Saturday, July 31, 2010

“German sports academy puts young athletes to the test” plus 3 more

“German sports academy puts young athletes to the test” plus 3 more

German sports academy puts young athletes to the test

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 12:55 AM PDT

Vera Kremer is one of the hopefuls at the most recent physical admissions test at the German Sports Academy in Cologne.

 

Young Germans know that the Academy is the best place to go for a degree related to a career in sports, which is why the 17-year-old has made the five-hour drive from Bavaria with her family to take the test.

 

She hopes to get her teacher certification from the Sports Academy in physical education, just like her parents and sister before her. The academy has around 5,000 students, studying programs from sports management to physical therapy, and of course physical education teaching certification.

 

But before the students are even considered for admittance, they've got to pass the rigorous physical entrance exam. On average, fewer than 40 percent of the students who take the entrance exam actually pass.

 

A group of students recieves instructions from the judgesBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Passing or failing is often decided by the judgesFrom basketball to badminton

 

As a gymnast, Kremer is quite athletic but this test is designed to examine a wide range of disciplines. There are 20 events, including gymnastics, swimming, team sports, track and field and racquet sports. Of these tests, 19 must be completed successfully, meeting a time, distance or competency standard.

 

"I'm pretty nervous about badminton, and about the running at the end, but I think it'll be alright," Kremer said.

 

Up first is Kremer's team sports exam in basketball. As she goes through ball-handling drills on the court, her father Heinz nervously looks on. He's a physical education teacher, and completed a test just like this one over 30 years ago.

 

"I nearly failed in swimming," he said. "In the timed breaststroke event, my time was only just good enough to get through."

 

But the swimming event posed no problem to his daughter, and although she was the shortest player on the court, Kremer displayed enough know-how on the hardwood to pass basketball.

 

But then there's the event she is most nervous about - the racquet sports test, where she'll try her hand at badminton.

 

Fabian Messmer gets ready for the shot putBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Is that shot regulation weight?Swapping shots

 

Kremer leaves the basketball court and heads across the campus to the badminton courts. The test is given twice a year, and costs 60 euros ($78) to take. On this exam day, around 500 contestants are divided into six groups that rotate through the events in a different order. Each group is accompanied by a student volunteer from the academy who leads them around the campus from one event to the next.

 

Some events finish early, but to keep the groups on the same schedule, none of the events are moved forward, which makes for lots of down time for the contestants.

 

The day started off cloudy in Cologne, so all the events have been moved indoors - including the track and field test, where 20-year-old Fabian Messmer has just met the time standard in the 100-meter dash.

 

The young man from outside of Freiburg near the Swiss border barely broke a sweat in meeting the time standard. But his next event is admittedly his worst: the shot put.

 

"If I fail, it's not my fault," he says as a disclaimer. "The shot is too heavy."

 

And sure enough, all three of his attempts fall short of the 7.6 meter mark. That is Messmer's one failed discipline for the admissions test - if he gets another one, he's out.

 

All about technique

 

It ends up being the swimming test that ends Messmer's entrance exam. He failed to impress the judge with his crawl stroke technique, meaning he recorded one too many deficits to continue.

 

Fabian Messmer on the bar excerciseBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  As a former gymnast, Messmer had no problem on the bars - just in the pool"I'm a little bit disappointed but it was my fault," said Messmer, taking the defeat in stride. "I took a breath when my head was in front of the water, and you have to take a breath when it's on the side, and that's my fault."

 

Messmer will give it another go in a week's time at a different sports academy near his hometown. In the meantime, he has a lot of time to kill before his overnight train back home, so he decides to head over to the track and watch the other competitors in the final test of the day - the long distance run.

 

Five laps to go

 

The sun has finally poked through the clouds and the conditions are perfect for running a distance race. Vera Kremer has made it all the way through to the end of the day. She's been on her feet for about 10 hours, with long breaks between events.

 

Vera Kremer runs around a trackBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Just a few more laps before Kremer has the test under her belt"I feel very tired," she said. "I actually don't want to walk anymore, but I have to, and I'll give my very best."

 

Her final test is a 2 kilometer run - five laps around the track - in 10 minutes. Passing the endurance test is a must for all students, even if they have perfect marks coming in.

 

Through four laps, Kremer is on pace to pass but isn't leaving much room for error. She kicks in the final curve, churns her arms and legs down the home stretch and crosses the finish line with 15 seconds to spare.

 

She slumps against a chain-link fence - exhausted, but grinning from ear to ear. She's a step closer to landing a spot at one of Europe's top sports academies.

 

Author: Matt Zuvela
Editor: Rob Turner

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sports competition as pure as the Rockies

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 06:00 PM PDT

Class 4A girls pole vaulting champion Morgan Griffin will compete. (John Leyba, Post file photo )

Million-dollar contracts, TV broadcast rights, shoe deals, court dates, two-hour ESPN "Look at Me!" specials. These things aren't sports. These are circus rings, frivolity, distractions, empty calories.

But all is not lost. The Rocky Mountain State Games — more than 7,000 athletes competing in 35 sports this weekend in Colorado Springs — brings true sport back to the fore.

This is sport in its purest form.

Take, for example, two-time U.S. Olympian Katie Uhlaender of Breckenridge. Her discipline, honed with years of hard work, is skeleton, a slim sled race over ice in winter. She competed at Turin and Vancouver and has won two world titles.

