The benefits of participating in competitive team sporting events – even “just” as a spectator – cannot be underscored. The opportunity to build school identity, pride and cohesion, however, wasn’t fully available to many local private and charter schools. With the advent of the Santa Clarita Athletic Independent League (SCAIL), formed early last fall, more SCV student athletes – and the peers, parents and faculty who support them – will have a chance to know the thrill of victory.
In its short history, SCAIL already boasts an impressive collection of member schools, including Pinecrest Valencia and Canyon Country, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Delphi Academy, Santa Clarita Christian, Albert Einstein Academy, SCVi and Trinity Classical Academy.
Legacy Christian Academy is proud to be a founding member of the Santa Clarita Athletic Independent League. As a member of SCAIL, Legacy’s fourth through eighth grade students now have the opportunity to play flag-football, basketball, soccer, golf, volleyball, softball and baseball in a competitive, friendly environment. All practices and games are held after school for the elementary students, and the middle school practices take the place of physical education. Last year, two of the school’s inaugural teams – girl’s basketball and softball – each won championships and the Legacy Lions middle-school soccer team went undefeated all the way through the post-season. Legacy’s sixth-grade football and basketball teams, along with their elementary golf team, also won league championships. A few good-natured (Yet spirited!) rivalries have developed along the way, too.
In addition to the after-school sports teams offered at Legacy, the school has a dynamic intramural league where students compete against their schoolmates in flag-football, basketball and soccer during their lunch break. Each team plays four to five games per season, which is complete with playoffs, a trophy for the champs and a pizza party. The intramural sports program is a wonderful opportunity for students to step out and try something new in a positive, safe and encouraging setting, especially if they’re too shy (or too busy) to join an afterschool team.
Tim Borruel is the founder and superintendent of Legacy Christian Academy. Legacy Christian Academy is located at 27680 Dickason Drive in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-257-7377 and visit www.legacy-christian.com.