New youth fitness director has BIG plans for Youth Center

Janet Taylor-Birkey

“Mr. Lionel! Over here, Mr. Lionel!”

These are the screams heard entering the gym at the Cannon Youth Center — especially when children are trying to persuade Mr. Lionel Alston, new Youth Fitness Director at the Youth Center, to play dodgeball with them.

Having always been involved in sports, Mr. Alston brings his love of sports and children to Cannon.

Moving from Albuquerque with his wife and two children, Mr. Alston now seeks to change the face of sports at the center. The goal is to expand the program to “whatever the kids have a love for,” Mr. Alston said.

“We are going to change … more participation in sports,” said Mr. Alston. This change includes forming sports leagues for children ages three to 18 years old so that children can play team sports on base.

“Right now we don’t have enough kids to form a league, but hopefully that will soon change.”

Sports leagues will allow Cannon military family children to be able to play on base without having to travel downtown.

Children's’ interests are a big factor in determining the center’s program. “The kids want to go skating, so now every Friday is skating Friday. We try to listen to what the kids have to say,” Mr. Alston said.

Monthly sports clinics such as basketball, football and soccer are part of Mr. Alston’s plan to involve children and teach the rudiments of various sports.

Physical fitness for children is a passion for Mr. Alston who spends after-school hours in the gym playing basketball and other games with the children.

To gain participation in the sports program at the Youth Center, Mr. Alston wants parents to get more involved with the children.

“We have to get the parents … involved before we can get the kids ,” he said. “That means playing with the kids or letting them stay later at the center to practice or when [they are] working on something special.”

To encourage children who are not sports minded, Mr. Alston said it helps to participate with them in activities. “We don’t put them in competition; we just play around with them.”

Mr. Alston feels that parents can play a big role in keeping their children physically fit by exercising with them .

“In my house, after dinner we get together and go walking. We grab the dog and walk,” said Mr. Alston.

The next youth sports program will be t-ball, softball or baseball. Anyone interested in volunteering can call the Youth Center at 784-2676.