Sports Clubs for Kids in Calgary

With September fast approaching, after-school activity sign-ups are a close second behind back-to-school shopping on our priority list. Keeping them physically active while learning high-end skills is a great way to introduce your smallest athletes to sports and inspire older kids to go for the gold. Club sports include and encourage parent involvement, whether on the fundraising or volunteer levels, which makes for a great opportunity to connect as a family. Here are some clubs to explore.

Swimming: Cascade Swim Club
Cascade Swim Club has a strong reputation for a reason: it takes even the most nervous of swimmers and transforms them into fish. Before signing up, kids undergo a swim assessment to determine the exact level they are at. They offer sessional (non-competitive) and competitive programs at four different pools in Calgary starting at three years of age. So if your kids love to splash and you want them to develop strong swimming skills, Cascade could be a great fit. Assessments for September happen in mid to late August, so email them to book a time.

Soccer: Calgary Foothills Soccer Club
Known as the number one youth soccer club in Alberta, Foothills Soccer Club programs follow the European model of technical delivery (read: fab for Beckham fans). Offering grassroots, recreational and competitive programs both indoor and outdoor (depending on the season) kids can start at three years of age. Grassroots programs run weekly, are mixed teams, and a great way to see if your kids are ready to kick it up a notch and try out for the competitive Foothills Academy. Tryouts are held in smaller groups (ie three-on-three) so the coaches can personally assess the skills of each of the athletes in order to accurately place them (read: everyone gets to play). It’s also the only program with an indoor field. So if your kids are footloose and fancy free, note that registration and descriptions for the fall indoor program opens on August 25.

Keep them moving all year long—we’ve got more sports clubs to try, including our picks in volleyball, basketball, track and field, hockey, and gymnastics.