But the drive to compete has Uhlaender pursuing a gold medal in weightlifting this weekend at the State Games. Why not? If the idea is to test yourself against the limits, the event means less than the competition. Skeleton, weightlifting, table tennis. Bring it on.

Look too for Morgan Griffin. Last year's Class 4A high school pole vaulting champ — who will compete for Colorado State's track team in the fall — will test her will this weekend not only in the pole vault, but also in the high jump, long jump and 200 meters.

Jeremy Rankin, a former Overland High School star who flew through a prep career before taking his speed to the University of Florida, will return to race the 100 and 200. Shot putter Mason Finley, formerly of Buena Vista and now the Big 12 champion at Kansas, is back to throw some more.

The list of notable names is long. And, for higher stakes, 44 athletes competing in the pentathlon at the State Games will also be going for an American title. USA Pentathlon's national championships will decided a winner in this, their 98th year.

The grassroots, Olympic-style competitions, with athletes from all corners, will be pure sport.

The Games

* Where: Olympic Training Center, Memorial Park, Colorado Springs; Air Force Academy; Fort Carson.

* When: Today through Sunday.

* Disciplines: Athletes will compete in 35 sports.

* Opening ceremony: "American Idol" star Kimberly Caldwell highlights the show, which starts tonight at 7 at the World Arena. U.S. bobsled gold medalist Steven Holcomb will light the caldron to start the Games at the conclusion of the opening ceremony. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth, ticketswest.com or 719-576-2626.

* Admission: Free for all sports except basketball, gymnastics and track and field. One-day car/family pass ($10) and individual day passes (adults: $5, youth 13-18: $3, seniors 55 and older: $3, children 12 and younger admitted free).

AROUND TOWN

Battle for supremacy.

Everything is coming up Outlaws of late. Denver's Major League Lacrosse side is riding a three-game winning streak, tied for the league lead with two games remaining, and one of its own just starred on the world stage.

Brendan Mundorf, one of three Outlaws attackers playing for the U.S. last weekend, scored two goals to help beat Canada in the title game of the World Lacrosse Championships in England.

But the Outlaws moved on. When they face the Boston Cannons on Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, the MLL regular-season title will be on the line.

The teams are tied with 7-3 records, and each has clinched a playoff berth. But

a top seed and bragging rights will be on the line. Boston's Matt Poskay is the runaway leader in points this season in the MLL, with 39 goals and 46 points. Mundorf is Denver's leader with 18 goals and 33 points. The game starts at 7 p.m.

STAY ON THE COUCH

X marks the spot.

Shaun White will make what he hopes is a triumphant return to wheeled boards today in Los Angeles when the flashy redhead takes the spotlight at the 16th edition of the X Games.

White, who has shot to fame in recent years in snowboarding — at both the Winter X Games and in the Winter Olympics — let his skate cred lapse. He hasn't competed in the skateboard vert and skate vert best trick events in nearly two years.

But he will tonight, when ESPN broadcasts its prime-time coverage of the games starting at 5 p.m. Earlier events will be shown at noon.

Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon is favored for a third gold in vert, but White could shine in best trick. Skate-or-die punks everywhere are waiting for him to finally knock a 1080 — what would be the biggest trick since Tony Hawk's 900 in 1999. ESPN's coverage runs to Sunday.

GET OFF THE COUCH

The hills are alive with activities.

Head for the hills this weekend for runs short and rides long through the mountains.

The Granby Gut Buster 5K on Saturday (9 a.m.) will run from the Town Hall through the streets of the city in what hopes to be a calm and cool day, perfect for a run. If all holds nicely, you might not even be bothered by the hill that gives the "Gut Buster" its name. Check townofgranby.com for information.

Farther south, in Pagosa Springs on Saturday, try the Wolf Creek Ride and Reggae 100K. The 7 a.m. noncompetitive ride will summit and descend 10,857-foot high Wolf Creek Pass, a road never fun to drive in winter but a grand time to ride in summer. Check joingecko.org.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE

Time to let 'em buck.

People go for the concerts and the fairs and hats, but the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is, lest we forget, a rodeo. And a good one at that.

Known to insiders as "The Dad," the CFD rodeo brings in about 1,300 riders, ropers and wranglers. The rodeo runs through Sunday's final round, which starts at 12:45 p.m.

It's four months until the National Finals, but for big midseason rodeos, Cheyenne brings in the best. Check cfdrodeo.com for schedules and standings.

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sports briefs, 7/30/10

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 10:29 PM PDT

Staff Reports

Published: Friday, July 30, 2010 6:11 AM MST
City offers fall football, soccer, basketball programs

The City of Maricopa is offering the following sports programs during the Fall and Winter seasons.

Adult Flag Football – Ages 18-plus; registration currently through Aug. 6; season Aug. 15 through Oct. 3; $350 per team

NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass, Kick – Ages 8-15; Wedneseday, Sept. 8; Register for free on site

Youth Soccer – Ages 4-15; registration Aug. 16 through Sept. 17; season Oct. 30 through Dec. 18; $45 per child

Youth basketball – Ages 4-15; registration Oct. 18 through Nov. 19; season Jan. 15 through Feb. 26; $45 per child.

For more information, contact community services at (520) 316-6964.

