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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007 37 Close call IN THE CREASE: Lumberjacks players (in blue, from left) John Wipperman and Anthony Sorgiovani chase after a loose puck while the Vikings' (from left) Conrad Farr, Christian Lester and goaltender Shem Roberts try to clear it from their crease during Thursday's Minor Oaks Hockey Association house league peewee white championship game at Dominion Twin Rinks. The Vikings went on to win the game. ASHLEY HUTCHESON / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER New school program to focus on young athletes By Kevin Nagel SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Most people have witnessed the child who is not only a talented athlete but has an all-consuming passion for athletics or a specific sport. It can be the neighbourhood kid who never lets the basketball out of his hands, or the hockey sniper who continually practises his shot, or the figure skater who arises each morning to work out in a cold arena while friends aren't even out of bed. It's those type of kids that Gord McNeice is targeting for a program he has hoped to establish for many years. The Burlington Christian Academy principal, who has held the job since September after teaching at Nelson High School in Burlington for 11 years, is close to realizing his dream of operat- agendas and age targets. ing the Advanced Level Program of "I first got the idea when I visited Athletics, or ALPA, at his school starting New Zealand and saw what success they in September. have had with it," said McNeice, who It will provide a co-ed group of Grade spent a year there teaching. "I'd say 30 7 and/or Grade 8 students an per cent of the high schools "We're not askadvanced level of training in in New Zealand have a speone or all of three sports -- ing for super athcial program like this." volleyball, basketball and letes, but couch While a passion for sports soccer -- with a plan to potatoes would is a prerequisite to enter the introduce others such as not be right for program, it's only one of a hockey and football, possibly number of conditions the this." as soon as 2008. prospective student is While it's not an uncom- expected to meet for the proGord McNeice mon idea in other parts of gram to be a success, says the world such as Australia and Europe, McNeice. a specialized program to develop ath"They have to have solid academic letes is not a popular one in Canada. standing, have good marks in work There are two or three in this area -- habits and co-operation, score well on a Hamilton, Richmond Hill and fitness test -- we're not asking for super Orangeville for example -- with varying athletes but couch potatoes would not be right for this," said McNeice. They must have a letter of referral from one of their teachers or a coach and take part in an interview process with the BCA principal, athletic director and teacher. ALPA offers students sport-specific instruction for 75 minutes each morning, four days a week, with every fifth day reserved for athletic leadership courses. The instruction hierarchy begins with the technical directors for each sport, who help design and update the program. Two of the three have been named. Former provincial soccer team coach Ian McClurg of 1V1 Soccer and Felicity Tyson, former member of the women's national volleyball team and technical See Leadership page 39 O P SO EN O IN NG ! Voted Burlington's #1 Course (everyday after 2:00pm) Featuring On-Line Booking Reader's Choice Winner