STL KidsCompete, December 2019 by STL KidsCompete

STL KIDsCompete FREE Monthly Magazine. Our resource for local youth sports.

dec

2019

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Strictly Ballroom?

Featuring: Monthly Calendar of Runs, Rides, Try Outs, Open Gyms and More

Coach’s Corner Athlete’s Journal Sports Doc Writes Athlete Development STL Sports in History Fitness Trends Sports Nutrition and Recipes

KidsCompete Parent Experts

Have you ever thought it would be great if you had a friendly person to ask about a sport you were considering for your child? If so, you are in luck! The members of this rotating Parent Expert panel are here to help you! They have promised to give unbiased answers to your questions and be the best advocates for their sport. The goal is for parents to help parents find the best fit for their children! If you want to be one of our Parent Expert panel, please email us with your contact information and which sport you would be representing. We will get back to you! Next month, check out our new KidsCompete Parent Experts!

Brian Wolf (Soccer) With 2 young boys, our family is on the soccer field 8 days a week! Seriously though, our family loves soccer. If you don’t find me in my work truck, you will find me on the soccer field. I own a landscaping business, Wolf Land Maintenance. We do local and regional landscaping. Residential & Commercial. Landscape design, retaining walls, mulch & rock, tree and shrub trimming, snow removal, and more. If I can answer any questions for you about soccer in St. Louis, especially the O’Fallon area, please reach out to me: Brian35w@hotmail.com

Pat Culiberk (Hockey) My wife Kathy and I are the proud parents of Kyle and Philip. Kyle is attending SIUE, and Philip is a recent graduate from Triad High School. Currently attending SWIC. The time goes too fast! I started volunteering as a coach in 1995 and have not missed a year since. Currently, I have the honor of serving as the Missouri Hockey Affiliate President. There are tremendous growth opportunities in sports for children: life lessons, selfdiscipline and creating friendships that last a lifetime. Now is a great time to get signed up for hockey. One website that can help navigate your initial path is The St. Louis Blues site, the Blues for Kids portion, has various “learn-to-play” opportunities. For players that are able to skate and are ready for a team atmosphere, you can go to www.mohockeyyd.org. Search there for the club your child is districted to (districts are determined by zip code) and use the contacts available on the clubs link to registered today. You can email me for more information at: Imontheice@hometel.com

Michele Weinfeld-Johnson (Baseball) I currently have 1 son playing high school and Select Baseball. He’s now 17, a senior in HS and has been playing since he was 4. My 23-year-old also started at 4 and played through HS. He played youth ball, HS Ball and Travel/Select ball, as well. I’ve been a baseball mom for 20 years straight. There were tears due to my boys’ personal disappointments, and celebrations for their personal and team accomplishments. Baseball provided some of the best times I’ve shared with both boys. My greatest knowledge of the sport is being a baseball player’s mom, but I have also learned the ins and outs of young boys playing the game: the commitment needed, rules, politics etc. Watching them play and being a part of a baseball team family have been some of my greatest pleasures. If you have any questions for me, please email me at: lmtbjohnson@aol.com.

DEC 2019

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DEC 2019

WHAT’S INSIDE

DEC

2019 ARTICLES

INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION

KIDSCOMPETE PARENT EXPERTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

Our December Cover Kid is Ava. I started ballroom dancing when I was nine and I was immediately hooked. I love the freedom that ballroom gives me to be creative and expressive, whether I'm performing a vibrant Latin dance like the samba or an elegant smooth dance like the foxtrot. I also love competing and performing, which I have had many opportunities to do in St. Louis and beyond. Ballroom dance is great for building confidence-it's a skill I'll be able to enjoy for the rest of my life. My ultimate ballroom goal would be to compete at Blackpool, but in the meantime, I'll continue working hard to be the best dancer I can be. STL KidsCompete Magazine features St. Louis kids on our cover every issue. Photo by Dirt & Turf Photography.

By Solomon Alexander

By Aaron Vickar

COACH’S CORNER

SPORTS NUTRITION

How To Stay in Top Playing Shape During the Holiday Break? COACH’S CORNER

SPORTS DOC WRITES 22

Minutes Matter

The Bumpy Road to Becoming the Greatest of All Time

By Lynsey Porter

By Drs. Ian Pearson and T. Eric Spiegel 30

COMMUNITY

Athlete Shout-Outs JUST FOR FUN PLAY WITH US!

ATHLETE’S JOURNAL 18

By Orion Child

STL KidsCompete

SPECIAL FEATURES

Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum

Para-Cycling

For The Love of Lacrosse

DECEMBER CALENDAR

Runs & Rides, Open Gyms, Try Outs, 5&Under and Events

Ballroom Dancing, a Sport?

Mental Muscle

HAPPENING IN DECEMBER

Augmented Reality

ADAPTIVE & ACCESSIBLE

By Bryan Traughber

By Reshaunda Thornton RD, LD, CSSD

SPORT SPOT

To TSA Precheck or Not?

Got Iron?

STL SPORTS IN HISTORY

DEC 2019

Give Everyone a Trophy

AGES 3-12 What Do Helmets Actually Do? AGES 13-18 Agents, Managers, and TimeKeepers

FUN FIT: CURRENT TRENDS

SPORTS CENTS

Fun Facts: Skiing Motivation of the Month: Skiing PLUS: Chess • Jokes • Sudoku SPORTY RECIPE

By Rory Wood

SPORTSMANSHIP STEWARD

Iron-rich BB (Black Bean) Burgers

LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR Not a Humble Brag Please permit me to scream from the highest mountain top. Please allow me to tell you, as one of our 75,000 readers, how proud I am. Please grant me my wish to brag about how much I love our Team St. Louis! A small group of us started this magazine and website 4 months ago, after months of planning and talking with members of the STL youth sports community to see what was needed and wanted. In that time, we have met some of the most amazing business owners, writers, coaches, parents, and young athletes.

STEPHANIE BERK, Ph.D. Stephanie Berk, author of “How to Potty-Train Your Dragon Child”, is a mother of 4 boys. She has a degree in Human Development & Family Studies from Cornell University, a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from University of Connecticut, a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Language Acquisition from Haskins Laboratory/Yale University, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroimaging from Washington University.

As soon as people realize that we are truly not “just a book of ads”, the support for our mission is phenomenal, and we are grateful! The mission of the magazine is to truly connect all parts of our youth sports community through education, support, good customer service, and of course fun. We have asked many of you for contacts, ideas, assistance, and more. YOU have responded, which has allowed us to continue publishing this resource each month. You have asked your other contacts to help us, and we could not be more grateful. Many of you have asked for help when you normally wouldn’t, on our behalf. We can brag- not a humble brag, but a real one- that STL KidsCompete has the BEST readers, writers, and advertising business partners because look what you have done! We are so proud of STL KidsCompete and recognize that we could not have done this without you. At a time when things are topsy-turvy, Team STL has rallied behind us, and are helping us bring a truly positive gift to St. Louis, regardless of which sport/competition-type you are involved in. We will continue to bring you a high-quality product, with enthusiasm and excitement. We all can brag about this collaboration, because it could not have been possible without you!

Truly thank you, Stephanie & the STL KidsCompete team

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

magazine

Happy Holidays From Our Family to Yours!

Issue #04 DEC 2019 PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Berk, Ph.D. stephanie.berk@stlkidscompete.com ART DIRECTOR Judy Dante CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Drs. Ian Pearson and T. Eric Spiegel Reshaunda Thornton RD, LD, CSSD Bryan Traughber Solomon Alexander Lynsey Porter Aaron Vickar

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FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS Orion Child Rory Wood EDITING INTERN Benjamin Shoykhet CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dirt & Turf Photography WEB MANAGEMENT Alex Carson

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STL KidsCompete Magazine Published monthly. P.O. Box 31724, Saint Louis, MO 63131 Email: info@stlkidscompete.com Text: 412-251-6324 Website: www.stlkidscompete.com STL KidsCompete Magazine is distributed to locations throughout the St. Louis area. Distribution of this publication does not constitute endorsement of content, advertisements, products, and or services. Publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or submission not in keeping with the publication’s standards. All contents herein are protected by copyright, and may not be reproduced in any manner or form without obtaining permission in writing from the publisher.

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DEC 2019

Sportsmanship Steward

Give Everyone

a Trophy

BY SOLOMON ALEXANDER

Solomon Alexander is the Foundation Director at the St. Louis Sports Commission. For more articles like this and information on the Sports Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth programs, please visit sportsmanship.org.

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

All kids should get a trophy. Why not? If spending another few bucks makes a kid's day and enhances their experience, the effort is well worth it.

ut what about real-life? Everyone doesn't get a trophy in real-life. Sure, they do. Right now, your boss is trying to figure out a way to give everyone something other than their regular paycheck for the holidays.

It may take the form of a check, a gift card or something else. Nevertheless, you will probably get something from your employer you did not earn over the next couple of weeks. And that's OK.

Where hospitality helps you be your best

Outside of work, if you participate in just about anything, there's some kind of unearned reward in it for you. Door prizes, event t-shirts, goodie bags â&#x20AC;&#x201D; adults get more participation "trophies" than kids. Why do you get these things? People want you to feel good about being associated with them. They want you to have a good experience. There is nothing wrong with making people feel wanted, respected, appreciated and loved. This includes kids. Take it from a person who has purchased his share of trophies. Awards are not a matter of merit as much as they are a matter of budget, especially on the youth level. If your kid is in a tournament that only gives awards to the top three places, I'll bet you dollars to donuts it's because the director didn't want to spring for another couple of trophies. Professional sports teams often give championship rings to everyone in the organization, from the players to the custodial staff.

