“I see a lot of smiling faces:” city giving unique opportunities for kids during February break

With February break now here, the City of Saskatoon is looking to get kids active through sports they may not normally have the chance to play.

The program is “Family Fun February,” and includes daily sessions during the break that help kids participate in sports that are new to them.

Kristen Shropshire is the city’s community recreation programmer and told 650 CKOM that they’ve introduced sledge hockey and rugby during the week.

“We always try and provide unique opportunities, something that you might not see in your everyday gym class. These opportunities are great for kids who want to try something different,” she said.

The programs do have a waitlist, but Shropshire said there are still spots available in the program.

“Even if some kids don’t get in registered and they’re on that waitlist, we still encourage them to show up because we usually have a few spots open that they can sneak into.”

During February break, some kids may end up losing their routines, and that’s something the city program is trying to help parents with according to Shropshire.

“It’s super important for kids to always have some physical activity every day, even if it’s just 20 to 30 minutes,” she said. “Proper nutrition is also really important, and just to socialize with other kids in the community.”

Tuesday, three rugby players from the University of Saskatchewan volunteered to help teach the kids the ins and outs of the sport at Cosmo Civic Centre. Thirty-one kids aged 10 to 14 participated in the afternoon session, which Shropshire said received high praise from those participants.

“They’re pretty tired, they don’t necessarily have a lot to say, but I see a lot of smiling faces,” she said. “They’re always looking forward to the next session.”

All of the programs are free and are housed at both the Cosmo Civic Centre and the Shaw Centre.

Wednesday, the participants will learn the ins and outs of skating, as well as total resistance exercises (TRX) and suspension training.

Ringette and soccer will round out the week’s events Thursday.