Reid ‘sports’ new position at Sportsplex

When Megan Reid accepted the position of physical education intern at the Sportsplex here two weeks ago, she did it with the notion that she wouldn’t be afraid of making changes to the programs offered there.
While she felt the programs were good, Reid admitted if she could make them better in any way, she would
With that leeway to “create” new programs at the Sportsplex, Reid said she has plenty of ideas. But the 26-year-old Lakehead University grad, with a major in Kinesiology, also is open to new ideas.
“My job is to run the recreation programs and create new ones,” said Reid, now in her third week of a one-year contract. “We will [continue] to do what we have done in the past for summer programs but we will bring in some new sports camps.”
Leana Moffitt, who was in charge in maintaining the summer programs last year, has switched to concentrating solely on the aquatic ones, noted Reid.
Some of the sports which will be offered this year for youngsters during their summer holiday include in-line skating, golf, baseball, cycling, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
Later in the summer, Reid plans to put out a questionnaire so people can make suggestions and recommendations that can help make the activities even better.
Reid, a native of Fort Frances, also said she will be using her many contacts in town to help her run the various sports camps.
(It should be noted all of the summer activities this year will be moved to the East End Hall from the arena field due to the construction of the second ice surface there).
Meanwhile, Reid already has made changes to the adult mixed slo-pitch league, including a new playoff format. She also is fielding feedback to a temporary strike plate that may or may not continue through the rest of the season.
There also will be an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ league to better divide teams according to their level of play.
But while the adult softball league is flourishing, with leagues maxed out from Monday through Thursday nights and four teams playing in a new Sunday night league, Reid is concerned with the lack of response in the kids’ baseball program.
Just 28 kids signed up for T-ball and another 26 are registered in the six to nine-year-old parent pitch program. Reid said one option may be to switch kids’ ball to later in the year so as to not to conflict with the immensely popular youth soccer program.
Still, despite the low numbers, Reid said it appears all the players and parents are pleased with how the program has been running so far with the help of Dave Sande.
And she noted it was possible to organize a clinic for the kids if someone was willing to step forward and conduct one.