Why Parkour Coaches Matter
Coach Cordelia teaching our Adaptive Youth Program
When you imagine the future of parkour, what do you see?
I imagine a world where play is normalized for adults. A world where kids practice movement from a place of enjoyment that isn't tied to “sports.” A world where seniors maintain their agility and know how to fall safely. A world where people of all ages move together in public spaces—spaces that are designed to encourage play and movement for all abilities.
A world where parkour is practiced by everyone.
Coaches Brandee and Evan teaching our 2019 Way of the Ninja parkour summer camp
The path to that vision may be difficult, but the math is simple. Increasing the number of people trained in sharing parkour (coaches) increases the reach of parkour.
One of our major projects this fall is training new coaches. With Covid, we’ve needed to keep classes much smaller than normal, meaning our coaching team can only serve so many people. We desperately need more coaches to meet the increased need for outdoor fitness.
And we need a more diverse group of coaches beyond the "young athletic” image. We serve a diverse community: all ages, all races, all body types. Coaches should be role models for people of various backgrounds. Students need coaches who look like them.
Coach Michael teaching after school programs
Coaches do much more than simply deliver parkour. As I wrote in my most recent letter to the PKV community, I experienced instant acceptance and camaraderie within the parkour community, unlike anywhere else.
Coaches are mentors for students at all stages of life. Everyone benefits from building confidence in your physical and mental self. No one is ever too old to learn creative movement, risk assessment, falling safety, and growth mindset. Everyone needs play!
Coaches create their own micro-communities which adapt the values of parkour and make them their own. These micro-communities become advocates for the benefits of parkour in our society, a process which builds upon itself until movement is accessible to everyone.
Sometimes sports communities (parkour included) can create barriers: the cost may be too high, the location may be hard to reach, or the content may feel inaccessible.
When you support PKV this fall through our fundraiser, you are building a future. We’re working on plans to provide more free classes in low income neighborhoods, homeless youth centers, and other underserved populations. Your support builds future communities in neighborhoods we haven't previously reached in Seattle and beyond.
PKV has over a decade of experience training coaches. We're one of the best in the nation. Other organizations look to our leadership and coach training methods, and we've been the origin of parkour leadership across the greater Seattle area.
I’ve been excited to share parkour since my first Parkour Visions class ten years ago. You can help us create more parkour leaders so we can reach more people. Will you consider contributing to help us meet our fundraising goal? Any amount is helpful!
If you can’t donate right now, please share this post and let others know how important parkour coaches are. Thanks so much for your support over the years.
Your partner in play,
Cordelia Hollingsworth
Executive Director, Parkour Visions