Golfers, sponsors needed for MHS football golf tourney

The Maricopa Rams Football Booster Club invites you to participate in the First Annual Maricopa Rams Football Golf Tournament on Aug. 28 at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado. Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m., with check-in beginning at 6:30 a.m. Deadline to register is Aug. 21.

The success of this event will be credited to sponsors who lend their names and financial support to the Maricopa High School football program. The money raised will go directly to the program to provide proper training and equipment.

Individual participants can take part for $65 each, with $260 covering a full foursome. Hole sponsorship packages are available for $500, which includes one full foursome, a company green sign, and one two-by-three banner that will be displayed at the MHS football field every game throughout the Rams' 2010 season.

Driving range, putting green, and food sponsorships are available for $250 each, which also includes a company sign at the event and a two-by-three banner at home football games. 

Local organizations and businesses are also encouraged to donate items for the raffle and silent auction.

To set up sponsorship opportunities or reserve your spot in the playing field, contact Mary Wilson at (602) 525-2494 or Marty Diehl at (520) 431-2485.

Stagecoach Days 'Maricopa Mile & 5K'

Chances for Children AZ presents the Stagecoach Days "Maricopa Mile and 5K," scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 10. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Legacy Traditional School, with the 5k run/walk event running $20 per racer, and the 1 mile kids run at $5 per participant.

The event will also house a Family Fitness Fair, with all proceeds from the race benefiting Team Fit Kids Maricopa.

For more information, visit www.maricopamile.com.

Registration currently open for City fall, winter activities

The City of Maricopa's Fall and Winter 2010-11 activity guide is now available online at www.maricopa-az.gov (under "Government," select "community services").

Activities available this fall/winter fall under the following categories: sports, health and fitness, dance and gymnastics, art and music, general interest and training and certification. In all, more than 65 activities are available for city residents to enjoy.

Download an activity guide and learn which activities are age appropriate, costs, and signup dates. For more information, community services at (520) 316-6964.

'Relay for Life' coming to Maricopa

The American Cancer Society's signature event – "Relay for Life" – is coming to Maricopa for the first time on March 25-26, 2011.

As the world's largest grassroots fundraising movement, "Relay for Life" mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease.

Maricopa will host the community's inaugural "Relay for Life" on March 25-26, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., at the Maricopa High School Football Stadium. For more information about the local event, contact co-chair Grace Gomez at (520) 568-9407 or Gwen Traylor at (313) 316-6761. For more general information about "Relay for Life," visit www.relayforlife.org/relay.

Local team seeks sponsors, riders, for 'Tour de Cure'

The WalMart/Sam's Club team, led by Maricopa resident and team captain Keith Monk, is looking for sponsors and riders for next year's American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, presented by Charles Schwab.

The eighth annual race is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in North Phoenix.

For more information on the race itself, call 1-888-DIABETES (ext. 7093) or go online to www.diabetes.org/tour, and for information on supporting or joining the WalMart/Sam's Club team, contact Keith Monk at (480) 980-3015.

Submit your sports briefs to maricopa_monitor@yahoo.com today!

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Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

What's Happening sports bulletin board

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 11:21 PM PDT

Items for What's Happening must be received by noon Thursday before publication. Send information to sports editor Karl Zinke, including daytime telephone number, to What's Happening, Sports Dept., The Examiner, P.O. Box 459, Independence, Mo. 64051, fax it to 816-254-0211 or send by e-mail (karl.zinke@examiner.net). Please include deadline or date notice should be taken out and please indicate what sport the announcement should be listed under. Dates are subject to change. Examiner is not responsible for tryouts. Please contact people listed for detailed information. The Examiner reserves the right to edit for length and content and remove any listings.
* – indicates new item

