstrong certainly skews away from common sense.

And, for the record, had stats continued on for the entire week, including the toughr playoffs, im's stats would have put him well into first place for skips.

Any chance you feel you should be with Team Canada?

Anonymous said...

Does Bruce think that the CCA Program is not enjoying validation with the Team Canada win?

Hard to now argue with success, including inviting Armstrong to the party. Remember, Bruce, financng to date turns on results, not some esoteric dreaming about a purist 'all-inclusive" desire.

Anonymous said...

Very valid. The program cannot be questioned now, nor can Jim Armsrong. It is interesting to hear that Jim feel disappointed in his own play....what happens in the future?????

Anonymous said...

By the Way, Bruce,

If you go way back in the write-ups, you will see that the Team Canada Group of 13 was never stagnant, according to Gery Peckham. he is on record, prior to Armstrong, that the Program will always entertain new talent, and as it is today, the present 8 is not a fixed number or roster for 2010.

Your whining last year (about Jim's involvement by his "buddie" was an allowable consequence of looking for further potential talent)is unfounded. Your whining today is simply intolerable. AS WE LIKE TO SAY IN THE WEST, YOU MUST BE FROM ONTARIO...

Anonymous said...

Please don't paint all of the East, based on Bruce's comments. He has the best interest of the sport at heart, but sometimes get lost in a purity that simply doesn't (nor should it), exist.

Anonymous said...

I, for one don't have a problem with Mr. Armstrong. If he's elevated the profile and popularity of the sport, then good for him, and I was cheering for the Canadian Team along with everyone else last week.

Having said that, besides being an interesting training tool, I see no point in using those exercises as a method of getting on the National Team. Anyone from the eastern half of the country can score whatever they like on those drills and still won't get their call answered by the national program coaches, etc. To believe otherwise is extremely short sighted.

It's of no concern to me either way, as this is curling and I happen to disagree with the last poster in that I feel purity definitely has it's place. Anyone who really believes that athlete pools have more merit than playdowns, probably spells their name "anonymous".

We have the depth in this country to put out a strong national team right from the club level. THe team who won the nationals last year would have fit right in at this year's world championships and I suspect the same will be able to be said for a few of the teams set to compete in Nova Scotia.

Come on, CCA...drop the rules about limiting your pool athletes to two per team...let skips form whatever teams they want within their home clubs and cities, and everyone play to beat hell to get to the Nationals.. National winner = National team. Play the man + beat the man = BE the man.

This isn't sledge hockey or wheelchair basketball. The CCA has a golden opportunity to trailblaze in our sport. I say we take them to task and make them do it.

Anonymous said...

Jaimie:

Please tell us who you are, and where you play ( unless you can tell us, Eric).

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Jaimie:

I think you are premature in your condemnation of a Select Team Canada. The fact is that we still do not have the numbers across Canada to insure a bonafide competitive National championship. Do not expect any change of significance pre-2010, perhaps one roster adjustment.....

Your suggestion of a championship to determine Team Canada may land on assertive ears post 2010. How about a best of 3 play-off between Team Canada and the National champions? Remember, though, Armstrong and neighbour, plus likely Forrest and Gaudet would be drafted by Team Canada....who will beat them at this point??????

I do believe that such a scenario would be an appropriate test of the select system.

Anonymous said...

Flip side.....B.C. has a unique situation....Let them load up and win the Nationals for the next couple of years, and CCA gets the team they want anyways.

Now the die is set that the Natinal champion moves on.

Problem to be dealt with, though, is our Nationals occurs after Worlds in the calendar year.....and what about carding?

Anonymous said...

Like it or not, the CCA program now has credibility, from inviting Jim to the entire selection process.

Ask the CCA about alternatives, rather than demand......lokk where Mr. Daw landed.....

Anonymous said...

So how many people are opposed to a selection process at this point in time?

We cannot argue with success (now), but where do the sentiments lie?

I , for one, accept this format until 2011, then allow Team Canada to be challenged. I would also agree with at least a best of three play-off.

Anonymous said...

Your suggestion makes sense

Anonymous said...

I hope Jamie is not Bruce's alter-ego

Anonymous said...

No one has addressed winning and funding. A club side would be challenged to hit the podium, and how much lomnger would funding continue, if we hadn't had results this year?

Anonymous said...

We have to accept the present format. Winning draws funding (as does identifiable players). As the program matures, let's then take advantage of these heady dys of winning.

Anonymous said...

Winning equals funding. PERIOD.

Even you can't argue that fact, Eric.

Let's enjoy the benefits of this year's Team Canada, and support the chosen team for next year. Jim Armstrong bring the attention, and the rest of the team certainy provides the support.

I don't understand how anyone can even argue this, after this year's win.

Anonymous said...

So, people, if you don't like Canaa's side, what is yur dream team?

I will bet there are no more than two suggestions from bloggers, beyond our existing squad

Anonymous said...

Sorry, until our numbers are significantly higher, it will be a select team, since funding is about winning. We won, and therefore it will continue.

Anonymous said...

DREAM TEAM:

Armstrong
Neighbour
Daw
Forrest

Anonymous said...

Armstrong
Neighbour
Forrest
Gaudet

Anonymous said...

I don't think you can beat the present Team Canada with another season under their belt.

Anonymous said...

I agree, unless there is someone that can hit better than Sonja

Anonymous said...

Just have Armstrong, Neighbour, Forrest, and team's choices from there