October 16, 2025 (Carleton Place, ON) – Grade 7/8 students from Perth & District Collegiate Institute (PDCI) and Carleton Place High School (CPHS) had the chance to discover new sports and stay active on October 14 and 15 during the first Try-It Festival of the 2025-26 school year.
Spread out across the Beckwith Recreation Complex, students rotated through six different activities – some familiar and others entirely new – including flag football, Gaelic football, Aussie rules football, lacrosse, disc golf, broomball and FooBaSKILL – a unique team sport that combines the elements of soccer and basketball.
As part of the All-In Sports initiative, the festival is designed to promote student well-being through inclusive, skill-based, and socially engaging sports experiences. The goal is to help students build confidence, develop new skills and foster lifelong relationships with physical activity and sport.
Volunteer coaches from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and local sport organizations supported the event, including Nasmith Memorial Public School teacher Kerri Beeching who showcased Gaelic Football.
“Having kids try new things grows the brain,” Beeching said. “The ball looks like a volleyball, so they all started trying to volley it and bump it. Gaelic football is an ancient sport, and when I told them that soccer and basketball players make great Gaelic football players, they started using the different skills they already have - and they got interested.”
Beeching, a member of the Ottawa Gaels Gaelic Athletic Association, began playing Gaelic football in 2002 and played for Canada at the World Gaelic Games in 2016. She encourages students to stay open-minded.
“Just try anything new you can,” Beeching said.
Other coaches included members from the Nepean Knights Lacrosse, Ottawa Disc Golf Club, National Capital Amateur Football Association, Beckwith Broomball and Ottawa Swans Australian Football Club.
More than 200 students from PDCI and more than 300 students from CPHS participated in each festival, with similar events planned for other UCDSB schools throughout the year.
“The All-In Sports initiative is grounded in the belief that every student deserves the chance to experience the joy and benefits of physical activity,” said Rob Matheson, All-In Sports Learning Partner. "Seeing so many students active and excited to try new sports makes all the planning worth it. We couldn’t do it without the incredible volunteers who make these events happen.”