Ad Astra swimming: Ad Astra Area Aquatics is always accepting new swimmers. For information, contact coach Patrick at 331-6940 or coach Katie at 766-7423 or visit the website at adastraareaaquatics.org

Horseshoes anyone?: Anyone interested in pitching horseshoes is welcome at 7 p.m. every Thursday at Broken Arrow. Contact Wynne at 843-8450.

Aquahawks openings: The Aquahawks are always accepting new members. The Aquahawks are a year-round USA Swimming-sponsored competitive swim team. The Aquahawks offer a swim lesson program and competitive swim team for all ages. The Aquahawks are coached by professional coaches with weekly practices geared toward a variety of skill levels. For information contact Andrew Schmidt at andrew.aquahawks@gmail.com

Table tennis club: The Lawrence Table Tennis club meets from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays at the Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Drive (just east of Ninth and Iowa). Beginners welcome. Call Jonathan Paretsky 832-8993 or Neil Brown 843-0527

Next level lessons: Next Level Baseball Academy offers year-round private and semi-private baseball lessons ages 8-18. Locations in Lawrence, Big Springs and New Century. For information, email Duncanmatt32@yahoo.com or visit NextLevelBaseballAcademy.com

FUNdamental softball: Learn the proper mechanics and techniques to play softball. Emphasis placed on fundamental instruction teaching the aspects of pitching, catching, fielding, base-running and hitting. Coach and team consulting available, too. For information contact LuAnn Metsker at 785-331-9438 or dmgshowpig@aol.com

Baseball instruction: Home Plate Baseball has space available for individual and team instruction or team practices. For details, contact former KU assistant baseball coach Wilson Kilmer at 785-393-9564, homeplate@sunflower.com, www.homeplatebaseball.net

Archery club: The Junior Olympic Archery Development Club meets at 9 a.m. every Saturday in the indoor target range at Overton’s Archery Center, 1025 N. Third Street, Suite 119. Youth age 8-20, all levels of experience, are invited to join. The Archery Center has a full-service pro shop with rental equipment available. For information, call Overton’s Archery Center at 832-1654 or visit www.overtonsarcherycenter.com

14U baseball: A new 14U baseball team is forming, which will play tournaments in the Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence areas. League play has yet to be decided, but is a possibility. All spots are open. If interested please contact schedule a tryout. Call Tom at: 785-217-4649 or email t0by1us@gmail.com

Baseball team forming: A new U 14 boys baseball team is forming. It will play next spring in the local Heinrich League and perhaps some tournaments. Contact Rick for information and tryout schedule: e-mail (Ginsberg@ku.edu), phone (785 764-6255).

Group run: Every Thursday at 6 p.m., Garry Gribble’s RunningSports holds a group run from its store. It’s called “Mass Street Milers,” and all paces and ability levels are welcome. For information, call the store at (785) 856-0434.

RunWalk Lawrence: A new training program called RunWalkLawrence is starting in Lawrence. It is a Jeff Galloway program. Galloway represented the U.S. at the 1972 Munich Olympics and has since helped over a quarter of a million people experience the joys and benefits of running. Galloway has programs in many major cities around the country; this is the first time his program has been offered in Kansas. Questions can be directed to J. Jenkins at (785) 865-6112.

10U softball: The River City All Stars 10U softball team is looking for players with 2003 birthdays (2004 considered) to play in the spring/summer of 2014 with optional 2013 fall and winter practices. For information or to schedule a tryout, contact coach Troy Johnson at mail@stompin-ground.com or 550-0524.

Soccer leagues: Lawrence Parks & Recreation is now taking registration for the 2014 Boys & Girls Indoor Futsal (Soccer) Leagues Grades K-6. The cost is K-4th grades $40 and 5th & 6th grades $50. You can pick up registration forms at any of the local Recreation Centers or do online registration on the Lawrence Parks & Recreation website at www.lprd.org and click on Youth Sports. For more information, please call 832-7940.

Basketball program: Lawrence Parks & Recreation and Lawrence USD #497 are now taking registration for the 2014 Boys Middle School Intramural Basketball Program for the sixth, seventh and eighth. Participation fee is $55. You can get registration forms at any of the local Lawrence Parks & Recreation Centers or at the middle school main offices. For information, call 832-7940.

Royal Crest youth leagues: Royal Crest Lanes will host youth bowling leagues on Saturday mornings beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 11. The age groups are: 4-7, bantams, two games per week; 7-12, preps, three games per week; and 12-plus, brat pack, three games per week. For information, contact Royal Crest at 842-1234.

