Children 5-14 years of age are coming to campus to participate in sports activities, offered by the Department of Kinesiology. Session one ran June 9 through 27. Session two runs from July 7 through 25. Classes are 50 minutes long and held Monday through Friday for three weeks.
Classes are taught by instructors from the Kinesiology K-12 Physical Education program and by other individuals with the background, skills and/or appropriate certifications. Student to teacher ratios ranges from six to twelve students per each teacher.
“Our goal is to provide quality, healthy, physical education for children so they develop a variety of functional skills and develop an appreciation for and enjoyment of sports,” states Terry-Ann Gibson, director of the Summer Youth Program. “By providing a fun experience for the kids who participate in the program, we also provide opportunities for our Physical Education students to practice teaching sports skills prior to their student teaching experience.”
Available classes include basketball, billiards, bowling, dance and cheer, gymnastics, rock climbing, soccer, swimming, tennis and tumbling. Several classes will feature a variety of activities including: multi-sport, which is designed to provide a variety of sport experiences including floor hockey, flag football, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, volleyball and team handball; racquet activities, which will feature instruction in basic racquet skills and practice with badminton, table tennis, racquetball and pickle ball; recreational games, which will include a variety of games such as bocce ball, croquet, kickball, frisbee golf and board games; sports conditioning, which will offer basic instruction and practical experience in fitness training so students gain confidence working out in a fitness center and enjoying the process of improving their fitness levels; super sports skills, which will develop the motor and sports skills for students ages 5 through 7; and team building, which is designed to build relationships, self-esteem, and confidence in one’s self and others.
Children can take multiple classes and can sign up for “Munch and Play” a supervised time for students to eat their brown bag lunch, followed by a few fun activities. Each class costs $65 for a three week session and “Munch and Play” costs $35 per session.
“We are one of the few programs that allow five to eight year old children to participate,” states Gibson. “We use developmental programs, such as the U-10 Tennis program offered by the United States Tennis Association, and different equipment, such as rackets with larger faces and foam balls, to help young kids find success early on and, hopefully, develop a passion for the sport from a young age.”
Gibson has served as director for four years, though the program has been offered for more than 30 years. Gibson has expanded the class offerings and hopes to continue expanding the caliber of the classes and the diversity of the offerings.
Visit http://kinesiology.boisestate.edu/summer-youth-program-information/ for more information.