City Council - Strong Women, Families, and Communities Committee Hearing on Docket #1852

Governing Body: Boston City Council - Strong Women, Families, and Communities Committee Meeting Type: Committee Hearing Meeting Date: December 01, 2025 at 10:00 AM Attendees:

• Councilors: Erin Murphy (Chair), Edward Flynn, Benjamin Weber, John Fitzgerald, Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Brian Worrell, Liz Breadon
• City Officials: Jose Maso (Chief of Human Services), Tyreek Wilson (Youth Sports Initiatives Manager)
• Panelists (Community Organizations): Reggie Carter (The Hoop Collaborative Youth Development Program), Brad Mahoney (Jamaica Plain Regan Youth League, Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer), Allison Saucier (Boston Scores), Alf Grakem (Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer), Charlie Menakis (Dorchester Little League)
• Public Testimony: John Hanna (Parkway Youth Soccer), Collega (BPS Parent)

• Councilor Erin Murphy, At-Large City Councilor and Chair of the Strong Women, Families, and Communities Committee, opened the hearing at 10:08 AM.
• The hearing is being recorded and live-streamed on boston.gov/city-council-tv and broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios Channel 964.
• Written comments can be sent to cccStrongWomenEducation@boston.gov.
• Public testimony is limited to two minutes per speaker.
• Docket #1852: Order for a hearing to learn how the City Council can support the Mayor's Youth Sports Initiative to increase youth sport participation across Boston.
• Sponsors: Councilor Benjamin Weber, Councilor John Fitzgerald, and Councilor Erin Murphy.
• Referral Date: October 22nd to the Committee of Strong Women, Families, and Communities.
• Attending Councilors: Councilor Edward Flynn, Councilor Benjamin Weber, Councilor John Fitzgerald, Councilor Brian Worrell, Councilor Liz Breadon, Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata.
• A short video showcasing children's positive experiences in youth sports was presented.

• Councilor Benjamin Weber:
  • Expressed support for the Mayor's Youth Sports Initiative.
  • Highlighted lower sports participation rates in Boston compared to suburban communities.
  • Emphasized the importance of youth sports for children's development beyond academics.
  • Acknowledged the significant contributions of volunteer-led organizations (Little Leagues, soccer, hockey, flag football, T-ball).
  • Identified a critical need for the city to address facility limitations (lack of fields, lighting, bathrooms).
  • Mentioned issues with field access due to other users (e.g., English High School) and lack of amenities.
• Councilor Edward Flynn:
  • Thanked sponsors for the important hearing.
  • Stressed the unifying power of sports and its role in teaching sportsmanship, competition, hard work, and discipline.
  • Shared personal experience playing youth sports in South Boston (Little League, Babe Ruth, hockey).
  • Commended dedicated coaches across the city, naming several individuals.
  • Highlighted the diversity of the South End youth baseball program, including participants from Roxbury.
  • Expressed concern about low participation rates among Asian youth (40%) and children in public housing.
  • Advocated for accessibility for students with disabilities, referencing his father coaching a "Challenge Team" for children with special needs.
  • Strongly supported girls' and young women's sports for their developmental benefits.
  • Shared personal anecdote about his son's experience playing for Boston Latin, emphasizing the need for equitable opportunities regardless of financial means.
• Councilor John Fitzgerald:
  • Focused on two main issues: ensuring kids can play and addressing the "AAU creep."
  • Scheduling Challenges: Described the difficulty for parents to manage sign-ups and schedules for multiple sports, often leading to conflicts and wasted registration fees.
  • Proposed a neighborhood-coordinated system for scheduling to provide clarity on practice times, field locations, and game times in advance.
  • AAU Creep: Expressed concern about the trend of children specializing in one sport from a very young age, leading to high costs, exclusion of many kids, and potential negative impacts on broader athletic development.
  • Advocated for offering diverse sports opportunities to counter the AAU trend.
• Councilor Erin Murphy (Chair):
  • Reiterated the positive impact of sports on children's "core memories."