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Here's another thing I've learned: You can give kids the speech about competition being better at one meet versus the next, but kids love going to contests that give the biggest and coolest-looking trophies. Motivating people to be better versions of themselves is never a bad thing, particularly if it only costs you some plastic and shiny paint.

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DEC 2019

P l ay with u s ! Welcomteo

Chess!

d mate in move, an to e it h W

ou get What do yross a c u o when y and a vampire? snowman

ANSWER:

Frost bite!

What do you call a droid that takes the long way around? ANSW ER:

R2 deto ur!

Polgar, ter Susan Grandmas Credit to

University Webster

fuN facts: skIINg

??# ??c1 tion: N er’s Solu Novemb

the What did say to e n limesto gist? the geolo

ANSWER:

Don’t take me for granite!

Skiing started out as a mode of transportation before it became a sport, with carvings found from 5000 B.C. in Norway and Sweden. In 1879, the first, official, downhill skiing race was held in Sweden.

is it timeclock t a Wh n the whe kes 13? stri

In 1936, Alpine/downhill skiing first appeared in the Winter Olympics, and German-born Franz Pfnür became the first man to win the gold medal in the championship.

ANSWER:

Time to get a new clock!

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

There are 5 highly recognized types of skiing: 1) Alpine or downhill, 2) Cross-country, 3) Freestyle, 4) Telemark, and 5) Adaptive. Telemark bindings were invented by Norwegian Sondre Norheim. They bind the ski to the plastic boot and make it possible for skiers to jump in the air.

onto falldoes s e l hat er? pick Two loor. Whe oth t f the say to e on ANSWER:

Dill with it!

Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads. (Jim Bowden, 2012)

Winter Sports Sudoku:

Draw or color in the proper icons in the empty spaces so that in each of the big squares there will be 5 different images in each horizontal and vertical line.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Athlete Development ages

3-12

What Do

HELMETS

Actually Do?

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

“Wear a helmet or don’t wear a helmet. It makes no difference anyway.” “Helmets don’t stop a concussion from happening.” “Helmets limit my personal sense of being free.” “Helmets make my hair look messy.” “I’m not going very fast, and my parents didn’t wear them when they were younger.”

he list goes on. Parents, children, athletes, and spectators have all found reasons to resist/protest wearing a helmet, not too dissimilar from when wearing a seatbelt became mandatory. However, with the seatbelt laws, there was information clearly showing what the seatbelt actually did for the passenger in the vehicle. Here is some information about helmet use; the why and the how it works:

Why? Helmets can prevent injuries in an uncontrolled environment. If you can't prevent a crash or impact, but you know that there is a likelihood that it can occur, a helmet can prevent or minimize injury to the head and brain. The first step in preventing injury is to minimize the probability of the impact. Not hitting something hard, is definitely better than hitting something with a helmet on!

person crashes and hits a hard surface, the foam part of a helmet crushes. This foam absorbs and redistributes the impact energy and prolongs the head's stopping time by about six milliseconds. This reduces the peak impact to the brain. Rotational forces and internal strains are likely to be reduced by the crushing of the helmet foam. The thicker the foam, the better, because the head has more room, and time, to stop. Basic laws of physics say that there is more force to the brain, if the stopping distance is shorter. However, if the helmet is too thick, there is increased strain to the neck. Different helmets are good for different activities. Regardless of which activity, a helmet must fit well and be level on the head for the whole head to remain covered after a first impact. Some helmets are designed to be reused after the foam is crushed, like hockey, whereas others are not, such as bike helmets.

How? Human brains can be injured by impact with the skull, or by exceptionally violent rotation of the head, when the brain remains stationary pulling at the nerves and blood vessels. Helmets designed to handle major crash energy, typically have a layer of crushable foam. When a

References: www.helmets.org Barbara A. Stanken (2000) Promoting Helmet Use Among Children, Journal of Community Health Nursing, 17:2, 85-92. Colello, R. J., Colello, I. A., Abdelhameid, D., Cresswell, K. G., Merchant, R., & Beckett, E. (2018). Making football safer: Assessing the current national football league policy on the type of helmets allowed on the playing field. Journal of Neurotrauma, 35(11), 1213–1223.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Sports Cents

TSA Precheck or Not?

Maybe you’re already flying for your kids travel teams, maybe it’s still on your horizon. In either case, this holiday season you’ll probably find yourself in an airport. We’re trying to answer the eternal question — to TSA Precheck or not

BY AARON VICKAR

Aaron Vickar is a St. Louis wealth advisor at Buckingham Strategic Wealth. He travels frequently, attending as many of his children’s sporting events as possible. Contact Aaron at avickar@bamadvisor.com or 314-743-2241 for more information or to start a conversation.

Source: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

he Transportation Security Administration’s expedited screening program is a paid service - $85 for a five-year membership – that allows you to speed through airport security lines faster. You won’t have to spend time removing shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or light jackets. Is it worth the cost? To me, the answer is a resounding YES! In October 2019, 93% of TSA Precheck passengers waited less than five minutes in security lines. Parents and guardians with a TSA Precheck indicator on their boarding pass can bring family members ages 12 and under through the expedited screening for free. These time savings can help prevent your family from reenacting the scene from “Home Alone,” running through the airport during the busy, holiday travel season to catch a flight.

How to apply:

1. Apply at www.tsa.gov/precheck. 2. Schedule a 10 minute, in person

appointment at an enrollment center for a background check and fingerprinting.

3. Once approved, add your Known Traveler Number to your ticket.

4. You should add your Known

Traveler Number to your profile at each airline you fly, so it is added to future reservations and appears on your boarding passes.

Before paying the membership fee, visit the TSA Precheck website to see if your credit card or loyalty program has TSA Precheck benefits. Many programs will reimburse you the membership cost at 100%. Even without a credit card reimbursement, if you travel more than a few times per year, the membership is worth the cost for the time savings alone. I’m all in for TSA Precheck.

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

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STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Coach’s Corner

HOW TO STAY IN TOP PLAYING SHAPE DURING THE HOLIDAY BREAK? It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

he holiday season has arrived and while this can be an exciting time of the year, it can also be a challenge to “stay in shape.” Follow the guidelines below to ensure that you won’t lose a step during this busy season.

1. Set a goal. Goals are most effective when they are attainable, specific, and BY BRYAN TRAUGHBER

Head Cross Country & Co-Head Track and Field Coach DeSmet Jesuit High School

measurable. It can also be helpful to write or type your goal on a sheet of paper and post it in a place that is often visible to you. For example: My goal is to run one mile without walking by January 15th.

2. Consistency is the key – Consistency is the key to improving as an athlete. Five

30-minute workouts per week is more effective than 1 or 2 two hour workouts a week. Focus on developing your specific skills as consistently and frequently as possible.

3. Schedule your workouts. Often times, the earlier you can schedule a workout, the

better. You want to avoid planning to complete your workout after a family gathering or travel.

4. Modify your training indoors if necessary. If your normal routine calls for outdoor

training, don’t be afraid to move your training indoors to the gym, pool, or any indoor facility when the weather or travel plans don’t allow for time outside. Remember, consistency is key, and doing something indoors, even if it is not the complete routine, is more beneficial than nothing at all.

5. Don’t forget to sleep. Sleep is your body’s best recovery method. Even though your

daily schedule may change, it is important to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Drinking water, and eating a healthy, balanced diet are also beneficial.

6. Train with a friend. Training is also more fun with a partner and a friend can also help keep you accountable.

Best of luck to you and remember to enjoy this time of year!

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Athlete’s Journal Orion Child Homeschooled Sophomore

Mental Muscle by Orion Child I am a cyclist. Going out on solo rides all day is one of my favorite things to do. From riding the KATY Trail at age 7, entering my first race at age 13, falling in love with racing nationally at age 14, to being recruited to join an elite cycling team in St. Louis at age 15, the bicycle moves me.

n September 2018, I was out on one of my long solo rides when I was t-boned by a truck. The 14 months since the accident have tested my faith and mental determination to rebuild all aspects of my life. I am one of the fortunate ones. I was told by numerous people in the medical field that I was lucky to have not lost my life or have a permanent spinal cord injury. Yet, it was painful to deal with having the short-term limitations of 10 broken bones, a collapsed lung, and a lot of missing skin. And I struggled with long-term issues associated with the mild Traumatic Brain Injury, and the extensive nerve damage to my left arm that prevented me from using it for nearly six months. People asked why I would ever want to ride a bike again after such a traumatic accident or why I would want to race at high speeds with the potential of a

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

crash. Why? It’s because the bicycle moves me! As a teenager, I never thought I would have to deal with anything so challenging. I’ve had to work extremely hard in rehabilitation therapy, and I’ve had to push through limitations to get back to where I am: riding and racing my bike again at the top level. My faith and mental fortitude have helped me achieve progress that few believed would be possible this soon after the accident. I have read about numerous top-level athletes who have used mental strength to comeback from difficult setbacks. I have relied on this determination to overcome what seemed impossible. Although it is challenging to race my peers on their level right now, I know that through perseverance I will soon be stronger than where I would have been without the accident.

