National Sport Academy Flex Sports

NATIONAL SPORT ACADEMY

FLEX SPORT NEWS:

National Sport Academy
Application Deadline

ABOUT:

Welcome to the National Sport Academy!

Our Mission: "To inspire passion for sports while developing character for life!"

Student athletes, who participate at a competitive level in various sports, have the opportunity to attend the National Sport Academy at Central Memorial High School. The National Sport Academy began in 1995 with the sport of hockey and provides a unique and specialized learning environment, within the school setting, for student athletes in grades 10 through 12.

In 2005, the National Sport Academy added to the existing hockey program the sports of golf, soccer, lacrosse, and equestrian. In 2006, the National Sport Academy added baseball and a number of "flex" sports.

National Sport Academy Flex Sport students are athletes who participate in a variety of individual sports such as equestrian, tennis, swimming, figure skating and track and field. Due to the individualized nature of each flex sports, these student athletes train with their respective coaches at their sport facilities during school hours while earning credits for Physical Education and Coaching & Leadership.

National Sport coaches work closely with the flex sport student athletes to help them understand their individual learning style, the nature of their sport and the time required to be successful in sport and academics. To meet the unique needs of these individual sport student athletes, their timetables are designed to ensure they have the flexibility to opt into National Sport Academy training sessions, complete National Sport Academy course requirements or meet their academic requirements. By developing advanced time management and organizational strategies, these student athletes develop the confidence required to meet with success in any learning situation, in any location. As most National Sport Academy student athletes are striving to continue in their sport and academics after grade twelve, it is imperative they learn how to function successfully and effectively in any learning environment. Student athletes who pursue a college or university degree do not get to choose their class size; therefore it is essential to provide each student athlete with the necessary skills and learning habits to succeed at the postsecondary level.

While there are many ways to teach learning skills and habits, the National Sport Academy Coaching and Leadership curriculum has been specifically designed and delivered to meet the needs of competitive student athletes in pursuit of their academic, athletic and life goals. National Sport Academy student athletes are highly motivated learners with a passion for peak performance in sport and in school. Transferring this interest into the daily lives of students requires a dynamic curriculum that encompasses a variety of interesting and relevant topics including:

Time Management Strategies
Organizational Techniques
Goal Setting & Rewards
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Leadership & Initiative
Teambuilding
The Road to Success
Try-Out Camp Preparation
Sport Destinations
Academic-Athletic Opportunities
Resumes
Player Marketing
Managing Distractions
Ethics
Failing Forward
Nutrition

Over the three years of high school, student athletes have the opportunity to receive 31 credits for successful participation in the various components of the National Sport Academy.

The National Sport Academy is a supportive learning environment for emerging competitive athletes; working together as an integral part of the community of professionals who inspire student athletes to achieve personal success in both academics and athletics.

For more information on this unique opportunity, please call (403)777-3646.

For more information on each sport program of the National Sport Academy please visit the following links:

OUR SCHOOL:

HIGH SCHOOL

Central Memorial High School
5111 21 St. SW, Calgary, AB T3E 1R9
PH: (403)243-8880 FAX: (403)777-7409
Principal: Lee Villiger

The National Sport Academy Program at Central Memorial High School has male and female baseball, flex sports, golf, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer programs available to qualified student athletes in grades ten through twelve.

Student athletes receive high school credits for their successful participation in the National Sport Academy. Over the three year high school period, student athletes have the opportunity to receive 31 credits in Phys Ed 10, 20, 30; CALM 20; and Coaching and Leadership 15,25,35.

OUR PHILOSOPHY:

ON LEARNING AND MISTAKES

John W. Gardner has noted the connection between learning and mistakes:

"One of the reasons mature people are apt to learn less than young people is that they are willing to risk less. Learning is a risky business, and they do not like failure. In infancy, when children are learning at a phenomenal rate - a rate at which they will never again achieve - they are also experiencing a great many failures. Watch them. See the innumerable times they try and fail. See how little the failures discourage them. With each year that passes they will be less blithe about failure. By adolescence the willingness of young people to risk failure has diminished greatly. And all too often parents rush them further along that road by instilling fear, by punishing failure or by making success seem too precious. By middle age most of us carry in our heads a tremendous catalogue of things we have no intention of trying again becuase we tried them once and failed - or tried them once and did less well than our self-esteem demanded."

CURRICULUM:

ACADEMICS:

The National Sport Academy promotes excellence in sports and academics. Excellence in sports and academics is achieved through consistent effort, learning outside of the comfort zone and accessing coaching support. For many, coaching is synonymous with sports; at the National Sport Academy, coaching is integral to sports and academics . National Sport Academy sport and academic coaches understand the complexity of the demands placed on young student athletes as they try to balance their passion for playing at a competitive level with today's academic demands. A primary role of National Sport Academy coaches is to support National Sport Academy student athletes in pursuit of their academic goals.

