Are you tired of the same 30 minute treadmill run you just did yesterday?
Then you need to ROCK!
Do you dread doing the same weight routine you did earlier this week?
Then you need to ROCK!
Are you looking to mix up the same routine you’ve been doing for months?
Then you need to ROCK!
It’s time to put the dumbbells down, and pick a sledgehammer up. It’s time to see how far you can sprint with a parachute attached. It’s time for wall balls, table sleds, and tire flipping.
It’s time to get ROCK! SOLID.

Have you ever seen one of those crazy fitness shows where the participants are hitting sledgehammers on tires, tossing beer kegs in the air, or carrying around sandbags for fun? And then a thought emerges “Ya know, that does look kinda cool…” Well not only is it cool, it’s a great workout. Even better, it’s no longer just offered on TV or in some scary warehouse “gym” taught by a musclehead named Günter. That same lung burning, leg shaking, high intensity workout will be offered by Springdale Parks & Recreation during the month of June.

ROCK! SOLID mixes callisthenic and body weight exercises, with interval and strength training. It’s a great way to burn fat, lose weight, and get fit. This non-stop, sweat drenched, total body workout will provide an intense workout for every level. You will gain functional, real-world strength, speed, and power.

We’re not going to tell you everything (why spoil the surprise?) but I can guarantee this: It will be one of, if not the most, unique workouts you’ve ever done. You’re going to sweat a lot, maybe get a little dirty, and have a ton of fun. And you’ll leave with a sense of accomplishment from completing the toughest workout to hit Springdale. But don’t worry if your fitness level is not on par with Mr. Olympia. Every exercise can always be individually scaled and varied to any skill level, just come ready to work hard.

Our unique circuit of exercises will work every muscle in your body until you don’t think you can take any more. And then we’ll do it all over again pushing you further than you thought possible, but not faster than you actually can. Test your endurance, speed, agility, strength and see what you’re really made of. So get here and get ROCK! SOLID.

Saturday, June 8, 15, 22, 29. Check-in starts at 9:15am. We start ROCK!N’ at 9:30am. Space is limited. Register early at the Front Desk. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available. ?’s ask a Fitness Team Member or call 513-346-3910.

Plans for the 2013 Springdale Sailfish season are underway and it is time for all children ages 5-18 to climb aboard!  If you love the water, have spirit, and like to have fun, then swim team is for you!

Last season, we had 27 new swimmers and families join the Sailfish!  New pool records, family events, games, and team-building activities made for a very memorable season. This summer, coaches expect nothing less! We hope to see new families, new records, and create new memories. To help spread the word across our community, local elementary, middle, and high school Physical Education teachers were given informational flyers to pass out to their students about swim team registration.  You can help spread the word by asking your friends, relatives and neighbors to join the team!

‘Swim Buddies’ and ‘Sailfish Bucks’ are back for teammates to enjoy! Swimmers will have the opportunity to earn swim money throughout the season for coming to practice, beating a personal best record, demonstrating good sportsmanship, and many other ways! Money earned is used to purchase something out of the famous “Sailfish Treasure Chest”.  ‘Swim Buddies’ is one way we will continue to unite swimmers of all ages. If you want to see team spirit, come to a Springdale Swim Meet! Spectators will notice countless posters, notes of encouragement, Sailfish tattoos, and a sea of red and black.

Our coaches are all about experiencing the FUN in swimming. This season will include a dive-in movie, lunch with the coaches, and other small ways to bring our team together in an environment outside of practice and meets. This year, we plan to recognize those swimmers that show 110% throughout the season. Swimmers will be showcased in their new swimsuits at our home meets and acknowledged for their efforts.

Swimmers, parents, and friends are encouraged to attend “Meet the Coach Night” on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:30pm at the SpringdaleCommunity Center.  We will have a new team look of solid black suits with an embroidered Sailfish.  Swimmers or parents in attendance that pre-order and pay for a suit will receive a 25% discount on their suit and a free Sailfish swim cap!  We will even have samples of suit sizes.  Light refreshments and tons of information about the season will be shared.  Help kick off another record-breaking Sailfish season!

Springdale residents may register for the team at the Community Center beginning May 1. Registration for non-residents begins June 1. Similar to last year, pre-season practice will kickoff the season. Practices will be held in the Auxiliary Gym on May 28, 29, and 30, from 6:30-7:30pm. Water practice will begin Monday, June 3.

