Testimonials

The experiences of each and every child is the foundation of HIGH FIVE®'s success as a quality standard. The thoughts, statements, experiences, and perspectives of recreation and sport professionals can be some of the strongest living proof for why HIGH FIVE works.

Our staff have enthusiastically embraced the HIGH FIVE Principles and have put a great deal of energy into their training and its application in all of our programming. We see evidence of the success of HIGH FIVE every day in so many of our St. James Town kids.

The HIGH FIVE experience has been so positive to both kids and staff in our community and we are very appreciative of the opportunities it has provided.
Chris Hallett
Community Matters Toronto

I have had the opportunity to work with numerous sport and recreation organizations relating to education, legal issues, policy development and risk management.  HIGH FIVE has and will continue to be a recommended tool to assist organizations, working with children 6 to 12, to enhance their policy development, staff education and overall risk management.  I believe HIGH FIVE can create a better experience for our children if properly utilized and executed.
Steven Indig
LLB, Sport Law & Strategy Group

Society is now realizing the importance of proactively addressing mental health of young people as a necessary and shared responsibility. The HIGH FIVE Healthy Minds for Healthy Children resource will go a long way to helping coaches and recreation leaders, who are role models and trusted adults, become an important part of our common goal: to help our young people grow up to be healthy and productive adults.
Dr. Stanley Kutcher
Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre

We believe every child is born a little athlete, therefore CS4L outlines a pathway for long-term athlete development with two goals; firstly, lifelong participation in sport and physical activity and secondly, the proper development to allow Canadians to excel in sport. Developing Physical Literacy is designed to support parents in understanding what they need to consider in helping their child to enjoy being active for life and supports HIGH FIVE in creating the best way for children to play.
Richard Way
CS4L Expert

Sport doesn’t come with any set of values attached to it.  We’ve always mouthed these platitudes that kids are better in sport than they are hanging around the mall.  But the truth is that’s only true if the experience in sport is developmental.  Is it about helping in growing them?  Helping them become a fuller, more complete person?
Dr. Peter Jensen
Sport Psychology Expert, Canadian Olympic Team

It is so easy to get caught up in competition and lose sight of the overall objective. HIGH FIVE, and other organizations that work with children, who are really interested in development of children, really remind us that this is what we’re here to do.
Dr. Peter Jensen
Sport Psychology Expert, Canadian Olympic Team

Creating a link between a caring adult and a child is an incredibly important part of effective human development.  Where we’ve got HIGH FIVE and its quality controls, we have a greater assurance that what is being done with the child is developmentally appropriate.
Dr. Colin Higgs
Canadian Long-Term Athlete Development Expert Group

Canadian Sport for Life is really focused on what needs to be done at each step of human development for young children. So we’re very much into the ‘what needs to be done’.  And what I saw with HIGH FIVE was the quality assurance that ‘what needs to be done’ could be done in a good, ethical, effective fashion. So I see HIGH FIVE as how the process should unfold.
Dr. Colin Higgs
Canadian Long-Term Athlete Development Expert Group

HIGH FIVE® has brought a new perspective on how to provide quality recreation to children under 12.

Most recreation leaders want the kids to enjoy themselves, learn and return, hopefully with a friend. I get excited and animated when talking to recreation providers on simple ways to improve their programs through the implementation of the Principles of Healthy Child Development. Mostly because the Principles are concepts we should know and use with children but are lost/forgotten in the transition into adulthood. The interactions between the leader and children are the foundation to future participation and HIGH FIVE should be offered in every recreation setting. The smiles on the kids faces should be sufficient motive to pursue this.

I’ve had nothing but good feedback from the leaders who took part in the training. I’ve seen leaders transform themselves in the programs my kids are involved in.  As a parent, it’s nice the see your child being involved and eager to learn. I’m convinced the leader feels the same. 
Martin Paul
Physical Activity Promoter, Porcupine Health Unit

Coaches will benefit from this professional development opportunity that adds another set of tools to help them pick the right strategies to keep all kids in the game.
Susan Kitchen
Executive Director, Coaches Association of Ontario

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