The Placentia-Yorba Linda School District has approved a program focused on athletics. Called the “Universal Sports Institute,” this 3rd to 12th grade program fosters an environment in which students can improve their athletic abilities. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz of Orange County Register/SCNG)
An Orange County school district will launch a new program next year aimed at providing student-athletes with an alternative approach to training and education.
Starting next school year, the Placentia-Yorba Linda School District will offer something called the Universal Sports Institute.
Our tuition-free, sports-specific programs allow students in grades 3 through 12 to receive extensive, elite-level training in their sport of choice, while also providing support for distance learning, personalized schedules, and more. You will also be able to respond flexibly to your studies.
Although it is called an “educational institution”, Universal Sports is not a new school. Instead, it is a niche program that focuses on improving students' athletic performance. Students are taught through Parkview Independent Study School in Placentia. The school is an established alternative school offering a 'self-study' curriculum path.
The program provides trainers and coaches, including high school coaches and athletic directors from other districts who take on additional duties at Universal Sports, to help students with “individualized exercise and fitness programs, mental performance training, nutritional plans, and recovery.” You will be able to run the program. and leadership development,” the website states.
The athletic training facility will be located on district-owned property in Yorba Linda, which currently houses the Office of Educational Services. Superintendent Alex Charnis said there are no plans for major construction on the site, but updates to the facility will be coming soon.
According to the program's website, the campus will feature a strength and conditioning room, speed and agility training area, tumbling mat space, cold plunge, therapeutic swim spa, turf training area, batting cage, golf simulator and more. That's what it means.
Charnis said the facility will also be open to students in the district who are not enrolled in the universal sports program. This facility features an “after school program” created by PYLUSD administrators.
Charnis said opening up the space to students across the district will create athletic opportunities for students who can't afford specialized training.
This program can provide training in all sports sanctioned by CIF, California's governing body for high school sports. It is also open to Southern California students even outside the boundaries of PYLUSD.
At the high school level, participants in the Universal Sports Program may compete and take up to two courses at any of the district's El Dorado, Esperanza, Valencia, or Yorba Linda high schools (Learning at Parkview In addition to).
To participate in the program, students must meet certain athletic requirements.
According to the website, student-athletes must “show evidence of elite athletic performance,” or in other words, achieve “a level of performance that would qualify them for state, national, or Olympic competition.” That's what it means. Charnis said Universal Sports program director Taylor Holloway and Parkview principal Dominic Porceau will manage the selection process.
Athletes competing in the Special Olympics or Paralympics are also eligible for recognition based on their level of achievement in their respective sport.
To maintain eligibility, students must submit annual activity records and performance portfolios, including rankings and awards, which are reviewed by some of the program's administrators.
“This is a major transformation for our district and represents a new direction for public education as parents and children continue to explore options and specializations in their educational experiences,” Charnis said. “It’s great that PYLUSD is on the cutting edge of these new educational trends, and it’s definitely the reason our enrollment is increasing while other districts are seeing declines.”
Orange County already has several academies specializing in different sports.
EM Speed and Power Training in San Juan Capistrano's main clients are softball and baseball athletes, but they also help some soccer and football players. There, through a charter academic program, students of all grades can study independently and train extensively for their respective sports.
Orange County Sports Fundamentals in Anaheim has a prep academy for athletes in grades 7-9 and utilizes El Rancho Charter School for academics.
“Professionalization in education is the future,” Charnis said. “That’s why all these academies are opening and thriving. PYLUSD is not staying on the sidelines, choosing to lead rather than follow.”
However, Nancy Watkins, an education professor at California State University, Fullerton, expressed concern about “issues of accessibility and inclusivity” and said the program “indirectly supports underserved families in our community.” There is a possibility of discrimination.”
“This facility serves only a small portion of the student population, those with the aptitude and interest to pursue athletics at the competitive level,” said Watkins, who ran unsuccessfully for the Orange County Board of Education this year. he said.
“This creates an environment in which resources are disproportionately allocated to benefit certain groups, who may benefit more from investments in arts, science and technology resources that more closely align with their interests and needs. Some students may be ignored,” Watkins said.
But Jess Battaglia, a parent of two PYLUSD students, sees universal sports as a potential “future” for her children.
“This is an exciting innovation coming to our district,” said Battaglia, who attended PYLUSD schools. “And it allows PYLUSD to not only compete with other school districts, but to outshine them.”
Battaglia said Universal Sports has the opportunity to provide students with “rich opportunities” in specialized training.
“There's no question that sports in general have probably become more competitive than ever in the last few years,” Battaglia said. “Simple points of differentiation could very well be the difference in taking you to the next level of competition.”
But not all PYLUSD parents are on board.
Parent Molly Kurtzbard noted that the PYLUSD community was only informed of plans to open Universal Sports at the February district board meeting, and questions about where the funding for the program would come from and how long it would last. He said there is.
“The district lacks transparency and is holding the details closely,” Kurtzbard said. “Instead, they are hyping the Universal Sports Institute with propaganda marketing boasting about programs and buildings that don't even exist yet.”
Universal Sports will be funded through Parkview, Charnis said, and Parkview will be funded in the same way as other schools in PYLUSD based on average daily attendance.
