Just For The Fun Of It

Today marks the official start to National Volunteer Week, a time when we should all pause to thank the volunteers in our community that make such a positive impact on the lives of those around us with no consideration for being paid for what they do. We are grateful to have had the tremendous group of dedicated volunteers over the years that believed in what Don Petersen was doing with his league, and that have joined in to continue to make that dream a reality. Today, and all this week, we will continue to post photos of volunteers past and present on our Facebook Page. We know that we don’t have photos of everyone that has volunteered, but the contributions of everyone that has coached, refereed, timed, scored, helped at a banquet, worked in the canteen, sold a ticket or a T shirt is appreciated and should be celebrated every day. Enjoy the photos being posted as we continue our look back at the league volunteers.

On Wednesday we received a $1000 donation from the St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus Council to help us with league operations. Thank you for believing in what we do for the children in our community, and your trust that we will put your donation to good use to benefit our players.

As we approach National Volunteer Week in two weeks, I thought it would be appropriate to share an article that was discovered in tweet a by Dr. Jean Cote from Queen’s University. It is something that all of our volunteers should read and remember. You DO have an impact on the lives of the children you interact with through our league. Your approach is critical to whether that is a positive impact. Here is the article by Jackie Bledsoe.

The Responsibility and Privilege of Coaching Youth Sports

Coaching youth sports may seem like an easy job, but with great privilege comes great responsibility.

By Jackie Bledsoe
Coaching youth sports over the past several years has been one of my best experiences. Although my dad was a youth sports coach, and my brother was a coach at the collegiate level, I never thought I would coach. I thought, “no chance!” Now I’m hooked and realize what great responsibility comes with it, and what a privilege it is.
How coaching began for me
I will never forget the first time I signed up to coach. I only signed up because my daughter was playing, and they didn’t have enough parent volunteers. I remember thinking, “how did I get into this?” The first task was to attend a coaches training hosted by the YMCA director. A training for coaching 6-7 year olds, why was this necessary? When we sat down, there were some parents who looked like they never played a sport in their lives, and others who looked like they lived in the gym or could have run a marathon prior to coming.
Putting perspective on coaching youth sports
When the training started we watched some videos, which looked like they were from the 70s and 80s. My thoughts were why are we watching this corny stuff. It felt like a total waste of time, and I was ready to go. Then, as the videos were stopped the trainer brought it all into perspective. He said something like this:
Coaching youth sports is very important. It may not seem like much right now, but you will have an impact on these kids which will last a lifetime. You will help shape the way they live their lives. They will never forget you, and you will always be ‘coach’ to them.
The ‘light bulb’ moment
That is when it hit me. This isn’t a waste of time, it isn’t corny. The trainer went on to say how the kids will see you in the community years later, and walk up to you calling you, “coach.” That took me back to my days playing youth sports, and my dad coaching. I still run into people to this day who share with me the impact my dad had on them as a coach. Over thirty years later the impact he had through coaching us and our friends is still there. That is a tremendous responsibility, but an even greater privilege.
• Your interaction can help build or tear down a child’s character
• You may be the only positive influence they have in their life
• You may be the coach that sparked the love of the game for a future superstar athlete
• You set the bar for how a coach should interact with a player
• You show them what it is to be accountable to those who depend on you
• You teach them sportsmanship in winning and losing, which will help them handle success or failure in life
• You show the importance of physical activity and how fun it is staying active in life
Passing the baton…one coach to the next
You may be at the beginning of your youth sports coaching “career” or reluctantly considering it. Let my story encourage you to fully accept it, and all it brings. It is one of life’s great responsibilities and privileges.

We just received a notification from the Five Guys Marketing Group that we brought in enough business last night to get a $260 donation to the league Five Guys. Add to that $70 in personal donations made during the evening, and the event has generated $330 for the league. For all of you that came out last night and promoted the event on your networks, thank you for believing in what we do in the community, and thank too to Five Guys for their support of the communities in which they operate.