  • Shared experiences attending youth sports events across Boston neighborhoods (e.g., DYH hockey, East Boston Little League, Walsh Park ribbon cutting).
  • Emphasized the importance of equitable opportunities across all neighborhoods.
  • Stressed the Council's role in making youth sports easier to access and participate in.

• Jose Maso (Chief of Human Services) and Tyreek Wilson (Youth Sports Initiatives Manager) presented on "Let's Play Boston."
• Jose Maso:
  • Introduced himself and Tyreek Wilson, both youth coaches.
  • Shared personal experience as a former swim coach, initiating the Blackstone Sharks 25 years ago.
  • Vision: A city where every young person, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, or zip code, has opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports.
  • Aims to use youth sports as a catalyst for community building and economic development.
  • Team: Involves four city departments (including BCYF, Parks) and hundreds of community partners (leagues, sports-based youth development programs, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs).
  • Benefits of Youth Sports: Contributes to physical and mental well-being, better school performance, higher college attendance, and continued physical activity into adulthood.
  • Nationwide, youth sports contribute $39 billion in economic activity annually.
  • Participation Data (2023 Boston Public School Students Survey):
    • 43% of high school students and 53% of middle schoolers participated in at least one sport.
    • Gaps:
      • White students: 69% participation.
      • Black students: 55% participation.
      • Latino students: 41% participation.
      • Asian students: 37% participation (lowest).
      • Boys: Almost 50% participation.
      • Girls: 39% participation.
    • Girls of color are especially underserved.
    • Youth from families in poverty are least likely to participate.
  • Goal: Achieve 63% participation across all demographics, aligning with Federal Healthy People 2030 goal.
    • Aims for a 2% increase per year, with special focus on girls' sports and youth of color.
  • Game Plan (Three Broad Areas):
    1. Lower Barriers to Participation: Make sports more affordable and accessible.
       • Let's Play Boston Sports Directory: One-stop shop for families to find programs.
       • Let's Play Boston Sports Grant: Offers up to $5,000 to community-based providers to lower fees.
         • Over two funding cycles, 75+ grantees received almost $500,000.
       • BCYF and Parks Free Programming: BCYF launched a three-season rec league for ages 8-14 in basketball, futsal, and volleyball, engaging about 300 youth per league.
    2. Invest in Human Capital and Physical Infrastructure:
       • Coaches: Training in youth development through Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement.
       • Facilities:
         • $50 million invested in renovating aging pool infrastructure (12 of 22 pools improved).
         • Addressing backlog of gym renovations at city schools and community centers.
         • Building two new centers (Grove Hall, North End).
         • Revitalizing White Stadium in Franklin Park for BPS athletics and community sports.
    3. Leverage Sports for Community and Economic Prosperity:
       • Let's Play Boston Instagram: Promotes youth sports achievements.
       • Celebration of Champions Event: First event held in June, bringing together Mayor's Cups and City Championships winners; over 300 youth and coaches attended.
  • How City Council Can Help:
    • Recognize student athletes publicly (attend games, social media, highlight wins).
    • Fund recognition for state/national championship runs, travel gear, equipment.
    • Share city information via newsletters and social media.
    • Follow and engage with Let's Play Boston Instagram.
    • Facilitate partnerships within the youth sports ecosystem.

• Councilor Weber:
  • Acknowledged BPS cross-country (boys and girls) and Boston International (boys soccer) winning state titles.
  • Referenced Tony Seraphim (Parkway Soccer) and his view that youth sports are the most important after-school program.
  • Question: What has been learned from the facilities mapping, and what interactions occur with other departments (Parks, BPS) regarding facilities?
  • Maso Response:
    • Works in close partnership with BPS, BCYF, and Parks Department.
    • Quarterly "huddles" bring departments together to discuss initiatives, goals, and collaboration.
    • Monthly meetings with BCYF and BPS specifically for facilities.
    • Listening sessions in 2023 informed the 2024 report and the three strategic goals.
    • Facilities mapping identifies state-owned, privately-owned, free, permitted, and fee-based resources.
