Head Start offers phys-ed outside school hours

Ryan Hoy calls his decision to leave a comfortable full-time teaching position with the Toronto District School Board to start an after-school sports program in Windsor a “real roll of the dice.

“I thought, if I’m going to roll the dice, why not get closer to home,” said the 38-year-old phys- ed teacher originally from Merlin in Chatham-Kent. “I thought this would be a good place to settle down and start a new business.”

Hoy said he walked away from an annual salary of $90,000 with the Toronto District School Board to be closer to home and pursue his dream of running his own athletic program, Head Start Sports.

He’s taught phys-ed at Scarborough elementary schools since 1998. He also coached in competitive leagues over the summer. Now, the former fastball player wants to bring his coaching expertise to Windsor.

Hoy said it’s virtually impossible for schools to cram in the recommended hour of physical activity daily for kids.

And with the incidence of childhood obesity soaring, exercise has become more important than ever.

“The curriculum is just too broad. There’s not enough time to devote to phys-ed. So I think that’s where I come in and can be an option to give the kids more time in the gym,” Hoy said.

Rob Harris, the Toronto public school board’s athletic director, said when he worked as an athletic program leader for elementary schools in Scarborough he was impressed when he saw Hoy’s name listed as coach for almost every school team at his school.

“As I watched Ryan’s teams, who were pretty successful, go to conference championships and city championships, the one thing that really stood out with me was just the complete respect that his kids showed on and off the field,” Harris said. “They were the first kids to shake hands with the umpire and referee.”

Head Start will offer four multi-sport 90-minute weekly programs. Programs, divided by age group, are available for students from Grades 1 to 12. The evening programs are held at Victoria elementary school, Vincent Massey high school, Bellewood elementary and Princess Elizabeth elementary.

The cost is $10 a child per hour, and classes run over a nine-week stretch.

Head Start will also offer sport camps during holidays and professional activity days.

For more information go to headstartsports.ca