What a great night last night at the Five Guys Burgers and Fries location on Gardiners Road! Great food and fantastic service by Tom and the staff at the restaurant kept the crowd moving and the atmosphere light. Our thanks to everyone that came out to the event for our league, and a special thanks to the crew at Firehall Station 7 for having their dinner with us to support what we do in the community. We are able to operate as we do because of the support of the local business community and the families that continue to believe in what we do for children and families in Kingston. As soon as the total raised is known I will get it posted.

Wednesday March 29 – Dine to Donate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries on Gardiners Road starts at 5:30 tonight, where $1 from every burger sold between 5:30 and 8:30 will come back to the league. Tell your friends, tell your relatives, tell your friends relatives to come out for a delicious burger and support our league at the same time. See you there!

The past award winners tab on the web site (click the “about us” tab on the menu bar and you will see the “Past Award Winners” tab) has been updated. You now can browse to look at the past award winners that we have records of up to and including this season. Free Throw and Two Ball Tournament winners have not been added yet, but all other awards are there.

This week we were presented a cheque by the Toronto Dominion Bank for $1000 to help us in the work that we do with the youth in the city. Thank you TD for believing in our program and the dream that Don “Pete” Petersen had of providing a safe and affordable place for the children of his community to learn the game of basketball. This donation goes a long way to allowing us to continue to make that dream a reality! We are happy to add The Toronto Dominion Bank to our list of sponsors on our web site.

A reminder that the event to celebrate the history of St. Pat’s School is coming up on May 28th, with a celebratory mass at 10:30, followed by an open house at the school until 2:30. If you have any stories that you want to share about your experiences or time at St. Pat’s please contact Shelly Crowson at the school or by email at [email protected].

The school is also selling T shirts for $10 and Hoodies for $45 to commemorate the event. These can be ordered through Shelly as well, or through Shannon Hurley [email protected], BUT MUST BE ORDERED BY THE END OF MARCH. Thanks!

The Don “Pete” Petersen Trophy:
Little Guys: Emmitt Irwin and Grady Irwin
Little Gals: Sherrilyn Platt
Girls: Karen Gilbert
Biddy: Adam Mignault
Graduate: Dave Noble

Queen’s University Basketball Camp
Little Guys: Charlie McCarron – Rebels
Little Gals: Arlie Mooney – Rebels
Girls: Justine Beaubien – Liberty
Biddy: Evan Nitschke – Grizzlies
Graduate: Jackson Hollywood – Sixers

The Referee’s Trophy: Coach of the Year
Little Guys: Rebels – Shawn Hollywood and Jackson Hollywood
Little Gals: Tigers – Gloria DeMatos and Justus VanHeddegem
Girls: Liberty -Kim Simpson
Biddy: Cavaliers – Paul Medeiros and Madison Benoit
Graduate: Warriors – Christian Webster and Michael Rowsell

The Guy Wells Trophy: sportsmanship, fair play, team play and leadership.
(female winner) – Nancy Li
(male winner) – Jonathan O’Neill

The Tony Pettitt Award: to recognize the contributions of a non-coaching, adult volunteer. Mary O’Neill – Howlett and Liz Allport

Holy Cross Secondary School Spring League and Summer Camps
Little Guys: Brett Anderson – Wolfpack
Little Gals: Riley Claessen – Aztecs
Girls: Georgia Mates- Mercury
Biddy: Riley Webb – Ravens
Graduate: Finn Ferrall – Heat

The Bill MacLeod Memorial Cup: “Just for the Fun of it”
Little Guys: Dylan Blackwell – Wolfpack
Little Gals: Avery Vivian – Rockers
Girls: Kendra Platt – Sparks
Biddy: Gabriel Merjevac – Tarheels and Kaleb Booth – Ravens
Graduate: Lucas Medeiros – Warriors and Jude Wheeler-Dee – Hawks

The Lenny Falcoa Award : TEAM OF THE YEAR
Little Guys: Wolfpack
Little Gals: Rebels
Girls: Storm
Biddy: Tarheels
Graduate: Celtics and Sixers

