Stepping Up To The Plate

Jul 29

Recreation leaders shine during unprecedented times

By John Engh

I really enjoy sharing insights to the youth-sports world every month in this space. It gives me, and our organization’s leaders, a chance to take stock of the important things in youth sports and how the issues affect so many people in so many different ways, from the administrators at the top to the kids playing recreational sports for the first time, and all the coaches, officials, parents, and participants in between.

Lately, the role of the youth-sports administrator has changed for many. The pandemic of 2020 (and possibly beyond) will be remembered for varied reasons, among them the long-term changes in how we operate and oversee programs. With youth-sports participation all but eliminated for months, administrators have had to wear many different hats and, in many cases, go way outside their normal duties.

If the results of the COVID-19 crisis are anything like the financial crisis of 2008, recreation agencies will be devastated by budget shortfalls. What we saw in 2009 was a major shift from sports programs being conducted by recreation agencies and those paid to staff them, to well-meaning, parent-run associations running the programs on fields and courts maintained by the municipalities, mostly through the parks departments.

What must happen is that the priority in the community remains in order to have professional staff members deeply involved with these programs. Looking back at all of the issues that have become so important in the recent past will make one realize how important this oversight is and should continue to be. We’ve learned about the importance of screening volunteers and making sure children are safe from the very real threat of child predators. We have learned the importance of understanding concussions and other injuries that can have long-term health consequences. And so many other topics that everyone would agree are important in this profession.

I cannot emphasize enough the difference these people make in communities. After all, who is going to keep up with all of the important factors involved in being sure children are safe? Will it be the construction contractor, teacher, or real-estate agent who has stepped up to run the local baseball or soccer leagues? Trust me when I say that’s not going to happen.

Same People, Different Duties

Just how valuable are these incredible women and men who oversee recreational programs? Even while youth-sports programs are shut down, the adults continue to do amazing work. Here are a couple of examples:

Linda Barnard, Recreation Manager for the Sports and Athletics Division at the City and County of San Francisco (Calif.): We are no longer managing leagues, camps, clinics, and classes. We are operating all of our buildings as Emergency Child Care Centers from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All of us are DSW (Disaster Service Workers) for the city and county of San Francisco. We serve the children of healthcare workers, first responders, DSW workers, and essential workers from grades K-8. We operate on the frontlines, taking in children of parents who could be exposed at any time, and we have been able to offer the children a safe place. We work to provide space for distance learning, meals, and recreation/play time. One of the things I am most proud of is the willingness to respond to the crisis from my staff on the frontlines, the management team, the executive team of our department, and other city agencies, as well as the mayor’s office. I am telecommuting, due to a compromised immune system, and want to support my staff as best as I can. I am still working, so that is a blessing, but I would like to be alongside my staff in the field. It has been difficult to cancel seasons like baseball and spring camps with an unknown about summer camps and beyond.

Jamal A. Verdell, Youth Sports and Fitness Director at the U.S. Army Base in Vicenza, Italy: While the method of delivery for our job has temporarily been transformed from gyms and fields full of energy, smiles, laughter, and the spirit of competition into an exclusively virtual program, our message and commitment to athletes and families remain the same: inspiring youth to be the best version of themselves through sports and fitness. While no coaches' meetings are being held, no fields are being maintained, and no youth are present to watch practice or play, our team has been dedicating time, while working from home, in creating personal sports and fitness videos for the youth. I'm most proud that our team, during a time filled with so much uncertainty, even in their personal lives, has remained committed to the safety and well-being of the athletes and their families while adhering to our program’s mission. We embrace this situation as an opportunity to be creative and to reach out to our athletes and families via the social media platform to engage and remain interactive. With families being limited to traveling only 200 meters from their homes, and little or no home gym equipment, the situation has called for much creativity. Our team was up for the challenge in assisting families to navigate this uncharted territory. The team eagerly went to work, grabbed their phones and cameras, and welcomed families into their homes to show how to embark, continue, or improve upon their fitness journey and sports goals, and the team even created interactive fitness bingo cards that the entire family could enjoy among other virtual family-friendly activities.

And when youth sports do return, these outstanding recreation professionals will continue to focus on meeting the new challenges of providing safe experiences for all. As Verdell says, “Safety must remain our number-one priority. We must be very smart and careful to protect our children.”

John Engh is executive director of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) in West Palm Beach, Fla. He can be reached via email at jengh@nays.org. To join more than 3,000 communities by starting a NAYS Member Organization, visit www.nays.org, email nays@nays.org or call (800) 729-2057.