Photo Credit: Courtesy of NAYS
Duane Smith has always been passionate about sports. So, when he chose to switch careers—moving from education to parks and recreation—he funneled that passion in a new direction, and the roughly 2,000 children who participate in sports programs at the Mokena Community Park District in Illinois have been reaping the benefits.
“When I decided to change careers, I began to see the recreational side of things and how beneficial its components were to social development; in essence, I began to see the playing field as a classroom,” says Smith, in his fifth year as athletic supervisor and a Certified Youth Sports Administrator. “I see endless horizons of fun, opportunity, and learning experiences that contribute to the well-being of individuals; everything that is applicable to becoming positive and active members of society. If handled delicately and with the best interests of all participants at heart, youth sports programming can have such a profound impact on a child's life.”
In the following interview, Smith shares more on the rewards and challenges in administering traditional sports as well as untraditional ones, like ultimate Frisbee, disc golf, and Tai-Kwon Do for children ages 3 to 18: