Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

TO:	Ernie Shaw, Interim Director
FROM:	Lee Ice, Youth Sports Supervisor
DATE:	July 14, 2007
RE:	Youth  Sports Update – 2^nd Quarter report

Overview

The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Youth Sports Summer Programs are coming to a close.

These are a few of the programs that have been going on throughout the spring and summer.

	Youth Baseball/Softball was a little more of a challenge this year over 2006 with well over 100 games rained out and having to be rescheduled. Numbers participating in our recreational baseball/program was almost duplication from 2006 - 1175. All coaches were required to complete a background check, attend the coaches meeting and fill out the “Our Promise” to Kids agreement.
	Our co--sponsorship with Hoopster 3-on-3 basketball and Lawrence Girls’ Fast pitch Association continues to be a success (8^th season with Hoopster and 4^th season with LGFPS). Numbers for both programs continue to climb. There 373 participants in the 3-on-3 program with 376 girls competing in the Lawrence Girl’s Fast pitch program.
	Blast Ball for pre-school aged kids 4-5 year olds) was also very popular again this summer with all sessions completely full. Total of 96 kids participated. We were very fortunate once again to be able to find someone who had tremendous baseball knowledge and worked extremely well with kids. John Allman, starting leftfielder for the Kansas Jayhawks, was a big reason this program had kids as well as parents with big smiles on their faces at the completion of every session
This was the first year for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation to administer the Louie Holcom Armature Baseball Association and the three leagues that are under the Association (Houk, Heinrich and Ice Leagues). There were five teams that participated in both the Ice and Houk Leagues and a full allotment of teams that registered to play in the Heinrich League.

What’s coming up:

Proposal to co-sponsor an Intramural Junior High Volleyball program for girls currently enrolled in 7^th or 8^th grades. As I noted that this would be co-sponsorship with the USD 497 school district and Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department. We are shooting to get this initial program started with registration taking place August 15^th through August 23^rd. With Clinics, practices and games getting started the week of August 27^th. Cost of the program will be $50 per participant.

Youth Basketball Registration deadline is Thursday, September 20th, 2007.

Practices begin the week of October 22^nd (elementary schools).

Games begin Saturday, November 3^rd, (Community Building, East Lawrence Center & Holcom Park Recreation Center).