Sports
PLAY BALL!
BY ALEXANDRA CALAMARI
Little League springs into action this month, so get your kids (and yourself!) involved.
From the NBA and NHL playoffs to the Nfldraft, April is certainly one of the most exciting months in professional athletics. For many kids nationwide, the start of spring means only one thing: baseball season. Since 1939, Little League has provided children ages 5 to 18 an organized entrance into America’s favorite pastime. And with the motto “Character, Courage, Loyalty,” the league is about more than just pitching, hitting and fielding.
The journey to the Baseball Hall of Fame for legends like Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan and Carl Yastrzemski began with Little League, and actors like Adam Sandler and Kevin Costner benefited from a childhood of running bases, too. Signing your child up is easy; it starts with locating your local league through newspaper ads, bulletins or www.littleleague.org.
Veteran Little-Leaguer Joseph DeFazio, a current coach for the Van Nest league in the Bronx, NY, and member of Little League’s Board of Directors, goes over some basics to help get you and your kids out on the field.
How did you become a coach?
“My father was a Little League coach when I played in the league, and I started coaching when my son started playing in ’91. Maybe it came down through the genes, because my son is now volunteering as an umpire.
Other than coaching, what can parents do to get involved?
“There are opportunities for umpiring, field maintenance, helping with construction and working with the concession stands. There are always different things to do, and it’s important that we get people to volunteer to help in any way they can.”
Why should parents sign their children up?
“In addition to learning how to play baseball, Little League also teaches children how to get along wiTheach other. They learn sportsmanship; they learn how to win and how to lose. The point of this whole thing is to give the kids something that is not only going to let them have fun, but is also going to teach them how to live their lives in the world outside of baseball.”
How much of a time commitment is it?
“Generally, the regular season begins at the beginning of April, and we spend the month before practicing a few times a week. Then April through June, we play three games a week until the playoffs.”
How do you get to the World Series?
“For each age group there is a district tournament. The champions of the district then play for the section championship. Then, they go from the section championships to the state championships to the regional championships. Ultimately, what you see on television at the Little League World Series is the end result of a very long series of games.”
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