December 18, 2003

Kidsportz is a healthy after-school alternative emphasizing self-esteem

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

Even before typical pre-teen dreams of driving a car or going to the school prom entered Scott Rempfer’s mind, he was busy putting plans in place for what he calls a dream career—helping kids develop self-esteem, focus and discipline through sports.

A typical boy growing up around sports, Rempfer decided at the ripe old age of 10 that he would someday start a business that focused around his dream of running sports programs for kids. “I was getting so much out of sports that I realized how important it was,” he said. “I always wanted to do something good and focused my time on that.”

Rempfer structured his education around his childhood vision, having attended West Valley College in Saratoga, where he received degrees in business and human performance. At 18, he became a certified professional trainer and later received certifications in sports training and nutrition as well.

Rempfer’s experience also reaches out to martial arts. Awarded the National Grand Championship in 2001, he went on to take the international title in 2002- 2003 and was named Gold Cup Competitor of the Year for three years running.

With a background in management and three years of experience teaching youth sports at Gunderson High School and Cupertino Recreation Center, Rempfer launched Kidsportz, an after-school program focusing on the basic elements of sports through structured, yet entertaining methods. He brought certified coaches Anthony Tirado and Ian Hernlund aboard, along with his master instructor Jerry Maloney, as well as karate instructors Frank and Rubal Daniels.

Last spring, Kidsportz enrolled its first 30 kids at three sites in San Jose. Those students took a series of eight-week after-school sports development sessions structured around focus and concentration in an effort to develop their mind/body connection as well as enhance their ability to build self-esteem and self-discipline. Now 12 sites and over 300 children strong, Kidsportz is well on its way, offering a healthy after-school alternative to daycare.

“It’s designed from a professional sports training level,” Rempfer explains. “But it uses games for children that makes it fun for them—a Stanford level program that kids in all elementary schools will be able to receive.”

Kidsportz has seen a lot of success in a short period of time, with rave reviews from the children who participate in it and positive feedback from parents. However, good as it is, the program seems to be working in spite of Rempfer, and not because of him—but not before losing valuable opportunities in Almaden, a very sports minded community.

According to Dr. Lisa Gonzales, principal at Los Alamitos Elementary, Rempfer’s hard-sell approach was overzealous to the point of being obsessive, causing personality issues with the school staff. “We felt like we were being bullied and threatened,” she said. “Since then, we made a commitment with another after-school program.”

While principal at Simonds Elementary, Cheryl Washington was approached by Rempfer and opted not to allow the program, citing his behavior as the only motive in her decision. “He was trying to sell me something and he needed to talk to me in a different way,” she said. “He had an attitude that needed to change drastically.”

Ironically, when Washington transferred this year to Randol Elementary, Kidsportz was already in place. “I kind of hesitated when I saw it was here,” she admitted. “But the children were enjoying it and the parents didn’t have any complaints. The coaches are here early to work with the children and they’re doing what they said they would do. Everyone seems satisfied and I have no problem with it continuing, but it never would have gotten in if it hadn’t already been here. I just wish he’d been more pleasant. The important thing is the kids love it, and they’re getting good skills.”

Currently, the only school in Almaden where Kidsportz is offered is Williams Elementary, although kids from all area schools are eligible to attend. The $85 fee is comparable to other after-school program. Sessions run from 3:25 to 4:15 p.m. every Thursday, with a new program starting again in January.

Williams’ principal Susan Walker admits she isn’t involved with the program and doesn’t have anything positive or negative to say about it. “We’ve kind of taken ourselves out of the loop,” she says. “I just make sure it’s something that’s safe for the kids. If they have enough insurance to rent the facility and get enough sign-ups, then they can use the school.”

Walker says there have been a couple of complaints: one involved a family moving back to Japan after only one session that couldn’t get their money back.

Despite Rempfer’s apparent lack of people skills, his motives seem to be genuine, having established contracts with the city of San Jose Parks and Recreation Department and Coral Catholic Charities to provide low- or no- cost sessions to underprivileged children at Lowell Elementary and McKinley schools.

Coral Catholic Charities searches for ways to provide equity of access to kids through after school academic intervention and enrichment programs. Most of these children may not have been exposed to or would not otherwise be able to afford such programs. Kidsportz was recently contracted as part of their enrichment program, focusing on karate. “We just started with Scott in September,” admits Program Director Maritza Maldenado. “This is new to us but is working well and he’s [Rempfer] very enthusiastic. The kids really respond well to him and he enjoy his classes.”

It’s clear that Rempfer still has a lot of work to do with his sales pitch. But he seems to have his program on the right track and plans to offer combination basketball and soccer sessions as well as Kempo Karate, cheerleading, dance and roller hockey during the 2004 after school and summer programs. He is also looking into implementing golf and skateboarding in the future.

“These kids are not out there competing as a team the entire time,” says Rempfer. “They’re competing against themselves to improve themselves and their abilities. The key is to teach the values of teamwork and what a team does, but to do it on an individual basis. That’s really what Kidsportz is designed to do.”

For more information on Kidsportz after-school programs, log on to www.kidsportz.com or call (408) 605-9775.