By William Cramp Fit Flyer reporters | Players in Philadelphia’s La Liga del Barrio sign up to play basketball, flag football, and track and field. But while polishing their skills, they also learn sportsmanship and how to build connections with kids from different parts of the city.
La Liga “brings families together and other players in the league; it brings them all together,” said Mr. Raymond Alvarez, president and chief executive officer, in an interview with Fit Flyer reporters. “It’s a healthy environment for them and for us.”
Basketball coach Joshua Montes said that La Liga thinks of each child as family and that all staff members strive to encourage and help each student athlete. The program is based in North Philadelphia for kids 6 and older.
Participating in group sports has both physical and mental benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic, a hospital and research center. It helps you get stronger and also gives you a sense of belonging, the clinic said on its website. You have people to cheer you on and make you want to continue doing what you like, even if you could lose a game or it’s hard.
“What I enjoy most about coaching with La Liga is the family atmosphere that the program has. They do offer a competitiveness for the kids, but at the same time they allow them to grow and develop,” Coach Montes said.
By participating in La Liga, Mr. Alvarez said, kids can learn how to be team players and can make new friends by improving their social skills. The kids also must “use their brains,” he said, because coaches are giving directions they need to follow.
Like all the other La Liga coaches, Coach Montes is a volunteer. He’s been coaching for nine years, he said, and it makes him feel good because it’s a chance to help so many kids play sports in safe spaces.
Many of the coaches are former La Liga players. “Now they’re with their kids. I think because they grew up in La Liga, they know the values and family atmosphere and they want to pass that on to not just their kids but to other kids as well,” Mr. Alvarez said.
“One of the main reasons I started coaching at La Liga was to be able to help the young children develop at the game of basketball,” said Coach Montes. “At the time I was strictly doing basketball training with my son and nephews, and my older brother encouraged me to begin coaching for La Liga.”
La Liga also teaches kids that it’s OK to lose, Mr. Alvarez said. “We console the kids and help them understand that it’s OK to cry,” he said. “Maybe next time they’ll be the ones winning the championship.”
He said he gets emotional when he thinks of giving back to the community for 25 years. “It makes me feel absolutely wonderful,” he said.
If a player starts to struggle academically or behaviorally, Mr. Alvarez said, La Liga is there to help. “We will try to give you the resources you need to help you,” he said. For example, “if something’s wrong and you’re not doing well in math, we will try to get you some help.”
The season starts in January and runs through April. No one is left out and everybody gets a uniform.
Players practice and compete at Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School in Torresdale. The cost to join the league is $60. Mr. Alvarez said the league will help families who can’t afford the fee.
For more information about La Liga del Barrio, visit: laligadelbarrio.com.
Illustration by Naya, 6th grade, Adaire, 25-26
