Camosun’s cutting-edge sport programs attract new specialist
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Andy Van Neutegem always played sports. “It allowed a very energetic kid to channel,” he explains. He played ice hockey at a high level in Canada, and later in the U.K., where he also coached.
“Appreciation of my own development as an athlete” led Van Neutegem to pursue a PhD in long term athlete development models, as well as take lead roles in a number of academic and high performance sports initiatives. As Director of Sport at Bournemouth University in the U.K., he developed an academic program for coach and athlete development with diploma and degree options. In 2005, he became the Head of U.K.’s National Anti-Doping Program, where he worked to identify ‘drug triggers’ in athletes’ careers.
More recently, he returned to Canada where he worked as a Sport Performance Director for Canadian Sports Centre Pacific. Because he was working for one of the partners to the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence (PISE – previously known as the Pacific Sports Institute), he watched PISE grow from plans to a concrete reality on Camosun’s Interurban Campus. The $27.7-million Phase 1 of the 117,570 square-foot facility is due to be completed in September 2008.
He also watched another partner to PISE grow – Camosun’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Education continued to expand programming, offering increasingly leading-edge sports education. “This was the perfect opportunity for me to teach higher education in sport,” says Van Neutegem. Presently he teaches courses in the Sports Management diploma and is developing the future Athlete and Coach Education Diploma.
Camosun’s bold move
“The strength of the PISE is its interesting marriage of partners,” says Van Neutegem.
The Centre for Sports and Exercise Education will be housed in the same building as high performance sports services such as training for Olympic athletes; a Sport Innovation Centre where Canada will lead the way in sport technology research, innovation and rehabilitation; and a centre for community programming in health, wellness and sport-related programs.
Combining these leading sport agencies under one roof will create an educational experience unique to the world. “Students will be walking around next to Paralympians and Olympians, and benefiting from cutting-edge technologies,” says Van Neutegem.
Love of being active
“Promoting a higher value on physical activity and physical education has to start with young people,” says Van Neutegem. “They need to enjoy physical activity through learning fundamental moving patterns and being allowed to play sport on their terms rather than adult terms.”
Van Neutegem’s passion for sport extends past work. He is a sport psychology and high performance consultant with the National Wheelchair Rugby Team that is preparing for the Paralymics. He also coaches to his own elementary-aged children’s basketball and softball teams.
Interested in Camosun’s Sports and Exercise Education programs?
Presently being offered is the is the two-year Diploma in Exercise & Wellness, providing participants skills and knowledge for a career in promoting optimal personal health and wellness to individuals and groups. In addition, the two-year Diploma in Sport Management prepares participants for an exciting career in the sport industry, assisting in event, team and, organization management and facilities, program, sales and service administration.
Innovative, leading-edge programming continues to be developed. A Diploma in Athlete & Coach Education is being developed and planned to start in the Fall of 2009. It will emphasize the academic, organizational, and practical aspects of successful competition and advanced coaching. The Bachelor of Athlete & Exercise Therapy will start the fall of 2008 and teach the prevention, immediate care, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal orthopedic injuries and variety of hypokinetic diseases. The Bachelor of Sport & Fitness Leadership is being developed and planned to start in the fall of 2009. It will meet the increasing need for qualified, well trained sports leaders and managers.
Come out to an information session or contact Lisa Woodward at 250–370–4567, sported@camosun.bc.ca.
Last updated: March 8, 2010 3:20 pm
