Our city shines with award-winning beaches, a charming downtown, rich culture, an inviting social climate, and top-notch public safety. Named as one the safest places to retire, Venice also boasts a silver-level bicycle-friendly designation and a tree-friendly award.
But that’s not all! With more than 40 diverse parks and sports facilities, there’s endless opportunity for enjoyment. These spaces host sports programs for all ages, largely run by dedicated volunteers, showcasing the city's engaged citizenry. Local sports teams have an impressive record, winning numerous state titles. Youth sports are vital, feeding into high school and secondary school athletics, enriching lives across all ages.
Little League baseball, a cornerstone of Venice's youth activities, has positively impacted countless young lives and the adults who support them for decades. Its success highlights the crucial role of youth sports in America. Here’s a story about the value of these programs.
As a youth growing up in Newport, RI, early signs of spring meant the arrival of baseball season. The first notice in the newspaper announcing dates for Little League tryouts generated excitement for boys hoping to make it; to be selected to be on a team; to get a uniform. That it was time to find my baseball glove; hopefully with a ball in it so I could pound it into that well-formed pocket. I remember the feel and the smell of its well-oiled leather.
That memory is still with me today and I want to share this story because my experience, and also its message–of kindness and self-esteem building–occur over and over among youth sports programs in America.
On a Saturday morning in March, 120 anxious youths showed up for the annual Little League baseball tryouts. Parents lined the field to watch their budding stars compete. Many of the parents would later volunteer to be coaches, field hands, umpires. Parental support is a cornerstone of success for this program.
After several days of drills and testing of basic baseball skills, these managers and coaches drafted their teams. This becomes a stressful time for parents, and especially for the young players who wonder, “will I make it; who will I play for; will my brother make it?”
After the teams are formed, but weeks before opening day ceremonies, teams hold practice sessions to evaluate the skills of each player and to mold the collective body into a coordinated unit. During those practice sessions, the coaches carefully assess the talents and abilities of each player and make mental predictions about the coming season.
Even in these early preparation days, experienced coaches readily identify the very skilled players who will lead the team. Then there are the marginal players who seem to struggle to make plays that skilled players perform so smoothly and effortlessly. Such was the composition of our team: some experienced confident team leaders and some less proficient neophytes.
One of the challenges facing managers and coaches is figuring out how to instill drive and initiative among players, while also maintaining order and discipline. During practice sessions, adult leaders try to raise the spirit level of players without creating chaos or disorder. Practice sessions are when coaches can get to know players better. They also provide opportunities for volunteer adults to fill a void; to offer personalized guidance and instruction that may help a player’s performance or, more importantly, offer some inspiration or key to growth that can be useful: on or off the baseball field.
Our team introduced an incentive program that was well received by the players. At the end of each practice session, one player was selected by the managers and coaches as having been the outstanding player for that day. In recognition of the player’s effort, the coaches presented that player with a game ball, signed and dated, symbolic of leadership and hustle.
The coaches agreed on a goal to ensure that, by the end of the season, every player on our team would have earned a game ball award and would be suitably recognized and cheered at the end of the practice session at which the ball was given. In this way, every player could be made to feel that he or she had contributed to the team’s efforts to improve its collective performance.
One day, the mother of one of the less proficient players–I’ll call him Joe–was leaning against the outfield fence during our pre-game warm-up session. I welcomed her to the practice, took the opportunity to speak with her and ask how the family was doing. She had several children, some of whom played Little League baseball. She told me this story.
She explained that Joe had received a game ball after a practice session. That ball, signed by the coaches and dated, was put in a place of honor on the mantle for the whole family to admire. Joe's mother revealed that Joe was adopted and had low self-esteem due to teasing at school. However, receiving the game ball changed Joe's life. He felt valuable and began to believe in his abilities. At school, he stood up for himself and gained respect. His grades improved.
Joe continued playing Little League baseball and was chosen early in the annual player draft in his final year. He became a reliable and productive player. While he may never play major league baseball, he will remember his Little League career as a happy time. The coaches consider this a success story not because of Joe's improved skills, but because they helped a young boy develop self-esteem and believe in himself.
There are many “Joes” out there, waiting for that chance to win a game ball–to have that day when they perform well enough to be recognized by their peers. Little League offers this opportunity to make significant contributions to the healthy development of our youth, our future leaders. I smile when I think about the game ball on Joe’s mantle.
To learn more about Venice Little League go to facebook.com/venicelittleleague
City Manager Edward F. Lavallee began his service to the City of Venice (venicegov.com) March 5, 2012. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and master's degree in public administration from the University of New Haven, Conn. Lavallee served as city manager of Newport, R.I. and police research and development administrator for the Newport Police Department.