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With provincials right around the corner, track and field coach Scott Bell says the kids are ready to put on a show and he can't wait to see them represent their schools and community.
Bell has been in and around track and field for a long time. "I've been coaching high school track and field for about 30 years now," he says proudly. "In high school, I competed in track and field, I had some success and really enjoyed it. I ran for the Manitoba Bisons from 1989 to 1993, that was a really good experience. I had great coaching and just wanted to share that knowledge that I gained with younger athletes, like someone had done for me when I was a developing athlete. I wanted to pay it forward."
For Bell, track and field has something to offer everyone and he'd like to see more kids give it a chance. "It's nice that there is a variety to it, it's kind of a pure sport. You're testing very specific skills, how fast can you run, how long can you run, how far can you throw, how long can you jump, how high can you jump. It's the individual nature of testing those ability that is pretty cool. I have to say, over the years, we're not getting as many kids participating. I would love to see more athletes choosing to do more track and field."
There are a lot of positive to being a coach but Bell says seeing a kid push past what they thought was their ceiling and just how proud of themselves they are, that's the real win. "It's so rewarding. It's nice to see the work they do and the work we do together produce benefits like that. It's one of the great rewards when you're volunteer coaching, to see the athletes you're working with push for an achievement and then get it."
An area that Bell says has gotten more attention and rightfully so, is the mental side of the athletics. "As long as I've experienced it, it's become more so. I competed at the University level and it was part of the whole piece, the nutrition and the mental well-being, all of that. Now, it's much more of a focus at the high school level, which is great. You're not just looking at an athlete, you're looking at a person. There's more than just the competition, it's about how to train them while caring for them and teaching them to care for themselves."
The track and field community is a close group and Bell says seeing athletes from all areas cheering each other on is special. "It's so positive, it's wonderful, that's the kind of culture you want to create. Track and field is unique, you travel as a team but when you're competing, you're competing as an individual. So, knowing you have other athletes cheering you on, that kind of support means a lot."
With provincials quickly approaching, Bell says for the athletes, it's a big deal representing their school and the community. "There's pride involved when the athlete performs and they've done the work to be there, certainly there is pride there. The ability to compete at a higher level in the big meets, it's a great privilege, an opportunity for the athletes, but when they know they've put the work in and the training, they can take pride in how they do. Any kind of confidence they get from doing well at the big events is well earned."
Bell says it's a lot easier now being a coach then it was when he was the one going through the grind of being a track star. "I was way more nervous when it was me cause I knew I'd be experiencing the discomfort of running a strenuous event. Now, I can just be a by-stander. I understand what they're going through but I'm grateful I don't have to go through it myself, anymore."