USA: THE ICE HOCKEY PROGRAMME IN NEW YORK OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BOYS FROM HARLEM

Record ID: 645112

  • Title: USA: THE ICE HOCKEY PROGRAMME IN NEW YORK OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO BOYS FROM HARLEM
  • Date: 29th January 2001
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (JANUARY 22nd, 2000) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF AMERICAN BOYS PLAYING BASKETBALL 0.27 2. TV LASKER ICE RINK 0.34 3. VARIOUS OF BOY FROM HARLEM LACING UP ICE HOCKEY SKATE 0.41 3. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN FROM PROGRAM PLAYING ICE HOCKEY 1.13 4. VARIOUS OF CLASSROOM AND STUDENTS 1.24 5. MV TEACHER TALKS TO CHILDREN 1.27 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) TEACHER CRAIG STANTON SAYING 'We have a contract with them, an agreement with the players and the program, that if you don't go to class, you don't skate." We are more interested in getting kids out of Harlem, into school and getting them an education, then we are in getting the next Wayne Gretzky." That would be great, but are more interested in getting kids into high schools, prep schools, and hopefully good jobs in life." 1.50 7. GV CHILDREN WATCHING TEACHER. 1.56 8. (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) STUDENT/PLAYER RYAN SHERMAN SAYING "I love the classroom because it teaches you geography, it teaches you math of the game like how many Zamboni's (ice clearing machine) are made a year and how long it takes to make one and it teaches you about players and coaches and all other types of things." 2.14 9. RYAN'S MOM SITS DOWN ON BENCH ACROSS FROM SON 2.19 10. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) MOTHER OF STUDENT /PLAYER "Again it gives them an opportunity to exercise leadership skills and translate the rules to the other kids, getting along with other kids, getting kids to cooperate. That's always going to help him in life." 2.31 11. GV CHILDREN TRAINING 2.39 12. CU BOY 'S FEET WHILE SKATING 2.42 13. SV RYAN WITH MASK ON 2.44 14. PAN DOWN RYAN IN FULL UNIFORM 2.47 15. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS ON THE ICE 2.57 16. SCU (SOUNDBITE)(ENGLISH) DR. ALAN MANOVITZ SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST SAYING "Well I think it is an excellent program, I mean it just speaks to all the motivations of young children to get excited about something and to use that experience to blend in geography and learning about mathematics or arithmetic in an exciting way." 3.16 17. VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING HOCKEY AND A GOAL IS SCORED 3.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA2Q863ZXGQOV5RFD764XLA7L47
  • Story Text: An Ice Hockey Programme in Harlem opens books and
    opens doors for young underprivileged children. It uses
    sports to get the kids into the classroom and teach them
    geography and mathematics as well as interpersonal skills.



    Basketball is by far the sport of choice among
    underprivileged kids in inner city USA. You don't need much
    - other than a hoop and and ball. Here, players like Allan
    Iverson and Vince Carter are the among the current crop of
    heroes inheritors of the Michael Jordan mystique.

    It's hard to suggest to these kids that by learning another
    sport, one not normally available where they live, their
    lives could take a different course.

    But that's what one group in Harlem are trying to do.

    By using ice-hockey - not normally played by African
    Americans or minority groups.

    The Ice Hockey programme in Harlem is luring youngsters,
    aged 7 to 17 off the hardwood and onto the ice. In suburban
    and rural America frozen ponds and ice rinks have been the
    breeding ground for future NHL stars.

    Although none of the kids has made it to the National
    Hockey League (NHL) the programme is still considered a
    success. Currently, the number of African- American players
    in the NHL can be counted on one hand but expanding the
    horizons of these these kids in the sports world and and
    elsewhere is the main goal of the programme.

    Located on East 11th Street, Ice Hockey In Harlem has
    become a visible presence in the community. The program
    recently got the city to agree to renovate Lasker rink in
    Central park, its home rink for the past 14 years.

    Proceeds from charity events held yearly help pay for
    equipment, ice time, trips to summer hockey camps in the
    United States and Canada, and high school school
    scholarships.

    More than 250 youngsters are enrolled in Ice Hockey In
    Harlem, which runs through October to April. The program has
    a division for children ages 4 to 6, an in-house league open
    to children ages 10 to 12. and a traveling team for children
    13 and older.

    Participants are required to attend weekly classroom
    sessions and skate one night a week. Children are tutored in
    mathematics, reading and geography using hockey cities and
    statistics at teaching tools.

    Craig Stanton is a teacher and coach for the program.

    "We have a contract with them, an agreement with the players
    and the program, that if you don't go to class, you don't
    skate." We are more interested in getting kids out of
    Harlem, into school and getting them an education, then we
    are in getting the next Wayne Gretzky." That would be great,
    but are more interested in getting kids into high schools,
    prep schools, and hopefully good jobs in life."
    One of his students, Ryan Sherman has been playing in
    the program for 4 years. "I love the classroom because it
    teaches you geography, it teaches you math of the game like
    how many Zamboni's (ice clearing machine) are made a year
    and how long it takes to make one and it teaches you about
    players and coaches and all other types of things."
    Ryan's mother feels the program has done a lot for her
    child. "Again it gives them an opportunity to exercise
    leadership skills and translate the rules to the other kids,
    getting along with other kids, getting kids to cooperate.

    That's always going to help him in life."
    After students learn the basic rules and regulations of
    hockey, they are led onto the ice at Lasker rink in Central
    Park. There they learn how to skate forward, backward and
    how to stop. Just putting on the equipment, pads, socks,
    skates, helmet, is a lesson for most."
    One of the top psychiatrists in New York claims that
    this program has many advantages for the kids mentally,
    physically, and emotionally. ""Well I think it is an
    excellent program, I mean it just speaks to all the
    motivations of young children to get excited about something
    and to use that experience to blend in geography and
    learning about mathematics or arithmetic in an exciting
    way."
    Hard work is rewarded with outings, trips to New York
    Rangers games and trips to Canada, Europe and Israel. One of
    the most sought after perks is the annual trip to the Willie
    O'Ree All-Star Game. Oree was the 1st black player in the
    National Hockey League.
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