Glen Mounk
Dear Editor,
I was disappointed when I found out that the Memorial Sports Centre changes its hours of operation for the summer months.
The change in hours does not affect me personally, because I no longer compete in sports. The change in hours, however, does affect a lot of students and people who play sports.
Years ago there was a significant drop in the number of people who used the weight room. That is no longer the case.
The weight room is now full of students who have returned home for the summer. A large percentage of the students, who use the weight room in the summer play hockey or football.
There are also several hockey players who either play for the Lakers or want to play for the Lakers that use the weight room.
The summer months are a critical time in training for serious athletes, because they have 12-month training plans.
Those athletes who hope to make different university teams, or want to play in various hockey leagues need as much time as possible to spend on training.
It is during these months that hockey players and football players are in their final stages of training in order to be at a peak level of fitness before various training camps start or before various teams have their try outs. In order to be in peak condition serious athletes use seven-day training cycles.
The current operating hours of the Sports Centre does not allow the students who have returned home for the summer to train properly.
There are several students currently who are just below the elite level in their sports, and to me some of the students who I have recently met in the weight room are at the elite level.
The hours of operation at the Complex has become an impediment for them, and they more than likely will not attain the desired level of fitness they wanted to reach before moving back to university or college.
Our town is very proud of all the successful athletes that got their starts here. I seriously doubt that there is another town our size in Canada or even North America that has fostered as many elite athletes as we have.
We have had football players who have played in the CFL. We have had hockey players who have played or are playing in the NHL. We have had weight lifters who were the strongest in Canada, and a rower who was the fastest in North America.
We have also had championship body builders, and competitors in various martial arts.
Our swimmers have been among the best in the country, and several students who compete in track and field have also had great success.
I know I have left several other sports out, but it’s impossible for me to name them all.
I feel that in order for us the keep that trend going it is important that athletes have access to training facilities seven days a week.
Athletes in other towns and cities can train seven days a week, but that is not possible here.
It is difficult for many of the students to train on Friday evenings because the Complex closes at 7 p.m. No one can train Saturday because it is closed, and there are only four hours that anyone can train on Sundays.
The other problem is with the complex closing an hour earlier Monday through Thursday, the weight room gets quite crowded, and at times it is next to impossible for some people to follow a regular training regime because so much of the equipment is in use.
It has been a real treat to get to know the returning students who use the weight room. They represent our town well, and I am very proud of them, not only because of their dedication and athletic ability, but also because they are great people.
I know the families of these students are proud of them. Is our town proud of them too?
Is our town prepared to step up and help these promising athletes attain the level of success they have the potential of reaching?
It would be a real shame if a university student who returns home for the summer goes back to school and misses the “cut” because they are not at their peak level of fitness.
If that student misses the “cut” for a university team that will be scrutinized by various scouts, what is the likelihood of them being drafted by a professional team.
It is true that every hockey player will not make the NHL, and not every football player will make the CFL or NFL, but on the other hand should we not do everything we possibly can to make sure that every athlete has access to facilities so they can make the best effort possible to attain the highest level in their respective sports?
If we want more local athletes to be selected to play for the Lakers, they need to have as much access to the Complex as possible.
The out of town athletes who will be trying out or returning to play for the Lakers, train in facilities that are open seven days a week.
I really hope that those who decided to cut back the hours of the Complex would take a serious look at how many students and other athletes use the weight room during the summer.
Many of them are frustrated and anxious because they need time to prepare for their respective sports.
Sincerely,
Glen Mounk
