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WORCESTER – The city has started new middle school sports programs after securing a partnership with a nonprofit.
The Play Ball Foundation, an organization that funds middle school sports in high-need communities across the state, has expanded its operations to include Worcester, according to a May 19 news release.
"We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to play," said Jillian Moriarty, a South High Community School teacher who helped spearhead the nonprofit's partnership with the school district.
While there is currently a three-season middle school sports program, high demand meant some students were sidelined, Moriarty explained.
With the nonprofit's funding, the district has added new sports and expand on existing options. This spring, students are playing baseball and softball – sports that were not previously offered. A second soccer team has also been established, giving more students a chance to hit the field.
The district's middle schools compete against each other.
The Play Ball Foundation provides all the necessary components to run the programs, including transportation to and from games and practice, equipment and stipends to pay coaches, all of whom are existing teachers in the school.
"The coaches are the teachers. That's to create that school engagement. You have a middle schooler that's being coached by their science teacher and that fosters a completely different relationship," said Katie Small, executive director of the Play Ball Foundation.
Small said the organization intends to maintain its partnership with the district well into the future.
Come fall, the nonprofit will fund a three-season sports program. Field hockey and a second basketball team have been floated as potential options, Moriarty said.
"We're building it up, sticking on it and it's got very successful. We've had a lot of positive feedback," Moriarty said of the program so far.
Studies have long shown the benefits of organized sports for kids, including improved physical and mental well being, along with the development of social skills.
"Athletics serve as a vital extension of the classroom, providing an environment where our students can cultivate the resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for their success both in high school and in life," Superintendent Brian Allen said in a statement.
In the early 1980s, middle schoolers competed on a variety of school-sanctioned sports teams before budget changes saw their elimination.
Following a push from city leadership, including City Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King, a citywide middle school sports program began again the 2018-19 school year.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester middle school sports expand with new funding
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