Catholic schools and C.Y.O. have shared tradition of sports ...

For many children, school is often their first exposure to organized sports. School is the first time?they?ve?played on a team, or competed in a sport.

In partnership with the Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.), elementary students from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board are able to experience a variety of recreational opportunities through Crusader Athletics, a program with a 53 year tradition of excellence in the Hamilton community.

?Sports and school are a natural fit,? says Gary Mahler, a Special Education Resource Teacher with the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and long-time C.Y.O. coach. His own school days are filled with memories of C.Y.O. flag football, volleyball, basketball, cross-country, soccer, baseball and track & field.

St David Dragons

?Not only do sports provide fun and enjoyment,? he says, ?but they teach a number of transferable skills that prepare children for life. Skills like goal setting, commitment, sacrifice, cooperation, sportsmanship, discipline, perspective, resilience and leadership.?

Mahler explains, ?For children who struggle academically, sports are often an area in which they can excel. When they see what they can accomplish through perseverance and hard work, they realize they can transfer that same energy to their school work.?

?Athletic programs not only complement but often enhance the school environment,? adds HWCDSB Chairperson, Patrick J. Daly.

?School sports absolutely make an important contribution to the culture, character and core values of our schools,? he says.

An estimated 25,000 Catholic elementary school children participate in C.Y.O. athletic programs every year. The Crusader Athletic program was founded in 1958 by Rev. Kyran D. Kennedy, the C.Y.O.?s first full-time Director, to provide recreational opportunities for youth, aged 6 to 13. Today the C.Y.O.?s Crusader Athletic program offers after-school basketball, volleyball, flag football, cross-country and track & field ? all free of charge.

?Central to the program is the emphasis on participation, sportsmanship, skill development and above all, fair play,? says Catholic Youth Organization Executive Director, John Spatazzo.

Spatazzo adds, ?Our agency stresses the Crusader Athletics? philosophy of ?Athletes First, Winning Second? and that our program needs in order to provide a real opportunity for children and teens to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually.?

Winning was a secondary consideration last fall for Hanna Hall, a seventh grader at Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School who met up with her friend Hailey at the annual C.Y.O. cross country event. The girls, both accomplished runners, decided to support each other and work together in order to perform to their full potential.

CYO Cross Country

?We knew it was going to be hard, but we also knew if we helped each other through it, we could do it,? says Hanna. ?When I would slow down, Hailey would get me going and push me through it and I would do the same for her. At the end, we did it. We held hands crossing the finish line together in first. It wasn?t important that we came in first, it was important that we did this together.?

?Their story underscores the importance of fun in sports,? says Spatazzo. ?The focus of our Crusader Athletic after-school sports and recreation program is for children. The first rule is that it should be fun.?

For 8 year-old Lachlan Perigord, a third grader at St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School, the fun comes from competing as well as spending the day with friends at Christie Lake Conservation Area. After years of watching his older brother Jack from the sidelines, Lachlan was able to compete last fall at the C.Y.O.?s annual cross-country meet, where he placed third out of several hundred competitors.

?I like the C.Y.O. cross-country races because they?re a lot of fun and if you try hard, you get a ribbon,? Lachlan says.

Jack Perigord, Lachlan?s older brother, still runs cross-country and plays on the school?s volleyball and flag football teams.

Jack likes participating in C.Y.O. sports ?because you get to test yourself and see how much talent and stamina you have in a particular sport. It?s not only physical but mental as well. It also creates good school spirit. We all want to do well for our school.?

?School spirit is one of the building blocks of strong Catholic school communities,? says Daly. ?When students are invested in their school, there?s a greater sense of belonging, of watching out for each other.?

Adds Spatazzo, ?Our belief is that sport provides real, everyday opportunities and competitive situations that offer an opportunity to maintain and grow in our faith and Christian lifestyle. Children are at the heart of our mission.?

?

Source: http://hamiltonsportsxpress.ca/2012/03/01/catholic-schools-and-c-y-o-have-shared-tradition-of-sports-excellence/

christmas photo cards ar 15 costco kmart urban meyer ohio state traffic report traffic report

Source: http://odugutumad.posterous.com/catholic-schools-and-cyo-have-shared-traditio

cain accuser aesop rock take care track list michael jackson trial carlos the jackal namibia namibia