Neighbor sports
Baseball
Coaching clinic: The Sports Academy-Northwest Multi-Sport Facility, 355 Hastings Drive, Buffalo Grove, will host a free professionally-directed training program from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday for volunteer baseball coaches. The clinic will help coaches learn the latest methods to develop fundamentally sound players and teams.
The workshop will be led by speaker and baseball consultant Peter Caliendo, technical director of TSA Baseball.
Call (847) 279-3934 or e-mail info@tsaNorthwest.com to RSVP.
Pitchers camp: Fastball USA Training Centers is open for registration for the Summer Elite Pitchers Boot Camp designed for college and high school pitchers who want to advance to the next level. Participants will take part in daily advanced conditioning, and pitching specific training to improve throwing velocity and throwing distance. Applications must be submitted by March 15.
Session I runs from June 2 through July 3; and Session II, July 7 through Aug. 8. Participants can also register for an unlimited summer pass.
For details, including locations, call (630) 532-5107 or go to the Web site at www.fastball.usa.com.
Spring camps: Elmhurst Youth Baseball, Elmhurst Extreme Baseball and Fastball USA are teaming up for a spring throwing/pitching camp for 7- to 12-year-olds from 6 to 8 p.m. April 11 and 4 to 6 p.m. April 12. A step-by-step approach to throwing and pitching mechanics will be followed. The camp, held at Fastball USA in Elmhurst, will be run by a Fastball USA instructor with assistance from Elmhurst Extreme 12-year-old team and Blackbelt pitching students.
The cost of $60 includes a camp T-shirt. Early registration is recommended as spots are limited. For information or a registration form, call Kevin Ryan at (630) 359-3126 or e-mail him at kpryan26@comcast.net.
Vintage team: The Chicago Salmon Vintage Baseball team has players from the entire Chicago area, including Rockford and Springfield. Anyone may join the 2008 Chicago Salmon vintage baseball team either as a player or a "crank."
Players range from 18 to 59, and play according to the rules of 1858. The team plays without baseball mitts, using a 9ˆ½-inch "lemon peel" style baseball. There is no stealing and more differences from the modern game to challenge players.
This year the Chicago Salmon will play approximately 27 games. More teams from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio have been added to this year's schedule.
For more information or to sign up, call Gary Schiappacasse, player/coach at (847) 362-9364, or e-mail salmon@chicagosalmon.org, or visit the team's Web site at www.chicagosalmon.org.
Basketball
Spring teams: Next Level Basketball Academy is now forming boys' spring AAU basketball for fifth- to 11th-grade teams. Call (847) 508-2721 or e-mail NLBA1@yahoo.com.
Football/cheer
Rolling Meadows registration: Rolling Meadows Youth Football and Cheerleading will hold its final registration from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at Rolling Meadows Community Center, 3705 Pheasant, Rolling Meadows. For more details, visit www.rmmustangs.com.
Golf
2008 leagues: Streamwood Oaks Golf Leagues for all interested players are forming for the 2008 season. Meetings will take place at 6 p.m. March 19 for the Wednesday Night Men's League, 6 p.m. March 20 for the Thursday Night Ladies League and 9 a.m. March 20 for the Men's Senior League. All meetings will be held at the Streamwood Oaks clubhouse. For information, call (630) 483-1881 or e-mail streamwoodgolf@sbcglobal.net.
Ladies league: The Arlington Chippers Ladies 9-hole golf league has openings for both new members and substitutes. The league plays at 8:15 a.m. Thursdays at Arlington Lakes Golf Club, 1211 S. New Wilke Road, Arlington Heights. The season runs from April 24 through Sept. 4, and players do not need to be residents of Arlington Heights to join. There will be a kickoff breakfast meeting at 9:30 a.m. April 17 at the golf club. Anyone interested who is unable to attend, call Jayne at (847) 934-4751.
Couples league: The Friday night couples "fun golf" league is seeking new golfers. The league plays at the Mount Prospect Golf Club from May through August with tee times starting at 5:20 p.m. There are weekly themes and an end-of-the year banquet. Weekly play is not mandatory and substitutes are not required. For information, call Karen and Mark Ackermann at (847) 394-3524 or e-mail k.ackermann@comcast.net.
Mixed golf league: The Monday twilight mixed "fun golf" league is seeking new golfers. The league plays at Old Orchard Country Club from May through August with tee times starting at 4:15 p.m. Weekly play is not mandatory, and discounted greens fees are available for Prospect Heights non-residents. Call Len Digate, (847) 870-7070 or e-mail ltd_financial@wideopenwest.com.
Soccer
Registration: The Inverness Soccer Club (ISC) will hold registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at Holy Family Community Church, 2515 Palatine Road, Inverness. ISC offers recreational soccer for boys and girls in kindergarten to eighth grade. The fall season runs from August through October. The cost is $75 for Inverness Park District residents and $85 for nonresidents. Early sign-up is also available for the ISC/MLS Soccer Camp to be held Aug. 4 to 8. A late registration fee of $35 applies after April 26.
The program is open to residents of Inverness, Palatine, Barrington, Hoffman Estates and Rolling Meadows. For current details, check the Web site at www.invernesssoccer.com or call (847) 289-4390.
Holiday tournament: Grove United Soccer Association, a not-for-profit organization, will hold an annual soccer tournament May 23 to 26 at Willow Stream Park. The association wants to raise money for scholarships to give less fortunate kids an opportunity to play soccer at a competitive level.
The cost for the Memorial Day Shootout is U8-U11, $425 and U12-U19, $475. Multi-team club discounts and early registration discounts available.
For information, e-mail Joel at manning824@aol.com or Dayna at dlucas@ameritech.net. For information on the tournament, scholarship programs or sponsorship opportunities, visit the Web site at www.groveunitedsoccer.com.
Swimming
Tryouts: The Tiger Sharks, a Palatine Park District swim program, will hold open tryouts for the upcoming 2008 Long-Course swimming season from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Fremd High School Natatorium, 1000 S. Quentin Road, Palatine.
The team will also hold early bird registration for the upcoming 2008 Long-Course swimming season at 6 p.m. Monday at the Birchwood Recreation Center Gymnasium, 435 Illinois Ave., Palatine. Registrants attending the registration are eligible for a $15 per family discount off the park district registration fee.
The Palatine Swim Team is a multi-ability level program that offers competitive opportunities, technique development and fun for swimmers ages 6 and older. The team is divided into progressive groups. Coaches make the final determination for group placement and advancement to the next level.
The team's purpose is to enable and encourage individuals who indicate an interest in competitive swimming achieve self-determined levels of skill and competency. The team also provides enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment to athletes, positive peer support, personal growth and character development
Practices during the school year may be held beginning at 4 p.m., Monday-Friday and beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at various pools depending on group assignment.
Visit www.ppdswim.org for more information or contact Swim Team Coordinator Andy Rose, at (847) 202-3240 or headcoach@ppdswim.org.
Spring program: Open registration for the District 211 Swim Team Feeder Program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday for swimming, water polo and diving at the Palatine High School pool. The program is open to students living within the Palatine and Fremd high school boundaries who are entering or currently in fifth to eighth grades. No tryouts are required. Swimmers in third and fourth grade should call the numbers below for information.
Participants will learn the competitive and fundamental aspects of the three aquatic sports from Palatine and Fremd high school coaches. Practices run until the last week of July and are held at Palatine High School and Plum Grove Pool Monday through Saturday based on the assigned group. Fees will be prorated.
For information or questions, call Mauro D'Andrea at (847) 345-8667 or Coach Ed Richardson at (815) 788-5156.