The Sailfish Express is warming up and we want YOU to swim aboard!

The 2012 season brought new swimmers, new pool records, family events, games, and a lot of fun memories to the Springdale Sailfish Swim Team. From the beginning, coaches Amanda Weber, Emily Weber, and Joanna Pollard saw a vision and wanted more than anything to do all they could to make it a season to remember. The first task was increasing the number of athletes. Local elementary school Physical Education teachers were given flyers to pass out to their students. This effort brought 27 new swimmers and families to the team. 20 of those swimmers had never swam competitively before!

High energy soaked up the summer and it all began in May as swimmers started conditioning out of the pool and participating in dryland activities that would prepare them for regular practices. Morning practices included your typical swim sets that were designed to improve swimmers’ technique, speed, and strengthen their endurance. But, if you came on the pool deck and watched a practice, one would hear music, excited kids, and observe team building activities.

‘Swim Buddies’ and ‘Sailfish Bucks’ were a few of the new things introduced this year. ‘Swim Buddies’ involved each swimmer drawing another swimmer’s name for every home swim meet. Swimmers were encouraged to make a poster or write a note of encouragement for their “buddy”.  As a coach, it was neat to see new friendships form and for the team to bring so much spirit to our home meets. ‘Sailfish Bucks’ was a tradition brought back to the team. Throughout the season, swimmers had ample opportunities to earn “bucks”. Whether it was attending practice consecutively, showing good sportsmanship, swimming their fastest time, or simply giving their best effort, swimmers spent their “bucks” every Friday in the “Sailfish Treasure Chest”.

This summer’s chapter of the Springdale Sailfish closed Thursday, July 19, as swimmers and family members gathered to celebrate a fantastic season. At Championships, the Sailfish took 3rd place in the Northern Suburban Swim League (NSSL). They competed against eight other teams (Blue Ash, Evendale, Greenhills, Norwood, Reading, Sharonville, St. Bernard, and Wyoming) and were scored in the Small Team Division with Blue Ash, Norwood, Reading, and St. Bernard. Dividing the team by gender, the Sailfish girls finished 1st and the boys came in 3rd. 6 points separated our team from a combined 2nd place finish and 49 points away from 1st (extremely close in swimming!)

The points earned at Championships, certainly do not amount to the success the Sailfish attained. Approximately 85% of our swimmers achieved their personal best time in their individual races and 29 individual races placed in the top twelve. Out of those 29 races, 5 of them finished 1st in their event. Three of those 1st place finishes broke the league record.

Thank you to those of you who have supported us. It takes an army to have a successful swim season and we truly could not have done it without you! I am extremely pleased with each swimmer’s performance and cannot wait to see what the 2013 season has in store for us!

Until next summer,
Amanda Weber

With all these facts in mind, Springdale Parks & Recreation is doing something about it. Beginning July 2, we will decrease the minimum age in the Fitness Center to 13. Teens 13-15 will be able to workout in the Fitness Center with parental supervision. Yes, that’s the catch. Parental supervision. But maybe you’re too busy to be here all the time. Maybe you would like your teen to be able to use the Fitness Center when you can’t be here. Well then you’ll be happy to hear we are introducing a new program called Teen Fit. And it’s FREE!

Teen Fit is a fitness class that will give your teenager the tools to start down a lifetime of physical fitness. We will cover the basics of aerobic exercise, strength training, stretching, and nutrition. Upon successful completion of the class, teens with a Fitness Membership will be able to workout in the Fitness Center without adult supervision. This class will be taught by the qualified Fitness Center Team.

Now you may be thinking “My child is too young to begin working out.” Or “I heard working out will stunt a child’s growth.” Well contrary to myths you may have heard, working out for teens is good and will NOT stunt growth. Working out for teens can help lose or maintain weight, increase muscle and bone strength, improve mood, and many more benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics has come out strongly in favor of teens working out.

Our first class will be on June 24 and July 1 from 2-4pm and students must attend both classes. Registration is required and the class is limited to the first 10 teens to sign-up. If you have any questions, please see Jay in the Fitness Center.

Where do the years go?  They seem to sneak up on you like a bug on your windshield.  Smack, there it is in your face!  Now mind you, I’ve not been here as long as the Community Center has been open, but my first job with the Department was in the late 70’s at the pool.  Before you start doing the math, I must mention I left for several years and went south.  But, I digress.

