Editor’s Note: This column is written by Emory Smith, a YMCA staff member.
It is an exciting time at your Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA. It seems that the parking lot is always full and the building is always bustling with activity. And now, spring brings some new programs to the Y.
Adult basketball league
“March Madness” comes to the Y with our new adult basketball league. For adults 19 years old and older, the league will feature an eight-game season, starting March 11, followed by a single-elimination tournament. Teams must have a minimum of seven players and not more than 10. The games will be played on Monday evenings.
Homeschool gym and swim
For many parents of homeschooled children, the most difficult course to teach is physical education. Most homes do not have the equipment or the facility capability to offer a well-structured P.E. time.
Kathy Bell, our new fitness director and a certified Health and Physical Education teacher, is offering “Homeschool Gym and Swim” on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. The course will consist of recreational swimming and physical education and it is free for Y members and $30 per month for non-members.
YMCA swim team returns
The Y is excited about the return of competitive swimming to the Y. Between now and April, swimmers can enroll in our “Stroke Clinic” to learn the butterfly, breast stroke, backstroke and freestyle strokes. In April, we will begin practice for our YMCA swim team. We are excited to add coach Brian Zorn to our staff as swim coach. Zorn was a competitive swimmer in college and brings experience and a new energy to our swimming program.
Speed and agility class for young athletes
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:45 p.m., fitness director Kathy Bell is taking young athletes (and aspiring athletes), grades 4-12, and running them through drills designed to increase speed and agility. This course helps experienced athletes become more agile and less experienced athletes become more coordinated. It involves flexibility, agility drills, dot drills and running. Come join Bell and become a stronger and faster althlete.
Spring soccer
In addition to all these new programs, our traditional spring soccer program is returning, as well. Registration deadline is this Friday, Feb. 15, with player evaluation Saturday, Feb. 16. With the rapid growth of this program, we are in need of volunteer coaches. Experience at coaching doesn’t matter — we will help “teach you the ropes.”
Come join us for an exciting spring of program and activity. Call the YMCA at (229) 243-0508 for more information.
Emory Smith is a staff member at the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA. He can be reached at (229) 243-0508.