Rory Wood

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School Freshman

For the Love of Lacrosse by Rory Wood I have been playing Lacrosse for about five years now, and I have fallen in love with it. If it weren’t for this sport, I wouldn’t have made some of my best friends in school, and out. Some of my friends that I played with five years ago, are friends I still play with today.

t is a Spring sport, but I practice year-round because Lou Fusz has made the opportunity in the sport available. Just this past fall, I played with an incredible group of girls and two coaches. The coaches are talented, hilarious college roommates, who are great teachers. My mom and dad have always supported me in playing lacrosse. My mom is a Neuroradiologist so she sees people with head injuries all the time. She has always been worried about the ball and our masks that we wear. Yes, the mask protects our eyes and nose, but if the ball hit us in the right spot on the side of our heads, it could cause head trauma or even death. I have heard this so many times in the past five years from my parents that I basically just recited that word for word, but they are not wrong. My parents have been trying to get me to wear women’s headgear for the upcoming lacrosse season, and I have been refusing because I would be the only one. (I have tried one on, and it doesn’t even fit correctly.)

I am aware that in Florida, women are required to wear helmets, which I think is very cool, and something that we should be doing here in Missouri. The risk of serious head injury is low but it would be better to prevent anything from happening before anyone else gets seriously hurt. I am hopeful that rules for Missouri lacrosse will change to include a requirement for headgear. If as a sport, all of the young women wore helmets, we would be safer. I have had other injuries before, and they all healed, but I know that a head injury can be forever. I don’t know what I would do, if I could no longer play lacrosse, or perform well in school because of an avoidable head injury. I am super excited about this next season, but I am praying that no one will get hurt. I will be keeping my eye on the ball. Not only to pass, receive, shoot and score, but also to make sure the ball doesn’t come too near my head.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Sports Nutrition

Got

IRON?

The questions are often posed: Why is it important for our kids to have a balanced diet? Are our kids getting enough iron in their diets?

ne of the most important reasons for having a balanced diet is to minimize nutrient deficiencies. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination, iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in infants and young children. This also puts them at increased risk of developmental delays and behavioral disturbance (Gupta et al, 2016). Iron deficiency is not only an issue for children, but it is one of the most common issues for athletes of all ages. As young athletes are continually active, there is a higher need for iron in their diets.

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

What is the importance of iron? Kids need iron for a variety of reasons. Red blood cells need iron to bind with hemoglobin to transport oxygen to their lungs and muscle stores. Without sufficient iron intake, children are more susceptible to becoming deficient. There are different levels from depleted iron stores to anemiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a condition marked by low amounts of healthy red blood cells. If left untreated, this can affect a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development. According to Joo et al, iron deficiency anemia is associated with impaired neurocognitive function and exercise intolerance (Joo et al, 2016). It is important know some of the signs of low iron.

Signs of low iron deficiency anemia Lethargy/weakness Pale skin Abnormal/rapid breathing Poor appetite Dizzy/lightheaded Frequent infections Unusual cravings (ice, dirt, paint) Decrease in cognitive functioning. How much iron is needed? Everyone is born with iron stores. And as children are rapidly growing, a steady amount of additional iron is needed. Ranging from 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;15 extra milligrams needed depending on age and gender, checking with your pediatrician is always a good idea. (Iron. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/IronHealthProfessional/)

How can parents help? While children may be picky eaters it is important to ensure that an iron-rich diet is incorporated throughout their developing years. As a sports dietitian, I would recommend including iron-rich foods in their diets. If your child has to take iron supplements, make sure they take it exactly how prescribed. Also, combining vitamin c will help increase absorption. Serve fruits and vegetable high in vitamin c, such as a glass of orange juice at mealtime. Other foods high in vitamin c are tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, and dark leafy greens. Ensuring that our kids gets a wellrounded meal that is rich in iron will be beneficial for their health, development, and sports performance.

References: Joo, E. Y., Kim, K. Y., Kim, D. H., Lee, J. E., & Kim, S. K. (2016). Iron deficiency anemia in infants and toddlers. Blood research, 51(4), 268â&#x20AC;&#x201C;273. doi:10.5045/br.2016.51.4.268 Gupta, P. M., Perrine, C. G., Mei, Z., & Scanlon, K. S. (2016). Iron, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency Anemia among Young Children in the United States. Nutrients, 8(6), 330. doi:10.3390/nu8060330

Types of Iron Heme iron is the most well absorbed and found at high amounts only in animal sources:

Non-heme is not absorbed as well and comes from both plant and animal sources:

Meat (beef, poultry)

Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)

Eggs

Seeds (pumpkin, sesame, squash)

Organ meat (liver)

Dried fruits

Shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams)

Dark, leafy greens (kale, spinach, broccoli)

Sardines

Iron-fortified cereals, breads, and pasta

BY RESHAUNDA THORNTON RD, LD, CSSD

Sports dietitian, owner of Bettervessel Nutrition, and author of Play to Win the Food Fight. Specializes in consulting athletes and individuals in healthy living and performance enhancement. Nutrition expert of St. Louis Fox2News since 2014. Featured Tedx Gateway Arch speaker 2019. Currently a thought leader speaker in nutrition and wellness-related topics. Former athlete who enjoys weight training and running, and a mom of a teenager who is ok with eating a salad with every meal. Call: (832)771-7649 or email info@reshaundathornton.com For more information or to make an appointment.

Tofu

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Sports Doc Writes

The Bumpy Road to Becoming

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME Winning isn’t everything. Don’t believe us? ★ Over the course of his career Michael Jordan lost 366 games, missed half his two-pointers, and two thirds of his three-pointers. ★ Tom Brady has missed more than a third of all of his passes, thrown 171 interceptions and lost the Super Bowl a staggering three times. ★ The great one himself, Wayne Gretzky, lost approximately 600 games across his career, was unceremoniously traded, and only scored a goal with 18 percent of his shots.

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

eing the Greatest of All Time (or G.O.A.T.) means failing, a lot. But what do all of these professional athletes have in common? They all sustained the highest level of play despite facing adversity. This isn’t a muscle that can be honed in the gym, but a psychological skill, practiced off the field. For young athletes this can be a hard lesson to learn. Whether it’s teammates, parents, or coaches, we don’t want to let people down. But failure is inevitable and the ability to overcome it will separate the greats from the goods. So what can you do to play at your best but have the emotional and psychological tools to learn from failure? Take care of yourself - Your body is your most important tool. Make sure you prepare before every workout, taking the time to stretch and warm up. Make sure to eat a healthy diet and get an appropriate amount of sleep every night. Make time for socialization - We all need someone to talk to and often, the times when we don’t reach out to others, is when we need them the most. Make time to recharge emotionally with friends and family. Taking time to discuss things that aren’t your sport is an added plus. You do you - Find what helps to focus and motivate you. For some people this is a pregame song or ritual, for others it’s positive visualization. We’ve all heard about entering, “the zone.” Figure out what works for you and how you can attain it as frequently as possible.

BY DRS. IAN PEARSON AND T. ERIC SPIEGEL Pediatric Psychiatry

St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Call 314.454.KIDS (5437) for more information or to make an appointment.

Be kind to yourself - At the end of the day it’s just a game. It may seem like a single game is the most important thing in the world but making progress over time is worth far more than one instance of greatness. Achievement in sports is a process and that process can take time. Becoming a great athlete requires a lot from families too, and parents often have difficulty watching a young athlete struggle. At times parents can get in trouble for “motivating” their athlete, offering advice or goals that can confuse or frustrate. Support is far more important while training than increased expectations, and coaches may have years of experience providing constructive feedback. Parents also need to keep in mind the purpose of sports for their children. Why do we want our children to participate in sports? To be the G.O.A.T.? To become a professional player? To win all the time? Perhaps. But we also want our kids to get exercise, work as a team and build relationships, build on their skills (and thus, their self-esteem), and yes, to learn to deal with failure in a positive and constructive way. These attributes will translate to success later in other non-sport pursuits. Parents can provide an outsider’s perspective and encouragement, which will keep the game fun and exciting. After all, one of the biggest thing that makes a G.O.A.T a G.O.A.T. is their unwavering love for their sport, win or lose.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Athlete Development ages

13-18

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

Agents, Managers, and TimeKeepers In 1972, researchers Rosenzweig and Bennet reported that an enriched environment led to increased thickness and higher weight of the brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cortex. Other researchers hypothesized a similar pattern for animals and humans, and the major implication of the study was that the human brain would also be affected by environmental factors, such as intellectual and social stimulation. This led to research studies of children who were in impoverished environments being given enrichment- food and programming, and reported results of improvement.

rom this point, the race began: How many programs could parents sign their children up for, and what was the youngest age they could start? Would this get them into better colleges, or benefit them in other ways? While an impoverished environment is clearly not the best, it is becoming more and more apparent that too much stimulation is also not good for our youth. Pressure from parents, the college application process, and companies trying to market to parents afraid of their children being behind, has led to a reduction of necessary play time, increased stress, decreased communication, and increasing reports of hurried lifestyle-related anxiety and possibly depression. So, how does a parent find a balance, especially when the child is a teen with more independence and expectation of obligation than a younger child? What is the role of the parent/caregiver? How do you stave off that feeling of guilt that you did not give your teen enough to compete with his/her peers? Without a crystal ball showing the future, there are no easy answers to the above questions. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parent needs to be an agent, a manager, and a timekeeper. As an agent for a teen, a parent can work to find the best placement and match between interests, talents, and the local resources.

