ABGC Christmas Tree Lot is Open

The Annandale Boys & Girls Club is once again selling nursery-grown, freshly-cut Christmas trees to benefit our many ABGC community programs. We have a generous selection of Fraser Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, Scotch Pine, ConColor Fir, and Norway Spruce is big at terrific prices. Best of all, you know your purchase helps fund terrific community programs and tens of thousands of dollars in youth scholarships provided to ABGC families each year.

ABGC Christmas Tree Lot

4251 John Marr Drive in Annandale

(in the K-Mart parking lot at the corner of Little River Turnpike and John Marr Drive)

Open Weekdays: 1:00pm to 9:00pm

Weekends: 9:30am – 9:30pm

Bring this flyer and get $10 off.

Here are just a few of the winter programs your purchase helps support:

Youth Basketball:  Registration is now open for Kindergarten through Grade 12.  Teams are neighborhood concept by grade level, and everyone is guaranteed to play half or more of every game.

Wrestling: Register now for ABGC’s youth wrestling program. It’s for ages 6-14 and  runs from November through February each winter. The program is designed for both novice and advanced wrestlers.

Call 703-941-ABGC (2242) Monday through Friday 3:00 – 7:00 PM or Saturday 9-12 noon for details on any of our many ABGC programs including spring soccer, coach pitch baseball, tee-ball, football, cheerleading, boxing, field hockey, and lacrosse.  Or go to abgc.org for more information.

Virginia State Wrestling Champ

Congrats to former ABGC  Mat Rat, Rory Renzi a senior at Lake Braddock HS, for capturing the Virginia State Wrestling 160 pound title.  It was the first individual state title for Renzi, who had finished in fifth place each of the previous three years.  Great job Rory!

Ever thought about participating in youth wrestling?  Check out the Annandale Boys and Girls Club Mat Rats program for details.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Fairfax Times

Concussions and Youth Sports

If you’ve been around youth sports, as a parent, player or coach then you’ve seen the alarming statistics on the number of youth concussion each year — 3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions each year.

Today the Institute of Medicine has announced the creation of a new health panel to study the risk of concussions in youth sports.  Bloomberg News reports:

The risk of concussions from youth sports is being studied by a U.S. advisory medical panel as college and professional leagues have increased their scrutiny of potential sports-related brain injuries.

The Institute of Medicine has begun an investigation into concussions related to sports for players from elementary school age through young adulthood, the group said in a posting on its website. The panel will review risk factors, screening and diagnosis, as well as treatment and long-term consequences, it said in the statement. The Washington-based nonprofit organization provides advice to policy makers and the public.

Previous research has found that football is the deadliest sport among young athletes, and deaths may have been prevented if athletes with head injuries had been kept off the field, according to a 2011 study in the journal Pediatrics. A study published yesterday in the journal JAMA Neurology found physical abnormalities in the brains of former NFL players, when compared to peers.

The IOM panel said it will review available information on concussions, especially in the context of the maturing brain, and review the effectiveness of protective equipment.

The Centers for Disease Control’s “Heads Up” program provides a terrific website for coaches, players and parents to help prevent and diagnose potential concussions.

“There is no one tougher than my son. Sometimes players and parents wrongly believe that it shows strength and courage to play injured. Battling pain is glamorized. Zack couldn’t swallow or hold his head up. Strength is seeing Zack stand up out of his wheelchair and learning to talk again.” – Victor Lystedt, Zack’s Dad.

Read more survivor stories

 

Do you know the warning signs of a concussion?  If not, please take just a moment and find out on the CDC “Heads Up” website.

Happy Holidays!

Santa and his elves stopped by Annandale Boys & Girls Club  with a message:

Wishing you and your family a most joyous Holiday Season!  Please take a moment this week to tell your Coaches and Athletes how much you appreciate all their hard work.

As a Reminder:

• Basketball and Indoor Soccer games start in January and Wrestling continues the Winter Season.
• Sign-up for Spring Sports will begin in January.

Meet the Annandale Mat Rats

Sometimes after a hard day the idea of channeling all your strength and energy to pin someone down might sound pretty appealing, right?  Here at the ABGC’s Wrestling program, the Annandale Mat Rats, kids get to do it all the time…in a wonderfully fun and athletic way.  

The Mat Rats wrestling program is for ages 5-14 and will begin in early November and run through February. Our Wresting matches are generally held on weekends, primarily on Sundays. Youth competitions are grouped by age, weight and experience. The Annandale Wrestling Team competes in the Northern Virginia Wrestling Federation (NVWF) with teams from all over Northern Virginia. The season ends with an annual banquet in March.

Registration will close on December 16, 2011. The online registration fee is $85 through 11/18/2011, then will be $90. Registration includes a T-Shirt and use of the singlet for a season. To register online, click here. 

Beginner wrestlers will meet every Monday and Thursday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Annandale High School’s Wrestling Room (directions can be found at www.abgc.orgon the left side navigation under “Sport and Activity Locations”).

Advanced wrestlers will meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Annandale High School’s Wrestling Room.

You can also see more details on the program on our website.  

If you have any questions about the program send us an email.