Yellowknife (Jan 19/07) - On any given Sunday Phillip Jacobson can be found at the youth centre teaching youth everything he knows about Arctic sports.

Jacobson, who has demonstrated the athletically-demanding traditional games all over Canada, has been working at the youth centre since Dec. 20 and has started his own program to introduce youth to traditional sports.

"I've always been involved in Arctic sports and this is a good promotion for active living," said Jacobson.

The program started earlier this month. Jacobson said he would like more adolescents to come out and check out the sport.

"There is a bit of interest with the younger ages, but the program is still new and will get bigger as time goes on," he said.

Jacobson is finishing the recreation leader program at Aurora college and looks forward to bringing his skills to the centre.

"I've been learning a lot about personalities, to better understand the kids and youth," said Jacobson.

Teaching Arctic sports is something that Jacobson is definitely qualified for. His earliest demonstration came when he was only seven years-old.

"It was my first time travelling for sports, to Inuvik for the Northern Games in 1991," said Jacobson. "Since then, I've been all over Canada demonstrating the games."

Training is something that can only really be done through playing the games, said Jacobson.

"Just participating is good, but there should also be some stretching before," he said.

The youth in the program are learning some of the basic games, which are less physically demanding, before moving on.

"I want them to start off slower and build muscle before tackling the harder games," said Jacobson.

A few athletes who are participating in the upcoming Canada Winter Games are also practising with Jacobson and his youth crew.

Arctic sports coach Donald Kuptana said his athletes are nearly ready for the games, which will take place at the end of February in Whitehorse.

"We started our training in October and chose our team for the games," said Kuptana.

Kuptana supports the Arctic sports program at the youth centre.

Jacobson said his skills are still sharp, with personal records of 8 feet 8 inches in the one foot high kick, 7 feet 1 inch in the Alaskan high kick and 7 feet 8 inches in the two foot high kick.

Originally from Tuktoyaktuk, Jacobson wants to eventually return home and work.

"I'd like to go back to Tuk, but they already have a pretty good co-ordinator right now," he said.

"It would be nice to work at the Tuk youth centre though."