National Sport Academy academic coaches work closely with student athletes to help them understand their individual learning style thus developing the strategies and fostering the confidence required to meet with success in any learning situation, in any location. As most National Sport Academy student athletes are striving to continue in their sport and academics after grade 12, it is imperative they learn how to function successfully and effectively in any learning environment. Student athletes who pursue a college or university degree do not get to choose their class size; therefore it is essential to provide each student athlete with the necessary skills and learning habits to succeed at the postsecondary level.

Time Management Strategies
Organizational Techniques
Goal Setting & Rewards
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Leadership & Initiative
Teambuilding
The Road to Success
Try-Out Camp Preparation
Sport Destinations
Academic-Athletic Opportunities
Resumes
Player Marketing
Managing Distractions
Ethics
Failing Forward
Nutrition

The following is a list of character traits the NSA strives to develop in our young athletes in all areas of the NSA curriculum (both on and off the ice). Through support of our players in a variety of day-to-day situations, the National Sport Academy coaches have many opportunities to build and reinforce the following positive character traits:

Mental Toughness - National Sport Academy athletes are taught that a tough spot is often an opportunity to develop mental toughness. Athletes learn that winning is not the only criterion for success; it is by trying new and challenging things that one gets mentally tougher. A young athlete's performance often improves as he/she readjusts focus from fear of failing to a willingness to try to develop mental toughness and forget the past failures.
Having Fun - The ability to enjoy challenges and take pleasure in both struggles and successes. Win or lose, National Sport Academy athletes are encouraged to enjoy the journey.
Winning and Losing with Class - National Sport Academy athletes enjoy the battles of competition - they love to compete. But win or lose, National Sport Academy athletes are taught how to do both with class and respect for their opponent: fear no opponent, but respect every opponent.

Courage - National Sport Academy athletes are often put in stressful everyday situations with a team coach, player, or playing in an intense game where fear becomes the primary focus. Often National Sport Academy athletes are placed in situations outside the National Sport Academy environment where it is very difficult to do what is right or necessary and they are often afraid. The National Sport Academy environment and coaching staff act as the stabalizing force for their fears; the National Sport Academy provides the one place where athletes feel safe to make mistakes, take risks and tackle their fears. Athletes learn how to engage in conflict resolution where the issues are clearly defined and they learn to communicate with confidence.
Setting and Commitment to Goals - All National Sport Academy athletes are guided through goal setting exercises at various times throughout the year. Goals are revisited, analyzed and readjusted as progress is made.
Leadership - National Sport Academy athletes are placed in many situations, through their academics and sport involvement, where leadership skills are required. It has been our experience that, as athletes learn leadership skills at the National Sport Academy they become confident, articulate leaders who exhibit honesty, integrity, justice and personal ethics. National Sport Academy athletes are often chosen for leadership roles on their teams.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING TRAINING - the one critical element most often misunderstood and overlooked in the success of a high performance athlete!

Included in the National Sport Academy program is a complete Sport Specific Strength and Conditioning training program. This program is optional for Flex Sport athletes dependent upon the sessions you already attend with your sport. The National Sport Academy coaches know the specific needs of your athlete and understand how to effectively train a high performance athlete. During the school year, training takes place in the athletes scheduled sports period and the training program is continued with an optional user pay segment in July and August. Training facilities include the many options available at all three National Sport Academy schools along with the University of Calgary and Mount Royal College High Performance training facilities.

STUDENT SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants must attend a selection camp where sport performance will be evaluated. Athletes will also be interviewed to ensure their commitment, dedication and understanding of the National Sport Academy Program.

An athlete's initial performance will be assessed in the following:

Individual skills
Individual tactics
Physical endurance and strength improvements - fitness testing
Leadership, attitude and respect

The athlete's ongoing performance will be assessed based on development and improvement in the previously described areas.

Student athletes must have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence.

Performance and commitment to the program will be reviewed on an annual basis by National Sport Academy coaching staff and communicated to parents and players in a coach / parent / player meeting. This review will be taken into consideration when the athletes National Sport Academy re-application is submitted for the next year.

Special consideration for selection to the National Sport Academy may be given due to injury of other relevant circumstances.

An athletes' ongoing commitment to the program will be partially determined by their attendance at National Sport Academy sessions.

Athletes will be expected to take part in fitness testing set out by the National Sport Academy.

Character references and hockey references provided by the athlete will be taken into consideration.

Other possible exceptions may be taken into consideration.

APPLICATION PROCESS

FOR 2010/2011 APPLICATIONS PLEASE CONTACT
THE NATIONAL SPORT ACADEMY

National Sport Academy
#1729 12th Street SW
Calgary, AB
T2T 3N1
Phone: 777-3646 Fax: 777-4550
Email: info@nationalsportacademy.com

For applications after March, 15 please contact the
National Sport Academy office for availability

TUITION FEES (2010-2011)

SPORT	AMOUNT- Cash or Cheque Payment	AMOUNT- Visa or Mastercard Payment
Flex Sports	$2175.00 + GST	$2275.00 + GST

Once an athlete has registered and has been accepted into the National Sport Academy, fees are non-refundable.