If you were to ask Woodstock’s David Nichol what it means to him to be a coach you would get a world class response: “I believe being a coach is about creating opportunities for athletes, working with them to improve their skills, and most importantly, helping them to believe in themselves and their teammates.”
June’s Ontario Coach of the Month, David Nichol, is currently a teacher at East Oxford Central School where he devotes the majority of his free time to coaching team and intramural sports. With a long history of sport involvement through out his life, when Dave began teaching in 2003 his involvement and passion for coaching only grew.
At school Mr. Nichol coaches volleyball, basketball, and slo-pitch. He has also set up a badminton club for students and has almost single handedly coached 6 school teams this year in addition to the intramural program he runs. Nichol does receive some help with his intramural program. He is grateful to the 15 grade 7 & 8 students who, this year, helped to coach the intramural program for grades 3 to 6. “The team of student coaches has done a tremendous job of motivating and instructing the students,” boasts Nichol. As a teacher and coach, Dave Nichol recognizes the need to create leadership opportunities for students. In the future he would like to help expand the team of student coaches at the school, “I want young people to know that they can contribute in very real and important ways to other peoples’ development and successes.”
Mr. Nichol is devoted to getting children involved in sport and encouraging all players to try out for any sport regardless of their ability or experience. The approach he uses to run his practices, with confidence and an easy-going attitude, are admired by parents and colleagues alike.
Nichol is a firm believer in school athletics, “I feel very strongly that athletics in the education system are crucial for helping students who do not particularly enjoy academic work. Sports help them stay better connected to their education and their school communities.” Dave Nichol’s commitment to his school, students and the athletics program at a school level are well worth his recognition as June’s Coach of the Month. Coaches like Mr. Nichol inspire new generations and ignite a passion for sport and coaching among youth.
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