A parent must also be a manager. There are many more activities and coaches that want a teen's time and attention than there are hours in the day/week to spend on that activity or sport. It is up to the parent to discuss with the teen and activity-leader the rules for practice and participation. It is sometimes best for the parent to manage the different activities. Another important aspect is being the timekeeper. If a teen has 3 hours available on a particular weekday, and needs to spend 1 hour on homework, and 30 minutes on instrument practice, the remaining 1.5 hours needs to be portioned out in the best interest of the teen. It is unrealistic to expect a 13â&#x20AC;&#x201C;16-year-old to be organized enough to handle the timing, let alone stand up to an adult. Some can do both of these things, but most do not yet have that maturity or confidence. Parents have always had a difficult job, but in some ways, it seems even harder today. Remembering that the primary goal is to raise happy, healthy, productive future adults, there are many pathways to achieve that goal- and most of them do not include 100 extracurricular activities per teen.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

History Lessons at the Cardinals Hall of Fame STL KidsCompete wants to congratulate the St. Louis Sports Commission, the award recipients, and all who worked on another AMAZING Musial Awards, celebrating extraordinary sportsmanship! We will be watching the nationally televised event on CBS, on December 21st at 2pm EST.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Cardinals

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Cardinals Photo courtesy of St. Louis Cardinals

STL Sports In History 26

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum 700 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102

“Take a look, fans. Take a good, long look. Remember the swing and the stance. We won’t see his like again.” – Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray during Musial’s final big league at bat

“The Man” Retires

sed him as “Mr. Musial” asked people who addres tly uen freq quite late 1941, many folks didn’t call him “Stan.” When he was called up in exploits to simply his to nks tha , But e. nam sur his nce nou pro know how to ired his tes president from Harry Musial met every United Sta trated Brooklyn fans who insp at the plate and some frus ” with the lone exception of ally knew him as “The Man. Truman to Barack Obama, nickname, everyone eventu ent Obama awarded Musial Dwight Eisenhower. Presid the him ced pla t tha eer hest civilian honor in 2011, forged a car with the United States’ hig For 22 years, Stan Musial and the r ing Sta dur Alle ted tim sta 24He m. greats. A Presidential Medal of Freedo among the game’s all-time r teams, he won three p shi untarnished, a beloved pilla n, ion ico mp “an cha n rld Sta t wo e tha ony em cer member of thre s en uld want your kid to uable Player Awards and sev munity, a gentleman you wo com the of National League Most Val en event held years earlier, were divided evenly betwe ” The ceremony echoed an te. ula em batting titles. His 3,630 hits y enc of the Order of road, exemplifying a consist received the Cavalier Cross sial Mu en wh Sportsman’s Park and the er, hitt or given by Poland, his not appreciated as a power Merit, the highest civilian hon few could approach. Though s, run e hom 475 ted era stance gen father’s homeland. Musial’s iconic corkscrew 1954. When he retired in in r ade -he ble dou a in including five als, serving as an ained active with the Cardin n two dozen National rem tha re sial mo Mu red sha or d hel 1963, Musial , in 1967, general manager. executive vice president and in League records. he became more involved After his front-office stint, and re ned mo ow ch comu s he t wa ran n” tau Ma e res field, “Th ss interests, including a ine bus As great as he was on the a to ces his name. eered his time and resour ds company that featured than a ballplayer. He volunt nding a sporting goo atte by and etly cre dis h rts, bot variety of philanthropic effo the Cardinals Hall most popular attractions in ctions. Whether he was the fun of lic e On pub and ts que ban a myriad of , called “Holding History,” g facility or at a state dinner e and Museum is an area livin Fam ior of sen l, pita hos n’s at a childre e a bat used by one sts put on gloves and examin h stories, jokes and tunes wit gue ne ere ryo wh eve in erta ent Musial would away the most made sure everyone als greats. Musial’s is far and ays din alw Car he six d of An a. nic mo har on his trusty bat and making this g the received one, even stockin popular; simply holding his who wanted an autograph e dat has brought ned postcards to accommo connection with “The Man” trunk of his car with pre-sig of s like ts. He was buddies with the tears to the eyes of many. the large number of reques gger slu ble hum the yet II, l John Pau John F. Kennedy and Pope

Reprinted with permission from Redbird Relics: Treasures from the St. Louis Cardinals Museum by Brian Finch

For more information about the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, visit: www.cardinals.com/museum Open Monday-Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm *Museum remains open through 7th inning on home game nights. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day **Hours subject to change for Private Events without notice.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Coachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

Minutes

Matter

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STL KidsCompete

Standing on the sidelines during a varsity game does not help with development. As a coach, I have learned that while you can teach all the skills and technical elements of a sport, it is hard to develop that game awareness without actually playing the game. It is important, for young athletes, that they are gaining minutes on the field. For some, this may mean playing at the JV level for a year longer than they would prefer. While this is hard for athletes to grasp, it is in their best interest for their development. Game awareness and readiness comes from playing experiences, from both the trials and the errors. There tends to be a negative response from athletes who are placed on JV teams unless they are a freshman. For me, I would rather my athlete play 40-50 minutes at the JV level for 2-3 years and develop the required skills to PLAY at the Varsity level, than sit on the sidelines for the Varsity team and see little to no playing time. 40-50 minutes of playing time 2-3 times a week will allow for the athlete to develop their decision-making skills, enhance performance under pressure and truly allow the athlete to use the skills and technical elements learned in practice during a game setting. Yes, at the JV level the pace of the game may be slower and not as intense but athletes who need a

little more time to develop than maybe some of their peers, will excel under these conditions, build confidence and it will prepare them for that next level. Being an impact player on the JV team, not only provides the individual with opportunities to develop their own individual skill, but also puts them in a position to be a leader on their team. A quality that is important beyond the field of play. A true athlete wants to play. But a young athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectations and perceptions may not align with that of their coach. It is important to have open conversations for both coach and player about progress, and what their end goal is.

BY LYNSEY PORTER, LADUE SCHOOL DISTRICT Graduated from Edinburgh Napier with a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in coaching. Continued education and playing career at Lindenwood University. Currently employed with Ladue School District. Six years of coaching experience at the high school, elite club level and college. Current head coach of Ladue Field Hockey Program and coach with Gateway Field Hockey.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Fun Fit: Current Trends

Augmented Reality Definition: Wikipedia says that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory.â&#x20AC;?

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ntil fairly recently, AR has been used primarily for science fiction, video games, and movies. However, now there are companies, such as RideOn Vision which are creating AR for youth athletes and for recreational activities, e.g. vacation-time skiing. Two new and trendy devices: RideOn Goggles & RideOn Mohawk, created by the company, RideOn Vision Their first-generation augmented reality ski goggles are claimed to be the first of its kind. These goggles allow for the ability to interact with fellow riders, navigate the mountain slopes, and record the experience, completely hands-free! These goggles are not only said to enhance the ski experience but revolutionize the way skiers can interact with the world

around them. RideOn Vision is now on their second version of these goggles. RideOn Vision also designed, created, and wrote about the Mohawk Helmet. The Mohawk Smart Helmet leveraged new advancements in AR technology to provide an expansive set of new features. These features include a fully transparent display, personalized metrics and statistics, and even a virtual SOS button. This helmet was recently tested on the Planai mountain in Austria. When using AR, it is advisable to be extra aware of what is going on around you. The devices are amazing but do sometimes create a world where users do not pay attention to moving cars, and other potentially dangerous situations.

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Sport Spot

BALLROOM DANCING, a Sport? Ever thought of going to the Olympics to compete in the sport of Ballroom dancing? If so, you are not alone.

BY SENZO MAKHAYE

Just Dancing Studio, St. Louis Senzo was a South Africa national rhythm champion at age 11 years. From an extended family of dancers in a suburb of Durban, he was a South Africa national international Latin finalist three times. Before coming to the U.S. in 2012, he danced competitively on “Superdance South Africa,” a competition TV series. Senzo, paired with Sue McCollum, won 2014’s Dancing With the St. Louis Stars. He and professional dance partner Agnieszka Strojek have competed in American rhythm since 2012. Their list of championships is growing, with 4 first-place finishes just in the past few months alone. Senzo teaches all ballroom, rhythm and swing dance styles.

here have been strides made to have Dancesport be an official event in the Olympic games. In 1992, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) became a full member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (ISF). This is crucial, because the ISFs are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

through a central website. Youth-Athlete dancers, ages 8- 18 years, compete in groups against other dancers of similar age and skill level. Unlike adult competitive dancers who wear elaborate costumes, covered in rhinestones, youth competitors, in a sanctioned competition, have to abide by strict guidelines for simple costumes.

In 1995, the WDSF became a member of the International World Games Association, which is important because the World Games are ultimately under the patronage of the IOC. Then, in 1997, DanceSport became eligible to be included in the Olympic program. Less than 10 years later, in 2010, DanceSport was premiered at the Asian Games. Ballroom dancing, as a sport, is not yet an Olympic event, but may be one in the near future.