Regiopolis Notre Dame summer basketball camp.
Little Guys: Seth Cox – Tarheels
Little Gals: Katrina LaLonde – Tigers
Girls: Chelsea Turcotte – Storm
Biddy: T.J. Tapper – Suns
Graduate: Aiden Christmas – Bulls

Two Ball Champions and Runners-up :
Little Guys Champions: Ben Koolen and Carter Cassidy
Little Guys Runners-up: Adam Mignault and Andrew Gilmour
Little Gals Champions: Taylor Hollywood and Bryar McCullough
Little Gals Runners-up: Taylor Novak and Rayne Davison
Girls Champions: Miranda Steele and Cassey Stretch
Girls Runners-up: Tiyonna Beleza and Mackenzie Thompson
Biddy Champions: Zach Flake and Sam Tan
Biddy Runners-up: Ben and Zac Hearst-Scott
Graduate Champions: Grady McAuley and Sam Playter
Graduate Runners-up: Jonathan O’Neill and Cameron Scott

Trinity Van Heddegem Memorial Award for the Little Gals Rookie of the Year.
Morgan Ferguson and
Megan Burtch

The Gerry Besselink Award : Given for effort, respect and dedication to the league.

Miles Brackenbury

St. Lawrence Basketball Camp
Little Guys: Kye Jarvis – Wildcats
Little Gals: Cameron Spinelli – Monarchs
Girls: Hayley Torres – Starzz
Biddy: Delali Afidenyo – Ravens
Graduate: Rowan Lloyd – Heat

The Bucky Spencer Memorial Free Throw Champions:
Boys 8 years: Samuel Sousa – Mustangs
Boys 9 years: Mason Irvine – Jayhawks
Boys 10 years: Jack Flynn – Tarheels
Boys 11 years: Jack Burt- Tarheels
Boys 12 years: Christopher Kerstens – Cavaliers
Boys 13 years: Jude Wheeler-Dee – Hawks
Boys 14 years: Caden Badour – Sixers
Boys 15 years: Jacob Corby – Celtics
Girls 8 years: Haley Kehoe – Tigers
Girls 9 years: Lauren Dennis – Golden gals
Girls 10 years: Marlina Reis – Lions
Girls 11 years: Jessica Asuncion – Monarchs
Girls 12 years: Peja Middaugh – Comets
Girls 13 years: Jennifer House-Comets
Girls 14 years: Baylee White- Monarchs

Most Improved Players
Little Guys: Adam Castonquay – Hoosiers
Little Gals: Tatum Vallier – Tigers
Girls: Kate Selkirk – Sting
Biddy: Linton Funk – Grizzlies and William LeBlanq – Vikings
Graduate: Henry Seymour – Hawks

The Most Valuable Players
Little Guys: Noah Stevenson – Tarheels and Noah Hyde – Mustangs
Little Gals: Charlotte Cantarutti – Golden Gals
Girls: Savannah Medley – Monarchs
Biddy: Christopher Kerstens – Cavaliers
Graduate: Jacob Corby – Celtics

The Most Sportsmanlike Players
Little Guys: Owen Thiele – Jayhawks
Little Gals: Marlina Reis – Lions and Camilla Purdy – Slammers
Girls: Katie Duttle – Comets
Biddy: Archie French – Suns and Emmitt Irwin – Vikings
Graduate: Ethan Kelsey- Bulls and Cody Hilliard – Sixers

The Carm Londry Trophy: player that shares the ball
Little Guys: Max Sohriadis – Huskies
Little Gals: Vanessa Tapper – Aztecs
Girls: Tiyonna Beleza – Starzz
Biddy: Zach Flake – Raptors and Jake Playter – Vikings
Graduate: Cameron McParlan – Warriors and Basil Pinkerton – Hawks

The Top Defensive Players
Little Guys: Andrew Gilmour – Wildcats and Jack Molson – Rebels
Little Gals: Allie Thurlby – Rebels
Girls: Madison Valyear – Sting
Biddy: Bill McIlroy – Magic
Graduate: Matt Chodkowski – Heat