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Alex Grande puts a student through his paces on the agility ladder, part of the Fit & Active Kids program at the Charging Rhinos Soccer Academy. (photo by Larry Austin)
Alex Grande puts a student through his paces on the agility ladder, part of the Fit & Active Kids program at the Charging Rhinos Soccer Academy. (photo by Larry Austin)

Grand Island: New program addresses fitness for kids

by jmaloni
Sat, Oct 27th 2012 07:00 am

To address the need for children to stay active in the winter months, a local business has added a new program to its offerings.

The Charging Rhinos Soccer Academy run by Angelo Grande is offering Fit & Active Kids in addition to its soccer academy.

And Grand Islanders don't have to cross the bridges to take part.

The instruction takes place at 2409 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island's only indoor workout facility.

"You don't have to leave Grand Island," Grande said. "We're right here."

The new Fit & Active Kids program will include some soccer-related workouts, but is more "active kid related," Grande said, with obstacle courses and stations that will improve the participants' agility, mobility, flexibility, strength and speed, often conducted with a competitive element.

"Kids love to compete," Grande said.

This year's Charging Rhinos Soccer Academy will feature clinicians with 30 years of experience, as well as goalkeeping instruction from a teacher with a college-level coaching background. Grande is also United States Soccer Federation licensed.

The program has five sessions of six weeks each. Children ages 4 and 5 do 45 minute sessions, while those age 6 and older work an entire hour.

Grande called the 20-by-30 yard facility "a very clean and safe place to be at." It's central location will allow parents to drop their children off in a supervised, safe environment.

"You've got a turf field. There's none other on Grand Island." The facility's size allows the opportunity for small-sided games that provide each individual player more touches on the ball, Grande said. "They're touching the ball a lot more than being on a big field 11 guys against 11 guys," Grande said.

Find out more at the academy's new website launched last week:www.charging-rhinos.com, or call 716-773-5282.

 

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