Youth dancers, grouped by skill level, age, and dance style, are compared with other couples by qualified judges, on relative performance and execution using a consistent set of criteria. There are four major types of dances: International Standard, International Latin, American Smooth, and American Rhythm. Each type has 4 or 5 dances within that style, with distinct characteristics. For example, International Latin includes Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, and Paso Doble. Each dance has a list of recognized steps, also known as the “Syllabus,” which has three levels; bronze, silver, and gold steps. Once a dancer has mastered the Syllabus steps, he/she may dance in “Open Categories”, i.e. Novice, PreChampionship and Championship.

We currently have two “Major” dance associations, the National Dance Council of America, and USA Dance. So, what actually is DanceSport, and can kids do it? Dancesport is the official name for competitive, versus recreational, ballroom dancing. Sanctioned competitions are held on Local, Regional, National, and International levels, and can be found

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

For more info, contact: https://usadance.org/ https://www.ndca.org/

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Adaptive & Accessible

Para-cycling

ara-cycling had its beginning in the 1980s. It started with visually impaired riders who competed on tandem bikes with sighted partners. In 1984, it was accepted into the Summer Paralympic Games, but consisted primarily of road races for riders with cerebral palsy. By 1996 track cycling was included, and competitors had a variety of disabilities, racing in various functional categories. Today, classification of riders consists of four broad groups; visual impairment, cerebral palsy, mobility impairment and handcycling. These are subdivided into 14 functional categories for men and women. There are now seven widely acknowledged events; three “Road”, and four “Track” events. Road events are 1) Road race, men and women, 2) Individual time trial (men and women), and 3) Handcycling relay. The Track events are 1) Tandem sprint (men), 2) Team

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

sprint (men and women mixed event), 3) 500m or 1000m time trial (men and women), 4) Individual pursuit (men and women.) The adaptive bikes are designed differently based on need. In addition to tandem bikes for cyclists with visual impairments, there are tricycles for cyclists with balance issues, handcycles for cyclists for riders with lower limb mobility, and others. Cycling is a great sport and a healthy way of remaining active and fit. With the right bicycle, training, and adaptations, most people can ride a bike!

Resources https://usdeafsports.org/teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Sports/Cycling https://www.disabledsportsusa.org/sport/cycling/

[ Photo: Shutterstock.com, FocusDzign ]

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

Sporty Recipes

SNACKS

Iron-rich BB (Black Bean) Burgers

By Reshaunda Thornton

1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed Small green bell pepper ½ Vidalia onion, cut into wedges 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1 egg 1.5 TBS chili powder 1.5 TBS cumin ½ tsp of smoked paprika 1/2 cup panko or bread crumbs

1. On top of stove lightly sautéed green peppers and

onion. 2. For baking - preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly oil a baking sheet. 3. For stovetop – warm skillet and lightly spray with

olive oil. 4. In a blender or mixer, mash the beans until a paste texture. 5. Then stir green pepper and onion mix into mashe d beans. 6. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. 7. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties. 8. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

Looking for some winter Ice Skating? Here are some suggestions for ice skating this winter in the St. Louis area. Contact venues for hours and admission info. Brewery Lights Ice Rink at Anheuser-Busch www.budweisertours.com/locations/ brewerylights/events-calendar.html (Open select days Nov. 22-Dec. 30, 2019) Granite City Ice Rink Wilson Park, 3000 Fehling Rd., Granite City, IL 618-877-2549 (Open through mid-February, 2020) Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park 550 Weidman Rd., St. Louis, MO 314-615-8472 (Open through Feb. 23, 2020)

Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive Youth Latin class every Tuesday night from 6:00pm-6:4 5pm for ages 8-1 6. No partner ne eded. Come learn to dance with us! 236 Old Meramec Station Road, Manchester, MO 63021

6 36-227-7202

www.justdancingstudio.com

Kennedy Recreation Complex 6050 Wells Rd., St. Louis, MO 314 615-5572 (Open through March 4, 2020) The Loading Dock Bar & Grill Ice Rink 401 East Front St., Grafton, IL www.graftonloadingdock.com/ice-rink (Open Nov. 23, 2019-March 8, 2020) Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park 400 Jefferson Drive St. Louis, MO 63110 www.steinbergskatingrink.com/iceskating/ (Open through March 1) Winterfest Ice Rink at Kiener Plaza 601 Market St., St. Louis, MO www.archpark.org/events/Winterfest (Open select days Nov. 23 – Jan. 26)

Come join our dance family! All ages and levels 9310 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132 www.stlouisdance.com

314-991-1663

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

DEC 1 2 3 Sunday

Special Events

Dodgeball 20 minute games

By Appointment We are proud to offer a Competitive Special Needs Cheer Squad! For more info please contact Shannon Wylie. SWYLIE410@GMAIL.COM

Team Building at Neutral Zone Arcade

Special Needs Family Night

Come check out the fast-paced, end to end action. Our professional playing surface is provided by Sport Court®. Games start every 20 minutes. Our trained referees are ready to call all the action. They will divide the players into two teams, and make sure to keep the game both fair and safe.

12/2 12pm-8pm Like to play video games? We offer a great opportunity for that much needed team building experience. Our retro arcade is suitable for kids of all ages. Coaches and players can compete together, build bonds and strengthen friendships. Group rates are available!

We will provide a sensory friendly environment so all our families can enjoy the joy of jumping, flying, climbing, bouncing and laughing!

EPIC 6 LASER TAG SPORTS ARENA, 601 GRAVOIS BLVD, STE G, 63026 $4

https://www.epic6fun.com/public/ attractions/dodgeball.cfm

Little Sharks Youth Triathlon Planning 12/1 1pm

NUTRIFORMANCE/ATHLETIC REPUBLIC, 10407 CLAYTON ROAD, FRONTENAC MO 63131 FREE

Open Practices

Cheer Legendz Open Gym 12/1 2:30pm-4pm Open to any athlete!

17387 EDISON AVE, 63005 $10

http://cheerlegendz.net

Sunday Chess Classes 12/1

starting from 1 pm

Beginners to advanced level classes for both kids and adults

CALENDAR

Runs & Rides

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME, 4652 MARYLAND AVE., ST LOUIS, MO 63108 FREE FOR MEMBERS. FIRST TIME TO THE CLUB IS FREE, SO NON-MEMBERS GET IT FREE ONCE.

DEC 2019

Tuesday

12/1 11am-6pm

Attention active families interested in triathlon! Available for youth, juniors (teens), and even parents are training opportunities like nothing else in St. Louis. Little and Jr. Sharks Triathlon Team train with local professionals from Big Shark, Nutriformance/Athletic Republic, Power Up Cycling, and Sally Drake Endurance

5 & Unders

Try Outs / Info Sessoins

CP SuperStars Cheer

Monday

STL KidsCompete

LOCATED IN CHESTERFIELD MALL VARIES, UP TO $19.99 PER PERSON FOR THE ALL DAY PASS.

NEUTRALZ.COM

Urban Fort Play Cafe 12/2 9am-2pm Our perfectly designed play space is an excellent environment where your kiddos can explore, learn, and discover. Parent supervision is required. With this in mind, our space is set up so that you can have eyes on your child from every angle, while still remaining comfortable in your chair. 1854 RUSSELL BLVD, 63104 VARIES, $8 AND UNDER PER CHILD

Adult Open Gym at Flipside 12/2 8:30pm-10pm Ages 12 and up. All are welcome! 460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $5, CASH ONLY.

12/3 3pm-7pm

61 N. CENTRAL DR. 63366 $15 PER JUMPER, PLUS $3 FOR SOCKS.

Women's Gravel Night QandA 12/3 7pm-9pm We cordially invite you to Momentum Cycles inaugural Women’s Gravel Night! Stop by for wine and cheese, plus all the latest in gravel “geared” toward female riders and racers. From beginner to experienced riders, there is something for everyone! 8640 MEXICO RD, 63366 FREE

DreamPlay Recreation 12/3 11am-4pm Come explore the playground equipment, and play indoors! 17373 EDISON AVE., 63005 $5/$6

Latin Ballroom Dance Lessons 12/3 6pm-6:45pm Join Maysen at Just Dancing Dance Studio, and learn how to do the rumba, cha cha, samba, paso doble, and jive to the current popular songs! Reservations are required. 236 OLD MERAMAC STATION RD. $10, PER CHILD.

4 5 6 7 Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Friday

Junior Open Gym

Archery Lessons for kids

Christmas Cookie Bake-Off

Family Nerf War

12/4 11am-12pm

12/5 6pm-8pm

12/6 5:45pm-7:15pm

12/7 9am-11am

Ages 16 mos-5 yrs. Sign up online, www.gymquarters.com/calendar

We have instruction for kids (both young and old!!). These classes are held from 6-7pm and 7-8pm. Shooters may shoot their own equipment or use a Genesis bow we can provide

Calling all cookie bakers (guys and gals) and bike lovers: It's the cookie party you're not going to want to miss! Bake a few dozen of your most prized Christmas cookies and bring them to Maplewood Bicycle for a chance to win one of TWO prize baskets chock full of swag from your favorite bike brands.

Grab your friends and family and head to The Pointe for this exciting event! Each participant needs to bring a Nerf gun. Soft tip darts will be provided along with safety glasses. Light snacks and drinks will be served at the conclusion of the event.

