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lO-The Canadian Champion, Frday, Apri 20, 2001 Sportsball promotes self-esteem in children By LINDSAY BRUCE Special to The Champion The Milton Leisure Centre s home to a programn calied Sportsbaii, which prornotes sel f-esteem and sel t- confidence in chiidren. Sportsball has bLen in iown for the past two years, and gives kids ranging in age fron 3 and-a-hait to 7-and-a-halt yuars tlic iipporitnty iii learn the basics of soccer, hasebaîl, hockey, volicyhai. tennis, golf., anîd haskeibali. Inistructor Painela B lakiey said that aithougli Ill ktds walk away iromn the pro- grain ss îth an uîiderstaîîdîîg tii sports, ttîuv' ru nolie bu osit imiportant aspect ol Ille ciass. 1 tavtîte ini is ss at nls ail ahotî she saîd. 'llie cut-it t agu li. Ille ptigtatin is Sevei iait sl vers. hîît ktds Lait stay oit ll elil iltuy'te titercsted. Vie' l ep ktds lontger il ttîuy'ru fias tttg( tii. Vie tise a huiie-yuar-îuld wiii stif 1par- ttciîate iOasle'at Ms Blaktuy. (hildren Iearn coordination "lie progratu teachus citiren basic cii- uîrditîattîtt atnd a ltile backgrounnd ahbout Lachf spîtri. itor instance file inur tof' players on a tuant, tîîw tbe point sysicîti witrks. and bîîw tii tbrtîw a hait prtiperly ltor hascball. Bnt Ms Blakiey saîd ihere's atways urne tîor fuît and gaines. -Wu dot il in a lun way. and we give thc kids conftidence," she said. Vaturie Class-Knighi brings ber tour- year îîld sun Paul to the leisure centre to taku part i the prîîgratn and said ibat bie fias gîtlen a flot tint tif Ibe activilies. "He fias icarned about teamwork, eut- tiperattîtti and siiaring,- saîd Ms Class- Knigbi. The intber alsît said tbe kjds bave a grea tfinie piaying Sportsbali. and ibai uts a sitaîie miore parents dotn'( kntîw abotin teprîîgraîîî. Mbs Blakley saîd tbe pre tof* $178 muuy bu bholdinîg sotine paretîs back, but Mnis tîku Ms Ctass-Kitight say tbe prtagram is 1titk il*s a s'ury rc'asîtttahie pnie, its ho ad il tasnit taket titi Milton," sbu "The instructors are really great with the kids. They seem to know what to say to them to get them motivated." BEVERLY THIUGDEAU said.F Beveriy Tithdeau alstt bnings ber chul dren iii thte pruîgranî. She said she canit say enîîuglî gitid tbings abotut Spîîrtsbalt. "My îîldest son is a lttle sby, and bue proî- gratin fias gîveti it sîîcb confidence, she sa 1Tiibiideau alsit saîd the pne ti the pro.grai i s reasottabie bucause uts a quali- (y prîugraîîî. anîd bue atnutt speîî is sstrtit uscoy penny. lIe rtre is reasîîtabiu tir wîat tlie kîds are getîng oui olt it, stue satd. Bîîtb inttîîîrs agrue that the cariitg iniisutctiirs are sîlat itake Ie pritgratii sucit a stccess. -The îîîstnîcîîîrs are realiy great wîtb tbe kîds. Tbey sein to knîîw wbaî tii say tii tbem tut gui ibein moîivated,- saîd Ms Thbbtdeau. Because Spuîrtsball dî sn't rn tbrîîugb- otinthie summer Ms Tbibodeau said ber cbîldren make ber play the games witb lbem at bhome, and sine b'as to preiend sbe's tbe instructor. Sbe said Ibai wben tbe program retums in September, sbe will detinitely register ber kîds again. Parents are worried about fate of Sportsball program Ms Thibodeau and Ms Class-Knigbi are hîîtb wîirried tbat tbe prîîgram may end if enrîîltment doesn't increase. "Tbe moins and dads tbat corne bere, we don'( wani tbe pnîîgram to go away. Tbere t is a waiting li f'or Sportohaif in Oakvilfe," said Ms Class-Knigbi. The 12-week pruîgram runs untit lune 16, and new cbuldren are wetcîîme uvery weekPht yGAMPIN tii styn upht.b RHA AN Fuir mcore information, contact tbe teisure Three-year-ald Jake Viana gels a litt1e help with hie basebali swing from instructor Pamela centre ai 878-SWIM. Blakley in the kida' Sportsbali programn at the Milton Leisure Centre. It.2 that time of gqea iE agan!0 ArnmoI 9prJng, (!Ica gala One dag onig! &unday, Ag»fr2 DlcSntlnued sqtermwar land china, C-hrietmae iltermc, g1fiwara, linon and mral. lSo tic" wSsSc pap foS mot detulls. Fine Tableware - Giftware - Bridai Registry e Table Linens 227 Main Street E., Milton t &ne ut a irtin) 905-878-)050. Tai Froc 1-888-400-8664