Coaches are often the unsung heroes of athletic success.

When gold-medal athletes stand on podiums, their coaches often hide offscreen.

However, without fail, athletes credit their coaches ahead of anyone else.

Coaches lead and inspire athletes from community programs to the Olympic and Paralympic podiums. This monthB次元官网网址檚 in Vernon, Feb. 23 to 26, is as a major springboard for coaches and athletes alike to move up to the Canada Games.

B次元官网网址淎 coachB次元官网网址檚 preparation for the B.C. Games, or any other competitive environment, is just as important as an athleteB次元官网网址檚 preparation,B次元官网网址� said Coaches B.C. executive director Gord May.

Coaches B.C. is the provincial organization responsible for coaching education programs and the ongoing support and development of coaches. Every coach at the Games is certified through the National Coaching Certification Program.

B次元官网网址淓very successful athlete has been trained by someone who has taken the time to learn about the technical aspects of their sport and how to prepare their athletes both mentally and physically,B次元官网网址� May said.

B次元官网网址淓xcellence will come about when you have the right tools and use them the right way.B次元官网网址�

Many of the 65 provincial sport organizations involved in the B.C. Winter and Summer Games utilize the Games as an opportunity for coach mentorship and training.

Karate B developed a junior coach mentorship program as part of the B.C. Winter Games where youth coaches have the opportunity to work with a certified adult coach. Six junior coaches, aged 15 to 18 years old, will be part of the 2012 B.C. Winter Games.

B次元官网网址淭he B.C. Games is an ideal way of furthering (development of) our young athletes into future coaches,B次元官网网址� said Fernando Correia, the Duncan-based Provincial Advisor for Karate B.C.

B次元官网网址淚 know our junior coaches are looking forward to attending the Winter Games and having the opportunity to develop under the tutelage of some of Karate B.C.B次元官网网址檚 best coaches.B次元官网网址�

Another successful mentorship program developed by the B.C.Games Society, Coaches B.C. and Promotion Plus, supports the education of female coaches.

For Laura Watson, Technical Director with Coaches B.C. and ringette coach, this has been a terrific opportunity for both her and her apprentice coach.

B次元官网网址淎s I started out in coaching I wish that I had had an opportunity to study from a seasoned coach. It would have provided me with the opportunity to see how an effective coach really operates," Watson said. "The B.C. Games experience that we have for our apprentice coach is absolutely the best experience that we could ever offer someone.B次元官网网址�

The dedication and commitment of coaches around the province strengthens the overall sport system and contributes to communities and social development. For many, including

Gary Ricks, a Level 3 gymnastics in Cranbrook, coaching is a way of life.

B次元官网网址淐oaching helps you take stock of where you are now in all aspects of your life and how that compares to where you would like to be,B次元官网网址� Ricks said.

Ricks has attended 12 B.C. Winter Games in 31 years of coaching. It will be a family affair this year in Vernon as Ricks coaches the KootenaysB次元官网网址� Zone 1 team; his wife Michelle is the provincial advisor for gymnastics and his niece Madysen is a competing athlete.

A total of 232 head coaches and assistant coaches will lead 1,148 athletes at the 2012 B.C. Winter Games.

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