Gerry Adam has just returned home from the Brier bubble in Calgary where he was the coach for Steve Laycock of Saltcoats and Team BC. “The experience in the bubble was very unique for sure and it really took a few days to get used to it,” Gerry says.
“The biggest challenge that I faced was not being able to go see the other coaches and teams; from my previous years of being at the Brier both as a player and a coach I have forged many friendships over the years and it was really hard not being able to have a visit with anyone. Secondly, not having any fans at the games meant the teams really had to try to get and stay motivated on their own. Fan support is a large component and really helps to keep players engaged.”
The teams also came into the Brier and the Scotties with much less preparation than they have been used to in the past. At the beginning of each event it was uncertain what the quality of the curling would be but the players demonstrated their talent and continuously entertained the TV audience with spectacular shot making. “The lack of competition throughout the season and limited ice time I believe did affect the players at the beginning of the event; however as teams got used to the ice conditions and the absence of fans I believe the level of curling improved daily,” Gerry says.
“The biggest difference in this year’s event compared to other Briers was most definitely the absence of fans. The players feed off of the excitement and I believe some teams did not perform as well because of that.”
Despite the many downsides of the Covid protocols, they did have some benefits for the players. “The Covid protocols actually gave the players more time to prepare for games and recover after games. During a normal Brier there are so many external events (autograph signing sessions, going to the patch, interviews, etc). Also without having family attend it gave them time to get over tough losses and to really enjoy the wins as a team. When families are in attendance most times players split up after games to go join their families for a meal or just a good visit,” Gerry says.
Gerry found this extra time with the team especially beneficial. “When I came on board as coach all of our prep work was done by Zoom meetings so being in the bubble I think really enabled me to get to know the team much better. I felt we bonded well in a short period of time.”
The Covid protocols in the curling bubble have also been a huge success. “Being isolated alone in a room for the first couple of days was strange. After we arrived in the bubble and had our first Covid test we had to all stay in our rooms for two days until we had our second test and result. It was good to hear that through the Scotties and the Brier that there was not one positive test result so they must be doing it right,” says Gerry.
Team BC had many close games and finished with a 3-5 record that could have easily been more favourable. “Team BC was disappointed in the way we finished at the Brier. We lost four games on the last shot and had we won two of the four we would have qualified for the Championship Round. The team played very well and we were very close; it was not an easy pool that’s for sure. You had to bring your best every game.”
“It may not have been as fun or as exciting as previous Briers but it was still a great experience (hopefully the last Covid Brier) and things can get back to normal,” says Gerry.
By: Jessica Farquharsonrrrop0943433