New Fitness Training Program Aims To Build More Holistic And Healthy Persons

If your dreams are to be an elite athlete or if you just want to get in shape in a supportive environment than there’s a new program available to Moose Jaw’s high school students starting in September.

Gottselig Athletic Performance (GAP) has set up a program - FLEX Athletics - in conjunction with the Holy Trinity and Prairie South School Divisions where students can train during the school day and earn credits.

“What we’re doing is a school day program where high school students from all of the Moose Jaw schools are going to have the opportunity to come train with us in the daytime and they can actually earn high school course credits,” Ryan Gottselig from GAP said.

The program recognizes the demands high school athletes have to train while still trying to maintain their studies, he said.

It’s not just about training and fitness but working out a schedule that fit students physical and academic goals.

“A major hurdle we found is high level athletes it’s time constraints because the seasons seem to get longer and longer each year. So what this does is provide the opportunity to devote five hours a week to training and still have time in the evenings to work on their academics and pursue their sports practices and games and stuff.”

“We have our athletes burnt out time wise you know trying to compete on two or three different teams at a time and looking to get some training stuff in. This is a great way to try to alleviate some time stress,” Gottselig said.

By offering the program during school time accompanied by opportunity to earn credits makes it attractive, he said.

“We are just trying to free up some time to allow kids to pursue their athletic dreams but also there is still some time to be a kid,” Gottselig said.

The Moose Jaw program is unique in the province as similar programs are sports academy based. In Moose Jaw the program allows students to remain in their high school and there is no need to move to another school.

So far the program has over 50 students signed up but are looking for more students to take part.

The program replaces a student’s high school physical education credits. Other areas covered credit wise are personal fitness 20 and personal fitness 30.

Depending what year they are in the program students have the opportunity to earn up to six high school credits.

All high school students are required to take grade nine physical education and then one additional high school physical education credit in the upper three years.

Along with the credits the program allows students to pursue an elite level training within the school day to allow students to pursue their sports training.

The program is open to all students whether athletes or not.

“Most of our students will be athletes but we do have a few kids that are just interested in getting better and doing strength training and movement training so we are certainly open to all students,” Gottselig said. “Come on out and give it a try.”

“If you’re just looking at the fitness side of things we can do that with you as well.”

The programs will be customized for each individual participant. There will be a meeting between staff and the participant with goal setting sheets filled out about what they want to obtain, he said.

“We’ll personalize their programming to get them to where they might want to be.”

He said the goals for some might be an introduction to general fitness for others it might be focused on a specific sport.

“There is a wide range of opportunities with this program for sure and we will tailor it to each student,” Gottselig said.

Tailoring means the program also accepts students with disabilities.

“We have certainly dealt with physical challenges before in the gym and that’s a big part of the population who could certainly have massive health benefits from being involved, in an organized training program,” Gottselig said.

Asked if home schooled students could participate Gottselig said he had not looked into it but if it met the credit (lesson plan) for home schooled children they would do their best to fit them into the program.

The program will include meeting curricular demands in order to earn school credit. Different concepts covered will be along the lines of sport psychology, leadership concepts and relationship concepts.

“Our goal is to build a more holistic and healthy person.”

Asked about other benefits - other than physical - the program and organized sports and activities can bring Gottselig said it’s not just about fitness but other benefits.

“We’re firm believers that an active child is a healthy child. Whether it be team sports or be active in a fitness lifestyle as well we’re firm believers that’s going to keep you physically healthy, mentally healthy and being surrounded by a positive atmosphere is going to produce a quality lifestyle.

Recently Council’s Youth Advisory Committee gave a presentation to Council about the positive aspects of organized sports activities. They quoted research organized sports for youth reduced youth criminality as well as addictions.

“If your kids are involved in something constructive it’s a lot harder to find trouble out there.”

The cost is $420 per semester with a transportation option is available at a cost of $200 per semester for those needing transportation.

Although there is no drop in portion to allow students to see what the program is all about then can drop in at GAP before making the final decision.

For those who cannot afford the program there is the potential of utilizing the Fast Fund where local businesses have been acting as a student sponsor.

“For students who would like to access those funds they can just reach out to us and there’s an application process for that.”

Gottselig if there are any businesses interested in sponsoring a student he said they would love to hear from them.

For more information or to apply go to flexathletics.ca