Well uh happy new year everybody.

Uh our first meeting since the new year here.

Um lots of exciting stuff going on in the department.

I know lots of sports are already getting very much underway and planning is underway and we have our budget proposal coming up uh on top of fighting back all of the winter wonderland issues that are coming up, I'm sure on a daily basis uh in our rec centers as we speak.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Um so I'll start off just by saying thank you guys for the past couple of months.

I know it's been cold, it's been snowy, and you guys have dealt with challenges um you know related to the rec centers, I'm sure, which we're looking forward to hearing about.

But um uh our agenda tonight is to talk about the uh some updates on the winter basketball league where we stand on that, um get some stats and numbers on that.

Um update on planning for the spring soccer league.

I saw registration go up for that, which is exciting.

Um and then uh the bulk of the meeting I did want to start talking about uh budget proposals and priorities for fiscal year 27.

Um I know this is that time of year when uh proposals are submitted to the administration director.

Um, and so uh want to uh have some discussions around that, see what you're thinking, uh and many members of the board have thoughts or ideas or things that we should be thinking about, want to also give you that uh input as well.

But we are always as joined as always by our fantastic director, uh Director Holly.

Okay, deputy directors on Uwemen and um Poolis.

Uh and so uh great to have all you guys here once again.

They're both fantastic too.

Um so uh so with that said, I think we'll we'll probably dive uh right into it.

So director, you want to start by giving us an update on on winter basketball?

Yeah, should we have so why don't we just start out by going over the overview of uh is it too small for you to get two we can work?

I made sure I I left my glasses at home and now I went back and got it.

This is effort to save on any ways to no no I'm all about it.

Colleges next time we'll uh maybe do two to a slide or something like that.

Yeah, uh why don't we just go over an overview of the um basketball league where we ended up so that for 10 and under there's eight teams for boys division?

Eight teams, twelve and under there's eight teams, uh 14 and under there, nine teams.

What I mean by teams is not recs, eight recs, eight recs that are participating.

Uh playoffs will begin March 7th, championships will be at Providence College or the 14th.

Um how many games are in?

There's seven games and seven or eight subdivisions.

Seven or eight games into the season.

Um then we have the uh the girls division, ten and under six teams, six recs, uh, twelve and under four teams, fourteen and under four teams, and again the playoffs, March 7th, championships, March 14th.

Can you go through the numbers one more time on the boys team again?

So 10 year was eight teams, right?

Say it again.

Uh eight teams.

10 and under 18, 12 and under eight teams, 14 and under five teams.

Hello everyone.

Uh let the record reflect Councilwoman Vargas uh has attended.

Some naughties.

Thank you.

Um so I know you know obviously a few of our rec centers have uh construction going on at them, David Lopes, um uh and uh Jocelyn, I think in particular.

Um the so we have eight teams, which obviously says that some which centers didn't filter this year.

Um which ones are not in there?

Which division?

Which centers do not?

I will start with 10 with 10 U, I guess for the boys division, which teams do not which rec do not have a team point to tell you which teams do Kennedy Zuccholo West and Vincent Brown, Battestini, Rogers, Saket, and Davy Lopes.

So it looks like so, even though Davy Lopes there and they're working out of the Almohad Community Center, right?

Correct, yeah.

Okay.

And they and then they were also work out of Rollins too as well.

They do some co-teams with uh Rollins Rick.

Okay, so we're gonna so which ones uh Jackie, which ones are missing from there then?

You must put it on.

I believe Johnson has a co-op with um Igliosi in certain divisions, but the ones that are missing right here.

Um John Rollins has a co-op as well with David Lopes.

So what have you guys found the that I don't remember in previous years?

Um mostly every rec center were able to field teams.

Is there was there a drop-off in interest this year, or do you feel like uh the communication might be something that we didn't do with the things that we didn't do before that we did now, or what's what do you attribute the drop-off to?

I think it's a multitude of uh different things.

Um we have to do a better job of getting teams to participate for one, but um I mean I'm not here to say that directness under the bus.

No, like that's not um we need to just uh do a better job of um planning ahead starting the league earlier, maybe for basketball with that being our core league.

Um I don't want rec centers to be uh all about basketball.

However, three fourths of each of our facilities is a basketball gym, so we need to focus on justifying the existence of that.

Um well, not only that too, but basketball's always been one of our more successful programs in terms of terms of youth participation.

Yeah, um I think it's getting tricky too with um some of the guidelines we have for participating in the league too.

Our rules for participating are a little bit more stringent than what the middle schools and um and other schools too as well, as far as grade requirements and things like that.

