Metsä Group handed over a donation to the middle school's sports academy
The middle school activities of the sports academies are accelerated with the help of the Olympic Committee's business cooperation and the Wings for Youth campaign launched a couple of years ago. The main partner in the cooperation is Metsä Group, which has donated eight scholarships in the autumn at its locations in different parts of Finland. This year, one of these donation delivery locations is Äänekoski.
The funds are directed directly to sports academies to support coaching during the school day. Funding is directed through the Finnish Olympic Committee and the Jyväskylä Sports Academy. Äänekoski Sports Academy is a part of Jyväskylä Sports Academy.


Receiving the donation in Äänekoski on Wednesday morning 2.12.2020 December XNUMX at Pankkari Areena, on break from their normal sports academy shift, were the students of Koulunmäki unified school's sports-focused classes, their coach Tommi Koskinen, and city representatives Matti Tuononen and Koulunmäki unified school's principal Mauri Kangaskesti. The donors were the representatives of Metsä Group's Jyväskylä regional office.
With the support of Metsä Group, professional coaches for academy activities
Nationally, Metsä Group distributes eight scholarships through sports academies operating in different locations. A total of 30 coaching hours can be implemented with scholarships. Rector Kangaskesti mentions that the scholarship enables Äänekoski to cover the salary costs of one professional coach during the academic year, among other things. Äänekoski unified school's sports-focused classes have been operating for the third year, and Metsä Group's support is now being received for the second time. At Äänekoski high school, the coaching activities of the Jyväskylä Sports Academy started last year and the participants are very active.
With the help of physical education classes, sports and student paths
The representatives of Metsä Group see the support given to sports academies as a way to get more top athletes to Finland, but at the same time they feel it is important to promote the growth of young people into healthy adults who know their own bodies. Coaching coordinator Palsola emphasizes that, in the big picture, the goal is to provide Äänekoski with such good conditions for practicing sports in addition to going to school that there would be no need to continue high school studies in Jyväskylä or elsewhere in Finland. This usually requires the presence of a professional trainer.
There is a separate application for physical education classes and entrance exams are organized for them. There have been more applicants than places. By adding optional physical education courses, the idea of the sports academy can be furthered even for students who are not in physical education classes.
Jyväskylä Sports Academy's role in supporting clubs and coaches
The purpose of the Jyväskylä Sports Academy is to support clubs so that they are able to offer coaching help to schools. At the same time, the Academy offers coaches support, job guidance and mentoring. Antti Paananen, the director of the Olympic Committee's sports academy program, sees that the coach's actions and skills are a significant factor in igniting and maintaining joy and enthusiasm for young people. That's why support channeled through sports academies is often channeled specifically to the salaries of coaches.
Currently, Jyväskylä Sports Academy has remote locations in Äänekoski, Keuruu and Jämsä. Within a couple of years, the goal is to include Laukaa and Muurame as well. The Jyväskylä Sports Academy currently has around 1 athletes and a dozen different sports.
The activities of the Sports Academy are very much about learning to move and lighting the fire of sports, emphasizes Palsola. Not everyone becomes a top athlete, but someone can find, for example, their own profession or a lifelong active lifestyle through the sports academy.
News published 3.12.2020, modified 1.11.2021/10/11 at XNUMX:XNUMX