Baseball
* ■ Tryouts, for multiple Mac-N-Seitz 12U Major teams will be held on July 31, 5 p.m. at the Mac-N-Seitz Facility (13705 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Mo.). Visit www.mac-n-seitz.com or call Mac-N-Seitz at 816-942-9992 for more information.
* ■ Tryouts, The Bats, 11U for 2011 tryout Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. at Sluggers Field in Independence. Looking for skilled players at all positions. Contact David 816-229-7588, 816-309-9000 or www.thebats.org for location or more information.
* ■ Tryouts, Blue Springs Bandits, 13U AA/AAA competitive team looking for a few players for spring 2011. Tryouts scheduled for Aug. 8, 3-5 p.m. at Legion Field in Blue Springs. Contact Danny McMahill at 816-509-7011 or dannymcmahill@sbcglobal.net.
* ■ Tryouts, Independence Yankees 12U will be holding tryouts for all positions. Looking for players willing to work hard, have fun and learn fundamentals. Needing players for 2010 fall and 2011 spring seasons. Tryouts will be held throughout August, call Kevin at 816-803-5770 for a tryout.
* ■ Tryouts, 10U AA Fusion Baseball holding tryouts for fall ball and next season. Contact Troy at 816-665-9918 or Randy at 816-616-9093 for more information.
* ■ Tryouts, Independence Jerry's Sports Bears senior and junior American Legion teams, Aug. 14 at Independence Athletic Complex and Aug. 15 at Santa Fe Trail Park, starting at 9 a.m. each day. Seeking dedicated players who understand baseball will take a priority over other activities. Players must attend or will attend William Chrisman, St. Mary's or Van Horn high schools or whose parents address is in close proximity. American Legion address rules are followed. Age requirement is that players must turn 15 through 19 between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011. For additional information, visit the website http://BearsBaseball.org or call 816-427-2417.
* ■ Tryouts, 18U competitive college showcase team. Open tryouts for all positions for fall 2010 and summer 2011 seasons. Contact T.J. Watreas at 816-256-9975 or TJhuntfish@aol.com for more information.
* ■ Tryouts, 13U AAA Fury, competitive baseball team looking for four players willing to play at high level. Team will be playing fall 2010 league plus two tournaments, and spring 2011 in 9-10 tournaments, including Missouri state and world series. Plan to travel to St. Louis for one tournament in the spring and watch a Cardinals game. Winter practices will start in January. Players must be willing to learn different positions, pitching is a must and looking for a strong catcher. If interested, contact Jon Henry at 816-935-0024 or jonathan-henry@sbcglobal.net for more information.
* ■ Tryouts, 9U Triple Crown State Champions Blue Springs Crush, tryouts for 2010 and 2011 season (ages 8, 9 and 10) on Aug. 7, starting at 10 a.m. Call 816-929-1222 for a tryout time. Team will compete in Blue Springs fall league, local tournaments, defend our state title and compete in the 2011 World Series in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
■ The Examiner's Baseball Blowout Tournament, Aug. 5-8 at Monkey Mountain Park in Grain Valley. T-ball (age 6 and under), Machine Pitch 7U and 8U and Baseball 9U, 10U and 12U divisions are available. Proceeds benefit The Examiner's Newspapers In Education fund which provides newspapers to local schools to help educate students. Cost is $350 per team with a three-game guarantee. All participants receive a medal and there is no gate charge. Deadline to register is July 31. Visit www.GVAAsports.org for rules and regulations. For more information or to sign up, e-mail Kevin Quinn at gvbaseball@sbcglobal.net.
■ Tryouts, 12U AAA FCA Knights will hold open tryouts to fill out a core group of boys for the 2010 fall and 2011 summer seasons. Tryouts are scheduled for July 31, 9:30 a.m. to noon, and on Aug. 1, 1-3 p.m., at Blue Springs High School. Team will play 50-65 games, including league, 8-10 tournaments, state and world series. Teams, 2010 USSSA AAA state champions and 2009 state runner-up, stresses finer points of the game as well as teaching life skills. Contact Mike July at 816-229-3656 or july5@att.net with any questions or to schedule a tryout if the above dates do not work.
■ Tryouts, 10U AA Buffalo Wild Wings Thunder competitive baseball team will be having tryouts on Aug. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. Team plays league and 6-7 tournaments, including state. If interested, please contact Jeramey Mabie at 816-694-9551 or thunderbaseball@rocketmail.com.
■ Tryouts, Blue Rocks 14U AAA team seeking players for 2011 spring/summer season. For more information, contact Garry Anderson at 816-289-0246.
■ Tryouts, A/AA Team is looking to add experienced players (9-10-year-olds going into fourth grade) to roster for 2010 fall and 2011 spring ball. Team, known as the Rebels last season, plays in the eastern Kansas City area and is based in Oak Grove. One-on-one private tryouts available. For more information, contact Shane Triplett at 816-868-9667 or shanetriplett06@comcast.net.
■ Tryouts, 12U AA Blue Springs Renegades baseball team is having tryouts for upcoming fall 2010 and spring 2011 seasons. All positions open, especially pitchers and catchers. Birth date should be between May 1, 1998 and April 30, 1999. If interested in a tryout, please call Doug at 816-682-3118 or 816-918-7466 or send e-mail to dtctkeckler@comcast.net.
■ Tryouts, Blue Springs Cardinals 12U AA baseball team will be holding tryouts for all positions for our 2010 fall team and our 2011 spring team. An open competition wil be held for all positions. Tryouts will be held throughout the month of July and early August. Birthdate should be between May 1, 1998 and April 30, 1999. Call Gary Anderson to schedule a tryout at 816-510-3332 or email him at garysamzac@sbcglobal.net.
■ Tryouts, Independence Longhorns baseball holding tryouts for experienced players for competition team starting this fall. Players need to be at least age 9 and not have turned 11 before May 1, 2011. Competition team will play fall and spring league games through Queen City Baseball in Independence and also will play local tournaments, including the state championships. Call Coach Kevin Cowick at 816-252-4208 for more information.
■ University of Central Missouri Tom Myers Baseball Camps have been scheduled for August. The UCM Stars of Tomorrow Camp, for ages 15 and older, is scheduled for Aug. 2 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field. Camp features written evaluations and instruction on hitting, pitching and defensive positions by the UCM baseball staff led by head coach Tom Myers and a pro-style tryout and live games with invited area college coaches in attendance. Cost is $100 per session if pre-registered or $125 the day of camp. Register and pay online at www.mulesbaseball.com. For more information, contact Scott Reller at 660-543-4892 or srr13330@ucmo.edu.
■ Kansas City Youth Pitching Academy, Inc., is looking for new or used baseball equipment donations. Donations will be used for families who can't afford to supply their children with baseball equipment for next year's baseball season. Bats, gloves, helmets, shoes, pants and other items are accepted. Kansas City Youth Pitching Academy, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping develop injury-free youth pitchers through education, research and instruction. If you have any baseball gear taking up space in your home, please contact Russ Barker at rbarker@kcyouthpitching.com or 816-517-1828.
■ Ongoing: Kiwanis Baseball League, for 15-16-year-old teams, is a composite wood bat league. League games to be played at Crysler, IAC and Fort Osage. League is seeking experienced scorekeepers. For more information contact John Curtis at 816-795-6503 or sigjcc@comcast.net.
■ Ongoing: Fort Osage Indians Athletic Association USSSA sanctioned baseball league for full teams and individual players ages 4-14. For more information, visit the Web site (www.fortosagebaseball.com).
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Little League. For more information go to Web site (bluespringsbaseball.org).
■ Ongoing: Queen City Baseball Association. For more information, call the Queen City office at 816-796-4003, visit the Web site (www.eteamz.com/qcba/) or send e-mail to: Queencitybball@aol.com.
■ Ongoing: Tri-City Baseball League. For more information, visit the Web site (www.tri-city.org) or call Donna Schroer at Tri-City at 816-795-1088, ext. 320.

