A Message From the Founder of KLS and THE YARD Program...Coach Kasper;

 

                                                    My name is Dan Kasperski and everyone calls me Coach Kasper...just like my Dad! In                                                       memory of my father Richard (Kasper) Kasperski, I have created a business called                                                           KLS!   My Dad established Kasper's Leisure Sports in our hometown and supplied the                                                       local community teams, kids and adults with jerseys and sport equipment and                                                                 sponsorship for over 20 years in the 70's, 80's and early 90's.  I witnessed first hand                                                         his generous and caring nature as he gave credit to those who couldn't afford to pay                                                       when farmers experienced tough times and local businesses and families were                                                                 struggling in my small SE Saskatchewan town.

 

 

He came close to bankruptcy many times which caused his health to fail and eventually commit suicide after years of depression.  This happened on the same day I made my first professional hockey team.  It was the one of the best and worst day's of my life! I remember back to a time when I confronted him when I was working in the store as a teenager after he once again gave another customer credit when they already had a high credit bill...and all he said was...when times are tough, I can only hope to make things a bit easier and there is no reason for the kids to suffer and not play!  I miss you Dad!!  So here's my idea...

 

On my journey, I have achieved worldwide success as a high level athlete, coach, scout, instructor and mentor and I want to give back to a life in sport that has given me so much joy!   Working with around 40,000 kids and well over 5,000 coaches in my travels, I am grateful for the people I have met and the friends I made on this journey.  I believe there is a need for a program and a place to go for kids and families to learn how to be creative again and use imagination to create fun and PLAY games to build stronger family units, friendships and futures for kids.

 

I also have a passion for building Elite Level Athletes and pulling the veil away from the eyes of parents about the journey of an athlete to the highest levels of sport.  In my journies worldwide working and playing along side the world's best players, coaches, scouts and mentors in sport and business, I have learned the value of why PLAY is one of the most important ingrediants in Life.  It is through FUN and the creativity, curiosity and imagination of creating PLAY where a child develops the "Intangibles" that scouts, coaches and business people talk about that separates them from the rest and builds passion for their sport and life.  

 

PLAY creates the opportunity for kids to learn the Life Skills, Sport IQ, Game Sense, Competitive Spirit, Leadership, Team Work and the "IT" factor ...the "Intangibles"that give them the edge on any competition in life and sport! Life is a competition and kids need the skills to PLAY it and find their own success living it!

 

The journey towards success in life starts with creating passion for anything you chose to do and that passion is ignited and the flame is stoked through fun, play, never ending curiosity and the willingness and courage to give things a try.  I have created a place where kids can learn from their mistakes and successes in a supportive, safe and positive energy environment!  That place is KLS and its feature program...THE YARD!

 

I lost my mojo for awhile after my Dad took his own life!  I lost that ability to create my own FUN and PLAY and this affected my personal relationships, friendships and business opportunities! It was through learning from the kids I was teaching and instructing over the past 7 years and watching how much fun they were having and the joy of laughter that I found myself again!  I am so excited to bring FUN and PLAY back into people's lives and share how it turned me into the high level athlete, instructor, mentor and person I have become!!!

 

The eventual goal of KLS is to set up a Foundation with a primary goal we can all work on together to raise money for children, youth and families that can't afford to PLAY in THE YARD! The secondary goal of the Foundation will be to raise money for facilities we can call home and create HOME YARDS in as many communities across Canada and throughout the world as there are children, youth and families who wish to play and develop together!

 

For more Information on the KLS and THE YARD program...please click on the CONTACT icon and find email and cell phone information for Dan Kasperski (Coach Kasper).

 

I look forward to seeing you in THE YARD!

 

Dan Kasperski

"COACH KASPER"