The Ottawa REDBLACKS recently welcomed coaches from across Eastern Ontario to TD Place for the club’s annual Coaching Clinic, bringing together football minds from across the region for a day centred on learning, collaboration and growing the game.
Minor football, university, high school and community coaches filled the room to hear directly from Head Coach and General Manager Ryan Dinwiddie and members of the REDBLACKS coaching staff, who led presentations throughout the day on offence, defence, special teams, position-specific coaching and practice planning.
REDBLACKS veteran offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Drew Desjarlais kickstarted the day leading a tour of the club’s facility and locker room and they also joined the list of speakers to share their perspectives with the coaches in attendance.
The clinic offered attendees a chance to learn from coaches who spend their days preparing at the professional level, while also providing an opportunity for participants to ask questions and interact during each presentation.
While the X’s and O’s are always a major draw, the event is equally about supporting the people who continue to build football in communities across the Ottawa area.
“Grassroots football is where everything starts,” said Dinwiddie. “I think when we talk about minor football, we often think about how we can get more athletes involved, but we often overlook the coaching aspect. The coaches in our community can be a reason so many young athletes fall in love with this game and continue to play it. They give up their time because they care about helping kids learn, compete and grow. If we can help those coaches in any way by sharing some of what we’ve learned, then we’re doing our part to help football continue to grow in Ottawa.”
The sessions covered everything from offensive philosophy and defensive techniques to special teams fundamentals and position-specific instruction, giving coaches practical ideas they can take back to the field this season. Throughout the day, presenters encouraged discussion, answered questions and explored how concepts used in the Canadian Football League can be adapted to fit players at every stage of their development.
“I just want to say thank you, because you are the future of our game,” Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Reinbold told the coaches at the clinic. “What you do because you take time to help a kid fall in love with the game… you are the future of the game.”
For Dinwiddie, watching his staff take the lead throughout the day was one of the biggest highlights.
“It was pretty cool to see some of our coaches get up there and teach other coaches. Obviously they get to teach professional players every day, but they don’t often get the opportunity to interact with grassroots football coaches,” he said. “Every one of them has a different background, a different perspective, and they’re all passionate about developing the game. It was awesome to watch them interact with coaches, answer questions and share their knowledge and experience.”
The event also gave local coaches an opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships with peers facing many of the same challenges and opportunities throughout the football season. Whether they coach first-time players in minor football or lead established high school programs, there was plenty of networking and idea-sharing throughout the day.
The annual Coaching Clinic has become an important part of the REDBLACKS’ community calendar, reinforcing the club’s commitment to supporting football beyond the professional level. Supporting grassroots football has always been a pillar of the Ottawa REDBLACKS organization and the Coaching Clinic has become another staple of that commitment.