Over the years, we have saved a copy of each program guide the Department produced.  It started in 1972 with the first brochure and evolved over the years to the last fun guide in 2010.  Some of the pieces have missing clip art that was cut from one guide and used in a mock up for a future piece.  Really, that’s how it was done back in the day!  Others are missing sections because the offspring of one particular assistant director who will go nameless, decided to cut out the pictures!

Do you have a favorite program, activity, or memory from any of these guides?  If so, please comment below!

We thought John Q. Public would enjoy perusing our past creations and see how far we’ve come.  We’ll start with the sensational 70’…..

Family Fun Day is back and will take place on Sunday, July 24 from 2:00 to 4:30. The lifeguard staff and I are excited to host this event and have great games planned. Bring your family for fun in the sun mixed with a few friendly competitions.

We are bringing back the classic duck races! Throughout the day, participants will adopt a lucky duck in the guard office. All ducks can be identified by a number and the lifeguards will keep track of the parent-duck pairs. Before the start of the race, the duck parents will wait at the bottom of the slide while the ducks are taken to the top. The crowd will then begin a countdown for the ducks release and they will race to the finish line at the bottom. The first duck to cross the finish line is the winner and the duck’s parent will receive a prize!

Another activity planned for Family Fun Day is the water balloon launch. This event is a fan favorite! Use your muscles and our giant sling shot to launch a water balloon onto a target by the slide. Aim for the bullseye, but don’t let go too early or the balloon will land in the pool! Family members of all ages can participate and parents can help their young children if needed.

The frozen t-shirt contest, my personal favorite, is back this year! Hot participants will cool off by untwisting and thawing a frozen t-shirt. The winner of this contest is the first person to wear their shirt. However, there is one catch…..you do not know what size the t-shirt will be! This game is both entertaining to watch and a relief from the sun’s heat. Hint: do not complete this event in the shade, use the heat to your advantage!

Come show off your cannonball talent! We will be crowning the Master Splasher by having a splash contest off the diving boards! Practice your cannonballs and come compete with other members to determine who has the highest and biggest splash. Participants must be able to swim from the board to the ladder. Future master splashers love to sit along the edge of the deep end to cheer and get drenched by those competing for the crown.

Between the events, express your creativity by participating in the deck art activity. Chalk will be provided and families will decorate the pool deck. Draw your favorite Family Fun Day activity or tell us what you love most about the pool. Community Center members enjoy looking at each family’s creation and lifeguards like to learn what families enjoy about the pool.

Mark your calendars for Family Fun Day on July 24. Come prepared for some refreshing family fun and friendly competition. Games are open to participants of all ages and we can’t wait to see your skills.

Did you know that most of the movements you do start in your core muscles? They are hard at work everyday, even when you’re not aware of it. Just walking, bending over, turning side to side and even standing up straight are because of your core working hard. Keeping your core strong can help you stay involved in just about any physical activity, improve your posture and protect you from getting injured.

What are your core muscles? They are the muscles in your abdominals, obliques, lower back, hips and glutes. All of the muscles in your core work together, so it is very important to work all of them to keep them strong. Having both strong abs and back will help with good posture and help prevent back pain. Working your obliques is important because they are used every time you twist and turn. Having strong hips helps you raise your legs up and down. Your glutes are one of the biggest muscles in your body, so those play a major role in moving your legs while you walk or run. Since there are so many different muscles in your core, it is important to always change what exercises you do so you are sure to hit them all. The more you change your workout, the more you are challenging your muscles to work harder and to get stronger. A great way to get started is our new class, grAB a 6-pack.

If you’re tired of doing the same boring crunches over and over, then this FREE class is perfect for you! We will be working all your core muscles in just 30 minutes. Each class will include a short warm-up, exercises that focus on all your core muscles and a brief cool down with stretch. We’ll do exercises with stability balls, resistance bands, steps, and more. This class will have you looking great for summer and back to work (or the pool!) in less than an hour.

Classes are every Monday and Wednesday July 18 – August 24 from 12:15 -12:45pm. No registration required. Bring a mat and water bottle if you can.

It’s summer time!  How do kids want to spend their time?  If you ask them, they will probably want to spend their summer watching TV, playing video games or surfing the internet.  On average, kids will spend about six hours each day being inactive unless someone changes that.  That person is YOU!  Get your kids or grandkids out of the house this summer and get them moving around.

