THUNDER BAY - Kid’s faces were hidden behind big pairs of gloves, but there was no hiding the smiles on their faces as they gained more confidence while learning how to block a punch and throw one.
“It’s making me smile again coming back here and seeing these kids with smiles on their face,” said Const. Frank Tropea. “The other day one of the kids came through the door and gave me a high five saying they were looking forward to coming back from last Sunday. That is the reward right there.”
Tropea, along with Const. Matt Veal, are leading a new sport engagement program for youth called Boxing for Badges. The eight-week program, now in its third week, teaches youth between the ages of 10 and 18 the fundamentals of boxing to increase physical fitness, gain confidence, raise their self-esteem, and teach them to lead positive lives.
“I’ve been doing boxing since the age of 12-years-old,” Tropea said. “For me, that was the best thing that ever happened to me. It just brings everything together as a person. Being able to work out, relieve some stress, especially with our job, it gives you an opportunity to just kind of let lose, hit the pads, hit the gloves, and maybe hit somebody else while your sparring.”
The program is a partnership between the Thunder Bay Police Service and Canadian Tire Jump Start Charities. Right from the start, there was a lot of interest, Tropea said, with spaces filling up right away and more waiting to join.
Sessions are held every Sunday at the Leading Edge Gym and there are 22 youth enrolled.
“This is more geared toward self-confidence with the kids,” Tropea said. “Just to let them know they can come here and feel good about themselves and leave here feeling good about themselves if they know they came here, worked hard, they feel better all around.”
For 13-year-old Megan Froebe and 14-year-old Seth Clouston, the program has really opened their eyes to how great the sport of boxing is and how much they are able to accomplish.
“It’s a new experience for me,” Seth said. “I’ve always thought boxing would be fun and it actually is.”
“I saw the opportunity to come in here and learn to do self-control moves and I would love to know how to do that,” Megan added. “They said it would help with self-esteem and I would love to make that higher for me.”
So far Megan and Seth have been learning a proper boxing stance, keeping their head low, and their hands up.
“I enjoy how nice the teachers are and understanding they are,” Megan said. “They make it really easy to learn.”
“They are not hard on you,” Seth added. “If you mess up, they go at your pace and it’s really nice.”
And while the kids are gaining self-confidence by learning how to punch, step, and block, another important lesson is being shared as well.
“A lot of kids see police officers and right away they shy away,” Tropea said. “That’s how I was when I was a kid. I want to change that and make them feel comfortable and come and talk to us.”
That lesson is not being lost on the students, with Megan and Seth saying they really enjoy being taught by the two police officers.
“The police officers are really nice,” Megan said. “Here they are really less intimidating.”
