Sleeping in is not an option for a group of Riverside secondary school students who are spending their early mornings working out.
The students - 50 of them over two semesters - are taking part in the school's first HIgh Performance Sport Conditioning Academy, a new course established this spring by School District 43 in collaboration with at Twist Sport Conditioning in Port Coquitlam.
This week, as school got back in session for the district's 30,000 students, 28 students taking the four-credit course this fall were doing strength and conditioning workouts at Twist. Early mornings, it seems, are the best time for a workout and the kids didn't seem to mind a 7:15 a.m. start.
Students who participate are typically on national or provincial teams, and enrolment is split 50-50 between boys and girls. Sports represented include volleyball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, hockey, triathlon, water polo and lacrosse.
"This is not your regular PE class," Twist's George Watts explained. "If you want to go to the next level and win championships, you have to be prepared to work hard."
The areas of focus for the academy are: balance, movement, strength, mind/body Integration, muscle training, nutrition, injury prevention and sport psychology, with students spending three mornings at Twist and two in the classroom with teacher Bryan Gee, who oversees the course.
Riverside principal Anthony Ciolfitto said he wasn't surprised at the high enrolment for a first-year program because Riverside has many student athletes who perform at a high level and the $599 fee for the course is less than what families would pay privately for a similar program.
"There is also the convenience factor for parents and students," Ciolfitto said. "Being able to do this during the school day and earning credit as well is quite appealing."
The interaction is also appealing for Watts, who said he'll be following students' progress in games and championships throughout the season. As he does with other student athletes who train at Twist, Watts says he enjoys hearing stories about personal accomplishments on the field, the ice and the court.
He said he hopes that other schools will consider starting similar programs for their students.