Um that comes into a factor too as well.

We don't accept uh failing grades.

Um that could be problematic with some numbers dropping off too as well.

What other reasons can you guys think of I think um one reason of if you can follow the sequence of this?

Middle school weeks have increased.

Um they've increased in in teams, and some of the feedback that I'm getting from some of the parents is they rather have their child pick one or the other.

So if you can imagine that their child plays in a middle school game or is practicing middle school right after school, they know where they're going right after school by that by the time that's finished, five, five fifteen, five thirty, and they rather have their children come home as opposed to going to another practice for a second team.

So a lot of times what I'll hear is my mom or my parent or my guardian just wants me to play on one team, which is my school.

And you know, I don't think some schools uh do not allow them to participate in both leagues too as well.

So that that's a drawbacks where they can't play in two leagues, right?

But that's I mean the the middle schoolers are more the 14U, and I guess the 12U somewhat, but not it's not 10 U.

Six, seven.

Yeah, but 10 year olds aren't 10 year olds are fourth and fifth.

Right?

Yeah, fifth would be the oldest.

Yeah.

I think it's there's no one magical answer to that.

Um it's something that moving forward, we're gonna take a look at basketball year round, um, keeping the teams together year round, keeping the engagement year-round.

Also cultivating more coaches that we can have for our teams too as well.

That becomes an issue with the lack of coaches available.

So as it says no one to answer.

Councilman.

Thank you, Chairman.

Two questions.

Like a really concerning numbers that just kind of like stick out is there's only four 12U and 14 for girls.

Is that how does that compare it to like say the last like couple years?

Not just last year, but like last year.

So the final answer.

Just as much participation in the girls and the boys.

We actually had a playoff kickoff.

We had racketology, we had the trophies there.

There were actually more girls and boys that attended the champion ship kickoff for dinner.

COVID hit, and you know, no excuses five years later, six years later, COVID hit.

And that's factual.

We can produce numbers for that.

Well, if you need them, we can get them to you.

However, to Sean's point, there needs to be more outreach, there needs to be more communication, there needs to be more opportunities, there needs to be more welcoming for females to come into our rec centers to feel comfortable that they're in a safe environment with good coaches who are mentors who have played, they who have been alumni.

There needs to be a strong outreach and strong encouragement that way.

So four and four is low, it's not unprecedented.

There has been four before in the past.

But the girls who are participating, they're extremely enthusiastic.

There's a lot of talent in the league.

And the ones who are participating is going well for them.

Can you just remember Jack?

What was the what was the numbers for for the 12-year girls and 14 year old 14-year girls last year?

And I believe it was five or six for each year.

Yeah, slightly lower.

Last question, um, was lack of coaches uh uh an issue this year.

Can coach record.

Was it a challenge this year?

Um we would never turn away, we would never not feel the team because there wasn't a coach in place at that point, right?

No, because they everyone has paid recreation staff, and they do coach, and um which we encourage someone who's on your staff should be able to wear multiple hats.

You know, summer season they can be a camp counselor, winter season they could be a coach.

So you have to be well rounded in wear multiple hats.

Um sometimes parents will coach, which is great.

Um the child ages out, the parent comes with the child, so then you have stars.

Yeah, that's yeah, yeah.

I mean, that's that's typical of a lot of leagues.

Recreation makes sense, yeah, just the way it goes, yeah.

But just to kind of piggyback, I think I see a little bit of an opportunity here.

Um, I know throughout the fall, and I know you know, speaking with Sean, there's been a little bit more of an emphasis for us to have more girl-specific programming.

Have you seen some of the the girls' events, the girls' clubs at the rec centers throughout the fall?

That has brought a lot of girls into the rec centers in one place, and it creates an opportunity for us to kind of recruit those girls in that same way.

Um, and then I know Sean has spoken about a few times just being able to have more of a rec center in rec center at each center, sorry, involvement in some of our recreation-wide programming, i.e.

uh the soccer league as well as for example biddy.

I think previously we had rec centers bringing their teams to biddy before, and then we transitioned to more of an instructional league, but that kind of allowed the main office to kind of highlight their ability to put on an event, but I think bringing back those rec center directors into involved into that biddy league, that youth developmental league can help to breed that pipeline because we have seen at some of our locations some of these biddy kids become the 10U team, and then the 12U team and the 14U team.

So I think you know those conversations are happening about kind of restructuring what that looks like, and I think a lot of those girls' events and then also our center, our center participation in city and recreation wide events or programs will help that.

