Queen's Figure Skating Head Coach Johnny Yap is one of the longest-serving figure skating coaches in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Coach Yap has been involved with the Queen's Figure Skating program for more than 40 years, training countless skaters to many championships. GoGaelsGo.com sat down with Coach Johnny Yap back in December where he shared insights on his coaching journey, the evolution and psychology of the sport, and the challenges and rewards for student-athletes.

Yap's introduction to the world of figure skating was unique. He grew up roller skating in Malaysia which, in his words, made "the transfer a little bit easier" over to ice skates. However, when it came to the sport of figure skating, he knew nothing. One day, while he was a Queen's student skating around Jock Hardy Arena (torn down in 2007), the captain of the figure skating team noticed Yap and approached him to try out for the team as they were looking for men to partner with the women skaters. He made the team and that led Yap down the long, rewarding road as head coach. 

Once Yap graduated with Master's and Doctorate degrees at Queen's, he decided to stay with the Gaels' Figure Skating program and become both the assistant coach and team psychologist, later upgrading his title to Head Coach of the team. Yap used his knowledge and experience as a full-time psychologist in Brockville and applied the many therapeutic techniques, strategies and skills that are used with clients with student-athletes as well. Yap noted that sports have a very large mental component as well. Learning how to deal with stress, anxiety and overwhelming moments helps good athletes become great ones.



One of Yap's key reasons for staying part of the Queen's Figuring Skating program for over four decades is the skaters themselves. "What draws me back every year, really, are the skaters. They're incredible. I've had the honour of working with some remarkable individuals who are not only talented and smart, and skilled in the sport, but also incredibly kind, and caring people."

Knowing the stress and pressure that comes with being a student-athlete, Yap gave tremendous credit to the captains, who strive to keep it a fun and caring atmosphere. Queen's Figure Skating captains run several bonding activities throughout the semester to create a sense of closeness within the group, including laser tag and theme weeks, as well as rewarding good attendance. The team is incredibly supportive of each other and that's one of the key reasons that keeps Yap coming back year after year. 

Coach Yap added the combination of sport and art is another reason why he continues to be involved with the Figure Skating program. "There's such a nice balance between the athleticism of the sport and the artistic side of things, which really is a nice blend". 

Yap added the three key coaching philosophies that have helped him as a coach and facilitated the bonding of the team. "Clear goals and vision of what we want to achieve, disciplined training, which is to execute those plans that we have, and caring for one another." 

"It's a sense of satisfaction that I get at the end of the year, where we set goals for the year, and at the end, we get to see if we accomplish them. But whether we do that or not, there's so much that I get from being part of this whole team atmosphere. In the end, it really has to do with the teamwork amongst the coaches, and with the captains and the other skaters as well." 

Linking back to his coaching philosophy, Yap added, "the approach and philosophy that we take with the team is, it's all about the journey, the journey is important. While the destination is also important, the emphasis is on how we get there. The journey is just as important as the destination. So if the journey is nice, whether we win or not, then it brings me back each year." 

Over the years, Johnny has had great success as a coach, with numerous championships under his belt. During Yap's tenure with the team, Queen's Figure Skating has won 14 championships. The team currently holds the record of seven consecutive championships from 1995 to 2001. Yap has also been able to hear about the weddings and families of his past athletes, which "warms my heart to know that the team has provided them with a place and forum to establish long, deep friendships." 



Yap continued that his biggest challenge as a coach is ensuring "every team member feels important, and that they have a role to play, regardless of whether they are going to be the skaters at competitions, or if they are backup skaters."

"Unfortunately, the way the roster is set up, not everyone will be able to compete at the OUA Championship, but we do endeavour to provide opportunities for every team member to compete in some event, some competition through the year." And the caring and close nature of the figure skating team allows everyone to be supportive of one another.

For the season ahead, Yap said he is "looking forward to seeing how the student-athletes skate up to their potential, regardless of how the judges evaluate them. I'm looking forward to seeing them perform up to how they have been training, both athletically, mentally, and experientially. What I mean by experientially is the quality of the competition experience. Was it fun?" Was it stressful? Was it supportive? Were relationships enhanced during that time? I'm looking forward to having the skaters feel good about their performance, and let the results fall where they may because we have no control over that."

The Queen's Figure Skating Team will participate in the Winter Invitational in Waterloo from January 23-24 and the OUA Championship in Aylmer, Ontario from March 7-8.