Plan a Comprehensive Recreation Program – Don't be Just “Sport Happy”

Play ball! - What a familiar sound to every athlete and recreation director.  Sports are probably the most universal form of recreation known to man. It is only natural for one to think of football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, and other team sports when you hear the word RECREATION. Each season of the year has its major sport with hundreds of professional players and thousands of amateurs to entertain millions of spectators. In the fall our interest turns to football stadiums filled with thousands of spectators regardless of weather. In the winter, basketball becomes the King of Sports and then in spring and summer we see Track, Baseball, and Softball take on a new enthusiastic acceptance by fans throughout the country.

Church Sports Program offers many opportunities.  Today, as never before we have young people and adults who have developed an interest in team sports.   These sports enthusiasts naturally want to continue to participate in their favorite sport and the church sports program offers this opportunity. It offers individuals who have excelled in the past and those who wish to excel in the future an opportunity to participate in the sport of their choice. It also gives the young man or woman who has not yet reached their full potential in a particular sport a chance to participate with other athletes and become more adapted to an individual game.  Friendships and team spirits, hoisted by church sports programs can never be taken from a player.

Build Good Behavior Patterns.  A sports program can be a very important factor in building good behavior patterns if the proper motives are stressed and the overwhelming desire to win does not become the dominating note. Sports for fun, fellowship, physical and moral health should be the slogan. Young people who grow up in the church recreation program should be so well grounded in the ideas of good sportsmanship that they will always conduct themselves as Christians whether on the school teams or in the bleacher stands.

Don’t Be a “Pet Interest” Programmer!  It is unfortunate, however, that most sports programs do not meet these ideals. One of the dangers of a sports program is that our concept of sports is limited to the major sports (foot ball, basketball, and. baseball) and we never develop a total sports program in the church. It is only natural that one promotes that which he likes best, therefore, most sports coordinators or recreation directors, whether professional or lay person, program their special interest and tend to neglect the value of other sports and activities in the church recreation program. Therefore, we see large budgets for particular sport which serve only a few rather than a comprehensive program for the masses. At first glance no one would recognize that they were "pet interests" programming. But, ask yourself, "Does my sports program offer more than just basketball, volleyball, and softball? Does it offer the swimmer, the badminton player, the golfer, the tennis player, the horseshoe pitcher, the fisherman, the hunter, the boater, the skier, the archer, the rifle marksman, or the hand ball player an opportunity to participate in our recreation activities?"  Immediately you would answer, "I can't offer all of that! Neither my facility, my budget nor my man power could handle such a program!" But have you tried to offer more than just the basics? There may be local facilities and church member talent just waiting for your program if you would take the time to plan and promote a full, well rounded schedule.

 Plan for All Ages!  How long has it been since you planned a table tennis tournament for boys, girls, men and women? The tournament could be aged grouped – ages 8 - 11; 12 - 14; 15 - 18; and adults. It could be a single elimination tournament for male, female and mixed doubles. By having a single elimination tournament all participants would enjoy playing and the tournament would not be a long drawn out affair. How about a table tennis club meeting once a week for fellowship and competition? The Ladder Tournament organization offers an ideal tool to make a table tennis club most successful. Have a plaque made with movable plastic name plates and place it in a public place so adequate publicity can be given the players.

Golf.  A golf class can be a most interesting activity. Almost any city would have a driving range or a Par Three Golf Course. Most churches have at least one avid golfer who knows the fundamentals well enough to teach a beginner class. If not, the local pro would probably teach the course in order to get the business. Most driving ranges will sell you large buckets of balls furnish the clubs. Offer a ten week course with the first nine lessons being taught on the driving range and the tenth lesson playing a round of golf on a Par Three or short golf course. A course fee could be charged to offset the expense.  The ladies would enjoy a morning class and most men would appreciate an evening class one night a week. Climax the ten weeks with a golf tournament. Then investigate the idea of a golf club meeting each month with a golf tournament each quarter. You might be surprised what can happen.

Swimming.  Have swimming instructions ever been offered the ladies in the morning? Most YMCA's, YWCA's, boys and girls clubs, and other indoor pools have very little activity in the morning. 'Why not approach the administration with the idea of having a ladies swim program for your church one morning a week? Usually an instructor would be furnished but you should be prepared to offer one if needed. Most churches have a water instructor in its membership.  If not employ one and let the ladies pay the cost of the pool and instructor.  Schedule the course for eight to ten weeks.

Badminton.  Why not plan a badminton clinic in your church for boys and girls, men and women?  Most families have a badminton set in their closet not being used and collecting dust because they do not know how to play the game. Why not find a place to mark off some courts -- use marking powder outside or masking tape inside and teach your members how to play the game properly?

 Help for the Unskilled.  Another alarming weakness in the Sports Program is the 'lack of programs for the unskilled player. Very few programs offer activities for the unskilled player. There seems to be a satisfaction with the unskilled player sitting on the bench 90% of the game with the answer "Maybe next year." But next year comes and he is still sitting on the bench. Why? Because we have not taken the time or put forth the effort to offer a special clinic to instruct the unskilled or organize a league for the second-string players who needs to be accepted much more than the varsity star. Sure, it takes more time to work with a person who has very little coordination but what a glorious reward to see him excel a little. Have you ever had a boy or girl who could not dribble a basketball down the floor at the beginning of the season come up to the middle of the season and make a spectacular play? What a joy to see their face and to be a part of their success. Who needs the sports program most - the athlete who has played varsity ball and is accepted by his peers or the unskilled player who would give up almost anything to be able to play well enough to be asked by his friends to join a game?

How about the Girls?  Do we include them in our sports programs?  Usually not! Why?  Because there is not enough interest?  The person who gives that answer either has not offered the girls an opportunity to participate or has not planned and promoted girls sports well enough. Every church has girls and women who would enjoy playing sports again and some who would like to try a new sport. It is true that most girls would need special instruction in most of the sports but what is the real purpose of Christian recreation but to work with those who need help. Why not begin with a clinic for girls teaching the basic fundamentals of the sport that you want to organize.  Publicize sufficiently the first meeting and then solicit a number of interested girls and women to talk to their friends and get their friends to come along with them. You will be surprised what success these few will have in reaching many others. Is it worth a try?

Are You “Sports Happy”?  A well rounded sports program is a real asset to the Church Recreational Activities, but should it be the total program? Analyze your recreation schedule and budget and determine how much of your time, money, and facility is being used for Sports.  Does it overshadow Drama, Crafts, Camping, Senior Citizen Activity, planned leisure for the boys and girls and the other important facets of a well rounded program? If it does, then "Who is Sports Happy?"

 Meet People’s Leisure Needs.  What is the solution to a sports heavy schedule? One suggestion is to evaluate the entire church age group and try to determine what the leisure time needs are of this group. Then try to plan to meet the needs with a well rounded program including the youngest and the oldest group in your church! Try to find activities for those people who do not enjoy sports. Sure, you may not be able to coach as many teams as before but there must be people standing on the side lines who could be used as coaches. This might be the very activity that would meet their leisure time need.

Give It a Try!  To plan a well rounded recreation program offering activities to as many people as possible and using as many facilities and leaders as your initiative can solicit is the ultimate of programming.  Carrying out this plan is successful leadership. The opportunity is there if the spirit and body are willing.  How about a try?