Sport Academies in Western Canada:

A Growing Phenomenon
PHE Canada Conference
May 1, 2015 Banff, AB

Daniel Balderson, Ph.D. University of Lethbridge

 Who provides Canada’s Youth
Physical Activity Opportunities?

 Schools
 Communities
 Provincial Sport Organizations
 Club Sports

ACADEMIES??
 Sports in the Schools?

 Across Canada schools are providing

sport specific options for students during
regular school hours.
 These school sponsored programs are
called sport academies or sport schools.
 How common are sport
schools globally?

 82% of German Olympic medals from 2001-

2004 were won by current or former sport school
student athletes
 10% of Canada’s Olympic (2006) team had or
were attending a sport school
 92 Schools involved in Sport Academies in Alberta
 40-50 are found in rural communities
 4000+ Students enrolled
 129 Sport Academies (schools) in BC
 5 Sport Academies in Saskatchewan
 11 Sport Academies in Manitoba
 How common are sports schools
(academies) in Western Canada?

 2005- 3 Sport Number of Programs by Province

Academies in Alberta
(St. FX, Vimy Ridge:
Edmonton, Warner) 140
120
 2013- 92 schools 100
80 129
offering 135 Sport 92
60
Academies in Alberta 40 11
5
 40-50 are found in 20
rural communities 0
 4000+ Students
enrolled
 Types of Academies

 1) Elite Development (25)

 Fees range from $15,000 - $30,000/ year
 2) General Skill Development (117)
 fees range from no cost to 12,500/ year
 Sports Academies in Alberta

# of Academies

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Lacrosse
Golf
Dance, Cheer, Figure Skating
Baseball
Soccer
Multi-Sport/ Elite Athlete
Hockey

0 20 40 60 80
 Academy Profile:
Warner Hockey

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xIQ_hOFBD8
 Schools may start an academy to:

 Increase enrollment
 Attractiveness/Competition
 Student Retention/Engagement (keep grades up to
participate)
 Bridge to the Community
 Local Expertise
 Local Facilities
 Engage Teachers
 Academy Profile:
Vauxhall Academy of Baseball

 http://youtu.be/oAtm8egt8uA?hd=1
 Students may choose to attend an
academy school because

 Seeking Post-Secondary Scholarships/

Professional Opportunities
 Skill Development during a crucial period
 Coaching (professional, paid)
 Motivation
 Flexibility to gain an education and develop
athletically
 Flexible with missing class for competition
 Academy Profile:
Hanna Hockey Academy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5tQR3JFzsI
 How do they work?

 Students enroll in core classes for part of

the day (typically the morning). Then in
sport specific classes in the afternoon
 Course credit is given for afternoon sport
specific training
 Locally approved and administered
 Descriptive Study

 Study took place from May 2011- July 2012

 Information obtained on Academies via:

 On Line Survey, Phone Interviews, Website Analysis

 92 Schools/organizations in Alberta that offer 135

Sport Academy options
 Split evenly between High School and Junior High
 Schools Offering Sports Academies
in Alberta
20
18
16
14
12
10 Public
8 Catholic
6 Private
4
2
0
North Edmonthon Central Calgary and South
Region and Area Region Area Region
 Credit?

 18/29 Schools offer high school credits for

participation in a Sports Academy/ Sport
Program
 11 High Schools offer sport academies but
do not award credit

 Most middle school academies provide

credit (option credit)
 Credit Possibilities

 No Credit,1 Credit, 3 Credits, 5 Credits, 10, Credits, 15

Credits (100 needed to graduate in Alberta)
 CTS Credits (Career and Technological Studies- Sports
Performance, Sports Nutrition, Sports Medicine,
Coaching- 1 credit each)
 Physical Education Credits (PE 10, PE 20, PE 30)
 Sports Performance 15,25,35 (Now in CTS)
 Religion Credit (moral, character development)
 Selected Results

 Students may receive up to 1/3 of their High School

credits (100 total) for participation in the Academy

 70% of Academies use the mandatory High School

Physical Education course (PE 10) to receive
credits
Case Study: 10 Sports Academies in
Western Canada
Lambrick Park: Victoria, B.C. (Baseball)
Claremont Secondary School, Victoria, B.C. (Rowing, Golf,
Swimming Lacrosse)
Okanagan School District Academy (Kelowna, B.C.)
Notre Dame Wilcox, SK (Hockey)
Okanagan Mission Secondary School (Swimming)
St. Mary’s Academy; Winnipeg, MB (Hockey)
Vincent Massey Winnipeg (Multi Sport)
St. Francis Xavier Edmonton (Hockey, Soccer, Baseball)

Banff, Athlete Institute (Ontario)

 Initial Findings

 Local Expertise
 Accessible Facilities
 Administrative Support/Buy In
 School attractiveness/recruitment
 Filling Void in Athlete Development
 Summary & Potential Implications

 Academy Diversity
 Growing Trend
 Governance and structure of Sport Academies
 Variety of experiences in Physical Education
 Cost
 Increased access & facilities
 Increased programming/ teachers
 Age of students enrolled
 Specialization/Burnout
 Future?
 Questions

Thank you!

Daniel Balderson, Ph.D.

daniel.balderson@uleth.ca

albertasportsacademies.com