JAG Community cross country League

And their it is. The first JAG Community League. Our first kick-off took place on Bonteheuwel sports ground where schools from Langa, Rosewood and Bonteheuwel competed against each other in order to make it to the finals at the NY49 stadium in Gugulethu. 

The conditions for our first league were perfect. The Cape Town sun was shining and we had a small breeze. The first kids arrived around 2 o'clock and they were ready for their first real competition. When all schools arrived we could start on half past two. We gave the kids a small briefing how to make it to the finals and when we were ready with the boring stuff it was time for the fun part. It was time to get started with the first categorie. The first group was 7 and 8 years old and the last group was 12 and 13 years old. The youngest group had to run 1 hole round around the field and when the age got higher the rounds were ad by one. After a spectaculair start from our youngsters the first 10 boys and girls quickly arrived already. The kids were in great shape and the other kids were a wonderful support during their round. And just as their younger runners the 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14 age groups were excited en ready to go. 

We can look back at a wonderful start of our first JAG Community cross county League. All the schools did fantastic and we hope to see them all next week on their second race.

Some more information about the clusters you can find underneath 

Community clusters
Group 1: (Bonteheuwel: Sports ground)
Langa, Bonteheuwel & Rosewood
(Wednesdays)
• 10 October 
• 17 October 
• 24 October 
• 31 October 


Group 2: Gugulethu: Sports ground
Gugulethu, Manenberg, Crossroads
(Thursdays)
• 18 October
• 25 October
• 01 November
• 08 November


Group 3: (Swartklip: Sports ground)
Rockland’s, Woodlands, Alpine, Tafelsig, Khayelitsha
(Wednesdays)
• 17 October
• 24 October
• 31 October
• 7 November


Group 4: (Macassar Sports ground)
Mfuleni, Macassar, Cloetesville
(Thursdays)
• 11/18 October
• 18/25 October
• 25 Oct/01 Nov
• 08 November

Ahtletikidz Holiday Athletics Clinic (Grand Finale)

It's sad but it's true. Today was the last day of the Athletikidz Holiday Clinic. And what a wonderful week it was. We had lots of fun but we also learned a lot. We learned the basics of Javelin, Sprinting, High jumping, Throwing and Hurdles. And today was our final day. D-day. We kept it a secret for the kids and told them that it was a secret mission. And today it was finally there. 

When everybody arrived we had some awards for the kids. We had awards for best performance boy and girl. After the pre awards show it was time to start our secret program. We explained to everybody that the horrible planet of Pluto invaded planet Disney. And all the teams have to work together in order to safe as many people. First everybody had to paint his or her team in original team colors. We gave every team 5 minutes to get everybody painted. When everybody had his war paint on it was time to travel towards planet Disney. The kids had to save as many people (balloons) as possible from their shelter. But in order to get their they had to put on a parachute and jump out of the plain. When they arrived at the save shelter they had to take the wounded and bring them back save. Their journey took them through a obstacle course. During the course that had to crawl under high voltage wires (rope), jump over a lava pit, crouch through a tunnel (boxes), throw a Javelin to secure the area, jump over bombed cards (hurdles) and walk over the bridge of doom. And during this exciting course that had to keep their wounded one alive. After this fantastic start we had our daily vitamin brake and after the brake it was time for our second secret mission in order to help the people from planet Disney.

Now that all the people have been saved they need a shelter. And the kids had to collect clues in order to build those shelters. The clues were hidden al over the False Bay sport complex. With google maps pictures the kids got information where the clues were buried. The team that collected all of the clue' the quickest could start to build their shelter and got bonus points. At the end all the shelters looked really cool so BIG bonus points for everybody. 

Now that the week is over, all the coaches are really sad. We hope that all the kids had a lovely week. We had a great time with all the kids and we really hope to do it all over again next year. 

Thanks everybody for the wonderful week

written by: Pieter

Athletikidz Holiday Athletics Clinic Day 3

Guerrilla obstacle relay race

Day 3 of our holiday program. After the big success of yesterday where team Goofy got them self’s some big leading position. Team Donald and Mickey had to do some mature improvement in order to come close and crown their self’s the winner of this 1st annual JAG Athletikidz Holiday Clinic. 

The program of today contained Olympic high jumps and a Guerrilla obstacle relay race. The kids had the opportunity to take some friends with them and they used this opportunity. Today we welcomed 5 new rascals to our program. As every day we started off with a small energizer. We did team alphabet where the kids had to run around the whole field and when the whistle blowed we called a letter from the alphabet and they had to make it. After teach them the alphabet we did a quick session of stone, bridge, and tree.

Al the muscles were warm and ready for some real action so time to learn the basics of Athletics high jump. The kids had do learn witch leg they had to use in order to get the best result. And after some practice rounds where they had to jump as high as they can it was time for the real challenge. We made our own high jump bars and every time the whole team made it the bar got higher. All teams did very good and deserved some extra points for there good effort. After the High Jump we had a small break were the kids got their weekly pro nutro energy en orange vitamin so that they were ready for the second half of the program.

The Guerrilla obstacle course wasn't ready yet so Coach Kathleen and Coach Inge took the kids for a 15 minute session of beat the ball so that Coach Lewellyn and I had some time to complete our super ultra mega obstacle course with a slalom, stairs, tires, hurdles, climb wall and A FIRE POLE. When we finished the course we called the kids and explained them how it worked. We made the course with little equipment so that they had to beat each other by speed in order to use the obstacle as first. The race was a real thriller because team Goofy and team Donald where going neck and neck but when team Donald fell out of the tires the victory for team Goofy was save. So again team Goofy scored some big points today.