So are you saying that the biddy league, because it's all at the west end, that the relationship isn't built with the local rec director to be able to field those those those kids into the 10-year team?

But just ensure instead having more of our centers across the city involved in that specific program would help to for them to recruit their 10U teams in 12U teams and so on and so forth.

Yeah.

Also, there's been uh a lot of new coaches this year.

So there's a lot of new faces in the league.

Yeah, that's great.

Yeah, yeah.

Um we want we want a lot of people to get involved, yeah, volunteers.

I mean that's that's great, but it's also goes back to when you look at low numbers.

A lot of these young ladies like to stick with the same coach to build with them, build a rapport with them, yeah, build our relationship with them.

So if we can lock lock into coaches that's gonna stay there year in, year out, that's gonna help the growth too from um from year to year.

I mean, look, we're not it we're not uh we're not accepting these numbers.

We know there's room for improvement, we know we have to um girls and sports is a priority for me uh before I took this job, and certainly it's gonna be uh priority and moving forward.

So making this program much more enriching for our young ladies to build a program uh build a career in basketball, uh women's basketball is um I'm a huge fan favorite of that, so that's something that's for my watch um and along with my teammates here, we're definitely going to improve that and make that make that better.

Unfortunately, we've always had a pretty large gap, I think, in girls' participation.

Um I'm not trying to say that's okay by any means, but not.

We need to improve on it.

Um, but I was pretty concerned about the boys' numbers this year because that's a drop off from where we've been.

And I think we do need to both obviously keep on putting resources into making sure that we have girls' programs that are functional and that we're getting as many girls to participate as possible, and I think that's a larger overall strategy.

Um, but I do think if there are certain things this year that we need to focus on to be sure that we don't have sort of the fall off for the boys program again next year, too.

Uh, that we need to really, you know, sort of zero in on that and see what's uh yeah.

But as I mentioned, there's a lot of layers to it with our registration process to all of and all the things that we have to collect and uh verify and all that that becomes uh deterrent too as well.

So I think we need to revisit the whole situation.

I I will take this opportunity to say that our athletic collection uh Shannon Perry has done a masterful job in cultivating this league, boys and girls, um, given some of the um roadblocks that she's has to had to face through this, and um I do want to give kudos to her for Jenny whose daughter is a new.

Yeah, so my daughter's 10U, which is great.

It's been our first time uh joining a rec league, and she's had a great experience.

I asked her for feedback coming to the night, and she said they have a working scoreboard, which she was amazed by baseball doesn't have one and her other sports don't, so that was a plus with working scoreboard.

Um I think you know what Sean, you and I spoke registration was really difficult, right?

Even though we're promoting online registration, it wasn't available for Vincent Brown.

Um you had to physically go pick up the packet, we went to return it, they didn't know how to receive the information, like and it didn't even label like all the things you necessarily need to register.

So we got a text message one morning at 7 a.m.

being like, if you don't have your report card in by 8 a.m.

then they can't play in the first game, right?

And it's like you know, it's a little frustrating there.

Um so I think you know, we've had a lot of issues with the gym not being available when it's supposed to be available, canceling practices, so it's definitely been um a little more frustrating, I think, than some other leagues, like maybe a middle school league that is you know more set.

Um and one of the reasons our our basketball practice has been getting cancelled is because Nathan Bishop practices at Vincent Brown and plays at Vincent Brown, which to me is weird, right?

Because didn't Nathan Bishop remodel their middle school and they have a gorgeous basketball board there.

So, like why are they playing and taking up the time at the Vincent Brown rec center, I guess is my question.

Um, I think maybe we could dive a little bit more into that.

Like I was told the middle school basketball team practices at Vinton Brown instead of at Nathan Bishop.

All right.

What a rec programming should supersede any outside of Red South.

Absolutely, right?

Um so just some feedback, and I think if regarding communication, um all the communication I've received thus far has also been through the coach and through text messages, which has been great, but if we're gonna keep these six girls' teams to next year, and they'll all be you know moving up, or some of them to 12U, we need to just make sure that the league is also ongoing communication.

Because if that coach falls off, and that was the only communication, right?

Then the kids are no longer being communicated with.

And that's a perfect example.

You have a great coach.

Mike is uh great coach, great dude outside of the old whatever uh uh great coach as well.

But yeah, we need coaches like him to stick with the program and grow with the girls too as well.

Yeah, and unfortunately, he's been very frustrated by the issues, so like that's a reason a coach would drop off, too.

So we need to make sure we're keeping these good coaches.

And I just have to one of the things he said about online registration in particular, because this board worked you know, particularly hard on making sure that there was an online registration platform and that you know rec centers work, we're using it.

Director, I just think you know, you really need to reinforce with our directors that like the only way for people to sign up is to physically come into the rec department.

It that that doesn't help our numbers either, like that's that's really sort of unacceptable on their behalf.

They really shouldn't be saying that to constituents because we have an online registration tool, and you know, whether it's more training for them so they like better understand how to use it or whatever it is, we really need to like be training our directors, I think, more to be able to embrace new technology.

Not everybody has the time to stop into a rec center in person to do it or sign up.

Um then I know that there are definitely pieces of it too, like you mentioned that we require around report cards and different things like that that are very you know, sort of cumbersome to track down.

Um we've had this discussion in the past in this board about why you know people are required to submit their report cards, and I think in general, while we sort of understood the general concept of it, I always go back to well, what if the kid that we turn away if we're turning them away because their report card wasn't sufficient.

What are they doing?

Are they sitting at home playing video games or like what's what's going on?

Like I I actually think that's one of those things that we should revisit around the school report card.

I do think it's a recreation league and folks should kids should be able to play.

But you know, maybe that's a conversation for another time as we gear up for uh for next season around like the registration requirements and director, I'm sure you're thinking about it.

Already, so you have a proposal for us for next year.

We have talked about the um the grading process, the um revisiting that I'd certainly want to reward uh a youth that's that's doing well in school, however, I do feel a sense of responsibility for that youth that might not be uh grades may not be up to stuff that we need to still work with them, not just send them sit at home, um putting my educator hat on.

I think we should have some sort of responsibility to whether it's tutoring or allowed in a play, but work with them or make sure that they're working towards getting their grades uh higher or something like that.

Um, but just to flat out say uh your grade is failing, uh you can't play.

I don't want to get into a process of rewarding too much failure.

Um, but I think there's if there's a youth that's gonna work with us and get in their academics better, then I think that's something that we need to take a serious look at.

Yeah, so can I just go through the process really quickly because it's not difficult as everyone thinks it is?

So you have an application whether you do it online or you physically fill it out.

It includes transportation waiver, it includes waiver of liability, it also includes a photo um permission, which is very important when taking photos putting them online.

It probably takes no less, no more than five minutes for the parent to fill out included in that is a section where it says, Do we can we have access to your child's grades to the school department?

So there's another section, I'm not sure if you're familiar with it.

She's in um a charter, so she couldn't, yeah, it didn't work.

So the second portion of that is you must bring a Fred certificate so you can play in the the division that you're supposed to be playing.

So we don't have 13-year-olds playing in a 12-year-old division and and so forth.

The last question is the report card, which is Sean's point.

We don't turn anyone away totally.

I think you and I spoke about this, Tony.

That if someone is failing, they have an opportunity to get their grade up within the next four weeks to come back and play as a safety net.

We don't just say, okay, you're done, and then that's it.

We don't give up on anybody.

We give every child an opportunity to get your grade up.

And we ask each and every one of them, if you need help, you need to do this, let us know because we're in contact with the school teachers, we all share the same kids.

So more often than not, the parents do like the idea of the grading system because they will come and say, I have proof of it, I have it on my phone, I have text messages, thank you.

I'm not sure what you told my child.

No one could get to them except for you're not going to be able to play basketball.

And that works.

I've had six teachers last year ask, what did you tell our kids?

And told them straight up, if you don't get your act together, you're not playing basketball, you take something away that they love.

All six of them did well.

And I interviewed all six of them, and all six of them, boys and girls now.

All of them said I was up late playing fortnight.

I was goofing around in class, I was doing this, I was doing that.

So we work in conjunction with the school department to get them on.

Are you talking specifically about Zucco or is this citywide?

Well, I'm I'm talking from my experience in Zucco, but it has been promoted as the template citywide because it's promoted as a template, or is it policy?

Well, it is policy because it's in the rules.

Yeah.

So if a child comes and has four F's, are they should they be rewarded, be rewarded by playing basketball?

Even though the schools allow it, can we be better than that?

I think we should be better than that.

I don't think, I think they're called the student athlete for a reason.

Student comes for it first, then they're an athlete.

But the parents welcome the extra layer of help.

Because a lot of parents working one, two jobs, you know, and they they welcome the help.

No, does it work for everyone?

No, sometimes.

I'm sorry, are those students allowed to practice and just not playing games?

Correct.

Or do you completely say you can't do that?

No, people can still practice.

Okay, which are not allowed to be on the team, and part of being able to play on the team is to pass.

Now we allow one failing grade, one failing grade, two, no.

So they have to really get you know one more grade up if they're failing, you know, two for whatever reason.

Um, but it does work.

So I'm all for it.

I I know you know everybody's just want to make it clear with the process that we don't turn anyone away ever.

You get an opportunity to make up your failures, and that that's true.

You get one month.

We also have because we have an add-on date, that add-on date, you bring your report card to us, but in the meantime, do you need help?

Will reach out together?

Because you don't want to say you're done, go past on your own.

They may need they're not gonna ask you for that, but if you offer it and have a meeting with them or the parents, the other thing is with the in-person uh filling out the applications, etc., you meet the parents, they're required to come in.

Every parent has to come in with their child for practice, so it's not like they're going totally out of their way to physically fill out the easy way is online and don't show up at games or practices.

We want to see people coming in.

I want to meet parents.

I want to see um where home you're coming from, and if I need to contact your parent, we have a meet and greet.

Sure.

So the other way, it's kind of like, in my opinion, okay, it's it's a good opportunity, but it's not personal.

Recreation is a personal for personal relationships, and we want all the parents in the building because they may not know certain things.

Some of the parents don't even know their kids are failing, they don't know because the child goes on skyward and they get they they get their their uh report cards on their own, and the parents said, I have no idea.

I've seen it so many times, I had no idea my child was failing, but thank you for pointing that out.

And I want to say the reason why they're not playing, unfortunately, is because of their grades, but we're here to help.

Now, there's some instances that don't always work out, but there's some that really do, like the ones I was pointing out to you last year, and it's boys and girls, you know.

Yeah, so just I just want to be clear on I appreciate that.

I do appreciate that.

I think um director, this is your uh this is your first right?

This is your first basketball season?

Yes, well, in this role, yeah, in this role, yeah.

But Rogers are seems like there are lots of lessons learned from this season that you're gonna be working on for next season.

So we'll I think as we get towards you know August or September of next year, and we start thinking about it.

Yeah, I'm already basically there for we'll probably see a new proposal from you, I'm sure, about what this might look like for next season.

One other quick thought.

Um and I want to say they have every year like five girls try out for the team, so not many, but about 25 girls try out for the cheerleading team, and they do cuts, which is crazy to me.

But have we ever thought of making like a formalized cheerleading league to run in parallel?

I know like maybe one or two rec centers have done it before, but like across the entire rec center, running cheerleading in parallel with basketball.

It's been an increased interest in developing cheerleading teams.

Uh Supo does a great job with one.

Who else has one?

Kennedy Kennedy, I think, was interested in setting one up.

I think is West is working to build that up as well.

Um I have a program lined up with um Province College uh chair and dance team where we're gonna take the girls that are cheering over there for a practice.

Um so we are looking at increasing too as well.

It might be nice to make it formalized across the entire league.

So every recent does have the opportunity to have a chair team.

Sure.

They just have to get it together, put it together.

And the way we promote it is you may love sports, you don't want to physically be involved.

We could still be involved in the game as a cheerleader.

Or both.

It could be a basketball plan and chair.

Today you're on the co op plan, tomorrow you're on the sidelines here.

So you could do both.

Yeah, we promote both.

You don't have to pick one or the other.

So but every rec center does have the opportunity to create program.

I'm not sure if you have a competitive.

No, no, no, no.

Yeah, like you're doing, just across the whole, yeah.

Well, I mean, just like online, we have online registration.

We've seen some directors are promoting it more than others, but you could also do online registration for cheerleading across the city as well.

Right.

I think anything we can do to get our young ladies involved in the rec centers is uh is a good thing.

So developing increasing programming for the girls is something we need to look at.

Um there's chair, whether it's playing, um, whatever it may be.

We gotta get them into the centers.

Okay, well, in the interest of time, we're gonna, unless uh councilwoman giving them to add it or oh yes.

Hi, it's late, but I say happy new year because we see you last year.

Uh and I'm so happy um the recreational eagle you'll see received one million dollars to fix so many things.

I think happy for that.

And another thing I observation in the recreation in my recreation is when they have a renters and the kids coming in, they say, hey, we want to play or want to do something, oh, we rent it.

So the kids have to go away.

Yeah, I feel bad because the kids go away because sometimes when he's you know doing play or doing something else, you know, he's not doing bad things.

So if he's coming for the little crew, hey, we want to play.

Oh, wait, I'm sorry, we rented.

For me, my suggest when you rent them, post it a line or doing whatever, and then kids know and that has to miss in the time over there.

