Neighbor Sports
Baseball
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 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.
Travel baseball:ŒThe 9- to 10-year-old Schaumburg Seminoles travel baseball team is seeking players.
The Seminoles are a travel team in the MSBL 10B league. For more information, e-mail manager Bob Perna at bperna@aaronequipment.com.
Basketball
Basketball skills program: Three-time NBA champion Dickey Simpkins will be leading a basketball skills and development program for fourth- to seventh-graders Sundays, Jan. 13 to Feb. 24 at the JCYS Northwest Family Center, 1700 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove.
The program will include fundamental basketball skills and a controlled competitive game at the end of every session. Each player will have the opportunity to play a significant amount of minutes in every game. The $95 fee includes a jersey and basketball.
The JCYS is an independent, nonprofit agency that provides educational and recreational programs nurturing individual growth and promoting responsibility to others.
For details, call (847) 279-0900 or visit www.jcys.org/northwest
Soccer
Skills clinic:ŒThe Buffalo Grove-Hot Shots Soccer Skills Clinic for boys and girls 6 to 9 years old will be held on 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 8th Annual Wildcat Fastpitch Winter Softball Camp-Clinic for female athletes between the ages of 9 and 14 years old. There are no residency requirements. The clinic starts Jan. 6 and will be held 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 what session you are interested in, to: "Wildcat Clinics," c/o Rick McCoy, 567 Briarwood, Wheeling, IL 60090. For information, contact Program Director Rick McCoy at (847) 520-4249 or wcatsb@comcast.net.
Miscellaneous
Winter camps:ŒThe Northwest Special Recreation Association will hold Winter Break Camps Jan. 2 to 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 be held at the following locations.
• 6310 Frosty's Kids Camp, Jack Claes Pavilion
• 6330 Camp Chillin', Wheeling Community Center
• 6340 Winter Wonderland Camp, Bartlett Community Center
• 6320 Urban Adventures Too, NWSRA/Park Central, communities outings planned daily
• 7720 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.