础听new track club is in the starting blocks and will offer a program to teach young children the basic fundamental skills of the sport starting next month.
The 麻豆社国产Track and Field Club, which is now registered with B.C. Athletics, will start by offering Track Rascals, which will start Feb. 2. The program will run twice a week through March 17 at Don Ross Middle School鈥檚 gymnasium and track.
鈥淭his training is called Run, Jump, Throw,鈥� said Amber Pascual, who sits on the executive for the club.
The program, aimed at boys and girls aged six to eight, teaches the basics of running, jumping and throwing. Through it, the kids learn a proper progression of skills and participate in a number of activities, including hurdling, long jump, javelin and shot put.
鈥淵ou can get through a lot in a six-week program,鈥� said Daphne Radford-Park, also an executive member.
While a big goal is to teach core motor skills to participants, the club directors emphasize the program is about fun and play, although there will be opportunities to compete at meets against other track clubs.
鈥淲e, as a club, can enter as many meets as we want,鈥� Radford-Park said.
The program could also run at local elementary schools.听
鈥淭he Track Rascals program is something the club plans to bring into schools,鈥� she said.
Following the introduction program in February, the club will offer a junior development program for athletes nine to 13 years of age at Don Ross Middle School.
鈥淲e鈥檙e planning on starting that after spring break,鈥� said Radford-Park. 鈥淭hat will be an ongoing program.鈥�
Club members feel there are many reasons for children to get into track and field, including the core skills kids build, which can be used to cross-train for other sports like hockey, soccer or alpine sports. With so many young families in the Sea to Sky Corridor now, the club sees this is a great time to build momentum for track and field, which club members point out is an affordable sport.
鈥淭his town is booming with young kids, and we do have so many well-organized sports for kids. I think track and field is one part that was missing,鈥� said Radford-Park.
Another advantage is that unlike so many sports in which kids have to start at a young age, track and field is something that can be picked up by kids at a relatively late age.
At the same time, they can continue to develop their skills, as they get deeper into the sport by building on what they have already learned.
鈥淎ny ability can be coached,鈥� she said.
To get ready for Track Rascals, the club recently held coaching certification training at Totem Hall provided by 麻豆社国产Nation. Renowned instructor Barb Vida came to 麻豆社国产for two days to go over techniques to help the local coaches work with young athletes on the core skills of track and field. Vida, born in Hungary and B.C.-based, has been a professional high-performance track and field coach since 1979 and has trained top athletes who have competed at the international level.
鈥淭his is quite big for the community to have this offered,鈥� Pasqual said.
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The coaches will now have the chance to put what they learned to use, starting with Track Rascals. The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Don Ross. To register, email [email protected]. The club is on Facebook and also recently launched its new website at www.squamishtrack.ca.听
