Greetings everyone from 2190 Polk Street home of KIDSPORTS!

As the new Executive Director of KIDSPORTS it gives me great pleasure to salute the community of Emerald Valley in this new capacity.

I say both hello and thank you to everyone, for I am excited and honored to be a part of this historic and “herstoric” organization that for 56 years has been the community leader in developing and delivering team sports programs for youth development.

I have had the good fortune of following in the footsteps of two very successful ED’s of KIDSPORTS, Jim Torrey and Chris Miller, who need no introduction to this community, but do need a round of applause and a sports field sized THANK YOU for their successful leadership in keeping the ball rolling for KIDSPORTS, and rolling with integrity, innovation, and inspiration into the 21st century of community based sport.

I know that I can speak for both Jim and Chris when I say that the inspiration part is contributed by none other than you, members of this caring, concerned, and compassionate community.

You all put KIDS first by volunteering to coach, by sponsoring teams and our sports and leagues. You enable us to give the special gift of sport to young children and youth by investing in our scholarship fund and in this way you give us the means to stay true to our mission of finding a way for ALL kids to play!

As we run, jump, and play our way into the 21st century, KIDSPORTS is excited about the opportunity we have in front of us to continue to be the community leader in the development and delivery of team sports programs.

We are ALSO very excited, energized, and “programized” to begin to develop and deliver complimentary and support programs and services to our “KIDS,” and the volunteers who teach and coach them throughout the year. As well, KIDPSORTS will look to expand our programs to include individual sport opportunities and life – time sports and activities.

One program which we are working hard to develop is an online system of support for our 1,200 – 1,300 volunteer coaches who provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the 15,000 to 17,000 youth per year that run, jump, and play with KIDSPORTS. With one click onto the KIDSPORTS web-site, volunteer teachers and coaches will be able to access the KIDSPORTS library of youth development exercises, games, skills, and drills for every age.

A sample of our on – line coaching support is written below: it is a recommendation from sport science that speaks to the need of building our KIDSPORTS programs around the principles that respect the development needs of all children.

As our coaches and youth take to the fields this week in the fall sports of flag and tackle football and soccer, the 5’S of the basics of athletic development would be important to serve as guiding principles in your team’s practice and development planning.

The 5 S’s are:
1. Stamina – developed through modified games and fun activities – tag and running activities
2. Strength – developed through body weight exercises – pushups, sit-ups, pull ups, rope climbing, tug of war
3. Speed – developed through games and exercises with focus on hand and foot speed, reaction time (ready go!) races, and relays
4. Skill – acquisition of simple fundamental and motor movement skills ( ABC’s of movement = Agility, Balance, Coordination) through games and activities and simple sport specific skills
5. Suppleness (Flexibility) – dynamic stretching, complete range of movement exercises (leg swings and arm swings, head rolls and shoulder rolls) that is important for the beginning of practice and static stretching for cool down at the end of practice.

Please stay tuned for my next blog that will speak in more detail about our KIDSPORTS library, and I will discuss further our efforts to support our teachers and coaches in order to help meet the respective development needs of our youth as they progress through the year and the ages with our KIDSPORT programs.

I would also be interested in any feed back or ideas that you have as coaches; we would love to incorporate your ideas, skills, drills, and things that you do to help your team and individual players become the best that they can be.

For now, play hard, play smart, and have FUN!!

Yours in Sport,

Bev