Being All In For Health . . . Optimizing The Sports Wellness Perspective

Former professional U.S. football player and coach Mike Singletary said it best: the greatest part of the game is simply getting to play.

When kids play through organized sports, the benefits hit fast — stronger hearts, sturdy bones, sharper coordination, boosted immunity, and those feel‑good chemicals that melt stress away, supporting both physical and emotional growth.

To show how this impact comes to life in our own backyard, we interview three standout local sports organizations inspiring young athletes and proving how powerful active play can be.

Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association . . . Nurturing The Team Culture For All The Right Reasons

“Youth baseball is about so much more than the game — it’s about keeping kids active, building confidence, and helping them discover just how strong and capable they truly are,” says Sammy Brush, Registrar and Amherstburg Firebirds Convenor with the Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association (AMBA). “Sports play a vital role in both physical and mental health. When kids are moving, learning, and competing, they’re developing not just skills, but resilience and self-belief.”

Brush explains that these are the reasons why the launch of their new Girls Fastpitch league is so exciting — it creates a space where girls can be part of a team, build friendships, and experience a powerful sense of community.

“Girls are incredible at supporting one another, and that environment has a lasting impact on their mental health, helping them feel connected, valued, and confident,” she adds. “When young athletes understand what their bodies can do and feel encouraged every step of the way, it builds a foundation of strength — both physically and mentally — that stays with them far beyond the field.”

The Amherstburg Minor Baseball Association is the home of the Cardinals, a team that embodies the town’s love of the game.

Many youngsters just can’t wait for that last patch of snow to melt from the streets, schoolyards, and parks throughout their neighbourhoods just to hit a home run, steal a base, or slide into home plate — all those lifelong memories that are rarely forgotten, especially in anticipation of the shout to “play ball”!

“This year, the AMBA has also expanded, now offering four REP (travel) teams and multiple select teams, giving players the opportunity to compete at a higher level — something that has been incredibly fun to watch and coach. It’s an exciting step forward for our athletes and a great chance for kids to challenge themselves in a new way.” – Sammy Brush

What’s the best part of baseball? Of course, it’s Opening Day — the ceremonial first pitch, the crack of the bat, a well-struck line drive or the mighty power of the bunt; stepping up to the plate, catching a fly ball or hitting a home run for the very first time!

Even though the current AMBA season is already in full swing as of May 2, tryouts for the 2027 season for their travel teams take place in September. Plenty of time for your child to round the bases!

Stay connected with the AMBA via Facebook.

See interviews with the Tecumseh Saints Basketball Club and Walker Homesites Athletic Club in the continuation of The Parenting Biz . .

TURN TO PAGE 28 TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY

The post Optimizing The Sports Wellness Perspective appeared first on Biz X magazine.

The Movement To Keep Girls In Sport And Create Lifelong Participation

Photos By Sanja Tabor, unless marked

To celebrate International Women’s Month in March, we drew inspiration from the 2026 theme — Give to Gain — as a reminder of the power of support, mentorship, and collaboration, especially when it
comes to sport. For trainers, coaches, and clubs who invest in the health and development of girls and women, the impact extends far beyond the field, rink, or gym.

Sports offer tremendous physical, mental, and social benefits, helping young people develop leadership, resilience, and strategic thinking. Many women credit their athletic background with providing the confidence and skills needed to shape a successful career and life.

Despite the benefits, participation rates among girls tend to decline with age. Girls step away from activities they once loved, with the drop-off becoming particularly noticeable in their teen years.

Data shows that factors like body image, lack of confidence, fatigue, injury, cost, and lack of inclusive environments are barriers to continued involvement. As a result, many young women miss out on the benefits of being active.

We reached out to local mentors, trainers, and coaches to learn how they are strengthening participation, improving retention, and working to create a lasting impact for girls and women in fitness and sport.

Cross Border Swim Training

After coaching youth swimming for more than 35 years, Stacey Kane recognized an opportunity to specialize in training adults looking to excel in — or return to — the sport.

