June Zimmer, Executive Director ICANPLAY Sports Canada and Girls in the Game, developed a passion for physical activity when she first started playing youth soccer in Calgary. She fell in love with the game and as a soccer athlete made some lifelong friends. That's why Zimmer says it's important, "for us as coaches, teachers, and parents to create fun and meaningful opportunities for our kids to be active without forcing them."
Zimmer continues to play soccer but she now plays in a co-ed league with her husband. For the Zimmers this is a fun, social opportunity for them to be together with friends and be active at the same time. Playing co-ed soccer together also gives the Zimmers an opportunity to show their children that physical activity is fun. "We try to bring the kids along to watch us play because we believe it is an opportunity for us to role model having fun while being physically active," explained June Zimmer.
As her office is located on the University of Regina Campus, Zimmer is able to incorporate a noon hour workout into her daily routine. Zimmer says she is fortunate to have a fitness center on-site at her workplace but that it still takes purposeful planning to get a workout into her day. She added, "As a working professional and busy mom, I am always challenged by time. I learned from Dr. Mike Nicholls, (in motion Ambassador) to schedule physical activity into my day, the same way I would an appointment or meeting." Zimmer explained that scheduling her physical activity ensures that it becomes a part of her daily routine and not something extra that she needs to throw in at the end of the day.
Personal physical activity isn't the only thing Zimmer plans. "I have done the same with my family life. We try not to watch TV during the week with our children but instead, replace it with family physical activity time." The Zimmer family gets moving together by playing at the park, walking the dog, playing tag or building a snowman in the backyard, etc. Another way the Zimmers are active with their kids is by getting involved with coaching or helping with their children's sport and physical activity classes. Zimmer explained why this is important. "By getting involved in our kids' activities we can spend time together, be active ourselves, and contribute to our community."
As the Executive Director of Girls in the Game, Zimmer is always focused on improving physical activity opportunities for the program participants. This spring Girls in the Game is running an Easter week Sport and Self-Esteem Camp as well as many other new sport and physical activity classes (http://www.girlsinthegame.ca/).
They've also launched a co-ed program based on fundamental movement skill development called ICANPLAY Sports (http://www.icanplaysports.ca/). This program is for young children (3-8 years old). The program teaches fundamental movement skills to many sports including soccer, football, lacrosse, t-ball/baseball, cricket, volleyball, hockey and basketball to name a few. This program was created in response to an overwhelming demand from Girls in the Game parents to provide opportunities for young girls and boys. Zimmer added, "We have great parent role models involved with their children each week – it's a ton of fun!"
Zimmer said she believes parents need to understand that they are their child's best role model. She said children watch and learn from everything that adults do. If mom goes for a leisurely walk, the children notice. If dad decides to bring out the soccer ball in the back yard, the kids will want to come and play. Zimmer concluded that caregivers need to take their job as role models seriously. "As parents, we have to set good examples and we also have to provide opportunities for our children to be active. Our kids are more likely to get moving, if they see us moving along with them."
Zimmer was recently named to the 2010 Most Influential Women in Canadian Sport list, as One to Watch by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport. She also recently accepted a new position with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region as a Research Scientist working with the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine Physicians and Residents, based in Regina. In this new position, Zimmer will have a tremendous opportunity to work on physical activity promotion research and initiatives from within the medical community as a medical researcher and physical activity advocate.