It isn't Friday yet but team Goofy is doing some pretty good business after their big loss on Monday. But everything can still change as we have another big day tomorrow.

    

Athletikidz Holiday Athletics Clinic Day 2

triple jump

Day 2 and we are ready for it. Today was a lovely one. We had perfect weather for a good Athletikidz Holiday Athletics Clinic. When the kids arrived they could see there scores of the first day and team goofy was in serious debt so they were all pumped up to get back on the game. On the program we had Javelin and Triple jump as the two big events and as warming up we started this day with a nice session of coach says. Everybody had to do crazy things and when the coach called freeze they had to stand still. Everybody that still moved was out! After the warm up all the teams had tot come up with a their own goofy dans. So they had 5 minutes to made one up and when Kathleen blowed here whistle and shouted goof up they had to do their move immediately. The quickest response and best performance got bonus points. So now the kids had to be sharp during the sessions because Kathleen could blow the whistle every time she wanted. 

hula hoop

The SAQ skills program of today contained some nice drills. Everybody had to make pairs and compete each other on hurdle jumps. So when every body was really warm Coach Inge started learning the kids all about throwing javelin. The had to learn the basic on there bottom so that they learned to use their arms the right way. After the basics they learned how to throw javelin with tennis balls and after some pretty impressive practice rounds it was time to bring it up to the next level and let hem throw the real deal. We made hoops for points and the team that scored the most points got themselves a step further for the big price on Friday! After throwing javelin we had a quick pro nutro bar break. We started running out of time so we had to start right away with the triple jump exercise. We made little dots on the field where they had to practice there landing and after a proper practice round we put in some elements that had to make it a harder. We used boxes so the kids really needed to use the right technique. During the exercise we let the boys compete against the girls and the girls won BIG TIME. 

But time flies when you're heaving fun so we had to work towards the end. We had a relay as final for the day and the winner was Goofy. So they have fought back today and returned towards the top position. 

Good vibes!

Athleti-Kidz Holiday Clinic Day 1

warming up

No school this week so a perfect reason to have some fun with the Lavender Hill kids and the kids from Constantia. This hole holiday week the JAGRunners program has a event on the False Bay Rugby Club. Eighteen kids are creating the change. And today was the first day of this 5 days program. We splited the kids up in 3 different groups. Group Donal, Mickey and Goofy. And the group that collects the most points at the end of the week is gonna win a big price!

We started off with a fun warm up. The kids were running around in a square and one of them was freezing the kids and another had to warm them up again. A lot of fun for a quick warming up. After the warming up we made couples of two and started with the skills program. The kids played trucks and trailers and dodge ball. At truck and trailers one of the kids was a truck and the other was the trailer and the truck had to try to get rid of the trailer. After 5 minutes we switched tot dodge ball and after another 5 minutes everybody was ready for the THROW shotput tournament. The kids got to learn about the basics of athletic throwing. And after teaching them the basics it was time for the tournament. You could score 2,3,4,5 or 6 points for your team. And when you landed on the target you got another bonus point. Team Donald won big time with 125 points.

Keano Hurdles talent

After the throw shotput it was time for a little vitamine break. Everybody got a orange and some water in order to get ready for the second half of the program. The kids got to jump hurdles and after some practice we mixed the hurdle course with relay. The kids also got the change to show how high they can jump during the vertical challenge. The record was set on 3 boxes. A great achievement set by 2 boys from Lavender Hill.

The final activity of the day was a cross country run around the complex. The kids did great and they were looking forward to tomorrow. And friday we have a BIG surprise for them :)

So we cant wait! 

Mannenberg JAGRunners Pay it Forward

A component of the ProNutro JAGRunners Programme is to encourage our youngsters to take ownership of their own communities and make a contribution to their community's upliftment. We do this through a quarterly Pay it Forward project which the youngsters come up with and implement.

In the first term of 2012, the team from Mannenberg assisted with the upgrading of Red River Primary where their coach, Mr Hendricks is a teacher. The exterior as well as the interior (the classrooms) are going to be painted.Because the school is a pre-fab building, the walls need to be cleaned and scraped before painting and this is where the Jagrunners played their part.They were part of the team who did the preparation work for the painters. Some of the boys will assist with the painting as well.

Community Leagues Hit Gauteng

The ProNutro JAGRunners programme is literally taking the racing to the kids through its community cross country events. In many of the areas where the programme is active, the children have little to no oppurtunities to take part in competitons . 

Lack of competition is a big contributing factor to the children losing interest. As a solution, the ProNutro JAGRunners are working hard at establishing  cross country leagues in the different areas where the programme is active. Schools within close proximity are invited to compete for the title of best cross country school.  

By eliminating the challenge of transport many more children are able to compete. In fact many children can walk from their schools to the event. These leagues are proving very effective in motivating schools to become more involved in the programme.

The coaches are also trained on how to organize and run these cross country leagues themselves, thus empowering them further.

During April, the first league in Orange Farm, where we partner with Afrika Tikkun, was launched.  It was great to see the spirit of the children, cheering each other on.

We hope to see many more running enthusiasts “Taking the racing to the kids”