AMERICUS — The Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department’s sports calendar finished strong with the 10-U youth football team winning the GRPA state championship.
Executive Director Tim Estes hopes for even more in 2010.
“Considering we won the state championship in football, and from a program standpoint, it ended up really good,” said Estes. “We hope it’s a springboard to successes we can have in 2010.”
The SCPRD moved into its new office in June on Rucker Street and the gymnastics program began in August.
Estes said the Columns at Boone Park community center stays busy, and the response to gymnastics was far better than expected. They anticipated 180 kids to participate in gymnastics, but had 260 involved.
“I’m real pleased,” he said. “Since we moved into the building, people are definitely using it. The crowds have been tremendous in youth basketball and gymnastics. We’re getting a good crowd using the walking track during the day. I think we’re moving in a positive direction.
“Gymnastics has been overwhelming. Melissa (Moore) has done a fantastic job. We’ve had a couple of constructive criticisms — which you expect and ask for with new programs — but literally no negative response. With a group that size and no negatives, that’s almost unbelievable.”
Gymnastics has formed a competitive team with about 20 members, and it will participate in its first even Feb. 20 in Tifton. Estes said that is the only one planned this quarter, and up to three may be in store in the spring.
A mock meet will be held Feb. 6 in preparation for the competitive events.
Baseball will have some changes this year as there will be four all-star teams for kids in each age group — 9, 10, 11 and 12. With the 12-and-under playing in Little League the past two years, Estes said the 10-year-old group will also play with Little League.
However, the 12-year-olds will be considered the “major” division while the 10-year-olds will be in the “minor” division. Estes said 11-year-olds will play in the two classes — that however many kids are needed to make up teams for the 12-year-old group, they will take the top kids who are 11 and place them in the remaining spots while the rest will play with the 10-year-olds.
Estes said the 11-year-olds will be evaluated by the staff and coaches, and they will then decide which kids to move up. This will be used only for local play.
The annual baseball coaches meeting is Feb. 9, and Estes said there will be a public meeting beforehand at 6 p.m. to discuss a possible change in selecting the 12-and-under all-star teams for each sport.
Pre-registration for baseball and spring gymnastics is Feb. 1-26. The SCPRD will also host the 7-8 and 9-10 state GRPA basketball tournaments Feb. 25-27.
The Doyle Baseball Coaches and Players School will be March 6. Pre-registration costs is $25 for coaches and $45 for players. Registration the day of is $50 for coaches and $60 for players.
No new sports are planned for this year, and Estes said they want to build on the success from last year.
“Right now, my goal is to maintain what we’ve got from a budgetary standpoint,” he said. “At this point, we’re doing all we can with all we have. We want to be responsible and not do anything that will send us over budget. But at the same time, we want to improve what we’re doing.
“We’ve done so well in our programs. I’d like to see us win state championships in everything we do. I like the way we’re running our programs and getting prepared for the next level (middle school).”
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