In the summer of 2025, she decided to exclusively coach Masters for swimmers 18 years and up and launched Cross Border Swim Training to accommodate her new students.

Along with training athletes for competition, the group also welcomes adults who want to stay active in a faster-paced environment. As the only Canadian-owned and operated U.S. Masters Swimming training group and team under Michigan Masters — and with the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre as her facility — Kane has attracted not just Ontario swimmers, but also Michigan athletes who prefer training in nearby Windsor over using school or community pools.

Kane competed in swimming in high school and then dived into teaching swimming and lifeguarding. She found that leading children (particularly teens) was something she really enjoyed. Eventually, after she graduated and ventured into life beyond school, she left swimming behind.

Many years later, when it was time to enroll her own children in a Learn to Swim program, she felt the need to get back into coaching.

As a certified Pilates instructor, Kane also began to include movement work into her training sessions. While the men initially thought it was an exercise just for the girls, they quickly realized the benefits and the impact it had on their training.

She had always noticed that the girls were dropping out faster than their male counterparts and returning to the sport revealed the same challenges in retaining young women.

Influences like anxiety, peer pressure, and social media all played a part in changing an athlete’s perspective. “Even pressure from their own teammates about how they look was a factor,” Kane adds.

It was imperative that she instilled a sense of belonging within her program, ensuring that all athletes felt they were welcome, especially the girls. When it was time to engage in difficult conversations, she knew
that her gender played an important role in creating a space for open conversations.

“I found that the female athletes wanted to talk more so I made it easy to talk about their concerns,” Kane mentions. “As a female coach dealing with females, we can be more empathetic and understanding because we have experienced the same thing with our own development, self-doubt, and changing bodies.” Even now training adults, Kane still emphasizes to the athletes that everyone will develop differently, especially since each has their own goals.

Some swimmers want to focus on a stroke or technique as they prepare for an upcoming competition, and others just want to prove something to themselves. It has become a busy and varied group with participants ranging in age from 18 to 80!

“I love that there’s this cross section and I’m just excited they want to get back into the water,” she expresses. Kane feels the next natural step is to get women back to coaching. Despite a lot of women competing in swimming, most coaches at the higher levels are men. Unfortunately, she has seen great women leave coaching due to burnout or because of how they were treated by their male counterparts.

“We need to support each other, and we need to support women coaches so we can keep them in the sport,” says Kane. “Seeing a woman coaching does a lot for the girls. It creates a space where the athletes feel supported and can build confidence. It’s also easier for them to envision themselves doing something like coaching in the future.”

Being a role model and creating an environment of inclusivity and growth where all of her athletes excel, is exactly why Kane remains committed to the sport: “I’m lucky to work with amazing athletes. I really love what I do.” Visit their website to learn more about training or getting back to the pool to improve your technique (you must be over 18).

Three additional organizations and one business share how they’re opening doors, building confidence, and changing the game for girls in sports: Windsor West Little League (Softball); Windsor City FC
(Soccer); Sam McIntosh (Personal Training & Yoga Instruction) and Sun Parlour Female Hockey Association . . .

CONTINUE READING THE COVER STORY ON PAGE 18

The post Keep Girls In Sport And Create Lifelong Participation appeared first on Biz X magazine.

Protecting Children’s Mental Health . . . The Crucial Role Coaches Play In An Athlete’s Life

Participation in sports at a young age has both short-term and long-term effects on a child (as well as their family) and even society as a whole.

Beyond the physical advantages, sport teaches fundamental skills like leadership, improves social skills, and helps with academic achievement.

Recent research goes further to discuss how organized sports provide community-wide benefits like crime prevention and economic development. In addition, as we see player numbers start to return since the pandemic, there is heightened recognition of how sports can help decrease levels of anxiety and depression.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, about one in five Canadians have a mental health disorder and “70% of persons living with a mental illness see their symptoms begin before age 18.”

At the February Ontario Soccer Summit 2024 in Vaughan, Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt — who has an extensive soccer background as both a player and coach — talked about the mental health crisis in youth, noting that for a sport like soccer, where you have a team of 20 to 22 players, four of the players will be suffering with their mental health.

