Tamariki swim classes start

Kids, it’s time to dust off those swimming togs and goggles and get back into the water with the ANZ Tamariki Sports swim programme.

Dedicated sports coach Ake Hosea-Winterflood has a full list of activities for Rarotonga children starting with her popular weekly swimming programme on March 7 and running for four weeks.

The weekly meet will be held at the Social Centre beach in Nikao which Hosea says is the best spot to teach young kids to swim properly as its shallow waters provide a safe environment for beginner swimmers.

This swim season, Hosea will be concentrating on teaching effective swimming techniques including breathing to kids aged between seven and 11, however parents who wish to bring kids younger than seven must stay with them during the lessons. The lessons will cost $10 for the four-week programme with certificates and prizes to be awarded to kids at the end of the programme.

The next code on the Tamariki Sport agenda will be athletics and touch rugby and this will start on May 2 and be run at the BCI Stadium in Nikao.

Meanwhile, Hosea’s coaching services are available for schools across Rarotonga.

Hosea says she is available to deliver swimming and athletics coaching sessions for primary schools. All teachers have to do is call her on 24759 or on 24681 after hours.

During her sports programmes, Hosea will be indentifying potential youth athletes to attend the annual Colgate Games in New Zealand in January 2013.

She says taking youth athletes from the islands to the Colgate Games has always been on her mind and now she says is the right time to prepare for the games early next year.

Hose will be identifying youths aged between 12 and 14 to be part of a small team of possibly up to four to compete at the New Zealand games.