92 HUBBLE DR, O'FALLON, MO 63368 $7 PER CHILD.

Unlimited Laser Tag at Amp Up Action Park 12/4 4pm-9pm Have a "blast" with your friends, with unlimited laser tag. You'll get a heartpounding, black-light, music-filled experience in our custom built 3-level laser tag arena. Add unlimited virtual reality for just $6 extra. 13901 MANCHESTER RD, 63011 $15 +TAX

SUMMIT ARCHERY CENTER, 1164 DECKER RD, 63055. $5 PER PERSON, PER SESSION

http://summitarchery.com/lessons/

Toddler Time at Pump It Up 12/5 9am-10am Come take advantage of a special jump session for toddlers only! They can play on the inflatables, sing to some toddler tunes and play with extra toys. We will open 1 hour early just for the toddlers ONLY! 3691 NEW TOWN BLVD, 63301 $6 PER TODDLER UNDER 4 YRS.

Ladies' Knight 12/5 6:30pm-7:30pm Open to women of all ages; the perfect class to learn and improve. CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF ST LOUIS, 4657 MARYLAND AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63108

7534 MANCHESTER RD, 63143 FREE

12/6 10:30am-12pm Enjoy a morning of fun at the indoor tot pool with your friends, neighbors and children. This program is designed for children, ages 6 and under, accompanied by a parent/guardian who is able to remain in the water with the child.

12/7 2pm-3pm Bring your child (age 6-12) and join in or drop off. Parents and kids are welcome! Flow through a fun yoga practice, experience mindfulness and deep relaxation.

JOY OF YOGA. 8918 MANCHESTER RD, 63144 $10

Cosmic Skate

THE LODGE DES PERES , 1050 DES PERES RD. VARIES $5/$7

12/7 7pm-8:30pm

https://www.desperesmo.org/819/WaterWaddlers

Ultimate Ninja's Kids' Open Gym

Like to ice skate? How about with the main lights off, the floor lights on, and a DJ? Come have a blast with us! WEBSTER GROVES ICE RINK VARIES, $8 PER PERSON

12/6 7pm-9pm

140 LONG RD, SUITE 130, 63005 $13 PP FOR 1HR. $20 PP FOR 2 HR.

Have sports-related events to list? Please go to our website and fill out the “Submit Your Event” form. We will try to include as many as we can!

Family Yoga

Indoor Water Waddlers

Put their energy to the test on our obstacle and agility courses! Practice and explore a variety of obstacles, fine tune skills on a single obstacle, or practice running our customizable courses.

1 BALLWIN COMMONS CIR, 63021 $8- $10.

https://www.webstergroves.org/ DocumentCenter/View/7724/Sept2019

SLGC Gymnastics Activity Night 12/7 5:30pm-11pm Join us for hours of obstacle courses, foam pit, trampolines, open gym, games, pizza/juice/popsicles, and much more! 5:30-8:30 for ages 3 and 4, 5:30-11:00 for ages 5 and up! Drop off and pick-up at any time! Call (314) 968-9494 to reserve your spot! 315 W. PACIFIC AVE, 63119 VARIES

Billy Goat Saturday Shop Ride 12/7 8am Average moving pace of approximately 18mph. No drop ride. 10211 MANCHESTER RD., 63122

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

DEC 8 9 10 Sunday

30 Trails in 30 minutes

Special Events

12/8 9am-5pm Did you know that St. Louis County Parks offers a program devoted to promoting fun, family, and a healthy lifestyle? Our 30/30 Hikes Program designates 30 trails all over the St. Louis County area that take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Try Outs / Info Sessoins

WWW.STLOUISCO.COM/ PARKSANDRECREATION/TRAILS/3030HIKESPROGRAM FREE

Ultimate Ninja's Kids' Open Gym

5 & Unders

Fish Tales at the Maryland Heights Community Center

12/9 12pm-8pm

12/10 10am-11:30am

Like to play video games? We offer a great opportunity for that much needed team building experience. Our retro arcade is suitable for kids of all ages. Coaches and players can compete together, build bonds and strengthen friendships. Group rates are available!

Ages 6 months- 5 years. Bring your swimsuit/towel and join us in the Indoor Aquatic Center for a story, activity and fish tale treat!

LOCATED IN CHESTERFIELD MALL VARIES, UP TO $19.99 PER PERSON FOR THE ALL DAY PASS.

NEUTRALZ.COM

Open Gym at Miss Kelly's 12/9 7:30pm-8:30pm

Put their energy to the test on our obstacle and agility courses! Practice and explore a variety of obstacles, fine tune skills on a single obstacle, or practice running our customizable courses.

Ages 12 and under can have supervised free play in the gym. They can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them! 12802 OLIVE BLVD, 63141 $8 PER CHILD (NOT ALREADY ENROLLED)

call to confirm before coming.

Sunday Chess Classes

Adult Open Gym at Flipside

12/8

12/9 8:30pm-10pm

starting from 1 pm

Beginners to advanced level classes for both kids and adults

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME, 4652 MARYLAND AVE., ST LOUIS, MO 63108 FREE FOR MEMBERS. FIRST TIME TO THE CLUB IS FREE, SO NON-MEMBERS GET IT FREE ONCE.

Tuesday

Team Building at Neutral Zone Arcade

12/8 9:30am-2pm

140 LONG RD, SUITE 130, 63005 $13 PP FOR 1HR. $20 PP FOR 2 HR.

Open Practices

Monday

Ages 12 and up. All are welcome!

460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $5, CASH ONLY.

2300 MCKELVEY RD., 63043 $3- $5 PER CHILD

Open Gym at Miss Kelly's 12/10 11:15am-12:15pm Ages 12 and under can have supervised free play in the gym. They can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them! 12802 OLIVE BLVD, 63141 $8 PER CHILD (NOT ALREADY ENROLLED)

call to confirm before coming.

Latin Ballroom Dance Lessons 12/10 6pm-6:45pm Join Maysen at Just Dancing Dance Studio, and learn how to do the rumba, cha cha, samba, paso doble, and jive to the current popular songs! Reservations are required. 236 OLD MERAMAC STATION RD. $10, PER CHILD.

Cheer Legendz Open Gym 12/8 2:30pm-4pm Open to any athlete!

17387 EDISON AVE, 63005 $10

http://cheerlegendz.net

Holiday Night Lights

Runs & Rides

12/8 4pm

CALENDAR

Come enjoy our Holiday Night Lights display with a 5K or one-mile fun run! The Holiday Night Lights 5K is a chipped race that will take you through the light display at Rotary Park just in time for the holiday season! Note: First portion of 5K will leave Rotary Park and enter the Stonemoor Subdivision. This race is fun for the entire family. WENTZVILLE, MO $35 PER PERSON

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

Have sports-related events to list? Please go to our website and fill out the “Submit Your Event” form. We will try to include as many as we can!

Wednesday Junior Open Gym

11 12 13 14 Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Dodgeball 20 minute games

Cheer St. Louis

Cosmic Skate

12/11 11am-12pm

12/12 4:30pm-9pm

12/13 5:30pm-7pm

12/14 7pm-8:30pm

Ages 16 mos-5 yrs. Sign up online, www. gymquarters.com/calendar

All are welcome, ages 6- 18 yrs!

Like to ice skate? How about with the main lights off, the floor lights on, and a DJ? Come have a blast with us!

92 HUBBLE DR, O'FALLON, MO 63368 $7 PER CHILD.

Unlimited Laser Tag at Amp Up Action Park 12/11 4pm-9pm Have a "blast" with your friends, with unlimited laser tag. You'll get a heartpounding, black-light, music-filled experience in our custom built 3-level laser tag arena. Add unlimited virtual reality for just $6 extra. 13901 MANCHESTER RD, 63011 $15 +TAX

EPIC 6 LASER TAG SPORTS ARENA, 601 GRAVOIS BLVD, STE G, 63026 $4

https://www.epic6fun.com/public/ attractions/dodgeball.cfm

DreamPlay Recreation 12/12 11am-4pm Come explore the playground equipment, and play indoors! 17373 EDISON AVE., 63005 $5/$6

Ladies' Knight 12/12 6:30pm-7:30pm Open to women of all ages; the perfect class to learn and improve.

CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF ST LOUIS, 4657 MARYLAND AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63108

Billy Goat Thursday Night Throwdown 12/12 6pm Wanna go fast?? This ride does. Average moving pace of over 20mph. This is a drop ride. 10211 MANCHESTER RD., 63122

105 NORTH COOL SPRINGS RD, 63366 $10 PER ATHLEE, $8 PER SIBLING

Kids' Night Out 12/13 6pm-9pm NO PARENTS ALLOWED!! We will have a blast playing games, doing arts and crafts, and swimming. Pizza and drinks will be provided as a snack. Pre-register required online or at The Pointe. Day of registration will not be taken. Please bring a swimsuit and towel. 1 BALLWIN COMMONS CIR, 63021 $10- $12

Ultimate Ninja's Kids' Open Gym 12/13 7pm-9pm Put their energy to the test on our obstacle and agility courses! Practice and explore a variety of obstacles, fine tune skills on a single obstacle, or practice running our customizable courses. 140 LONG RD, SUITE 130, 63005 $13 PP FOR 1HR. $20 PP FOR 2 HR.

