Tim, I had intended a much longer post, but have not had the time.
In my experience, most (not all) Rec Center youth sports programs emphasize the recreational aspect of sports. My experience with Rec Center soccer was similar to yours. Not very well organized, nor well coached. Also, there is a program called Highland/Groveland Recreation Association (HGRA) that runs a number of recreational programs in that area of the city. My experience is that HGRA is a step up from Rec Center sports programs. If your child is really interested in learning a sport and competing, you might want to try a program that will require more of a commitment of time and money, like the St. Paul Blackhawks, http://www.blackhawksoccer.org I am not endorsing that program, but it will be much more organized than your local park. Similar programs exist in St. Paul for youth in popular sports - I'm not intending for this to be a complete list....any other offerings? Basketball: http://www.stpaulbasketball.org Baseball and Softball: Midway Baseball at Dunning Park (highly recommended) not sure about a softball program for girls though: Sign-up this weekend at Dunning Park on Marshall. Call for times. Affordable, great coaching, beautiful field and a family atmosphere. Highland Little League: http://eteamz.active.com/highlandball Hockey: There are still some parks that have hockey (Edgecumbe and Langford are two) and those programs need to be well organized. But for competitive players, Highland-Central Area Hockey Association or Como Hockey are probably the choices in your area. You can find well organized and well coached youth programs all over the Metro area for swimming, gymnastics, cross-country and downhill skiing and a number of other sports, but you have to take the time, ask other parents and do some research. Good Luck. Paul Gleeson St. Paul -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Tim Erickson Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 10:43 PM To: St. Paul Issues Forum Subject: Re: [StPaul] Parks & Recreation - Youth Sports Anyone else to care their thoughts on the youth sports program in the city? Have they worked for you or NOT? Below, you'll find the message I posted over the weekend. Best wishes, Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED] >As a parent with kids that have been participating on city organized >teams for about five years now, I'd have to say, that I'm fairly >unhappy with the service that I've been getting at local parks. > >A couple of quick anecdotes, then I'd like to hear from others..... > >1) One of the first years I signed my son up for soccer, I indicated >on the registration form that I would be willing to help coach. I >never heard back from anyone. We finally got a phone call, giving us >1 day notice for a "parent meeting." As I had other plans that >night, my wife took my son to the meeting. When she got home, she >asked me if I knew that I was the coach. Which, I didn't. I had >never been notified or formally asked to take the job. I did take >the job and loved it. > >2) Last year for soccer, we were told at Park A that my 10 year old >son was ineligible to play on the 10 & under soccer team (he just >turned 10 during the season). He was also told that park A had no 12 >& under team for him to join. We went to Park B. At park B we were >told that my son DID belonged on the 10 and under team (which made >sense to us). At his first practice, there we 7 year olds on the 10 >and under team, because they had been told that Park B had no 8 and >under team. I asked the park staff and was told the same thing. > >Later in the season, I learned that Park A did have a 12 & under >team. Remember, I went to Park B because I was told they had no 12 & >under team. I also learned, that despite at least 3 parents being >told that Park B had no 8 and under team, in fact Park B did have an >8 and under team. > >At the end of the season, I also learned - that in fact, my 10 year >old son was ineligible to play on the 10 and under team, because he >would be turning 11 some 10 months after the end of the season. He >and his other 10 year old friend finished the final 1-2 games of the >season, despite being a year to old (actually, they were both less >than 2 months too old). > >3) I remember talking to another parent who showed up at an "away" >game for the final 10 minutes of the game, with a daughter who was >in tears, because they had spent the last 45 minutes driving around >the city, based upon written instructions from our "home" park >staff, that had at least 2 clear and distinct errors in them. > >I've had quite a few other experiences of this type, but these are >the ones that stand out in my mind. > >Yes, there are some very good folks that are working very hard in >this underfunded system. But, I must say, the youth sports program >is definitely the city service with which I have had the most >problems in recent years. Overall, I'm an unhappy and reluctant >client of these programs. > >Anyone else care to comment? > >Best wishes, > >Tim Erickson >Hamline Midway >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >-- >================================================= >Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com >St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim >================================================= > > > >------------------------------------------------- >JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: > http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ >------------------------------------------------- >POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org > >To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: >http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul > >Archive Address: > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ -- ================================================= Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim ================================================= ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: stpaul@mnforum.org To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