Oh often something else.

Hey, we don't have that, but if we can sit down, you want to uh, you know, a little book or you have a a little play around, you know, the kids go full on and be involved to their recreation.

Because how many times is renting and the keys for the neighborhood, sometimes you have the time to get it in.

So isn't my little salvation?

Yeah, and then we have to do that.

And once again with the red toes, that's uh whole nother ball game.

Yeah, probably a topic of discussion for another time.

But but I will I will say there's a lot of factors that go into that.

Um we get uh requests from your colleagues to want um there'll be rentals in in certain centers, and we try to accommodate everybody.

Um I've inherited the rental situation that we have now, but I know the three of us are working very tightly on looking at our rentals coming up to try to measure that out so that we're not uh taking away from time that are it's meant for the recreation center.

And we need to take a look at our rec centers to make sure see if there is some downtime with activity at their rec center, then that's a perfect time for rental to be in there.

But if it's a vibrant time period in the rec center, then um we certainly should not be taken away from the youth that come to the to the recenter to participate.

Those youth should always uh supersede over any rentals or or whatever out there, but that's something we need to look at moving forward, but that's uh the rentals is a tricky process.

All right, we're gonna move on to our next agenda item.

Um, and that's kind of good transition to soccer.

Um that's kind of good transition to soccer when we're talking about online registration and whatnot.

So all right, uh soccer once again, all the view.

It starts on Saturday, the 25th.

It'll be a buckler field, which is over by uh attached to um West End.

Um I don't know if you can see five to six-year-olds, uh, seven, eight-year-olds, and nine to ten.

Um we're the soccer as a whole, we're going to we're we're revamping that too as well to create something called the Providence Recreation uh Soccer Academy.

So underneath that will be the soccer league that took place last year.

That same league will move forward.

But also along with that, we're going to make sure there's a hundred percent participation by each recenter with youth playing in those in that soccer league.

In addition to that, each recreation center is going to receive uh sort of skills and drills type of uh training, soccer training at their centers.

We will be hiring somebody to um, we're looking at if we have somebody on staff to train our youth, uh, primarily focusing on our younger youth uh at each recreation center to develop uh soccer skills and to gain interest.

Soccer is uh is a major sport, it's not too far off the path of um basketball, might be even ahead of basketball at this point.

Um certainly in in our community, providence community soccer is a huge, huge sport that we need to um really ramp up our soccer program.

Um we're gonna be involved with the World Cup uh program that's coming up, so we need to very definitely have uh a revitalized soccer program.

So that's kind of uh over anything you guys want to add about soccer?

I think we covered it well.

Where do our numbers compare compared to last year?

Do we now in the soccer registration?

Um at this point, I think we're I think we're ahead of schedule, honestly, um, in regards to where we're at registration, because again, we're still two months out from the start date, and we take registrations up until the day the day of the program.

Um so again, we we uh we I think we maxed out last year at 80 for all age groups, so you know that's the goal continue kind of advertising that I know um loosely.

But theoretically, we should be expanding this year, right?

If we're doing things in the different centers now, right?

Um Sean, if you want to.

Expanding what the number, so this says 80.

That's related to what the soccer league itself as it is.

So we're gonna maintain the soccer league as it was, yeah.

But we're gonna expand within each recreation center as individual soccer programs, having it somebody come in and tutor to give training to the kids, uh, skills, training to the kids.

Okay.

So that's where the expansion would be.

Um, the like the rec instructional training, like is that happening before or after the soccer?

Simultaneous.

Exact same time.

Right.

Okay, um the last question on this is um are we doing anything different this year than than we did last year, like in terms of like division times or anything like that, or is it pretty much I guess it was for the other folks there?

You're saying that's about the times of each day.

Is it is it's just like the structure of like the spring soccer league the same as last year, then yeah.

So I think what Sean's mentioning is that the the sort of Saturdays from 8 a.m.

to about 1 p.m.

at Buckland Field where we divide by age group so classics are starting in the morning, 7-8, 9-10.

Um that will maintain, but I believe he's looking to, or we're looking to add some additional instructional programming at the individual rec centers because again, that's a that's uh that's a recreation-wide program.

Um a lot of our main office staff does help to put that event on, but I think engaging some of our center directors in some soccer instruction is the goal there is to expand upon um that programming within the rec centers as opposed to just at Buckland Field.

I think to what councilman was maybe getting towards the show about this before is that we always sort of envisioned, I think, with this program sort of uh not just on the academy side within the rec centers, but potentially expanding out to different hubs in the city too.