This is an important statistic for coaches to consider when they meet with their team.

“Youth are still facing the same challenges they did before the pandemic,” says Dr. Vaillancourt, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in School-Based Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa. “As a few examples, there are far too many who have mental health challenges and far too many who are being bullied.”

She also notes that social media use and declining physical activity are challenges that parents and role models have to deal with.

“Coaches can support players by creating a safe and nurturing environment,” offers Dr. Vaillancourt. “This doesn’t mean that there should be no structure — coaches still need to motivate and challenge athletes, but they need to do so in a developmentally appropriate manner that places the athlete’s needs first.”

For teen girls, who have a high drop-out rate in sports, things like language used and belonging have a significant impact.

“We need to keep in mind that relationships matter a lot to teen girls, so coaches need to monitor the relationships between teammates,” Dr. Vaillancourt points out. “They also need to strike a balance between being supportive and providing coaching guidance. Weight-based comments drive a lot of girls out of sports, as does a poor relationship with coaches.”

Coaches should not tackle this lofty task alone. Sports organizations have a huge responsibility to prioritize mental health discussions and training for their staff (including how to support their own mental health). In addition, parents should be part of the holistic approach to supporting the well-being of athletes.

Dr. Vaillancourt adds that parents are also responsible for doing their homework.

“[Parents] should make sure that the coaches and the club are supportive of all athletes and do not condone a winning at all cost mentality,” suggests Dr. Vaillancourt.

Learning how to better focus on the health and wellness of players is a growing concern for many sports leagues and activities in Windsor Essex. We asked a few businesses and organizations to share some insight into how they are building care and resilience into their programming.

Copeland’s Martial Arts And Fitness Centre
“During the pandemic, parents were most concerned with how to maintain their child’s physical activities to keep them mentally engaged and not too reliant on devices,” says Conroy Copeland, Director, Copeland’s Martial Arts and Fitness Centre.

Despite keeping in touch with families and reopening, his business has yet to see the return of their pre-COVID numbers.

“There has been definite drop-off equally of boys and girls, at our location we are 50% off,” he informs Biz X.

Mental health is already a regular part of Copeland’s curriculum. This includes discussions with coaches and team members, discussing what is observed in the youth participants’ behaviour, and always starting and ending each session with a check-in of how everyone is doing.

Although he is very aware of how to support youth, Copeland is concerned about the youth mental health crisis.

“The total mental fallout of the pandemic is just starting to show itself, there is much more to come,” he warns.

To learn more about Copeland’s Martial Arts and Fitness Centre and find out what programs are offered for children aged six and up (and classes for adults too), stop in at 2557 Dougall Avenue, Unit 5 in Windsor.

Lakeshore Cheer Athletics
With the ever-changing rules the pandemic brought on, Monique Myre, Owner and Head Coach of Lakeshore Cheer Athletics (LCA) was struggling to find a place to get her second season running.

After an initial meeting outdoors at a local park, she was able to secure time in a church gym for a few months, but another shutdown came.

“In the spring we could not do classes inside so we rented the outside space to run the team practices and tumbling classes,” Myre recounts. “I ran ads on Facebook and would post what we were doing and we slowly picked up more people.”

What started as a single team has grown to nine teams, with three commitment levels to choose from: recreational, novice, and prep. Regardless of the commitment level, LCA aims to make the gym a place that youth want to come to for training, have a good time, and to be with friends. They also want the kids to feel open about speaking up.

“As a program we like to let the kids know they can talk to the coaches if needed or if we see something concerning, we normally would approach the parent,” says Myre. “Sometimes teammates will also let us know if someone is having a hard time. During practices we often have a sit down and discuss team business and concerns where athletes can bring up things they would like to discuss.”

Even with the positive LCA environment, Myre noticed that children coming in to try out seemed afraid to be around other children and were hesitant to leave their parents’ side.

“I have been coaching kids for over 30 years and I have dealt with mental health issues with kids, but not on a scale that I have had to with the start of COVID,” Myre expresses. “I have never seen so many kids with anxieties and other issues.”

