Briercrest instructor Lori Peters is excited for more people to know about the school’s minor in kinesiology.

Her first hurdle in that task is defining the term.

“A lot of people don’t even understand what kinesiology is,” she admitted. “Kinesiology is the study of human movement. It’s a relatively new academic discipline, so it’s evolving. It used to be thought that it only included exercise science . . . but it’s broadened to include sport, dance, recreation, health-related fitness and physical education – really anything to do with movement studies from prescription of exercise for illness to dance.”

Briercrest’s kinesiology minor is an integrated component for those students majoring in physical education through the school’s partnership degree program with Minot State University (MSU).

But Peters says the kinesiology minor also combines well with many of the major programs at Briercrest – especially for those students who desire to stay connected to sports in their future.

“If they have a love for sport and want to combine that in some way with a career, there could be multiple ways,” she insisted.

The instructor lists a few ways she’s seen kinesiology combined with other disciplines.

“I had a youth ministry major during his senior year take Fundamentals of Coaching because he knows that actually that’s one of the best ways to (get involved with) middle and high schools – if you can be a certified coach. It builds those bridges into the community. Another student wanted to do a global studies (major) with kinesiology because they were going to be doing sport travel. Business Administration is another natural pairing for those desiring to enter sport and recreation management positions.”

Peters, who played for the Clippers during her college years at Briercrest, knows firsthand how training in sport can open doors to a future career.

“While I was playing my second year I coached with Ken Guenter as assistant coach for the Cougar high school team and fell in love with coaching,” she said.

Later, when Peters and her husband Stan returned to Briercrest in 1987, she was able to serve as assistant coach and then head coach for the Clippers.

“I recruited some players that were really high level and three made Team Saskatchewan for the 1989 Canada Summer Games,” she explained.

The head coach for Team Saskatchewan took Peters on as an apprentice coach for the two summers leading up to the Games.

“He was the former technical director of Basketball Canada, so he helped write the books on NCCP basketball coaches’ training in Canada,” she said. “That took my coaching to another level and increased my certification credentials significantly.”

Later, when Peters and her family relocated to B.C., she was hired to teach several activity courses for the kinesiology department of a local university.

“The dean really encouraged me to go on and get my master’s degree,” she said. “I finished that degree in 2008, just as we were moving back to Caronport.  Shortly after that, (Briercrest) developed the partnership degree with MSU. All of a sudden, my master’s degree in physical education teacher education is the perfect one to help teach the foundational courses for future physical education teachers.”

“It’s been a unique journey,” she continued. “When I thought maybe my days in sport were over, the doors just kept opening.”

Peters wants to help open some of those doors for any students who might be considering various majors but still have an interest in sports. She sees the kinesiology minor as a perfect way to integrate faith and sport along with their chosen major and use that combination in any future involvement in sport, recreation and fitness.

“If you want to combine great biblical training with a really strong general education core . . . and integrate your love of sport and understanding for the discipline of kinesiology with another chosen major – Briercrest is a great place. You can do it.”