6 Serious Sports Clubs for Kids in Calgary

Take their sports' training on a whole new track this fall. 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.

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. Kids can move up to Junior Olympic Way in the sessional side before moving to the competitive Olympic Way program (starting at six years of age). So if you're looking for strong swimming skills and have a child who loves to splash, Cascade could be a great fit. Assessments for September happen in mid to late August, so email them to book a time.

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.

With a focus on training kids from age 6 to 14 to develop strong fundamental skills in both basketball and volleyball, the STARS and SUNS programs include basic and advanced levels. Camps and classes are available all across the city. The highly respected club program, Rally Pointe, offers camps starting with Grade 4 and up, as well as competitive options when the kids' ages have ‘spiked'.

If you have kids that can't stop running off, then getting them on track might be the key. The two week free trial period requires no registration, and allows you (and your kids) to see if this sport is for them. Options include Indoor, Outdoor and Cross Country. The Peewee program starts at age eight—there are even options for Mom and Dad (read: expert at hurdling furniture to chase down the kids).

Nothing screams ‘Canada' like hockey, and there are plenty of options for your future Gretzkys. Once your ice stars are at the Bantam (age 13) level, the Calgary Royals are worth trying out for, and offer various scholarships as well.

Whether it's tumbling, jumping, cheering, or getting acrobatic, budding gymnasts can grow their skills in either the recreational or competitive program at Altadore. Starting at age four, the gymnastic club program is a great way to build your child's fitness for future gymnastic programs, or other sports.