Mainaklot: Local sports organizations encourage more youth to get active this year - Huntsville Doppler

Three local sports organizations gearing up for their spring and summer programming have joined forces to encourage the community to get active.

The Huntsville Soccer Club, Muskoka Hornets Baseball Association, and Huntsville Hawks Lacrosse want to see our young people playing as many sports as possible this year.

With each organization providing house league opportunities and doing its best to avoid scheduling conflicts, there is no better time for kids in Huntsville and the surrounding areas to play more than one sport.

After two years of relative inactivity for far too many of our community members, the time is now to get off the screens and onto the fields. It doesn’t hurt for their parents to get active as well.

A fabulous part of playing multiple sports is getting the best of all worlds; baseball, lacrosse, and soccer each provide physical, social, and mental benefits for both youth and adults.

From learning teamwork to growing leadership qualities, team sports also help many people make lifelong friends. Baseball, soccer, and lacrosse players are quite welcoming and supportive of their teammates.

As well, children who participate in various sports have a better overall athletic development and experience fewer injuries.

The world’s most played sport, soccer lends itself well both as a favourite activity and as a complementary pastime for people of all ages. With constant movement, as well as learning to recognize time and space opportunities, it helps improve children’s critical thought capabilities while providing a good cardio workout.

“Soccer provides a ton of benefits and is a fantastic way for kids to build endurance,” says Chris Occhiuzzi, vice president of the Huntsville Soccer Club. “While we love it when soccer is your number-one sport, it’s also a great way to cross-train for other sports including hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and baseball.”

Speaking of baseball, it is quite helpful in improving hand-eye coordination as players learn to hit, field, catch, and throw the ball – increasing their fine and gross motor skills in the process. It also teaches kids math because to be successful, players need to understand the sophisticated rules of the game that are often based on physics and math.

“Baseball also teaches patience and focus,” explains Peter Haynes, president of the Muskoka Hornets. “It’s a strategic sport that requires kids to be attentive and maintain concentration throughout each game, even when they’re not on the field of play or the ball is hit to someone else.”

Known as the “fastest game on two feet,” lacrosse is a high-intensity sport that gives each participant a full-body and exceptional cardiovascular workout while also improving balance and coordination.

“Being part of a team fosters cooperation and discipline among the players,” says Keri Black, president of the Huntsville Hawks. “It allows kids different experiences with a variety of coaches and teammates. But, most significantly, children are social and enjoy themselves when participating in a sport that they love. Lacrosse is a healthy mix of discipline and fun. It feels like one big family.”

Learn more and find out how to register for each club at:

Baseball: www.hornetsbaseball.ca

Lacrosse: www.hawkslacrosse.ca

Soccer: www.huntsvillesoccer.ca