Youth & High School

Youth Sports Festival set for this weekend
March 20, 2007

Gillette Stadium is playing host to the first-ever New England Youth Sports Festival this weekend.

The event is designed to bring all of the distinct elements of youth sports together in a unique format that will appeal to all attendees – be they children who are active in sports or would like to become so, adults who are involved in sports administration or simply parents who want to learn more about the sports their children are involved in.

The festival will feature a unique format of sports activities and skills training for boys and girls from ages 6-18, as well as educational workshops and clinics for parents, administrators and officials involved in youth sports.

Six youth sports organizations – Mass Youth Soccer, New England Pop Warner Football, New England Babe Ruth League Baseball/Softball, New England Amateur Athletic Union Basketball, Mass Youth Hockey and Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse League – have helped to plan the event and will oversee various activities.

Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst will be at the team's booth on Sunday from 10:30-11am, signing autographs and taking pictures with participants. The club's mascot, Slide, will make appearances throughout the weekend. Special ticket offers will be made available to festival attendees.

A series of scheduled clinics and demonstrations will enable participants to practice their favorite sport, and maybe even learn about a new one, under the guidance of top area coaches. Mass Youth Soccer will be running a number of age-specific ‘skill zones', focusing on fundamentals such as shooting, dribbling and small-sided games, throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, CATZ Athletic Training will also be present and will put on a number of sessions related to the proper methods of conditioning for young soccer players.

Coaches, officials, parents and administrators will have the opportunity to participate in discussions on a range of subjects, including advances in coaching and equipment, conditioning, sportsmanship, responsibilities of coaches, officials and parents, financing and sponsorships and sports nutrition and safety.

Coaches and game officials will run hands-on sessions geared towards the education and further knowledge of the sport(s) with which participants are involved. Topics will include organizing practices, drills, developing game strategies and rules interpretation.

Autograph sessions with local sporting stars will also be a feature of the weekend, as will the opportunity to visit vendor booths of New England sporting businesses.

“An event like this has been a long time coming,” said Mark Matanes, State Commissioner for EMass Babe Ruth Baseball. “It's the perfect opportunity to showcase everything that is great about youth sports.”

“This is the first time all of these groups have been in a room at once to discuss how, together, they can promote youth sports,” said Bernie Weichsel, of BEWI Productions, the festival's promoter, following a recent meeting. “The meeting was incredibly productive and my excitement for what can be accomplished at this event has reached a new level.”

“Youth sports are all about sportsmanship, development and preparation for life,” said Phil Jordan, Northwest Region Director for Mass Bay Youth Lacrosse. “Whatever sport a kid chooses to play, it's just great that they are playing sports, which is why we are excited to be a part of this.”

For more information on the event, email Jeff Cornoyer or visit www.newenglandyouthsportsfestival.com.