BTABC sponsors five major competitions per year; Be My Valentine, Jump into Spring, BC Team Trials, BC Provincials and either the West Coast/Pacific Coast or Rocky Mountain Open.  These arenas are where athletes of all skill levels meet, compete and showcase their new and developing skills. 

All of our competitions are open to the public and we encourage everyone to come out, join us and experience the thrill of watching a twirilng competition.
For event dates and locations please see our Events page.  

Athlete Training 

BTABC also hosts a training camp each year.  Each fall the “So You Think You Can Twirl!!” training camp takes place in Abbotsford, BC.  We are fortunate to secure the coaching expertise of various coaches and choreographers from within BC, across Canada and occasionally from the US.  

Our camps are designed to offer training for all levels of athletes and their coaches’ from the recreation/pre-competitive athletes to elite ones that are working hard to earn a place on the BC team.  Each year we are thrilled as clinicians bring new and exciting material and training techniques to this event. 

During these camps our athletes received instruction in rolls, dance, travel complex, gymnastics, aerials, and contact material.   The materials that are introduced at these camps form the bases of routine construction that we see performed at the competitions throughout the twirling season.  

These same routines are also seen on the floor at Canadians and we feel confident that having provided access to the knowledge these professional impart helps prepare our athletes and gives them the best opportunity to take an all encompassing approach to their training so they can experience success at the national level.  

Please go to our Events page for more detailed information on where and when the training camp is taking place this year!!

Coach, Judge and Adjudicator Training

Over the years, it has become obvious that many of our athletes keep baton twirling as a life long activity.   As the age of the athlete increases, we offer coaching and adjudicating courses to encourage them to stay active within our sport. 

BTABC supports a number of national programs developed through the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation (CBTF) and has also developed a few programs specific to BTABC.

CBTF offers national coaching and judging programs.  The national coaches program incorporates 3 Levels, Level 1, 2, 3 that follow an athlete’s progression from recreational, to competitive and elite status (See Technical Directory, Coaching Development for more detailed information).  This coaches program also alignes itself with the National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP) as each CBTF coach is required to pass his or her NCCP levels. 

The national judges program incorporates 5 modules that focus on national events with varying focuses, technical emphasis, music selection and group dynamic. (See Technical Directory, Judges Development for more detailed information).  Each module encompasses a theory and practical component followed by a written and practical exam. 

Our technical focus this past year continued to be on the development of coaches and judges in our province as this is, and continues to be the root to further developing our athletes at all levels. 

A third national program developed by CBTF is the Skills and Development Program.  It encompasses 15 badges, and 4 pins.  The Skills development program is geared to the recreational athlete.  This program is a great introduction into the sport of baton twirling and provides an avenue for those athletes that are not interested in the competitive stream.  Please see Athlete Development under the Technical Directory for more detailed information on the Skills Development (Badge) and Badge Adjudicator programs.

All of these programs lend themselves to a providing a consistent approach to training the athletes, coaches and judges in the sport of baton twirling. 

Our sport is open to all those who are interested.  There are no restrictions – everyone is welcome to participate regardless of age, sex or ability.  While predominately female we are starting to see more young males enter the twirling arena.  Provincials 2010 saw many little boys in the pre-competitive segment.  They also participated in the KBK pre-group “Monster Mash” and were clearly enjoying themselves as baton monsters!!  

This year we continued to welcome special needs athletes to our competitions.  While we continue to develop a fair way to “score” these athletes within their ability range it is always delightful to see them perform and to see how twirling helps them develop in other ways. 

Goals are what it is all about whether you are a four year old picking up the baton for the first time excited to be working towards that first badge or a twenty four year old that after many years in the sport just isn’t ready to retire from the competitive arena yet.  It is a sport for everyone – just ask some of the parents that participate in the parent team division we host each year at provincials…..it really doesn’t matter if you are four or forty-four picking up that baton you just can’t help but want to flip it, toss it, spin it, roll it, twirl it, wrap it, catch it......the possibilities are endless both for what you can do with it and where you can go…..it’s a great adventure. 

BTABC and it's Member Clubs are invited to perform and take part in many community events.  Each club works hard to coordinate their membership and fulfill as many of these request as possible.  We love to give back to the communities that support us and help gain exposure for our sport by participating in these events!!  

If you would like to have us perform at your community event or participate in your local parade please contact us!!  

While marching in parades is what baton twirling is best known for, our sport has developed in to so much more than that.  Baton Twirling combines the skills of dance, gymnastics, and twirling into a unique sport.  Anyone who thinks that throwing a metal stick up into the air, spinning, doing illusions or cartwheels under it (in time to music no less) and then catching the baton before it falls to the ground is easy – should come out and try it sometime!! 

With clubs across the province and twirlers participating in festivals, parades, celebrations and community events from the Kootenays and Columbia Valley to Quesnel, Prince George, Clinton, Chilliwack, Sardis, Langley, Richmond, Ladner, Surrey, Delta, Steveston, Victoria, Vancouver and Abbotsford, we hope to not only promote this amazing sport but also educate and demonstate how our sport has evolved. 

The BTABC board is consistently working to develop new areas.  We follow up any and all inquiries and give as much assistance to people as possible to develop programs in their respective communities. 

It is our plan to continue to pursue opportunities to develop twirling in various communities across BC and to determine if a baton twirling club is a sustainable entity in these communities.  With sustained financial assistance from the direct access program grant, coupled with the dedication of the BTABC board of directors and the countless volunteers that make it all possible, BTABC will continue to be there to assist new groups set up a good foundation, support their growth and development, and provide them every opportunity possible to make their goals a reality.

All of our programs are designed, developed, organized and put on by the BTABC Board of Directors and our tremendous volunteer membership.  We are committed to continue to do so as long as there are batons and athletes that want to twirl them!!