Basketball
* ■ Saints Athletic Club Basketball Skills Camp, Aug. 2-5 at Lee's Summit Community Christian School gymnasium (1500 SW Jefferson). Session 1 is for grades 4-6 and runs 9 a.m. to noon each day. Session 2 is for grades 7-8 and runs 1:30-4:30 p.m. each day. Skills-based basketball camp focused on ball handling, speed and agility drills, shooting techniques, scrimmage games and positive sportsmanship. Cost is $65 per person. Bring registration form to camp or register online at www.SaintsAthleticClub.com. Contact DaltonVann at 816-337-6613 for details.
* ■ Supreme Sports Competitive Youth Basketball Fall Session 2010 league now taking team registrations for boys and girls teams in grades 2-12. Leagues begin week of Aug. 23 and games played on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at KC Sports Lodge in Independence. Cost is $480 per team for an eight-game schedule. Deadline to register is Aug. 14. Register online at www.supremesportskc.com. For more information, contact Jeff Bass at 816-257-7339 or jeff@supremesportskc.com.
* ■ Tryouts, Team Supreme Basketball Club for 2010-11 winter season for boys and girls in grades 2-7. Tryouts are scheduled for Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Sept. 12 at KC Sports Lodge in Independence. Grades 2-3 boys and girls are noon to 1:15 p.m.; grades 4-5 boys are 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.; grades 4-5 girls are 3 to 4:15 p.m.; grades 6-7 boys are 5 to 6:15 p.m.; and grades 6-7 girls are 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tryouts are held over three-week period instead of one time session. A parents meeting is set for Sept. 26, practice begins week of Oct. 4 and league play begins week of Nov. 8. For more information, visit the Team Supreme page at www.supremesportskc.net or contact Rodney Gilyard at Rodney@supremesportskc.net or Jeff Bass at jeff@supremesportskc.net or call the Supreme Sports offices at 816-257-7339. To register for the tryouts online, visit the website at www.supremesportskc.net.
■ Tryouts, twenty sixteen, a local sixth grade competitive boys basketball team looking to add one post player. Contact Brett Kratzer at 816-213-7329 or kratzer5@yahoo.com if interested.
■ Tryouts, Prowlers Basketball program starting at SportsCity in Blue Springs, for grades 3-12. Freshmen and younger will not travel out of state and will play majority of games in KC metro area. Older groups will be traveling to NCAA-sanctioned tournaments to get exposure to college scouts. Older groups could travel as far as Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. Teams will have two practice days per week plus games. All Prowler Basketball players will get 50 percent off any clinics and camps the Prowlers Basketball program hold at SportsCity. For more information or tryout details, contact Steve Tutt at 816-286-8796 or coachtutt@prowlersbasketballkc.com.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Athletic Association Basketball League. For more information contact, Steve Hyde at 816-228-4994 or visit bsaabasketball.com.
■ Ongoing: AAU basketball. For more information, write to the Missouri Valley AAU, 1815 South York, Independence, Mo. 64058, call 816-796-8893 or send e-mail to smaau@comcast.net.

BMX/Cycling
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs BMX at Pink Hill Park in Blue Springs. For more information, call the Track Hot Line at 816-392-9901 or visit bluespringsbmx.com.

Football
* ■ SportsCity 5v5 Flag Football Leagues now taking registrations for play that begins Aug. 12. Cost is $550 per team for eight-game schedule. Coed team are allowed but must play at the lowest level, may roster no more than two B-level players (no A level allowed) and must play with two women on field at all times. A coed division will be formed if at least four coed teams register and rule on upper-level players would not apply. For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.sportscitykc.com or contact Tammy Baldwin at SportsCity at 816-229-1314 or tbaldwin@sportscitykc.com.
■  Blue Springs Parks & Recreation 7-on-7 Men's Flag Football League is taking registrations for league to be held on Wednesday evenings at Blue Springs Park (2204 SW South Ave.) from Aug. 25 to Oct. 27. Cost is $365 per team for a 10-game schedule. Deadline to register is Aug. 16, but late registration will be accepted depending on availability. For more information or to register, call the Parks office at 816-228-0137 or visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com). Register online or at City Hall (903 Main Street) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
■ Ongoing: Raytown Sports Association Football, for ages 5-15. Flag (grades K-1) and tackle (grades 1-7). For more information, call Bob Dingman 816-510-2607 or www.raytownsports.com.
■ Ongoing: Pop Warner football, ages 5-14 are eligible. For more information, call Steve Bowen at 816-373-4511 or 816-550-2221 or e-mail to SSKC88@aol.com.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Pop Warner football, for ages 5-15. Flag football is for ages 5-8; tackle football is ages 8-15. For more information, call Leonard Fields at 816-373-3298 or Marc Busker 816-224-7991.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Athletic Association football leagues. For information, call the BSAA Hotline at 224-4639, ext. 3012 or visit bsaafootball.com.
■ Ongoing: Grain Valley Athletic Association youth football leagues. Flag (grades K-2) and tackle (grades 3-7) are available. For more information, visit the Web site at www.gvaasports.org.

