Forcing football program to move could hit community hard

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This article was published 27/05/2017 (3084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The potential loss or relocation of the North Winnipeg Nomads’ football facility is a situation that needs to be handled with care, says a University of Manitoba researcher who focuses on positive youth development in sport.

“Those areas of familiarity are important. They are safe places, for the most part, and that is one thing we want to encourage in youth sport: to have physical spaces that are safe for youth to participate and feel comfortable in in order for them to perform and do their best,” Leisha Strachan, associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology and recreation management, said Friday.

“There is a lot of infrastructure that is taken away from youth sports thinking they can pretty much go anywhere. But its true: there is something about familiarity and people coming back to the same place,” she said. “In terms of youth and community sport, it is important things stay in the community and it’s important to protect those spaces as much as possible.”

With Thursday’s news the Winnipeg Police Service may be eyeing the Charlie Krupp Stadium land on the Old Exhibition Grounds for its own future use — and forcing the Nomads to find a new permanent location — may create a damaging disconnect.

“(Leaving a long-established site) makes it harder on parents. Community groups where kids can walk there, parents can walk with their kids there, something that is very close is easier for people to engage in — once you start putting it 15 minutes away by car, 20 minutes away, that becomes a barrier and we want to try to decrease barriers,” Strachan said.

The Charlie Krupp Stadium, located opposite the McPhillips Street Station casino, has been home to the North Winnipeg Nomads football club for the past 20 years. The club fields six teams for area youths ranging in age from 7 to 22.

A vocal proponent of youth sports — including the Nomads and the North End Boxing Club — Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) said Friday he believes in the power of such programs.

“It is good because you go through hard times as a (team or club member)… It builds positive self-esteem and youth development in general in terms of communication, trust — all the good things that help build good leaders — perseverance, patience… All those positive experiences help craft great individuals,” said the former youth football player who recalled being playfully booed at a Nomads game by the fans who remembered his days with the city rival St. Vital Mustangs.

“Having those programs for kids is important — soccer, building a skate park, football — it builds community, it builds neighbourhoods, builds a strong society… brings together people from all kinds of cultures, languages and backgrounds and that’s what we were meant to be.”

Youth and sports should go hand-in-hand, Strachan agreed.

“It provides an opportunity to make connections with others and to develop friendships… Kids are in sport for fun to start with, and to learn new skills and challenge themselves,” she said. “Building a positive social circle and trying to help lead kids in the right directions in terms of sport is important.

“When we think about getting rid of kid sport programs, it can leave a hole. Community sport is such an important party of a community… it is so because parents value sports and what it can give to youth based on their own experiences, probably… There is research to support that as well, to support the importance of building positive skills in youth, not just physical but psychological skills as well.”

Academic work in the field the last 10 years has also put an emphasis on “deliberate teachings” in youth sports, Strachan said, quoting American researcher Peter Benson: “Skills are taught, not caught.”

“You wouldn’t expect kids to come to a football program or soccer program and give them a ball and the coaches sit there and look at them — we teach those physical skills… it is important coaches also take the time to teach the psychosocial skills we want kids to take out of sport,” she said.

“It comes down to the experience of those parents… for the most part, people have had a positive experience or a positive influencer in sport — a coach they really like. There is a lot of opportunity to make a connection with adults in a positive way and I think a lot of parents want that for their children as well… and feel a little more connected to their community,” Strachan said.

“Now, more than ever, we want people to feel more connected with where they live and the spaces they are in.”

scott.emmerson@freepress.mb.ca