There are so many benefits to having your kids exercise.  The earlier they start exercising (which can include playing sports, riding bikes, swimming and more) the more likely they are to enjoy it. And the more they enjoy it the more likely they will want to keep doing it over their lifetime.  Exercise can also help kids stay healthy and fit which leads to a more active lifestyle.  Regular exercise helps your kids develop stronger bones, establish and maintain a healthy weight and increase self-esteem.  A fun and exciting way to get them headed toward a more active and healthy lifestyle is to get them started in our SPF 45 (Summer Physical Fun) class. 

So, grab your kids, grab your grandkids and get ready for this energetic and fast-paced experience.  This class will get your kid up, moving around and enjoying the great games, exciting exercises and super sports that we have to offer.  Each class will start with a warm-up that includes stretching and a great game to get you moving around.  We’ll jump into a fun obstacle course that will have you racing towards the finish and then we’ll do exciting exercises to make your muscles strong.  Each class will finish with a super-fun sport.  Class is held rain or shine.  When the weather is nice we’ll head outdoors to hike, climb and jump or if the weather is not-so-nice we’ll stay indoors to run, scooter around and hula hoop. 

Come join in the fun!  This jam-packed FREE class if for ages 6-11.  Classes are every Wednesday from 9:15-10am, beginning July 6 – August 10.  Bring your gym shoes and get ready to move!

It seems to me that every year the retailers are jumping the gun for the Holiday Season. The last doorbell had rung for trick-or-treat as the deluge of holiday merchandise hit the stores! My children are very excited with all of the commercials on television showing them the toys and doodads that they ‘need’ to celebrate this season. Watching a child’s eyes light with wonder is an exciting thing!

The tough thing to realize is that there are some families that are going without this season. I’m not talking about missing out on the new video game or the hottest trend- but families that are going without the necessities.  Every year the seniors involved at the Springdale Community Center have donated items to those that are in need through our Giving Tree in the Senior Lounge. This year we will be placing the Giving Tree within the SCC lobby so it may be easier for people to participate without trekking back to the Lounge. You will find items ranging from socks and silverware to bath towels and books.

The best part? These are families from Springdale that we will be helping. So- choose an ornament off the tree, make sure the front desk writes down the number of the ornament and then bring the item (wrapped or unwrapped) to the SCC by Friday, December 10. Your generosity will make a huge difference to these families within Springdale.

Thank you!

The Springdale Sailfish swim team took to the water this year with the goals to work hard, swim well, and have fun!  After a short, but energy-packed, season I am proud to say that team achieved those goals! We were 59 swimmers strong this year and this includes 17 new members to the Springdale Sailfish community.  Fifteen of those new swimmers came from our “farm system”, Springdale swim lessons!

I along with Coach Amanda and the newest member of our team Coach Joanna, worked very hard to meet our goals! Our younger kids made huge strides throughout the season. Many started not knowing all the strokes or not being able to finish a single lap; but by the end of season, many had surpassed my expectations and truly became Sailfish in the water. That is more rewarding than any championship.

The Sailfish finished a strong 2nd in the small team division of the Northern Suburban Swim League (NSSL) Championships! We competed against Norwood, Reading and St. Bernard. While first place was just out of reach (95 points…in swimming terms that not that much) I am overjoyed with the way our kids performed. At championships, 47% percent of our swimmers achieved personal best times on those two hot days! It truly shows that if you work hard at practice you will see the results. We had some bad luck on the second day that cost us valuable points, but our swimmers held their heads high and continued to swim hard! That is a true sign of a champion!

As the season has come to a come to a close, I look back and see that championships are won because of the little things – like coming to practice with the desire to get better, wanting to be pushed outside of your comfort zone, listening to feedback and applying it, and treating every day of the six week season as a way to make yourself better not only as an individual swimmer, but as a member of a team who’s mission is to do their best at the right time. I have no doubt that if the swimmers of 2011 Springdale Sailfish do those small things, there may be some thing even better to talk about next year! Little things really do make the difference.

Thanks to all those people who made this season a success! I am very proud of all my swimmers, parents, and coaches who put the effort into this great season! I couldn’t have done it without you! Can’t wait to see everyone next summer – hopefully, we will have a bunch of new faces eager to swim!

Swimmingly Yours – Coach OJ