Neighbor sports
Baseball
TSA Programs: The Sports Academy-Northwest will offer training programs for baseball players who want to 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 older: 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 more information about the programs, dates and prices, visit tsanorth west.com, send an e-mail to info@tsanorthwest.com or call (847) 279-3934.
Travel baseball:ŒThe 9- to 10-year-old Schaumburg Seminoles travel baseball team seeks players.
The Seminoles are a travel team in the MSBL 10B league.
For more information, send an e-mail to manager Bob Perna addressed to bperna@aaronequipment.com.
Skills clinic:Œthe Buffalo Grove-Hot Shots Baseball Skills Clinic for 6- to 8-year-old boys and girls will be held from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 17 to March 6.
The clinic can help players prepare for spring while learning fundamentals. The program stresses proper stretching. hitting and pitching mechanics, infield and outfield footwork, base running, game play and strategy. Participants should bring their own bats and gloves.
For more information, call Steve Duman at (773) 991-6682 or send an e-mail to steve@hotshotsspons.org.
Soccer
Skills clinic: The Buffalo Grove-Hot Shots Soccer Skills Clinic for boys and girls ages 6 to 9 will be held on Thursdays from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Jan. 17 to March 6. The clinic may help players prepare 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 send an e-mail to steve@hotshotsspons.org.
Wrestling
Kids club: The Palatine Jr. Pirates Kids Wrestling Club has started at Palatine High School. The Jr. Pirates is open to all youngsters in kindergarten to eighth grade. Practices are held 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday in the wrestling room of the school, 1111 N. Rohlwing Road, Palatine. Register at any of the practices.
Annual meet:ŒThe Sharks Wrestling Club will host its annual meet Sunday at Maine East High School, 2601 Dempster St., Park Ridge. More than 45 clubs participated last year fielding more than 500 young wrestlers. The meet runs from early morning until late afternoon with 11 matches in progress at any given time.
Parents of children ages 5 to 14 who are interested in the sport can call Mike Conrad at (847) 299-7531 for more information on club membership or meet participation.
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 more information, call (847) 392-2848, ext. 264, send e-mail to bselders@nwsra.org or visit www.nwsra.org.