North Cook News

The Hanover Park District offers 21 parks and facilities. While that might sound like a lot, it takes that many places to contain all of the offerings of summer.

Besides the standard sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer and tennis, athletes -- or wannabe athletes -- can also take part in martial art classes, gymnastics and boxing programs.

Hanover Park offers a parent-tot gymnastics option in which adults and their 2- to 4-year-olds learn tumbling, body awareness and balance over the course of eight weeks. The park uses a large obstacle course made up of mats, foam inclines, barrels, steps, beams and junior bars — all of which is meant to build up muscle and endurance. 

Children ages 3-6 may also sign up for gymnastics through the Little Gymnastics Star program, another eight-week program.

As part of its mission to be a vital asset to the communities, Hanover Park also offers sports camps for children ages 4 to 13. 

While the first session of the Rocky's Skills and Drills basketball camp hosted by veteran basketball instructor and Springville native Rocky Robinson is already underway, a second session is planned for July 27 to Aug. 31. Campers focus on basic defense, layups, free throws, shooting, passing and dribbling. They then put those skills to the test in three-on-three scrimmages.

Young soccer aficionados can get a taste for the game with a Beginner Soccer Camp starting on August 23 and ending on September 27. Players ages 7 to 14 will learn the fundamentals of dribbling, ball control and defense. Learning to work as a team in shooting and passing will also be a focus.

For more experienced players, a youth inter-village soccer league is planned for the fall. A co-ed opportunity, the inter-village league offers a number of age-appropriate teams, from U8 (first- and second-graders) all the way up to U14 (seventh- and eighth-graders).

Park members looking not for competition but ways to stay active and fit can try out Hanover’s tennis and martial arts programs. 

Tennis programs focus on learning through quality instruction. Players can participate in individual or group private lessons no matter their age or playing level. Beginners will be grouped with beginners, while advanced players can test their skills against instructors and other advanced players. 

Budding martial artists will have plenty to choose from, as the park offers Shotokan Karate and Tae Kwon Do, which offer a mix of traditional tae kwon do with hapkido and judo, for both youth and adults. 

There’s even a boxing academy that teach the fundamentals up to advanced-level techniques. 

Boxers are hooked up to heart monitors so that they can measure their output and success of their workout. A detailed report is sent to each boxer to help with necessary adjustments.

Boxing classes are taught at Total Performance Factory in Hanover.