Barry Greer Head Coach U20

Where were you born and where did you grow up the majority of your childhood?
I was born in Cobourg, Ontario, moved to Belleville Ontario at age 18 and I have lived here ever since

When did you get into ball hockey?
I started playing in the Belleville men's league after I moved to Belleville. It was a sport that was not available when I lived in Cobourg. 

Where did you gain the passion for the sport?
Probably when I coached my first Provincial game for Belleville for my son's Tyke team about 15 years ago.

Who were some of your biggest influences in your life that helped you growing up with the sport?
Rick Carr, President of Belleville Minor Ball Hockey was a team mate back in the days when I started playing. He started up the minor system in Belleville and when I had kids it was natural for them to start playing at a young age.

What turned you on to competitive ball hockey? How old were you when you played/participated in your first tournament?
My kids played rep ice hockey all winter and wanted to play rep soccer in the summer. No way I was going to chase them around the province all summer too. I found not only the shorter season and less travel attractive with ball hockey but the different rules and fact that so many different strategies and systems could be used in ball hockey appealed to me more as a coach. My kids were Novice and Tyke ages at the time. 

How did you get involved with the Junior Team Canada program?
After coaching rep at the provincial level every year and at the National level three times my wife and I watched our 2 boys play for Team Canada in Europe. It was after this that I decided that applying for a coaching position was something I would like to do. I believed I had the ability and the experience to be successful at that level. 

There is a lot of work to get done, what do you think your team will have to do to get this done?
Everyone must start by communicating and getting to know each other, then study and practice systems and plays, then work together and settle into a role on the team while the whole time developing an attitude that we are the greatest. Then to remain the greatest everyone must communicate more, study and practice more, work together more and want to accept more responsibility in order to be even greater then great.

What's your goal for the Junior program next summer and for future years?
My goals is to win a Gold Medal at the World Championships in Budapest in 2014 with the U-20 Canadian team. As long as I stay involved with ball hockey, my health stays good and I feel I give value to the team as a coach then I would love to continue coaching at a high level. I appreciate the opportunity that I has been trusted in me so far.

Do you think Canada has the talent to win the gold medal?
Of course I do, we feel we have the most skilled team we could put together and don’t lack talent, but we still need to have determination and work ethics. We will find a way to get it done!

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Scott Jacobi Head Coach U18

Where were you born and where did you grow up the majority of your childhood?
Born – Toronto East York
Raised – Brampton
First ball hockey - Beeton

When did you get into ball hockey?
I got involved as a player in 2002 in Beeton

I began coaching in 2004 in Beeton and attended 1st Provincials as a coach (and as a player) that year 

Where did you gain the passion for the sport?
I’d never even heard of ball hockey until I moved to Beeton and was introduced to the game by my neighbours Carlo Carlucci & Steve Dockerty. I’d played ice hockey all my life and immediately enjoyed the game, and with my involvement in the Beeton program, I quickly grew passionate about the sport and improving our Association. 

Who were some of your biggest influences in your life that helped you growing up with the sport?
Carlo & Steve were my neighbours and got me involved as a player, and subsequently an official and as an executive. Our shared vision on running the league and developing players and the program fed my passion. 

What turned you on to competitive ball hockey? How old were you when you played/participated in your first tournament?
My first playing tournament was at the 2004 Masters Provincials First Provincials as a coach were the 2004 tykes 

How did you get involved with the Junior Team Canada program?
Administratively I was responsible for our Provincial program which had improved steadily thought my tenure to the point where we are now recognized as a dominant Centre at all ages.

Teams I’ve coached in Beeton have had good success at the Provincial AA level (winning AA gold in my last 4 provincials 2 PW & 2 Bantam). In 2010 I coached and won at the Provincials, Ontario Summer Games, and National Championship in the same summer, and coincident with the JTC application process, Steve Dockerty suggested I apply to coach. In 2012 I was named to the JTC U16 staff for my first participation in the program, winning Bronze.

There is a lot of work to get done, what do you think your team will have to do to get this done?
Success at the Worlds will depend on a few key elements

- Players need to assume responsibility to attend in peak condition
- Players need to be comfortable with each other and become a Team
- We’ll need to be good enough to get lucky

Until we play our first exhibition games and camp opens, individually players will need to focus on getting in shape and reaching out to all of their teammates, the sooner we get to know and be comfortable with each other, the sooner we can start to think and act as a team. 

As a coach, I will continue to have regular communication in the hopes of keeping everyone informed, up to date, and in contact.

What's your goal for the Junior program next summer and for future years?
The goal is simple, to win GOLD!

In terms of the program, I think there have been a number of rather significant administrative changes this time round not the least of which is allowing the coaches to have significant impact on the selection of the roster, thereby creating a team of 22 that fulfill roles and specialties on the floor, rather than simply being the top players. It is my hope that success at World’s will prove this to be a good decision, and allow for its continuation in future years.

Individually, aside from helping the guys win gold, my goal is to try and not cause too many problems and remain a part of the program for years to come helping to do what I can to improve and advance the program. 

Do you think Canada has the talent to win the gold medal?
Compared to my team in 2012, this team is significantly improved.

The competition is always strong, and this year there may be many teams we have never seen, but I would be surprised if there was a team anywhere in the world that has the depth of talent and skill sets that can compare to this U18 team. Talent and skill however are just the foundation and do not alone guarantee victory, it is my hope and belief that this group of players also have the character, discipline, and commitment necessary to complement their talent that combined will ultimately bring Canada home a gold medal (that and some decent officiating!)