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Maureen Johnson, CANADA
I have always been fascinated with the skill required to twirl a baton. Early on, it became very obvious to me that in order to be successful there was a correct way to handle the intricacies of the silver stick that produced a fluid , often flawless, performance, and an incorrect technique that led to errors and inconsistencies. From my own days of marching in parades to performing on stage or competing with others that ‘difference’ became my mission as a Coach. I became a believer in a progressional method of teaching the Sport of Baton and developed a ‘Pre Competitive’ program within CBTF for young twirling students. Progressional teaching requires learning from the fundamentals and moving upward from there.
I want to share this knowledge with Coaches, both experienced and brand new. These basic beliefs will grow our sport and contribute to the success of the ongoing merger for all athletes. Ultimately, there will be fewer penalties as the judging system rewards correct technique, performances will be more expressive as the athletes become more proficient.
In order to grow the Sport, it is also important to remember the ‘grassroots’ support from Clubs in all of the IBTF countries. The group participation at this level is vital to our survival as a World Sport.
If elected as a member of the IBTF Technical Sport Commission, I would like to continue to develop and contribute videos to the IBTF Coaching Community, as well as participating in Webinars in this same area.
National Positions
- CBTF Technical Representative to WBTF Technical Committee, 2016 - 2024
- CBTF National Coaches Rep, 2015 - present
International Positions
- WBTF Executive Technical Committee, Coaches Vice-Chair, 2016 - 2021
- WBTF Executive Technical Committee, Coaches Chair, 2021 - 2024
- Created the new (2019) Vertical and Horizontal Contact Elements (6A and 6B) for Short Program
- Contributor to the development of the WBTF/IBTF Freestyle Solo Judging System:
- developed the Contact Material Grid and demonstration videos
- developed the Rolls Code of Points chart and demonstration videos
- Member of the committee developing the IBTF Freestyle Team Judging System
- WBTF Honorary Member, 2013
Athlete Accomplishments
- Coached athletes and groups at AYOP in 1968, 1974, and 1976
- Coached athletes that competed at WBTF World Championship and International Cup competitions since 1980
- Coached athletes at IBTF Grand Prix, World Championship, and Nations Cup competitions since 2015
- AYOP Little Brown Jug Twirl Corps Champions, 1974 and 1976
- WBTF Freestyle Solo
- Stacy Singer
- Gold Medallist: 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
- Bronze Medallist: 1986, 1987
- Julee Stewart
- Silver Medallist: 2022
- WBTF Freestyle Pair
- Leah Holliday & Sheryl Holliday
- Bronze Medallist: 1994
- - Leah Holliday & Jennifer Tangjerd
- Gold Medallist: 1999
- Whitney Nichols & Jennifer Dauncey
- Bronze Medalist: 2002
- WBTF Freestyle Team
- Gold Medallist: 1991 (Team Canada)
- Silver Medallist: 1988, 1990, 1994 (Team Canada)
- Bronze Medalist: 1989, 1996 (Team Canada)
- WBTF Artistic Group
- Gold Medallist: 2005, ‘Holding Out For A Hero’
- Gold Medallist: 2015, ‘Hernando’s Hideaway’
- Bronze Medallist: 2019, ‘The Greatest Showman’
Sabrina Prade, ITALY
I would like more professionalism in our profession of technicians and even more tools to be recognized in the world of international sport as equals
Until now I have been a full-time twirling technician, I work in many companies and I manage one of the most important in the national field. I also collaborate with some international companies, I am the technical director of the Italian federation and I mainly deal with organizing all the competitive activity. I was the Competition director at the 2006 and 2022 world championships, in 2011 in the European Championship and I will also be the Competition director in 2025. For a few years now I have graduated in Nutrition Science with a specialization in Sport and I am graduating as a Life and Sport Mental Coach at a famous Italian Academy .
Tomoko Natsuda, JAPAN
In order for IBTF to be recognized as an international organization for sports, it is necessary to establish baton twirling as a sport. In order to establish baton twirling as a sport, it is necessary to ensure that athletes know the correct techniques and compete safely, and that fair judging is guaranteed. I would like to commit myself to these two things.
I declare that I will always work with the world's officers in a calm and friendly manner.
I have many years of coaching experience, and my experience as a judge, including in Japan, totals about 40 years. I think I can share ideas and participate in actions to solve the various problems that are expected to arise in the IBTF.
I have experience working in elementary schools and have a lot of experience in teaching. I am currently studying baton twirling judging for my master's degree at university, and I think I can give back to the twirling field.