Volunteer coaching is a tradition dating back to the Lakewood of 1957. Volunteers were instrumental in making early Lakewood's parks programs a reality.
These volunteers are still the backbone of the Lakewood Youth Sports (LYS) program. For youth sports players, participation is a chance to experience fun competition and learn new skills in a supportive, safe environment. Volunteer coaches help make that possible. Recognizing their efforts was a part of Sport Illustrated’s recognition of Lakewood as a Sportstown USA city in 2004.
Ed Duarte is a coach at Mae Boyar Park. He played baseball, football and basketball as a kid, and now coaches his two sons. Ed enjoys coaching LYS because “it has a slower pace than Little League or Pop Warner and provides a good foundation for kids to learn the game, learn sportsmanship and competitiveness, and have fun. It’s a good starter league for first time players.” He also has “heard parents express that they initially came to our league because they heard good things, and stayed when those things were validated.”
When asked why he continues to coach, Ed says, “I like teaching the kids, developing relationships with them and seeing them progress from initial practice at the beginning of the season to the last game of the season. It provides kids with the opportunity to develop friendships and interpersonal skills. A lot of parents develop friendships as well. My wife Marcy and I have really enjoyed the friendships we have made while in the program”.
The LYS program organizes coached teams and league play in youth baseball, softball, football, basketball, and volley tennis. Information about LYS and the other youth programs is found in the city's recreation catalog. To become a volunteer LYS coach, stop by any park or call the recreation office at 562-866-9771, extension 2408.
The goal of the Recreation and Community Services Department is to provide leisure activities through creative programming and partnerships. The city strives to provide activities at neighborhood parks where residents can relax with friends and family, picnic, meditate, meet new people.