Golf
* ■ 2010 Park University Golf Scramble, Sept. 9 at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City. Four-person scramble has an 11 a.m. registration/lunch followed by a noon shotgun start. Cost is $125 per golfer or $500 per foursome, and includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, driving-range access, on-course games and contests, on-course refreshments, dinner and a sleeve of golf balls. Sponsorships are also available. Proceeds benefit Park University's Department of Athletics and the Park University School of Business. For more information, contact Wini Edwards, Office of University Advancement administrative assistant, at wini.edwards@park.edu or 816-584-6200.

Gymnastics
■ Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department offering introductory gymnastics classes at Rebound Gymnastics (8316 South Missouri 7 Highway) in August. Boys and girls ages 6-12 are eligible. Participants will learn the basics of gymnastics with the use of the bars, beam, vault and trampoline. Four-class sessions are held 5-5:30 p.m. on Monday nights Aug. 2-30. Cost is $20 per person per four-class session. For more information or to register, call the Parks office at 816-228-0137 or visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com). Register online or at City Hall (903 Main Street) during business hours.

Horseshoes
■ Independence Horseshoe Club leagues run April through August. For more information, contact club president Alvin Gwinn at 816-461-1746 or league director David Thompson at 816-516-2508.

Martial Arts
■ Independence Parks and Recreation will offer youth karate lessons Aug. 2-30 at Sermon Community Center for ages 8-15. Classes meet 6-7 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost is $40 per child per session. For more information, visit www.independencemo.org/parksandrec or call 816-325-7843.

Miscellaneous
* ■ BVAC Adult Fall Kickball League taking registrations through Aug. 27. Cost is $285 per team and all teams are coed. Eight-game schedule played on Friday and Saturday evenings starting Sept. 10. For more information, contact BVAC at 816-796-8702 or visit www.bvacsports.org.
■ Ongoing: YMCA youth sports (preschool children through ninth grade) offered are baseball, soccer, basketball, golf and tennis. Swim lessons for youths and adults are also offered. For more information, contact the Blue Springs YMCA (224-9620), Independence YMCA (254-9622) or the Raytown YMCA (356-9622).
■ Ongoing: Kansas City Gaelic Atheltic Club. Gaelic football squad trains and scrimmages at 11 a.m. every Sunday at the Wizards practice facility in Swope Park (63rd and Lewis Road). For more information or the blog, visit the KCGAC Web sit at http://kansascity.missouri.gaa.ie/index.html or http://kcgac.blogspot.com.
■ Ongoing: Kansas City Blues Rugby team. Practices are open to experienced and new players. For more information, call the Blues hotline at 816-960-1281 or visit the Web site (www.kcblues.org).
■ Ongoing: Missouri State Senior Games: Call the MSSG office at (573) 882-1462 or go online (www.smsg.org/senior_games).

Outdoors
■ Ongoing: Raytown Bass Club is seeking new members. For more information, call Dennis Mitchell at 913-787-5810, Neil Parikh at 816-506-0611 or visit the www.raytownbassclub.net Web site.

Racquetball
■ Ongoing: Independence YMCA racquetball leagues. For more information, call the YMCA at 816-254-9622.

Running/Triathlons
* ■ Puddle Jumper Days 5K, Aug. 7 in downtown Odessa. Race begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $20 per person through Aug. 6 and $25 per person on race day. Race will be followed by a classic car, truck and motorcycle show and a parade, all as a part of the Odessa Puddle Jumper Days festivities. For more information, or to download a hard copy of the registration form, go to http://www.odessapuddlejumperdays.org/extras.html. Online registration also is available through Aug. 5 at www.sportkc.org.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Running Club, contact Terry Hickam at 816-229-6779.
■ Ongoing: Free Sunday runs offered at Garry Gribbles Running Sports. Check Web site at garrygribbles.com for directions and starting times. For more information, call 816-373-1100.
■ Ongoing: The Brocaw Blazers youth cross country team. For further information, visit the Web site at www.brocawblazers.org or call coach David Ramsey at 816-365-7938.

Soap Box Derby
■ Kansas City Soap Box Derby Racing Association has released its 2010 race/activity schedule. Here are the following remaining dates: Fall Rally I, Aug. 21-22, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 4300 Eastern Ave., Kansas City (free to spectators; fee for racers); Fall Rally II, Sept. 18-19, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 4300 Eastern Ave., Kansas City (free to spectators; fee for racers). Children ages 7-18 are eligible to race and spectators are welcome. For more information, visit the Kansas City Soap Box Derby Web Site at www.kcsbd.com.

