Neighbor Sports
Baseball
Hot Shots baseball clinic: The Buffalo Grove-Hot Shots Baseball Skills Clinic for 6- to 8-year-old boys and girls will be from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 17 to March 6. The clinic is designed to help players get ready for spring and learn proper fundamentals. The program stresses proper stretching, hitting and pitching mechanics; infield and outfield footwork; base running; game play and strategy; and at-home practice tips. Participants should bring their own bats and gloves.
For more information, call Steve Duman at (773) 991-6682 or e-mail steve@hotshotsspons.org.
TSA programs: The Sports Academy-Northwest will offer training programs for baseball players who want to train and sharpen their skills:
• High School Preseason Training Camps: freshman "A-Team" primer and sophomore, junior and senior "Starters" prep: Sundays: Dec. 30 to Feb. 17.
• Juan Acevedo Pitching Clinics for eighth grade through high school: Wednesdays and Sundays, Jan. 9 through Feb. 20.
• Lefty "Pick-off" Clinic for ages 10 and up: Dec. 26 and 27.
• Baseball Fundamentals Camp for second through eighth grade: Dec 26 to 28, Jan. 2 to 4.
• Private pitching and hitting lessons are available from TSA baseball professionals and former MLB players, including former Red Sox, Twins and Cubs "Fireman of The Year" pitcher, Bill Campbell.
• Five-Week Hitting Clinic for second through eighth grade: Sundays, Jan. 27 to Feb. 24.
• Strength and Conditioning/Speed and Agility Clinics: baseball-specific training for maximum performance and injury prevention.
• Team America 2008: Tournaments and sightseeing in Italy and Sicily from July 20-30. A few positions are open on the International Travel Baseball teams (14U and 16U); to schedule a private tryout, contact peter@tsanorthwest.com.
For details on programs, dates and prices, visit www.tsanorthwest.com, e-mail info@tsanorthwest.com, or call (847) 279-3934.
Miscellaneous
Winter camps: The Northwest Special Recreation Association will hold Winter Break Camps from Jan. 2-4 in the Northwest suburbs. Three full days of action are planned, including crafts, gym activities, swimming and socializing. A community outing will be planned for one of the days. The cost for all camps is $67.50. They will take place at the following locations:
• Frosty's Kids Camp, Jack Claes Pavilion, Elk Grove Village.
• Camp Chillin,' Wheeling Community Center.
• Winter Wonderland Camp, Bartlett Community Center.
• Urban Adventures Too, NWSRA/Park Central, communities outings planned daily.
• Winter Fun Gymnastics Camp, Palatine Community Center (for NWSRA gymnasts only).
For information, call (847) 392-2848, ext. 264, e-mail bselders@nwsra.org or go the Web site at www.nwsra.org.
Soccer
Hot Shots soccer clinic: The Buffalo Grove-Hot Shots Soccer Skills Clinic for boys and girls 6 to 9 years old will be Thursdays from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Jan. 17 to March 6. The clinic is designed to help players get ready for spring by developing and enhancing soccer skills. Techniques are refined through ball manipulation exercises, games based on technical themes and small-sided soccer games designed to enhance repetition and enjoyment along with promoting healthy competition and encouraging good sportsmanship.
For more information, call Steve Duman at (773) 991-6682, or e-mail steve@hotshotsspons.org.
Softball
Camp-Clinic: Registration is open for the Eighth Annual Wildcat Fastpitch Winter Softball Camp-Clinic for female athletes between the ages of 9 and 14. There are no residency requirements. The clinic starts Jan. 6 and will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Wheeling High School Field House, Elmhurst and Hintz roads, Wheeling.
Professional and college hitting and pitching instructors will participate. Training will cover hitting, pitching, base running and defense. Pitching instruction will be limited to the first 20 requests.
The cost is $80 for the January-February clinic. The number of participants is limited to 50, so register as soon as possible. Mail registration fee, along with participant's name, address, age and preferred session, to: "Wildcat Clinics," c/o Rick McCoy, 567 Briarwood, Wheeling, IL 60090. For information, call program director Rick McCoy at (847) 520-4249 or e-mail wcatsb@comcast.net.
Wrestling
Winter program: The Jr. Patriot Wrestling Club program for youngsters in third to eighth grade offered at Stevenson High School will teach wrestling fundamentals and strive to instill values of hard work, self-discipline and the importance of goal setting. The season begins in December and ends in March (optional spring workouts will continue March through May). Practices will take place two or three times a week and will each last for one or two hours. The team will compete in five to seven tournaments and wrestle against other clubs in head-to-head meets. The fee is $260. No prior experience in the sport is required.
Anyone interested may join this club at any time. For information contact PREP at (847) 634-4000, ext. 1300, or visit the Web site at www6.district125.k12.il.us/prep/.