    • Learned that resources are finite; focus is on improving existing facilities and equitable investment.
  • Councilor Weber:
    • Highlighted the issue of bathrooms as a "lowest rung on the ladder" problem.
    • Mentioned Millennium Park's long-planned but unbuilt bathroom and JP Youth Soccer's need to pay for bathrooms/porta-potties at English High School.
    • Question: Can the Youth Sports Initiative help with these "small asks"?
  • Maso Response:
    • Parkway Soccer is a two-time recipient of Let's Play Boston grants, which can be used for accessibility, including bathrooms.
    • JP Youth Soccer has not applied for the grant.
    • Grants are annual, but emergency funds are available monthly.
    • Acknowledged the ideal is permanent bathrooms, but grants can support temporary fixes.
  • Councilor Weber:
    • Question: Is the initiative involved in field maintenance discussions (e.g., Millennium Park fencing, Astroturf fields in JP)?
  • Maso Response:
    • Encouraged bringing such issues to their attention to amplify community concerns to the Parks Department.
    • Tyreek Wilson's role is to filter and elevate this information.
  • Councilor Weber (Additional Points):
    • Middle School Barrier: Noted a drop-off in participation around 7th-8th grade, with limited middle school sports in BPS.
    • Citywide Soccer League: Praised the pilot for 4th-grade boys and 3rd-grade girls, but noted skill level variation as a challenge due to fewer teams compared to regional leagues.
• Councilor Flynn:
  • Reiterated the importance of coordination.
  • Praised the South End Youth Baseball program for its diversity.
  • Reiterated concerns about low participation among Asian youth and public housing residents.
  • Emphasized the need for accessible sports for students with disabilities.
  • Strongly supported girls' sports.
  • Maso Response:
    • Confirmed alignment with Councilor Flynn's priorities.
    • Mentioned supporting organizations like Ohana New England (Dragon Boat) through Let's Play Boston grants, serving the Asian American community.
    • Acknowledged that youth sports discussions are not new but the current administration's collective approach is impactful.
    • Highlighted the BCYF Rec League (ages 8-14) specifically addresses the middle school gap to prepare youth for high school sports.
    • Praised Anchi Moreno for her work with the Citywide Sports League.
    • Acknowledged the complexity and size of the youth sports ecosystem.
  • Councilor Flynn (Final Point):
    • Emphasized that all children, regardless of economic background, deserve the same opportunities, referencing his son's access to sports and the financial means required.
• Councilor John Fitzgerald:
  • Reiterated scheduling concerns.
  • Question: What are the barriers to providing more specific schedules earlier in the season?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Challenge is the multitude of programs across different seasons.
    • The Youth Sports Directory (212+ programs) helps map offerings.
    • Working on a guide to consolidate information and make it less overwhelming for families.
  • Fitzgerald (Recommendation): Group information by neighborhoods.
  • Maso Response:
    • Acknowledged the difficulty of coordinating schedules, especially with community, paid, and AAU sports.
    • City can control its own programming.
    • Suggested informing parents about upcoming season opportunities as one season ends (e.g., basketball to baseball).
    • Invited "million-dollar ideas" from councilors and community for scheduling solutions.
  • Fitzgerald:
    • Field Maintenance: Reiterated the need for city involvement, especially since most programs use city facilities.
    • Bathrooms: Suggested a well-maintained porta-potty program as a potential solution if capital investment in permanent bathrooms is too costly.
    • Swimming Proficiency:
      • Question: How is the city ensuring swimming proficiency, and what are the sign-up numbers?
  • Maso Response:
    • Swim Safe Boston: Launched three years ago, provides free swim lessons.
    • Over 12,000 lessons provided to date (each "lesson" is a series of 8 classes).
    • Partners with YMCAs, West End House, Boys & Girls Clubs, BCYF.
    • Focus on beginner swimmers, aligned with American Red Cross.
    • Age range varies (from 6-year-olds to 13-14-year-olds).
    • Programs for autism spectrum (sensory-friendly) and specific cultural groups (e.g., Somali/Muslim girls).