So a West End hub, maybe a Mount Pleasant high school hub, maybe a Hope High School hub.

So you sort of geographically across the city.

Well, I think I mentioned that to you too in some side conversations, but um ideally that's what we want to get to.

Um I don't want to bite off too much that we can't choose, so I want to get this right with continue with this league that we have.

We have a development problem with our basketball.

I don't want that to be the same with our soccer, so I want to help develop our soccer participation by doing these skills training.

Make sure that individuals are able to play, the youth are able to play soccer, and then help them join additional teams, additional leagues around the um additional sites around the city.

Okay.

So it's yes, it should be more than one site across the city.

That's that would be my goal is to have more than one site, not just West End.

If that's what you is that what you tell.

Um, yeah, pretty much.

Just see like where like the growth opportunities are for the league, but I think you guys are I think you know, adding the instructional uh sessions at the individual uh rec centers is uh good next step.

And to the point of uh travel or parents getting the youth to it, we don't want to just be limited to going to Buckland to play, we do want to have the opportunity to play across the city.

Um I think it just makes for more vibrant uh program anyway, getting youth involved all across the whole city.

Yeah.

But that's something we look forward to to doing, yeah.

But not this year.

No.

Would you advise we do that this year?

I you know, we this is now we're going to our third year, right?

With the soccer plant.

Um I you know, I do think that there are, you know, providence is providence.

Like there are certain people in the city that won't go from Mount Pleasant to down to West End.

There are people that won't go from West End to you know, to the east side, and people that won't go from the east side to Mount Pleasant, like it's just it's it's it is one of those very sort of territorial things that I you know, even if it's just one other site that maybe we try out this year.

My I was always sort of under the hopes that we would I'm not from speaking of people have everybody here, but I was hoping that at one point we at least start to branch out and and do more than one location on it.

I wasn't here last year.

Can somebody help me understand what was the participation from our recreation centers as far as soccer goes?

Um last year was there a hundred percent participation?

No, not from not from our recreation centers, no.

Um again, like I mentioned that that is mainly put on from um administrative staff at the main office, but again, we have had support from our recreation center directors, we've had folks volunteer staff to assist the program, but it's not it wasn't mandated prior, and I don't believe um our rec center directors were were instructed to bring additional um youth or registered youth for the program.

No, I think this is one of those things where you know uh it's it's always um I think we always get like I don't want to call it bogged down, but like every rec center has to do this.

But this was more supposed to be, I think, more of a citywide type of program.

So it was I don't think we're really judging on every rec center needs to participate and bring 10 kids.

It's more of a send it out there far and wide to all the neighborhood groups, get the online registration going, recruit as many kids as we can, having three or maybe two hubs across the city, you know, and see what we get for registration numbers and if there's a convenience factor, somebody signs up for I'm throwing Mount Pleasant out there against my neighborhood.

Mount Pleasant, or somebody signs up for West End, you know, what are those numbers look like, and are we able to make it more convenient for folks in their own in their neighborhoods?

But I think if we look at it from a grassroots approach, we need to develop a strong uh foundation for our soccer program.

So if it's not there in existence, if we get too ambitious with um, I I would love to have multiple sites across the city.

Um but if we get too ambitious in doing so, and we don't fill each of those additional sites, then we're looking at failure.

Then we're looking at possibly a deterrence to growing our grassroots soccer program.

Whereas if we stick with the program that's in place and then focus on each recreation center developing their individual soccer skills program to help these help the youth develop the get their game of soccer that may cultivate a better uh a healthier program across the city so that we can branch out to um more of a success uh successful leagues or successful sites um and fill those sites.

Um we see the numbers are down at basketball, which one would think is uh an easy uh lift to fill all these basketball teams, but we see it's it's challenging.

So if we're taking on something new that um it could be problematic and and just um could be problematic, but it could be a wild success.

You don't know until you try, right?

But if if if we fail, are you gonna be happy?

Uh no.

It's not really a matter of whether I'm happy or not.

It's a matter of what type of what type of services we provide to the people who live in the in the city.

I think it's no, but I don't think that would be developing uh a strong service if we're not gonna develop a um a strong foundation, a program that's very grassroot oriented to to help develop.

Um they just said that there wasn't a hundred percent participation by our recs last year.

So I I think that's kind of uh uh worded weirdly that that's not that wouldn't be something that was measured in any like that was an expectation on rec centers to to have participation.

So to say there was a hundred person, that wouldn't be a fair assessment on the rec centers.

What do you mean?

