At Äänekoski high school, young athletes receive top coaching at the World Championship level
Although Äänekoski has had a sports academy for primary and secondary schools for more than ten years, in the last couple of years there has been a particularly strong investment in it.
The curriculum of Äänekoski high school now supports youth sports even better, the coordinator teacher takes care of its implementation and the young people of the Sports Academy have their own study guide. Äänekoski's gymnasiums and other facilities are new and modern. The free coaching for young people at the sports academy is top class and now, in addition to basketball, football coaching has been started as another top sport of the future. Since autumn, the general exercises of the high school students have been coached by a javelin thrower legend, a world champion Kimmo Kinnunen. Huima's coach is responsible for basketball coaching and the elementary school's Sports Academy Tommi Koskinen.
When, together with the clubs, we invest in sports from school age, we strengthen the sports of the entire Ääneseud at the same time.
The city of Äänekoski has invested in the Sports Academy
The curriculum of Äänekoski high school enables sports academy members to practice four times a week during the day, and they can get credit for sports. POKE athletes also participate in the Sports Academy's shifts.
Kimmo Kinnunen conducts general training three times a week. In the physical training common to everyone at the gym on Monday morning, a wrestler, dancer, ice hockey player, snowboarder, soccer player and stunt cyclist take part. Äänekoski Sports Academy is suitable not only for basketball and football players, but also for athletes from other team sports and individual sports. Athletes in individual sports also get general coaching and a group around them in joint training. The group also encourages each other.
- Everyone benefits from, for example, basic mobility, walking and rhythm change exercises, as well as mid-body training, says coach Kimmo Kinnunen.
During training, everyone receives individual comments and instructions, they are offered expert coaching and the atmosphere is encouraging. The framework is excellent for young athletes.
Kinnunen describes himself as flexible and adaptable as a coach, and always changes the exercise on the fly if something starts to bother him. - I never do the same workouts, so that the meaning of what I do remains. And even on a bad day, you have to do one hundred percent work, Kinnunen states.
Individual coaching, health first
In addition to physical training, the Sports Academy offers training for basketball players led by Huima's head coach Tommi Koskinen three times a week at the newly rough Pankkari Areena. The club's cooperation with Huiman Koripallo is close. The soccer training that started this year is 1-2 times a week in the overpressure hall that was completed in the fall. The plan is to make football a future priority sport in Äänekoski alongside basketball.
The young people of Äänekoski have up-and-coming top athletes. Äänekoski high school already has, for example, a frisbee golf promise Joa Saari and a wrestler representing Suolahti Urho Joni Pitkänen.
Kimmo Kinnunen, who leads physical training, is an experienced trainer with extensive expertise. - The very best coach we've ever had, Pitkänen praises. - And it's great when Kimmo knows all the athletes from the 70s, from the youth ranks to the trippers.
For Kinnus, coaching now plays a bigger role than ever before, even though he already helped young athletes in his village during his active career. The young people of the Äänekoski Sports Academy receive really high-quality general training. Kinnunen is an experienced and skilled coach who takes individuals into account.
At Äänekoski high school, the Sports Academy is organized as courses that include theoretical studies in addition to exercises. They discuss rest, nutrition and everyday management based on the training materials of the Olympic Academy. The life of an athlete is more than sports and the goal is to be a healthy athlete.
- Coaching has changed completely, and the same coaching methods as during my active career are no longer used. Now let's put health first, says Kimmo Kinnunen.

With investment, the number of athletes can be increased
The Äänekoski Sports Academy is part of the Jyväskylä Sports Academy. The coordinator of the high school is currently a physical education and health information teacher Milla Malinen. - The goal is that we can support two things at the same time, sports and studies, Forsberg says. Those who play sports in high school have their own study guide Pekka Kemppainen.
The sports academy is intended for those who practice a sport with a goal, and most of them cooperate with clubs. However, it is also suitable for young people who are interested in an active lifestyle and who want to go to a sports-oriented high school. - We also have multi-athletes who do not play sports in any club or team, and some go to further studies or work in sports as a coach or even as an active member of a club, Malinen describes.
Äänekoski high school has 20-30 Sports Academy students every year, and with new investments the number can now be increased. Applications for post-primary education are made through a joint application, the application deadline of which is February 22.2. - 22.3.2022 March 50. - We have a neighborhood high school with an emphasis on sports. You no longer have to apply to a high school XNUMX kilometers away to be able to combine sports and school, Milla Malinen reminds.
- Äänekoski high school has a lot of resources in teaching as well. For example, those starting out are offered support courses in mathematics, English, Swedish and mother tongue, which can strengthen their skills. The high school also has its own special education teacher. And of course, the new facilities at Äänekoski high school are wonderful.
In addition to high school, the Sports Academy's activities also apply to middle school and the entire second level. On the elementary school side, the Sports Academy's general training sessions have been organized free from the schedule and the activities are mainly club activities. The goal is that in the future the cooperation between the primary school and the entire secondary Sports Academy in Äänekoski could be intensified.


For more information:
Äänekoski high school principal Jaana Tani, 0400 115 205, jaana.tani@aanekoski.fi
Äänekoski sports academy coordinator, high school teacher Milla Malinen, 0400 844 1045, milla.malinen@aanekoski.fi
News published 16.2.2022, modified 14.5.2024/07/49 at XNUMX:XNUMX