WEBSTER GROVES ICE RINK VARIES, $8 PER PERSON

https://www.webstergroves.org/ DocumentCenter/View/7724/Sept2019

Parents' Survival Night 12/14 6pm-9pm Ages 3-12 yrs. You can enjoy some adult time to see a movie, catch up with friends or enjoy a meal without—ahem— your pint-sized food critics in tow. THE LITTLE GYM OF SOUTH COUNTY. 434 SOUTH COUNTY CENTER WAY VARIES, $10- $30.

Group Training RidesBig Shark Big Bend and Big Shark West 12/14 7:30am All of our rides have a few basic rules that will help everyone have an enjoyable time. Please take the time to read these rules prior to joining us on the road. (WEST) 17233 CHESTERFIELD AIRPORT RD, 63005, (BIG BEND) 1155 S. BIG BEND BLVD, 63117

https://www.bigshark.com/articles/ group-rides-pg334.htm

Frostbite Series Event 1 12/14 7:45am St. Louis Track Club presents a series of 5 races, with differing distances. Come race with us! HTTPS://WWW.STLOUISTRACKCLUB.COM/ SLTC-EVENTS/FROSTBITE-SERIES/ VARIES

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

DEC

Sunday

Special Events

Cycling, Chili, and Cheer

Join us and catch up with old friends, meet new riding buddies, set goals for next year, and—most importantly—eat lots and lots of chili. You’ll have the chance to taste (and judge) chili recipes from local cycling groups and connect with local cyclists while enjoying free beverages at the shop.

12/16 12pm-8pm

12/17 4:30pm-7:30pm

Tis' the season for ugly holiday sweaters, tacky tree hair-do's, and gaudy garland, so be sure to dress your best (or worst) for this fun and festive night! Guests can go back to the "good ol' days" by reminiscing on classic board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Checkers, and Chess. Outside of board games, there will be a video game room set up with a Nintendo NES system (over 30 of the Nintendo original games!), a space for card games and Dominos, and an outdoor space for yard Jenga!

Try Outs / Info Sessoins 5 & Unders

Sunday Chess Classes 12/15 starting from 1 pm

Open Practices

Beginners to advanced level classes for both kids and adults

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME, 4652 MARYLAND AVE., ST LOUIS, MO 63108 FREE FOR MEMBERS. FIRST TIME TO THE CLUB IS FREE, SO NON-MEMBERS GET IT FREE ONCE.

Cheer Legendz Open Gym 12/15 2:30pm-4pm Open to any athlete!

17387 EDISON AVE, 63005 $10

Runs & Rides

12/15 3pm-4pm

12/15 2pm

http://cheerlegendz.net

Urban Shark Sunday 12/15 9:30am Join a fun and casual ride from Urban Shark downtown to The Living Room coffee shop in Maplewood showcasing some of our favorite routes for commuting into and out of downtown. We like to keep the ride as peaceful and pleasant as possible for all that wish to attend. Following the ride, stop in around the corner at Park Avenue Coffee for 20% off all the gooey butter cake you'll need for a strong recovery.

CALENDAR

Tuesday

Game Night in Clayton Holiday Edition

Little Sharks Youth Triathlon Information

1009 LOCUST ST. 63101 FREE

DEC 2019

Team Building at Neutral Zone Arcade

13922 MANCHESTER RD, 63011 FREE

Monday

STL KidsCompete

LOCATED IN CHESTERFIELD MALL VARIES, UP TO $19.99 PER PERSON FOR THE ALL DAY PASS.

NEUTRALZ.COM

Adult Open Gym at Flipside 12/16 8:30pm-10pm Ages 12 and up. All are welcome!

460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $5, CASH ONLY.

50 GAY AVENUE, 63105 VARIES

Latin Ballroom Dance Lessons 12/17 6pm-6:45pm Join Maysen at Just Dancing Dance Studio, and learn how to do the rumba, cha cha, samba, paso doble, and jive to the current popular songs! Reservations are required. 236 OLD MERAMAC STATION RD. $10, PER CHILD.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

DreamPlay Recreation

Archery Lessons for kids

Snowball Blizzard Blitz

Parents' Night Out

12/18 11am-4pm

12/19 6pm-8pm

12/20 7pm-8:30pm

12/21 6pm-10pm

Come explore the playground equipment, and play indoors!

We have instruction for kids (both young and old!!). These classes are held from 6-7pm and 7-8pm. Shooters may shoot their own equipment or use a Genesis bow we can provide

Ready for winter? Head to the Renaud Center for an indoor version of this coldweather pastime! Kids ages 5-12 can join the friendly snowball fight in the gym, where there will be plenty of obstacles to hide behind as you make your way across the room with an arsenal of cotton snowballs to throw at each other.

Ages 4- 12 years. Let Rockin’ Jump take the kids and you take some time for yourself! Plus food and drink to keep them energized and happy! The kids will have a fabulous time bouncing, flipping, battling it out on the X-Beam, climbing the Vertical Ops Challenge Tower and the Ninja Challenge Course and showing their skills!

17373 EDISON AVE., 63005 $5/$6

Unlimited Laser Tag at Amp Up Action Park 12/18 4pm-9pm Have a "blast" with your friends, with unlimited laser tag. You'll get a heartpounding, black-light, music-filled experience in our custom built 3-level laser tag arena. Add unlimited virtual reality for just $6 extra. 13901 MANCHESTER RD, 63011 $15 +TAX

SUMMIT ARCHERY CENTER, 1164 DECKER RD, 63055. $5 PER PERSON, PER SESSION

http://summitarchery.com/lessons/

Toddler Time at Pump It Up 12/19 9am-10am Come take advantage of a special jump session for toddlers only! They can play on the inflatables, sing to some toddler tunes and play with extra toys. We will open 1 hour early just for the toddlers ONLY! 3691 NEW TOWN BLVD, 63301 $6 PER TODDLER UNDER 4 YRS.

2650 TRI SPORTS CIR, 63368 VARIES

7375 WATSON RD., 63119 $20- $25 PER CHILD.

Cosmic Skate 12/20 7pm-8:30pm Like to ice skate? How about with the main lights off, the floor lights on, and a DJ? Come have a blast with us!

12/21 8am Average moving pace of approximately 18mph. No drop ride.

WEBSTER GROVES ICE RINK VARIES, $8 PER PERSON

10211 MANCHESTER RD., 63122

https://www.webstergroves.org/ DocumentCenter/View/7724/Sept2019

Group Mtn Bike Rides 12/21 8am-9am

Ladies' Knight

Playtime in the Pool

12/19 6:30pm-7:30pm

12/20 10am-12pm

Open to women of all ages; the perfect class to learn and improve.

Bring your little one for Playtime in the Pool, where the indoor kid's play area will be available for parents and little ones to play (the big slide will not be open).

CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF ST LOUIS, 4657 MARYLAND AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63108

625 NEW SMIZER MILL ROAD, 63026 $4 PER CHILD

Billy Goat Saturday Shop Ride

This is an intermediate level ride. The ride will re-group periodically to ensure all participants follow the designated route. Hosted by Power Up Cycling BLUFF VIEW TRAIL, 1900 OLD STATE RD, 63038 FREE

http://www.fentonmo.org/1100/AquaticsSpecial-Programs

Have sports-related events to list? Please go to our website and fill out the “Submit Your Event” form. We will try to include as many as we can!

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

DEC 22 23 24 Sunday

Special Events

Urban Fort Play Cafe

12/22 9am-2pm

Team Building at Neutral Zone Arcade

Our perfectly designed play space is an excellent environment where your kiddos can explore, learn, and discover. Parent supervision is required. With this in mind, our space is set up so that you can have eyes on your child from every angle, while still remaining comfortable in your chair.

1854 RUSSELL BLVD, 63104 VARIES, $8 AND UNDER PER CHILD

Try Outs / Info Sessoins

Sunday Chess Classes 12/22 starting from 1 pm Beginners to advanced level classes for both kids and adults

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME, 4652 MARYLAND AVE., ST LOUIS, MO 63108 FREE FOR MEMBERS. FIRST TIME TO THE CLUB IS FREE, SO NON-MEMBERS GET IT FREE ONCE.

Cheer Legendz Open Gym

5 & Unders

12/22 2:30pm-4pm Open to any athlete!

17387 EDISON AVE, 63005 $10

http://cheerlegendz.net

Urban Shark Sunday

Open Practices

12/22 9:30am Join a fun and casual ride from Urban Shark downtown to The Living Room coffee shop in Maplewood showcasing some of our favorite routes for commuting into and out of downtown. We like to keep the ride as peaceful and pleasant as possible for all that wish to attend. Following the ride, stop in around the corner at Park Avenue Coffee for 20% off all the gooey butter cake you'll need for a strong recovery.

CALENDAR

Runs & Rides

1009 LOCUST ST. 63101 FREE

DEC 2019

Monday

STL KidsCompete

12/23 12pm-8pm

Tuesday

Lone Elk Park

12/24 8am-4pm Lone Elk Park is a wildlife management area, with bison, wild turkey, waterfowl, elk and deer. Motorcycles are prohibited. Domestic animals are not allowed, even if confined in a vehicle. 1 LONE ELK PARK RD, 63088 FREE

LOCATED IN CHESTERFIELD MALL VARIES, UP TO $19.99 PER PERSON FOR THE ALL DAY PASS.

