By Mackenzie Siddall

The WECSB Sports Academies allow students to become better people, according to the baseball skills expert.

“The academy represents the ability to combine sport with your learning,” says Marc Picard, the skills expert for the baseball academy at Central Park Athletics.

“We’re using sport as a vehicle to drive education,” said Picard, a former teacher with plenty of experience in baseball. “The single biggest advantage of the academy is that in order to participate, you have to do well in the classroom.”

As a former coach, who also spent part of his career playing, scouting and teaching, Picard brings 45-plus years of baseball experience to the academy. He has coached a variety of players, ranging from the local level to the national team.

Picard says he enjoys teaching in the academy atmosphere where all the kids who attend are there because they want to be. One of the biggest lessons the kids take away is how to be a good teammate.

“No matter where you go in life, the ability to work as a team will benefit you greatly,” he said.

His job involves improving the skill level of each student by focusing on both fundamental and position-specific skills.

“It’s like any typical classroom where you have a variety of skill levels.”

However, he makes it very apparent that the ultimate goal is for the students to have fun.

“You see a real spirit within this school that really doesn’t exist in a typical school.”