Almost through its first year, St. James’ Leaders in Exercise and Athletics Program (LEAP) has been successful in fulfilling its mandate to provide a sport leadership program to elite secondary school athletes despite challenges due to COVID-19.
LEAP is a 4-year program which features sport specific courses, leadership opportunities in sport, industry certifications and potential paid co-op and in school co-operative education experience where students can lead elementary school physical education classes with support of a teacher.
“The program began as an initiative around developing pathways for students interested in fitness, athletics and recreational careers in order to provide opportunities to learn and work in the sport and athletics sector. Over time, it has evolved to fill an interest in the community around including high performance athletes and performers in providing curriculum-based courses that support and promote development of skill, speed, strength as well as promote character development, leadership and service in the community,” shared Jeff Cummings, teacher at St. James and leader of the program.
LEAP is for students looking to improve athletic performance in their athletic activity of choice including sport, dance and fitness with focus on developing transferable skills such as speed, power, agility, coordination, strength and agility. LEAP also is a character development program that provides students valuable certifications including coaching qualifications, equity and leadership training, with a focus and on developing post-secondary pathways in fitness and athletics.
The 4-year program starts for grade 9 and 10 students where students enter in our performance athletic development courses which also includes our athletes in action community program to develop leaders. In grade 11, students are then enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major Program with experiential learning credits, the Teaching and Coaching Physical Education Leadership course, as well as career planning. In grade 12, the students take the Sport Leadership and Mindset Development university course featuring connections of expectations from Business, Physical Education, Entrepreneurship, and Psychology courses to prepare for post-secondary.
To be a part of LEAP, applicants can be working towards a provincial championship, a high-performance athletic activity, or an elite individual or team activity at the high school or rep sport level, however there can be exceptions depending on the students interests. While COVID-19 has placed limitations on athletic activity in the community, LEAP provides students with the opportunity engage and accelerate in an area they are passionate about during the school day.
“The goal of the program is to provide leadership opportunities for students to demonstrate character and build skillsets that can be used for future post-secondary and workplace success. We hope to create an engaging and innovative fitness and athletics leadership program which promotes mental wellness, equitable access for all students, and service to the community,” he said.
For more information about St. James’ LEAP please visit their website and follow along on Instagram.