Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, January 31, 2015
Present: Michael Arbour (Chairman), Peter Beaupre, Jr., Sara Szado
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk
Mike called the meeting called to order at 11:15 am.
A parent of a player on the 5th/6th grade recreational boys’ team parent contacted the Parks & Recreation Commission via an e-mailed letter voicing her concerns of the team. The team is not doing well and she felt that the Parks & Recreation Department was not giving the team any support. She also felt the team was not getting enough practice time, among other issues.
Tim said if we didn’t have a CYO team, those boys on the current CYO team and the boys on the 5th/6th grade rec team would be split into two separate rec teams and that team would be better.
Peter said, from a Parks & Rec perspective, the coaching is all volunteer and this was a perfect example of why people don’t want to coach. A parent of one of the boys sent out e-mails looking for a coach for this team, and someone stepped up who doesn’t even have a son on the team. In total, we have sixteen basketball teams that needed a coach this season.
Addressing the issue that the Parks & Rec gives no help or support, Peter has told coaches if they need help to let him know. He has helped out inexperienced coaches in soccer and basketball, and has held practices with those teams to help them along. If teams don’t ask for help we don’t know what’s happening. There are a lot of resources out there We recently discussed a “coach’s corner” on our website with links to various resources for coaches.
Mike said some kids don’t have athletic ability, but we want them to enjoy the game and learn something. It’s not always the score. We want kids to participate, play hard and have fun. The Parks & Rec Commission’s job is to make sure they have an avenue for kids to play sports. There are programs out there that other towns use to help coaches and teams, but they are very costly and our budget doesn’t allow us to have the same programs.
Basketball practice time is very limited. We have only one, and little of the time, two gyms, and we have lost time to school’s usage for their programs and events. We have twelve teams that need gym time to practice and have games and it’s very difficult with one gym.
We reached out to the Varsity High School coach and he has offered to hold a clinic, but there is no time where both parties and a gym is available.
The 5th/6th grade rec boys team’s next practice is Tuesday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. Peter has a practice with his team that same day that ends at 6:00 p.m. Peter will speak to the parent to let her know there was a meeting held to discuss her concerns and he will address these issues with her. He will also practice with this team to help.
Meeting adjourned at 11:32 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Administrative Assistant
Timothy J Pascale
Director/Program Coordinator
Monson Parks and Recreation
110 Main Street
Monson, MA 01057
413-267-4105 - Phone
413-267-0327 - fax
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