Thursday, Jan. 01, 2009

For participants: Camps, classes, more

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

Professional Baseball Instruction: By Kip Bouknight Private, Group, or Team Lessons. Call (803) 467 0180 or e-mail at kipb14@yahoo.com.

Private Catching/Hitting Instruction: For baseball and softball players. Call Kelly Ahrens at (803) 260-5432. Or call The Big Leagues Baseball and Softball Academy (803) 731-1565 or (803) 260-5432 or visit www.wttbl.com.

Fastpitch lessons: For girls ages 8 and older. Lou Gareis, of the Grease Lightning Pitching Academy, is the instructor. Call (803) 794-0854.

Pitching Academy lessons: Individual, group. Call Davis Powers, (803) 622-8100.

Hitting and pitching instruction: Girls and boys, ages 9-18. Instructor: Dale Warner of Baseball Dreams. Call (803) 360-8624 or asbdreams@aol.com.

Professional instruction: Baseball session for all ages; individual or team instruction available. Call Drew Niles (803) 537-1260.

GOLF

George Bryan Academy classes: All levels of play. Call (803) 781-2063.

The Athlete Factory golf clinics: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call (803) 988-0076.

Junior Golf Practice: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation, The First Tee Golf Center, at 2091 Slighs Ave., Columbia. Call (803) 255-8920. Instruction for Pee Wee held Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. and for ages 8-18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Free Range Balls for Junior Golfers: All juniors younger than 18 are eligible for free range balls Monday-Friday from 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. at the City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation The First Tee Golf Center, 2091 Slighs Ave., Columbia. Call (803) 255-8920.

GYMNASTICS

Northwest Family YMCA lessons: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call (803) 407-8007.

MARTIAL ARTS

Kids Karate Classes: Ages 5-16 Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. Caughman Road Park. Call (803) 783-0400 (after 3 p.m.)

Martial Arts classes: Tai chi, tai chi sword, yoga, qigong, mulan aerobics, self-defense classes; Saturdays and Sundays, USC Columbia campus. Call 695-2993 or visit www.chineseculturecenter.org.

Sekai Ryu Ha Kemmpo lessons: Ages 5 and older, 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Hopkins Park. Cost: $12 youth, $20 adults. Call (803) 783-9374.

Aikido classes: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Harbison Recreation Center, cost: $22 for four weeks (no charge for first lesson). Call Lamar Sanders, (803) 359-5231.

Martial arts sessions: All ages, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Crooked Creek Park. Call (803) 345-6181.

Tai Chi classes: Classes in tai chi (taiji) are offered on Tuesdays, 5:15-6:15, at Eastminster Presbyterian. Beginners are welcome at any time. Call Janet Swigler, (803) 252-2204.

SOCCER

Central League registration: For 11 vs. 11 Adult Soccer and 35-over Men’s 6 vs. 6 teams, e-mail columbiaSCsoccer@aol.com or visit www.columbiaSCsoccer.org.

Indoor soccer clinic: For boys and girls ages 4-6. Mondays only at 6 p.m. Fundamentals and game play will be taught. Registration is until Dec. 27. Play begins Jan. 5 and runs six weeks. Cost is $45 for Harbison residents, $52 for non-Harbison residents. For details, call (903) 781-2281.

WATER SPORTS

Lexington Sharks lessons: Novice to competitive. Call coach Louis Biles, (803) 609-8888.

Carolina Aquatics Program: Year-round, competitive team, ages 5-older. Call Derek Piper, (803) 419-6167, or visit www.carolina-aquatics.com.

TENNIS

Lexington County programs: Classes available based on age, level. Call (803) 957-7676 or visit www.lexingtoncountytennis.com.

Harbison Recreation lessons: Tuesdays and Thursdays, intermediate/advanced, 4-5 p.m.; beginners, 6-7 p.m.; ages 5-13. Adults, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; cost: $45. Call Zach Bogue, (803) 261-8445.

Topspin Racquet Club after-school program: All ages, levels. Call Topspin, (803) 951-8851.

Lessons: Crooked Creek, Seven Oaks. Call John Atkinson, (803) 345-6181.

Northwest Family YMCA clinics: Youth and adult, private lessons available. Call (803) 407-0179, ext. 111.

Ladies doubles quads: 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays, Northwest YMCA.

YMCA tennis: Weekdays, ages 4 and older, cost: $50 for members, $60 for non-members. Lessons by appointment. Senior programs: Group/Individual play. Doubles Round Robin play for mature adults of all skill levels. Players set up matches. At the Columbia Tennis Center, 1635 Whaley St. Cost is $1 per session/2 hour sessions, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. Soft Court Doubles Round Robin play will be Mondays and Fridays at 9 a.m. at South East Park and Tennis Center. Call (803) 545-3100.

VOLLEYBALL

Greenview Park adult volleyball: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Call Sonya Jenkins (803) 312-2345 or Anita Mobley (803) 466-7623.

Adult Coed volleyball: At Martin Luther King Park. Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. No cost.

FITNESS/AEROBICS

Belly dance class: At Harbison Recreation Center, beginning January. For details, call (803) 781-2281.

Aerobics Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays at Greenview Park. No fee. Classes will be from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Instructor is Geraldine Washington, LMSW, American Aerobics and Fitness Association Certified Instructor.

Floor Aerobics: Mondays and Wednesdays 6-7:30 p.m. at Greenview Park. Admission is free. Low-impact workout with instructor Linda Campbell.

Senior Fitness Club: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon at Greenview Park. Admission is free.

Lunchtime Aerobics: At Hyatt Park on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. No cost. After-Work Aerobics and Workout Tuesdays and Thursdays 5 p.m.-5:45 p.m.

Walking Club: At Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Mondays and Fridays from 10-11 a.m. Call (803) 733-8452.

Free Adult Low Impact Aerobics: Tuesdays and Thursday from 6:05-7:05 p.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Call (803) 733-8452.

Yoga classes: Ages 18 and over Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:15-8:30 p.m. Caughman Road Park (803) 783-0400 (after 3 p.m.)

Aerobics classes: 6-7:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Caughman Road Park. Call (803) 783-0400.

Adult fitness classes: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Thursdays, downtown family life center. Call (803) 343-8587.

Senior fitness sessions: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Crooked Creek Park. Call (803) 345-6181.

Early bird aerobics: Aerobics/yoga combo class, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Call (803) 345-6181.

Jacki’s Workout: Ages 14 and older, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Crooked Creek Park and Seven Oaks Park. Call (803) 345-6181.

Jump Start Athletics: Speed and agility training for all sports. Contact: speedybi21@yahoo.com or (803) 553-1384.

MISCELLANEOUS

Columbia Parks and Rec Double Dutch Classes: Thursdays, Fridays; 6-7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 4:30-6 p.m. at King Park

Fencing instruction: Columbia Fencers Club, 3-5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Harbison Recreation Center. Call (803) 781-2281.

Lexington Leisure Center programs: Coed volleyball, men’s flag football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, youth basketball. Call (803) 957-7828

Youth wheelchair basketball program: Ages 6-17, Trenholm Park. Registration: 4-6 p.m. Saturdays. Youth must be able to propel a manual wheelchair. Call Chip Hall, (803) 739-2125.

For Participants runs every Thursday in Neighbors and in the Sunday Sports section on a space-available basis. Please fax all items Attn: Participants at (803) 771-8613, mail to Participants, State Sports, P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, SC, 29202, or e-mail statesports@thestate.com. Information for Participants will not be taken by phone and must be received by 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

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