Soccer
* ■ BVAC Fall Soccer League taking registrations for grades 3-9 through Aug. 27. Cost is $73 per person and includes a team shirt. Teams will practice one night a week and games are Saturdays at the BVAC fields. League play begins on Sept. 18. For more information, contact BVAC at 816-796-8702 or visit www.bvacsports.org.
■ Ongoing: BSHS Soccer Alumni Association seeking former soccer players at Blue Springs High School to join in the year-round fun and giving. For more information, call Bob Rusert at 816-808-4978 or visit bshssocceralumni.org.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs High School Boys Soccer Booster Club will meet on second Thursday of each month at the high school. For more information, call Bernadette Lawson at 816-616-4531.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs High School Girls Soccer Booster Club meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Springs High School library. For more information, contact Kathy Karst at 816-228-7458 or Janet Shelman at 816-229-5769.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Soccer Club. For more information, call 913-982-1240, visit the Web site (www.bluespringssoccerclub.org) or send e-mail to sewells@sprintmail.com.
■ Ongoing: Soccer Association of Independence. Visit the Web site at www.saisoccer.org or call 456-9837.
■ Ongoing: Soccer West. Visit www.soccerwestmo.com, send e-mail to soccerwest1@sbcglobal.net or call 816-229-4502.
■ Ongoing: Oak Grove Soccer League. For information contact Bruce Forthofer at 816-898-7564 or president@oakgrovesoccer.org or visit the Web site (www.oakgrovesoccer.org).
■ Ongoing: BVAC Youth Soccer Leagues. For more information, call BVAC at 816-796-8702, visit the Web site (www.bvacsports.org) or send e-mail to bvac@bvacsports.org.
■ Ongoing: Raytown Soccer Club. For more information, visit the Web site (www.raytownsoccerclub.org) or call 816-313-7721.
■ Ongoing: Jackson County Parks and Recreation Soccer Field Rental Program. Requests for field rentals are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Cost is $20 per hour, per field for daily rental and $100 per field or $30 per team for tournament or league field rental. Nets, corner flags, field painting, etc., require additional fees. To reserve a field or for more information, call 816-795-8200, ext. 1-277 or 1-270.
■ Ongoing: Jackson County Futsal Leagues. Futsal is FIFA's official indoor soccer game, a scaled down version of outdoor soccer played indoors on a smaller field with a low-bounce ball that is weighted. For more information, visit the Web site (www.premierfutsal.com) or call Jim West at 816-522-7314.

Softball
* ■ Adair Park Fall Doubleheader league now forming. Ages 10, 12 and 14. Tuesday and Wednesday game times 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. for four weeks. Play starts Sept. 7. Cost is $495 per team. Call 816-836-4782 for more information or to register.
* ■ Tryouts, South 71 All-Stars, open tryouts, USSSA 14B team, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to noon. See website for more info at www.south71allstars.com.
■ Ongoing: The Exceptionals, a summer youth softball program at Hidden Valley Park Softball Complex for boys and girls ages 5-20 physically or mentally unable to participate in other programs. Contact Laurie Munzuris at 816-522-6749 or Karin Windes at 816-217-8403 for more information or to volunteer.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Girls Softball Association. For more information, visit the Web site (bsgsa.net).
■ Independence Girls Softball Association. For more information, visit the Web site (www.igsasoftball.com).
■ Ongoing: Lee's Summit Girls Softball Association is accepting girls from the entire metro area. Information available online at LSGSA.org. Both recreational and competitive teams available.
■ Ongoing: Heart of America Senior Softball leagues, for women ages 40-70-plus, men ages 50-70-plus, and coed (women 40-plus and men 50-plus). To register or for more information, visit the Web site (www.hasskc.com), send e-mail to hasskc@sbcglobal.net or call 816-358-4277.
■ Ongoing: KC Metro 50-Plus Softball League. For details or visit the Web site (www.kcseniorsoftball.com).

Swimming & Diving
■ Ongoing: Kansas City Dolphins, practices at Centennial Pool-Plex and Blue Springs YMCA in Blue Springs and Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan. Signups are ongoing throughout the year. Visit the Web site (www.teamdolphins.com) for more information.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs YMCA Swim Club, a non-competitive swim team, is available to children ages 6-18. Fundamentals of each stroke as well as personal development will be taught. Call the Blue Springs YMCA at 816-224-9620 for more details.
■ Ongoing: Tsunami Swim Team at Blue Springs YMCA, Longview Recreation Center and William Jewell College. Signups are ongoing throughout the year. Call 816-224-WAVE (9283) or visit online (www.tsunamienterprises.com).
■ Ongoing: KC Blazers swim team, at the Blue Springs YMCA and the Longview Recreation Center in Lee's Summit. For more information, call 913-383-8342.
■ Ongoing: Centennial Pool-Plex open swim hours. Admission is $5 per person for age 4 and older ($3.50 after 5 p.m.). Ages 3 and younger are free with a parent. Season memberships are also available. For dates and times of Lap Swim, Swimnastics, Therapeutic Swim, open swim hours or additional information, call 228-0137.

Table Tennis
■ Ongoing: Open play, JACOMO Table Tennis Club in Independence, Monday evenings, 6-9 p.m. For more information, call Dave Baker at 816-229-2253 or send e-mail to dhbakerinc@yahoo.com.