KU women’s hoops clinic: Kansas University women’s basketball will host its 2013 Holiday Hoops Clinic from 3-5 p.m., Dec. 27 at Allen Fieldhouse. The clinic is for youths from kindergarten through eighth grade. Cost is $15 per child and $5 for adults participating with their child/children. All children will receive a voucher for three tickets to upcoming KU women’s basketball games. Participants are encouraged to register by Dec. 20. For information, contact Alaina Lee at 864-4938 or alainalee@ku.edu

Douglas County Amateur and Heinrich League Baseball: Lawrence Parks and Recreation is currently taking TEAM deposits for the 2014 DCABA and Heinrich League baseball leagues. Registration information is available online at www.lprd.org. Deadline for team entries is the first eight teams per division. For more information, contact Lee Ice at ice@lawrenceks.org

Lady Prospects Basketball: The Lady Prospects AAU Basketball Club will have their sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade girls basketball tryouts, Sunday, Dec. 29 and Monday, Dec. 30 at Bishop Seabury Academy. For detailed tryout information, go to the website at www.ladyprospectsbball.org or call (785)-787-2249.

Jayhawk Baseball Camp: The Jayhawk Baseball Camp has many different camp options for area youth in the coming months: a Holiday Skills Camp from Dec. 27-29, a variety of four-week hitting, pitching, and catching academies in January – April, and a two-day Spring Training Camp in March. Please contact the KU baseball office for more information at 785-864-7907, or go to the camp website at http://www.kuathletics.com

Basketball trainer: Reign Basketball Academy LLC. offers personal and group basketball training sessions for boys and girls ages 6-18. For information, visit www.facebook.com/reignbasketballacademy or contact Rebekah Vann at 785-766-3056; or email:reignhoops@me.com

Basketball lessons: Gary Hammer is conducting private and small group basketball lessons. Hammer is the athletic director and a teacher and coach at Veritas Christian School. Contact Gary at gjhammer@sunflower.com or call 785-841-1800.

Basketball clinic: Reign Basketball Academy, LLC., presents “Push the Rock” basketball clinic for youth boys and girls, ages 7-14. Cost is $20 per athlete. Cash or check only. Clinic will be held in Lawrence at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th Street, on Jan. 11, 2014. The clinic is from noon-2 p.m., and will focus on shooting, dribbling, speed and agility, defense, 1-on-1 concepts, and S.C.H.A.P.E. Clinic will also provide a brief devotional/ministry time. Payment is due on day of clinic (at the door) or via mail. To register, go online to: www.reignbasketballacademy.weebly.com or contact Rebekah Vann at 785-766-3056 or reignhoops@me.com for more information.

National cross country: Kael Ecord of Wichita recently competed in the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championship, 11-12 year old boys division, at The National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Ecord obtained All-American status placing 22nd in the 3K event running 10:34.68. Ecord is the grandson of Louise Ecord, Lawrence.

Girls basketball clinic: Lawrence High girls basketball coach Nick Wood and Free State High girls coach Bryan Duncan will host a one day winter basketball clinic for girls in grades 4-8. The workout will be held Monday, Dec. 30 from 1-3 p.m. at LHS. For information, contact Wood at 785-477-5015 or Duncan at 785-766-9840.

Basketball tournament: MAYB will be holding a basketball tournament in Lawrence for boys and girls in the 3rd-8th grade on Saturday, Jan. 25. There is a three-game guarantee, and the cost is $165. All games will be played at Lawrence High and Free State. For more info visit www.mayb.com

Junior Firebird dance clinic: The Free State Dancers will hold their annual Junior Firebird Dance Clinic from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12. It is open to little girls ages preschool through sixth grade. It will be held at Free State High School. Participants will learn chants, the fight song, and an age appropriate dance that they will perform at half time of the Free State Varsity boys basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 14. $35 if registered by Dec. 31. After Jan. 1 or at the door, $40. Fee includes the clinic, a T-shirt, pom poms, and a ticket into the game. For a registration form or any questions, please e-mail Amy Bartle at ajbartle@hotmail.com or Paige Hofer at paigehofer@aol.com.

Baseball, softball training: A facility for indoor baseball and softball training is opening: Team Performance (12k square ft, 4 pitching lanes, 6 hitting cages, fielding space, personal training, etc.). They are partnering with Jake Sharp and Sharp Performance for personal training. This is for both teams and individuals, doors will open on Jan 4. It is located at 1811 W 31st. They can be seen at www.facebook.com/GoTeamPerform and contacted for more information and reservations at 760-0443.

Baseball academy: Lawrence High and Free State will offer their fifth annual winter baseball academy. Sessions are from 5-6:30 p.m. on Sundays at Lawrence High and Free State. For more information, please contact Brad Stoll at 550-4657 or bstoll@usd497.org