Kids America offers fitness activities for all ages
New year’s resolutions almost always include getting fit and working out. Kids America offers some fun opportunities for fitness by joining a sports league like basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, pickleball or how about a cornhole tournament in February?
“Kids can’t get here on their own, it take adults to bring them. Our focus is on the kids, but we do have activities for adults. Pickleball has become very popular but it isn’t a league,” said Isaac Bush, Kids America executive director. “We can use our indoor space for basketball and volleyball. The walking club is for anyone and you can track your mileage and get prizes for milestones. The Silver Sneakers is a program for seniors where they do range of motion and exercise. The Kids America Stronger Fit program helps to start the new year off right by staying fit.”
Bush noted that the pandemic has shifted Kids America’s focus on the leagues. “About 16 or more people participate in indoor soccer. It’s fun and an opportunity for exercise. We have a growing softball program. We’re looking to host adult softball in June or July. We have fields here and we can rent the fields at Lake Park for one dollar a year for 10 years. The three fields at the park have been refurbished by the Coshocton Foundation. With multi-use sports courts we can utilize softball, football and soccer on the same field.”
Pickleball has become very popular- more popular than tennis. There are about 40 people who play on a shifting basis.
Pickleball President Rick Chambers said there is a total of five nets. The nets are about three feet high and 20 feet wide. There are two courts outside and 10 courts inside. There are also four courts at Hall Park thanks to Mayor Mark Mills. “You can just come and play, or we have a Pickleball Club,” Chambers said. “At our first tournament we had players from five different states. It’s a big deal. We use paddles that look like a ping pong paddle only bigger and the ball looks like a whiffle ball and it’s about the size of a baseball. You serve the ball underhand, but you hit it any way you can. The court is a little smaller than a tennis court. It’s taped off and we use all the precautions. It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country. You don’t need to bring any equipment, just wear your tennis shoes and the social aspect is that it is so much fun.”
Griffen Bryant plays and coaches soccer from U to 12 at Kids America. “I enjoy soccer, it’s fun. I have played since I was 2-years-old. I played for teams in Cleveland from 13-18-years-old and for five or six years at Columbus Crew Junior. My dad helped build this facility and I like to see it do well. I have played soccer most of my life and I play here at Kids America because I enjoy it and they need help with involvement from the community.”
The mission at Kids America is to provide essential services, facilities, and programs necessary for the positive development and well-being of the Coshocton community. For more information call Kids America at 740-622-6657 or visit www.kidsamerica.org.
