May 04, 2013 – A BKL coach is a special kind of volunteer. In addition to planning productive and fun weekly practices for multi-age and multi-ability kids they also manage relationships with the venue, organize gear for a slew of kids, come up with creative games, solicit snack donations, instruct other parents, and a multitude of other random jobs.

To say that a successful BKL Coach is a “jack-of-all-trades,” is an understatement. They have to think quickly, be creative on the fly, and adjust to changing conditions, all while maintaining a positive attitude and smile to keep up with the momentum of the group. Our BKL Coaches here in New England are some of our most prized and experienced volunteers—because BKL is where it all begins!

Jim is shown here in his role as Cheif of Competition of the 2013 TD Bank Bill Koch Festival. © Lauren Hefferon

NENSA is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2013 Bill Koch League Award of Excellence is Jim Stock of the Eastern Mass Bill Koch Club. Jim has been involved with BKL for sixteen years and has continued to lead the EMBK group although his children have long since grown and moved on from the program. During his time with the club membership numbers have grown from 10 skiers to over 200!

His enthusiasm and dedication is evident: he makes these kids a top priority in his busy winter schedule. In addition to organizing club practices three days a week throughout the season, planning the highly successful EMBK Sprints (a full day BKL Sprint Event), he also travels with kids to various regional events. He is a familiar figure in the New England BKL racing scene instructing kids on healthy race day routines, helping them dial in their equipment, or just offering some encouragement during their events. Above all else, he wants the kids to be enjoying their skiing experience and having fun and he is committed to helping them reach their potential.

In terms of development, fellow EMBK Coach Barry Kitch says that “Jim has always focused on process, not outcome. It seems the perfect emphasis for kids this age, who learn from Jim to welcome feedback and to feel good about their performance, not based on outcome but based on what they put into it.” Peter Hoenig echoes that sentiment, “From the beginning Jim believed that our [EMBK] goal should be to teach children to ski well. He has been interested in teaching all the kids, not just those showing early talent. Jim takes the mission of XC ski teaching very seriously and the kids know it, treasure it, and thrive in it. “

In addition to teaching the kids, Jim also has developed a system for training parents to coach. The system is simple— parents master a particular ski progression and then instruct the kids in it. To compliment this training he developed a nine part video series called “Youth XC Ski Instruction.” These videos have become an valuable resource for the EMBK community.

It’s not just about the skiing instruction he provides at practice. As Kitch says, “Jim is a great role model for the kids (and his fellow coaches) through the sportsmanship he expects of all the EMBK skiers, and displays himself at BKL events.” Jim sees the “big picture” of youth skiing and knows that to be good athletes, these kids also have to be good people. It is critical to him that his kids respect other skiers— both the ones they’re competing against, and also the recreational users of the trails.

One of Jim’s most admirable traits is the amount of time and energy he gives to his skiers. As Hoenig states, “Eastern Mass has produced a lot of XC skiers over the last 10 years. Some have achieved high levels in the XC world. All would say that Jim is a vital coach. All would say that they have been inspired by the way Jim watches their technique and then takes whatever time is needed to analyze and correct their form. He takes his coaching job very seriously and the kids know this and respect him for it. For a young kid to be taken seriously is a bid deal. The kids love him for this.”

Jim’s dedication was shown last year when he acted as the Chief of Competition for the 2013 TD Bank Bill Koch Festival held at the club’s home venue, the Weston Ski Track. The theme for the event was the Boston Ski Party, with all the activities adhering to a revolutionary theme. Jim was adamant about bringing back his favorite racing format—the sprint! The two day event had 3 racing events scheduled (a relay, an individual race, and a sprint) but due to Mother Nature’s blizzard, had to be shortened to a one day, two race event. Jim worked tirelessly with the volunteers to set up challenging and fun race courses for the kids and the event was a huge success.

The New England BKL Community has been lucky to benefit from Jim Stock’s dedication and passion to the sport, and NENSA is very proud to give this award to him.