Depending on one’s comfort level, fully vaccinated children 5 years old and above now have more options to join face-to-face athletic enrichment classes this summer to hone their talents and skills.

My 11-year-old Jack and 6-year-old Juno were doing jiujitsu drills via online classes with Jits For Kids, but inconsistently, since they would tire of the limitations of the format. Since they’ve been fully vaccinated and are used to wearing masks, they’ve been playing outside with the neighborhood kids and are eager to enlarge their social circles.

Hybrid classes are in the offing when school starts for them again in July, so what better way to ease into the anxieties of recirculating than through some fun in-person classes this summer.

Jiujitsu

Jack and Juno enrolled at Deftac Alabang’s kids’ jiujitsu classes, led by brown belts Mark Cupino and Arthur Mori. Classes are on Wednesdays (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturdays (3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the No Ego Studio in Alabang Country Club (P4,800/month).

What to expect: The studio is indoors but well ventilated with high ceilings. Both coaches do not wear masks and the participants have the option to wear masks or not. Majority of the children wore masks, including my kids. Jiujitsu is a close-contact sport, so they felt safer being masked up.

Swimming

Aqualogic Swim Co. (aqualogicswim.com) teaches swimming to babies as young as 6 months old, children with autism, to adults. Rates are between P7,970 to P18,000 for eight sessions with a P1,000 annual registration fee.

They hold classes at The Village Sports Club in BF Homes Parañaque, New World Hotel Makati, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel and Shangri-la Fort Bonifacio.

What to expect: Teacher-student ratio is 1:4. Classes run for 30 minutes for babies, 45 minutes for toddlers, and one hour for older children.

Football/Soccer

Futbol Funatics (futbolfunatics.com) runs camps all year in Cavite, Parañaque, Alabang, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Quezon City and Cebu. Rates are P700/session, with a P1,500 uniform fee.

What to expect: It is recommended for beginners and for those who play for fun. Training is done on the field.

Fortis Football Academy runs classes at the Pacific Malayan basketball court in Alabang, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. It is led by Philippine football leaguer Ryan Fermin. Rates are P400/session, P3,500/10 sessions and P6,500/20 sessions.

What to expect: Smaller group than at other football clubs. Technical exercises are taken seriously, but coaches don’t shout at kids when they make mistakes. There is more focus on fundamentals, their touches instead of kicks. There is a bit of running in an open field.

Arayat Football Club specializes in three age groups. Under 7 and Under 11 trains at 3 p.m. daily, while the Under 13 class runs at 4 p.m., all at Cuenca Park, except Fridays at the country club (both in Alabang).

Rates are per session, monthly or for three months. Free trial class available. Contact coach Medhi Soltani (0917-7661738).

What to expect: Teaching style is reportedly more intense, so this club is recommended for more serious players. Training is done on the field, rain or shine, year-round.

Gymnastics

 

Learn and Train Sports Academy (learnandtrainsports.com) offers Artistic Gymnastics for all ages. A member club of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, it claims to be the only fully equipped gym in Makati City, located on Don Bosco Street.

First-time class rate is P500 for toddlers and P800 for beginners/ninjas.

Class packs (four, eight, 12, 20 sessions and unlimited) can be purchased with rates ranging from P5,600 to P22,000. Visit learnandtrainsports.com for more details.

What to expect: The coaches wear masks but follow the World Health Organization recommendation for kids who are doing strenuous activity, which is to remove their masks if they choose to. The gym is not air-conditioned. They don’t require children 17 and below to be vaccinated but they require all adults entering their facility to be fully vaccinated. —CONTRIBUTED