Monday, January 3, 2011

“Sport in schools: Gymnastics classes giving Dundee kids welcome lift” plus 2 more

“Sport in schools: Gymnastics classes giving Dundee kids welcome lift” plus 2 more

Sport in schools: Gymnastics classes giving Dundee kids welcome lift

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 04:08 PM PST

MORE than 150 schoolchildren in a deprived area of Dundee are now enjoying gymnastics on a regular basis thanks to the hard work of a willing team of volunteers.

Back in 2003 Jackie Archibald, then local sports development officer and now Scottish Gymnastics' head of education and development, targeted the area of Whitfield in the City of Discovery to start a community programme.

Teachers, parents and pupi

ls at Newfields Primary School were so enthusiastic that an initial weekly taster course grew to a weekly after-schools session at nearby Whitfield Activity Complex which then expanded to three times a week.

To help sustain the growing demand those involved formed WAC Gymnastics Club and two years later Newfields Gymnastics Club became Scotland's first constituted primary school club.

In 2009 Newfields and WAC merged into Salto Gymnastics and Trampolining Club based out of Braeview Academy and meeting five nights a week with Newfields PS offering coaching one night a week.

Now the programme has 160 schoolchildren signed up, 15 qualified coaches and an army of helpers. And aside from the physical health benefits of more children participating in gymnastics, parents have reported that their children are better behaved and more respectful as a direct result of the discipline the sport offers.

Parent and volunteer coach Pamela Bowie said: "Gymnastics is a fundamental sport which gives you a great foundation for taking part in every other sport. Learning to show off your skills in front of other people is something that will give these children confidence throughout their lives."

To make Salto sustainable large numbers of new coaches have been recruited, some of them pupils from Braeview Academy, who have earned valuable qualifications which will help them when they leave school.

By developing a comprehensive structure of paid and volunteer coaches, combined with a mentoring programme, it means Salto's programme will keep evolving and more youngsters from local schools will become involved. This will enable Bowie to branch out into other areas of the community this year.

She is now employed by Dundee City Council as gymnastics coordinator, and throughout 2011 plans to offer lunchtime taster sessions in local primary schools and has already engaged with Active Schools to expand the catchment area.

Bowie is also keen to help people in other parts of the country bring gymnastics to schoolchildren as she and others have done in Whitfield since 2003.

"As far as I'm aware there is nothing like this that offers the full package anywhere else, but there is absolutely no reason why it couldn't work just as well elsewhere.

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Jackson-area youth sports: Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, soccer announcements for Jan. 3; youth ...

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 01:26 PM PST

Published: Monday, January 03, 2011, 4:10 PM     Updated: Monday, January 03, 2011, 5:08 PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Baseball

  • Lumen Christi High School graduate and Cincinnati Red prospect Ryan LaMarre is among the headliners of a hitting clinic and baseball education event scheduled for Jan. 15 and 16 at the Jackson Golf Dome. University of Michigan hitting coach Steve Merriman is scheduled to appear for part of the day on Jan. 15. The clinic is being put on by the nonprofit organization For Rge Love of The Game with squad times scheduled for 9-11:30 a.m., noon-2:30 p.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 and 9-11:30 a.m. and noon-2:30 p.m. Jan. 16.The cost for the clinic is $50 and includes ballpark food and drinks, an autographed baseball, a two-hour hitting clinic and a half-hour session on baseball knowledge provided by umpires. All ages are welcome, and limited space is available for each session. For more information or to register, call 784-5454 or send a check payable to For The Love of The Game with requested squad time to 512 W. Prospect St., Jackson, MI 49203. E-mail questions or concerns to fortheloveofthegame99@yahoo.com.

Basketball

  • The Grass Lake Warriors boys basketball tournament will be Feb. 5-6. The tournament is open to teams in grades 4-8. Entry fee is $125, with three games guaranteed. Make checks payable to Grass Lake Boys Basketball and mail to: Joel Cook, 1218 Breezy Lane, Jackson, MI 49201. For more information, call 795-3361 or e-mail: jcook@grasslakeschools.com.
  • Columbia Community Education is sponsoring the 23rd annual fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade boys basketball tournament Feb. 25-27. Each team is guaranteed four games in pool play. Teams finishing in first and second place in each pool will receive trophies. The fee is $120, and the deadline is Feb. 11. For more information, call Ralph Piepkow at 517-529-9400 or e-mail Jeanne.Meinka@myeagles.org.
  • Columbia Community Education is hosting its 10th annual seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball tournament on March 4-5. Each team is guaranteed three games in pool play. Winners of each pool will play for first- and second-place trophies. The entry fee is $120, and the deadline is Feb. 21. For more information, call Ralph Piepkow at 517-529-9400 or e-mail Jeanne.Meinka@myeagles.org.

Cheerleading

  • The Jackson Recreation Department will team up with the Jackson High School cheerleaders to host a cheer camp for youths ages 4-12. The camp will be Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. in the gymnasium at Jackson High School. Participants will learn new cheers and moves and have a chance to cheer at one of the Jackson High School basketball games. Cost is $10. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 788-4040.

Gymnastics

  • Jackson Recreation Department will hosts its gymnastics classes for youths on Saturdays at Boos Center in Loomis Park. The sessions start Jan. 8 and run through Feb. 12. Ages 5-7 will meet from 10:30-11:15 a.m., and ages 8-12 will meet from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Cost is $15, and class size is limited to 35 students. Registration will be taken 15 minutes prior to the first class. For more information, call 788-4040.

Soccer

  • The Jackson Developmental Soccer League, an indoor 3 vs. 3 futsal league, offers two winter sessions to youths interested in improving their soccer skills. Sessions will include 15 minutes of skill training and 30 minutes of small-sided games and will be conducted at the Rando Activity Center. The sessions are designed to help players improve their confidence, ball skills, and motor skills in a competitive, challenging, and positive environment. Winter Session 1: Three weeks on Sundays beginning Jan. 30. Each Sunday will be from 2:45-3:30 p.m. Winter Session 2: Three weeks on Sundays beginning Feb 27. Each Sunday will be from 2:45-3:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for both Sessions ($15 for one Session). For more information, contact Josh McKenna at: mckenna.joshua@yahoo.com or call (352) 422-4053. Website: www.playingfields.us. Contact: Jackson Developmental League Developmental League, P.O. Box 6430, Jackson, MI 49204.
  • Jackson Area Referees of Soccer (JARS) is hosting an entry-level referee class Jan. 15-16, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. each day, at the Woodville Community School on Catherine Street in Jackson. More information is available and on-line registration must be done at: www.msysareferee.net. Registration questions can be e-mailed to Francisco Villarruel (syramich@gmail.com). Questions about JARS can be directed to Nic Laporte at 517-917-7228 or (niclaporte@comcast.net)

RESULTS

Wrestling

At "The Super Bowl of Wrestling" at MSU

Western MatCats

  • Ages 13-15: Zak Smith, 75 lb., 4th
  • Ages 11-12: Gavin Putnam, 65 lb., 4th
  • Ages 9-10: Eric Pape, 90 lb., 3rd
  • Ages 5-6: Lincoln Raczkowski, 43 lb., 2nd

Bowling

Summit Lanes

Thursday After-School—Drake Csage 624 (230), Joseph Bleiler 581 (201), Korey Reichard 466, Jamie Bleiler 394.

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Carolyn sets up training centre for young aspiring gymnasts

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 02:59 PM PST

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FORMER international Carolyn Au-Yong Yim Wah, a member of the Malaysian rhythmic gymnastics gold medal winning team in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, has a diploma in advertising and graphic design.
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