NEUTRALZ.COM

Stacey's School's Out 12/23 8am-4pm Need something fun and exciting for your son or daughter to do while school is out for the day? Bring them to Stacey's Gymnastics for our School's Out Day Camp! Instructional gymnastics including the Vault, Bars, Balance Beam, Floor, Tumble Trak, Foam Pit, Rope Swing, Ninja Circuits, Cargo Net, games, crafts and more! Each camp has a specific theme to add some extra fun to their day as well. 916 MAIN PLAZA DR., WENTZVILLE MO 63385 $50

Adult Open Gym at Flipside 12/23 8:30pm-10pm Ages 12 and up. All are welcome! 460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $5, CASH ONLY.

Have sports-related events to list? Please go to our website and fill out the “Submit Your Event” form. We will try to include as many as we can!

25 26 27 28 Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Toddler Time at Pump It Up

Party at The Pointe

Cosmic Skate

12/25 9am-5pm

12/26 9am-10am

12/27 6pm-8:30pm

12/28 7pm-8:30pm

Did you know that St. Louis County Parks offers a program devoted to promoting fun, family, and a healthy lifestyle? Our 30/30 Hikes Program designates 30 trails all over the St. Louis County area that take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Come take advantage of a special jump session for toddlers only! They can play on the inflatables, sing to some toddler tunes and play with extra toys. We will open 1 hour early just for the toddlers ONLY!

Come and celebrate with us at The Pointe! Party-goers can enjoy music, refreshments, face painting, splash and swim in the pool, play carnival games, inflatables, and so much more! The Pointe Activity Room will be open for entertaining activities including a rock climbing wall. You won't want to miss this exciting event! This event is free for residents and members

Like to ice skate? How about with the main lights off, the floor lights on, and a DJ? Come have a blast with us!

30 Trails in 30 minutes

WWW.STLOUISCO.COM/ PARKSANDRECREATION/TRAILS/3030HIKESPROGRAM FREE

Winter Wonderland 12/25 5:30pm-9:30pm Slowly meander through a million twinkling holiday lights fashioned into over 100 displays of festive characters and winter scenes. Enjoy the canopy of lights glistening throughout seventy-five acres of park land in St. Louis County. 9951 LITZSINGER RD VARIES

3691 NEW TOWN BLVD, 63301 $6 PER TODDLER UNDER 4 YRS.

Indoor Water Waddlers 12/26 10:30am-12pm Enjoy a morning of fun at the indoor tot pool with your friends, neighbors and children. This program is designed for children, ages 6 and under, accompanied by a parent/guardian who is able to remain in the water with the child. THE LODGE DES PERES , 1050 DES PERES RD. VARIES $5/$7

https://www.desperesmo.org/819/ Water-Waddlers

Ladies' Knight 12/26 6:30pm-7:30pm Open to women of all ages; the perfect class to learn and improve. CHESS CLUB AND SCHOLASTIC CENTER OF ST LOUIS, 4657 MARYLAND AVE, ST LOUIS, MO 63108

Ultimate Ninjas St. Louis 12/26-12/27 9:30am-12:15pm Balance out your holiday stress by coming to play with us! We offer camp and open play while the kids are off from school. 140 LONG RD, STE 130, 63005 VARIES

1 BALLWIN COMMONS CIR, 63021 VARIES

Playtime in the Pool 12/27 10am-12pm Bring your little one for Playtime in the Pool, where the indoor kid's play area will be available for parents and little ones to play (the big slide will not be open). 625 NEW SMIZER MILL ROAD, 63026 $4 PER CHILD

http://www.fentonmo.org/1100/AquaticsSpecial-Programs

Stacey's School's Out 12/27 8am-4pm Need something fun and exciting for your son or daughter to do while school is out for the day? Bring them to Stacey's Gymnastics for our School's Out Day Camp! Instructional gymnastics including the Vault, Bars, Balance Beam, Floor, Tumble Trak, Foam Pit, Rope Swing, Ninja Circuits, Cargo Net, games, crafts and more! Each camp has a specific theme to add some extra fun to their day as well.

WEBSTER GROVES ICE RINK VARIES, $8 PER PERSON

https://www.webstergroves.org/ DocumentCenter/View/7724/Sept2019

Howliday Celebration 12/28 3:30pm-5pm From 3:30-5:30 pm, visitors will make fun treats for the animals and watch them celebrate the season! After sunset, we will howl with the wolves! This is an exclusive event limited to 50 people sign up today! 6750 TYSON VALLEY RD, 63025 $20-$25 PER PERSON

Frostbite Series Event 2 12/28 7:45am St. Louis Track Club presents a series of 5 races, with differing distances. Come race with us! HTTPS://WWW.STLOUISTRACKCLUB.COM/ SLTC-EVENTS/FROSTBITE-SERIES/ VARIES

916 MAIN PLAZA DR., WENTZVILLE MO 63385 $50

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

DEC 29 30 31 Sunday

Special Events

Urban Fort Play Cafe

12/29 9am-2pm

Team Building at Neutral Zone Arcade

1854 RUSSELL BLVD, 63104 VARIES, $8 AND UNDER PER CHILD

Try Outs / Info Sessoins

Ultimate Ninja's Kids' Open Gym 12/29 9:30am-2pm Put their energy to the test on our obstacle and agility courses! Practice and explore a variety of obstacles, fine tune skills on a single obstacle, or practice running our customizable courses. 140 LONG RD, SUITE 130, 63005 $13 PP FOR 1HR. $20 PP FOR 2 HR.

5 & Unders

Sunday Chess Classes 12/29 starting from 1 pm Beginners to advanced level classes for both kids and adults

WORLD CHESS HALL OF FAME, 4652 MARYLAND AVE., ST LOUIS, MO 63108 FREE FOR MEMBERS. FIRST TIME TO THE CLUB IS FREE, SO NON-MEMBERS GET IT FREE ONCE.

Open Practices

Monday

12/30 12pm-8pm

LOCATED IN CHESTERFIELD MALL VARIES, UP TO $19.99 PER PERSON FOR THE ALL DAY PASS.

NEUTRALZ.COM

Playtime in the Pool 12/30 10am-12pm Bring your little one for Playtime in the Pool, where the indoor kid's play area will be available for parents and little ones to play (the big slide will not be open). 625 NEW SMIZER MILL ROAD, 63026 $4 PER CHILD

http://www.fentonmo.org/1100/AquaticsSpecial-Programs

Stacey's School's Out 12/30 8am-4pm Need something fun and exciting for your son or daughter to do while school is out for the day? Bring them to Stacey's Gymnastics for our School's Out Day Camp! Instructional gymnastics including the Vault, Bars, Balance Beam, Floor, Tumble Trak, Foam Pit, Rope Swing, Ninja Circuits, Cargo Net, games, crafts and more! Each camp has a specific theme to add some extra fun to their day as well. 916 MAIN PLAZA DR., WENTZVILLE MO 63385 $50

Adult Open Gym at Flipside

Runs & Rides

12/30 8:30pm-10pm Ages 12 and up. All are welcome! 460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $5, CASH ONLY.

On The Fly 12/30-1/3 9am-3:30am

CALENDAR

Winter Break won't be boring when you are SOARING! Half day and whole day options. Learn how to do the silks, the trapeze, and other aerial skills! PRINCIPIA MCCALMONT GYM, 13201 CLAYTON RD, 63131. VARIES

DEC 2019

STL KidsCompete

Tuesday

Flipside Overnighter!

12/31 8pm Our Annual New Year's Eve Overnighter; 12 hours. Starts with welcome reception, then followed with games, relays, and crafts. A Balloon Drop at midnight and a Movie at 1:00am. Donuts, Milk and Juice for breakfast. See our website for details. Tickets at http://fsgym.eventbrite.com 460 SAINT PETERS HOWELL RD, SAINT CHARLES, MO 63304. $48

Noon's Day Eve 12/31 10am-12:30pm Want to still enjoy the midnight countdown? Come join us for a NOON Year's Eve countdown!! We will have our Balloon Drop and Bubble Blast countdown at Noon. Party hats and whistles to celebrate the new years! No groupon or passes for this event. No refunds for this event. 3691 NEW TOWN BLVD, 63301 VARIES

Bike Ride with a Ranger 12/31 5pm-6pm Ages 10+. Bring your bike, helmet and bike light to Queeny Park to check out the trails. Ride at your own pace or go with a Park Ranger and see new sites and areas you may have not discovered. This is an advanced level non-technical riding area with hills, flat areas and gravel trails. Advanced registration required: Call (314) 615-4386. VARIES

Athlete Shout-Outs! Athlete Shout Outs! Instructions: Proud of your athlete? Want to wish him/her/them good luck? Proud of your team, school, or coach? This is your place to tell the 70,000+ readers all about it! With only 8 spots available per month, and a very nominal fee, these spots are likely to fill up quickly! Please email us at stephanie.berk@stlkidscompete.com for more information, and to reserve your spot!

This spot could be yours

Congratulations to Bristol for earning December’s student of the month! From all of us at Community Karate Center. communitykaratecenter.com

Congratulations to the Webster Groves High School boys soccer team for finishing 3rd in the 2019 class 3 state tournament.

This spot could be yours

How do Athlete Shout-Outs work? We want to help you show your athlete that they are an MVP, “Most Valued Person”. This is YOUR space to show us what your athlete, team, or school has accomplished in the past month or two. $75 for 2–3 sentences and a photo, or $50 for 2–3 sentences with no photo. We are so proud of our local, youth athletes! Let us highlight you!

STL KidsCompete

DEC 2019

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