Recreation leaders shine during unprecedented times
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.