Tennis
■ The Independence Tennis Association is now taking registrations for its End of Summer Tennis Tournament, Aug. 6-8 at the courts in Santa Fe Trail Park. The tournament offers several divisions. Juniors boys and girls singles and doubles will offer age divisions of 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-and-under. Adult divisions, for ages 19 and older, will offer men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles. Senior divisions, for ages 55 and older, will offer men's and women's singles and doubles. Cost is $12 per singles event and $22 per doubles team. Players are limited to two events. A minimum of three entries will be necessary for each event category to be played. Players are guaranteed two matches and trophies will be awarded for first and second place. The draw will take place on Aug. 4 and players will be notified of their playing times. Deadline to register is Aug. 2. Send entry fee with payment (make checks payable to the Independence Tennis Association) to Jody McClain, 19013 Ringo Circle, Independence, Mo. 64057. Please include name, e-mail address, phone/cell number, address, age, total money enclosed, divisions entered and doubles partner and partner's phone number (if applicable). For more information, contact Jody McClain at jodymcclain@yahoo.com or 816-616-3712.
■ Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department and Metro East Tennis Center offering youth tennis lessons in August for ages 5-18. All classes will be taught by instructors from Metro East Tennis Center at Old Mill Park (112 NW Woods Chapel Road) and at Metro East Tennis Center during inclement weather. QuickStart Tennis is a beginner program for ages 5-9 and meets 8-8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday Aug. 3-19. Cost is $40 per participant. Beginner & Advanced Tennis program is for novice players ages 10-15 and meets 9-10 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday Aug. 3-19. Cost is $45. Cardio Tennis for Kids program is open to ages 10-15 of all abilities and includes drill-based and play-based exercises keep the heart rate up. It meets 10-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday Aug. 3-19. For more information or to register, call the Parks office at 816-228-0137 or visit the Web site (www.bluespringsgov.com). Register online with a credit card or at City Hall (903 Main Street) during business hours.
■ Ongoing: United States Tennis Association Jr. Team Tennis, for boys and girls ages 6-18 in leagues that emphasize fun, fitness and friends. Leagues match players of similar age and ability using the Junior National Tennis Rating Program (JNTRP). To learn more go to www.missourivalley.usta.com or call 913-322-4826.

Track & Field
■ Ongoing: Eastern Jackson County Track club, for ages 6-18. Includes USA Track and Field membership. For more information, contact Chris Earley at 816-847-0252.
■ Ongoing: Missouri Valley AAU Association. Visit the Web site (www.region8aau.org/movalley).

Volleyball
* ■ BVAC Fall Volleyball League taking registrations for girls in grades 4-7 through Aug. 27. Cost is $73 per person and includes a team shirt. Teams will practice one night a week and games are Monday evenings at the BVAC gym. League play begins on Sept. 20. For more information, contact BVAC at 816-796-8702 or visit www.bvacsports.org.
■ Ongoing: Blue Springs Youth Volleyball League. For more information, visit the Web site at www.eteamz.com/BSYVL.
■ Ongoing: Fort Osage Youth Volleyball League, for girls in grades 4-7. Girls in Fort Osage and Independence school districts are eligible. Contact Lyn Adams at 816-650-6294.

Wrestling
■ Ongoing: Youth Jaguar Wrestling Club, team practices at Blue Springs South High School. For more information, contact Doug Black at dblack@bssd.net or 816-582-6911.
■ Ongoing: Independence Youth Wrestling program at the William Chrisman High School wrestling room. Ages 5-14 are eligible. Practices are on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tournaments are scheduled for Saturdays at area schools. Novice tournaments for first- and second-year wrestlers are Sundays. For more information, visit the Web site at www.independenceyouthwrestling.org or contact Chuck Rodgers at 816-254-3716 or Bill Jones at 816-305-2928.
■ Ongoing: Predator Youth Wrestling Club of Eastern Jackson County seeks youth wrestlers ages 5-14. Practices are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the William Chrisman High School wrestling room. For more information on joining, please contact Dawn Taff at 816-650-3979 or Mike Gempeler at 816-525-1244 or mwgempeler@gmail.com.
■ Ongoing: Mat Rat Wrestling Club, practices at Lee's Summit West, Richmond and University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Team is run by UCM assistant and former Raytown South High School head coach Alan Hull. Contact Alan Hull at 816-564-1847 or hullbuilders@yahoo.com for more information.
■ Ongoing: Western Stars Youth Wrestling Club, for ages 4-15. For more information, contact Phil Howk at 816-841-9852 or visit www.westernstars.org.
■ Ongoing: Fort Osage Mat Club. Children in kindergarten through eighth in the Fort Osage School District are eligible. Practices are 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the Fort Osage Multipurpose Building. For more information, Contact Jeff Cutbirth at 816-478-3994 or Bob Luke at 816-650-3516.
■ Ongoing: Mo West Wrestling Club. For more information, contact Jason Heslop by e-mail (jheslop@mowest.org) or by calling 816-471-2499.
■ Ongoing: Lee's Summit Broncos Youth Wrestling Club. Call Bill Biggerstaff at 816-986-1499 ext. 8193 for more information. Additional registration info and practice schedule may be found at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/lsnhs and click on athletics, wrestling and Kids Club.

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