develop core strength and skills. These include yoga, karate, and track. “There’s a lot of core skills in a karate class that kids need,” he said. “And then track teaches them how to run. And then you can go be a specialist in basketball or soccer—something that is a very detailed, technical thing—once you have the basics of your core strength.” The Hy-Vee Arena also aims to be a space that will provide opportunities for athletes who might not otherwise have access to these kinds of resources. “We know in the urban core there are a ton of kids who have a ton of talent— they just don’t have access to this. They don’t have the financial means to do it,” said Foutch. “So, we’re working with the
city and others to see if we can bus them down here for after-school programs.” Bringing big tournaments to Kansas City also provides an opportunity to shine a national spotlight on local talent, added Woody Carter. “There are a lot of teams and kids that should now be exposed to a bigger pool of talent,” he said. “We have some excellent teams here, but they can’t afford to travel. This brings teams from all over the country to them.” R
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kristi Mayo is the editor of REC Midwest . She can be reached at publisher@rec-midwest.com.
He suggests that athletes try activities that aren’t sport-specific, but will help
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