She continues by stating: “It took some time with some of the kids to get them to feel safe and to just participate and have fun. We are still seeing the results of how the shutdowns affected the kids — and this is sad.”

However, Myre chooses to look on the bright side for what is happening in her gym.

“Once the kids start our program and are welcomed by all, they make lifelong friends, learn skills, gain confidence . . . all while doing cheer,” she reports.

To find out more about Lakeshore Cheer Athletics, their programs for girls aged four and up, or learn about the Try A Cheer Class, swing by their gym at 1731 Lesperance Road, Tecumseh (New Beginnings Community Church).

COVER STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 18

The post Protecting Children’s Mental Health – The Role Coaches Play appeared first on Biz X magazine.

Help Keep Kids In Sport Money-Saving Tips That can be a Game-Changer

With the rising cost of everything, families are trying to find ways to stretch budgets further.

Many are willing to make sacrifices to cut costs, but keeping children involved in activities they love is often top priority.

Why?

Sports do not just help with physical health, an exhaustive list of studies detail other positive effects, including improved mental well-being, better self esteem, enhanced social skills, and greater academic achievement.

To ensure children have fun, stay active, and continue to build on this positive development, it is imperative that as parents — and as a community — we work together to keep them connected to sports.

Historically, non-profits like KidSport and Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart have allowed those facing financial barriers to offset their sports registration fees via an application process.

For successful applicants, the approved portion of the registration fee is sent directly to the sports program.

Several local sports organizations have seen funding come through for 2024.

“The impact of additional funding from sponsors and programs like Jumpstart is considerable,” indicates Kipp Van Kuren, President, Windsor Minor Hockey Association. “We have several families each year that apply for Jumpstart funding and those families have enjoyed their hockey experience due to the help of this program.”

“We usually have a number of players every year able to access Jumpstart, KidSport, LaSalle’s Pathway to Potential, and others,” says Jerry Kavanaugh, President, Windsor Minor Lacrosse Association.

The Administrator for the Windsor Soccer Club Janice Boyd, informs Biz X that: “Families that applied within the first couple of days of Jumpstart opening their individual child grant portal, did receive funding. Approximately 15 to 20 players were able to utilize Jumpstart funds.”

She adds that since Jumpstart changed their funding format in 2023, approved applications for summer sports, like soccer, have been on the decline.

“We were told by Jumpstart that funding from January 2024 submissions were greater than expected and funds were exhausted in Windsor Essex,” Boyd reports. “When families contacted us to advise of their situation, we suggested two alternate funding organizations, KidSport and The Assist Group — Putting Kids in Sport. These two organizations have been amazing and really stepped up to assist our families, and combined, have assisted approximately 40 to 45 children with funding towards their summer registration costs.”

Boyd continues by stating: “In past years, we have seen on average 100 to 125 requests for funding. So far this year we have received funding for about half of what is typically funded.”

To help with the cost of playing, Windsor Soccer Club also offers discounts for early registration, provides a full uniform, and offers used soccer shoes and new shin guards at reduced prices.

Windsor Minor Lacrosse Association helps families with early registration discounts, providing loaner sticks for “Try Lacrosse” clinics, and giving a stick to every new registered player. There is also a discount for registering three or more family members.

Kavanaugh points out: “We have an equipment buy/sell program through our Facebook page too; this allows people to access used and outgrown equipment.”

Parenting Biz Continues on Page 30

The post Help Keep Kids In Sport Money-Saving Tips appeared first on Biz X magazine.

Welcome friends, grab yourself a cup of Joe and pull up and chair and let’s chat about one of Detroit’s true heroes . . .Mike Ilitch

Part of me seems to have died February 10, 2017, and a great part of Detroit and Windsor went into mourning that day with the death of one of Detroit’s quiet, and unassuming legendary heroes – Mike Ilitch, at the age of 87.