Like it was I don't think we ever like communicated to please speak up if I'm misspoking, but I don't think it was ever like communicated to Jocelyn, like, hey, have participants at the soccer league.

So that could be to go uh to judge them now and be like, oh, you don't have a participant, like that wasn't an expectation.

I think this was like kind of separate from individual rec centers and more of just like a rec department right.

I agree, I agree with that, but the fact is it was a there was a league and there wasn't a hundred percent of participation.

That's something that we need to go back to.

No, I think I I think there was I think every it was more than 80 kids in every division, so for like what we put out there, I think we exceeded it.

If I'm not that's correct, please go back on.

Well, that's how I was.

So previously was not was not mandated or required or asked of our recenter directors to contribute youth to the league, or necessarily um help to facilitate the league, and it was something that was put on as a department-wide initiative.

I think what Sean's trying to get at is I think it's an opportunity for us to grow in that regard and have more involvement from our recreation center directors to help the league, build a foundational league, and then eventually at some point, once we have those foundations set, be able to have satellite locations across the city.

When do we think those foundation, like just setting goals, then when do we think those foundations will be set?

Because you know, we've had this conversation.

I mean, director, you weren't here, but we've had this conversation for the past couple of years now.

So I'm just kind of wondering when you think, you know, given your experience with it, will be set to start to sort of expand the league a little bit more than what's current footprint.

I think I think what you said earlier is a really good point.

You really don't know until you try.

Um, and I and again, the first time we had the soccer league, I think we have registration are at about 60, and we were still over half with that just that league at the West End location.

So again, um I think going into each individual location, because soccer isn't is is very popular in um in the province community.

So I think having these recognitions be the point of contact or the the driver of these of this specific program at their specific location in their community, um, would be a really good opportunity, and again, um a satellite location could involve three recs and still have and we'd be able to still have an additional location if that makes sense.

So, for example, like Igliosi, Battestini, um, and Jocelyn, if they have their individual front front fundamental or foundational uh programs, even if they don't have enough to fill their own league by themselves as a rec collectively because they're in proximity, could yield a pro uh satellite location if that makes sense.

Well, so that that would be my point, right?

So, like if you did some like I used the sort of the triangle, right?

So like West End, Mount Pleasant, Hope, and you spot separated off.

So let's just say in Mount Pleasant, it was Batistini, uh Igliosi, Jocelyn, Kennedy, right, and then West End is Rollins, um, David Lopes, uh Sackett, Elma Community Center, um, those four are assigned there, and then you have Hope, and then it's uh West End, Rollins, um, and not Rollins, um uh Rogers uh who else am I forgetting here?

Kennedy.

Oh, Kennedy, yeah.

But whatever way you break it down, my point is that you know it's there's people are very parochial in Providence, as we know, and they don't like to leave their neighborhoods when it comes to stuff like that, so maybe you get more participation.

Yeah, and I think just to piggyback that exact point, um, kind of catering to that, um, folks wanting to stay within proximity of of where they reside, setting these foundational leagues at each location will give us a good understanding as to what the numbers are at each location.

And then when we set the satellite location, we have an understanding of this is popular in this triangle versus this triangle.

Um so giving us a good idea of where to put a satellite location too as well.

Yeah, usually you think about the timing on all of that, right?

Because you're gonna be testing that out while the soccer league is going on, so you miss a whole year and you gotta catch up to it next year.

But that's you know, something I think for you guys to consider, I think, as you you know, sort of plan it out.

But one thing I just wanted to interject was is a difference between mandating and encouraging.

Yeah, like what mandating is another.

Yeah, sorry, right, right.

But we've we've encouraged and currently we have flyers up at every rec center with a QR code.

Keep in mind, right now we have the attention of several hundred kids in basketball.

This is the time to promote this right now.

And with the QR codes, with the sign-up sheet, I know it sounds old school, but the flyers are up.

Several Rex Handers have maybe a hundred or so basketball boys and girls right now.

I'm sure a lot of them will be looking for something to do in the spring, even if it's the first time.

I remember last year seeing five to ten first-time soccer kids that fell in love with it, especially the uniforms.

You know, it was it was very organized.

It it looked like it's been an established league for a long time.

So, you know, kids get excited about uniforms, they get excited about coaching and instruction, and the presentation at West End, that field is beautiful with all the equipment that we you know, we purchased as well.

So now the time we've already started with the flyers, QR codes to push.

Even if you get one tenth of what we have in the basketball league, there's still a significant number.

Yeah, socks soccer is an entry-level sport for a lot of for a lot of kids, especially like the young young kids, and so