Over the decades, the rebirth of Detroit’s downtown has been the result of visionary and committed investors. It was the Ford family who financed the construction of the Renaissance Centre in the mid 1970’s. Peter Stroh contributed to the riverfront development east of the Ren Cen and Peter Karmonos Jr. put his signature on the Compuware Building near Campus Martius. Race Car Hall of Famer, Roger Penske, also brought a Super Bowl and Grand Prix racing to the “D”.

But the past few decades will long be remembered for the investment and commitment by Dan Gilbert of Quicken Loans fame, and the late Mike Ilitch.

Some investors put their money where their mouth is. Other investors put their money where their heart is. It would be the latter category that Mike Ilitch should be placed.

Some wealthy billionaire investors are floated $1 million by their dad with the mandate to create their empire in whatever means possible, including screwing the little man, declaring bankruptcy and leaving creditors hung out to dry, and using every tax loophole there is to avoid paying taxes. Other wealthy billionaire investors come from modest backgrounds and invent themselves. Such is the case with Mike Ilitch. Born of Macedonian immigrant parents – his father was a tool and die maker – Mike built his billion-dollar Empire through hard work and respect for the little man.

While many people were escaping from Detroit’s deteriorating downtown core years ago, Mike and his corporate staff left the suburbs and ran to the heart of the city. They brought their corporate headquarters for Little Caesars Pizza to the historic Fox Theater Building.

He invested millions of dollars in the restoration of the Fox Theater, restoring it to a beauty that it hadn’t seen in 60 years. He bought the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL in the 1970s and turned a fledgling franchise into one of the top tier organizations, winning four Stanley Cups during his tenure. He also purchased the Detroit Tigers and finance 60 % of the cost of their new home at Comerica Park.

Ilitch’s first love with respect to sports was always baseball. A graduate of Cooley High School in Detroit, he was signed to a $5000 bonus to the Detroit Tigers minor league system as a second baseman. Before signing with them. he served four years in the Marines and afterwards rejoined the Detroit Tigers system where he sustained a knee injury which ended his career.

He and his wife, Marian, started their first Little Caesars Pizza store in Garden City, Michigan in 1959 with the savings he had amassed from his baseball signing. By 1999 he had grown the business to more than 4000 stores and was listed as one of the 400 wealthiest persons in the USA. On the success of Little Caesars, he was financially able to purchase both the Tigers and the Red Wings sports franchises, and transform a section of the urban core into a vibrant entertainment area.

I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Ilitch over the years on several occasions. He was one of those unique individuals that when you met him you felt like he elevated you to celebrity status, and not the reverse. A plainspoken and focused man, he was as real as real can be. There was little pretense or celebrity air about him. He never forgot his roots and treated everyone he met with respect and dignity.

The concessionaires at Comerica Park, the maintenance men and women, the grounds crew, all new Mike as Mr. I. And Mr. I knew many of them by their first names and took the time to stop and chat with them.

Stories abound about how charitable Mr. I was. He paid Rosa Parks’ rent in the Riverfront Apartments until she died, after she was victimized by a home invasion in a dangerous Detroit neighbourhood. His care and concern for Service Veterans is heralded throughout the country and he has established a charity to provide honourably discharged vets with business opportunities. And the list of his ‘below the radar’ charity goes on and on.

He and Marian have seven children who will carry his torch and pay tribute to their father’s legacy and his enormous impact on the city he so loved.

After 25 consecutive playoff appearances, 2017 will mark the first year the Detroit Red Wings have failed to make the playoffs. It seems fitting that streak would end the same year that Mr. Ilitch’s life here on earth would end.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Ilitch did not live long enough to see his new Little Caesars Arena to completion. Somehow, I wish they could rename the arena in his honor. I think it would be so cool to refer to the new arena as the “ I ” – with that letter emblazoned on the top of the roof. That way we would have our very own “I from the sky” …

Feature photo: (L-R) Ken Holland, Mike Ilitch, Marion Ilitch, Gordie Howe and Nick Lidstrom, November 22, 2006 at the ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the Gordie Howe entrance. Photo In Play! magazine

The post One of Detroit’s True Heroes . . .Mike Ilitch appeared first on Biz X magazine.