    • BPS renovations allow for swim lessons during the school day as part of curriculum in some schools.
  • Fitzgerald:
    • Question: Are there specific programs for DCF (Department of Children and Families) kids?
  • Maso Response:
    • Wide net covers all Boston youth.
    • No direct answer on specific DCF programs but noted Superintendent Skipper's focus on this population.
    • Mentioned Office of Returning Citizens received $250,000 for this population through participatory budgeting.
    • Electronic Devices: Agreed on the need to get kids off screens and active.
    • Esports: Acknowledged esports as an entry point for youth with social-emotional or physical disabilities, providing team engagement.
• Councilor Brian Worrell:
  • Swimming Lessons:
    • Question: Of the 12,000 lessons, how many students returned for multiple rounds if needed?
  • Maso Response:
    • Clarified 12,000 represents series of lessons (e.g., 8 classes).
    • Focus is on beginner lessons; students can access a second round if they don't pass the first.
  • City-wide Initiatives:
    • Question: Any thoughts on more city-wide initiatives beyond BNBL and Mayor's Cup, especially for sports like football?
  • Maso Response:
    • Praised Tyreek Wilson's work.
    • Wilson Response:
      • Focus on amplifying existing programs and finding innovative ways to serve interests.
      • BMVL (Girls Volleyball League): Launched last summer with BPS and Parks due to demand. Started with 4 teams, expanded to 8 due to 120 girls trying to sign up.
      • Role is to convene departments to meet identified needs.
  • Centralized Sign-up System:
    • Question: Any thought on a centralized sign-up system (like Family Schools Online) for youth sports to reduce parent burden?
  • Maso Response:
    • "Great suggestion," something to look into, allowing parents to click areas of interest.
  • Funding Support for Organizations:
    • Question: Any support for organizations in telling their story or creating packages to seek funding from corporate sponsors (e.g., New Balance)?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Let's Play Boston Grant is primary.
    • Let's Play Boston Relief Grant: Created for emergencies (up to $2,000) for championship runs or unexpected needs.
    • Facilitates partnerships and connections with potential funders (e.g., Dick's House of Sport).
  • Maso Response:
    • Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement offers ongoing training for youth servant organizations.
    • Youth Development Fund (Emerging Learning Cohort): Third year, brings smaller non-profits (many sports-based) together monthly for grant writing, advocacy training. Partnered with Urban College this year.
  • Access to BCYF Centers:
    • Question: How can someone get access to a BCYF center for indoor soccer?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Rental process/form available.
    • BCYF centers are primarily free and programmed for community members.
    • Cautious about private organizations to ensure public access.
    • Partnership with BPS for co-located facilities.
  • Councilor Worrell (Final Point):
    • Shouted out BPS and Avery for their dedication.
    • Challenged Councilor Weber and Chief Maso to a basketball game.
• Councilor Liz Breadon:
  • Apologized for being late.
  • Shared personal experience playing softball from 4th grade through high school, highlighting the importance of volunteer efforts (DiMeo family) and the values learned.
  • Field and Court Space Competition:
    • Question: What is the city doing to address competition for field space, especially between youth and for-profit adult leagues (e.g., Lopresti Park)? How can youth get first priority?
  • Maso Response:
    • Acknowledged the complexity of the ecosystem.
    • Prioritizes BPS students and student athletes for city-owned/controlled spaces.
    • Problem is complex due to paid organizations and AAU leagues.
    • Discussed at state youth sports working group.
    • Offered to discuss specific pain points offline to understand historical access and shifts.
  • Technical Assistance for Start-ups:
    • Question: What technical assistance is provided for starting new leagues (e.g., restarting a girls' softball league)?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Works with programs needing additional support (e.g., documentation).
    • Prefers to work with established programs but can connect new initiatives with partners.
    • Cited Girls Flag Football League (BPS) as an example of a foundation-supported initiative.
    • Invited direct contact for questions on starting leagues and connections.
  • Maso Response:
    • Grant requirements often include an established record of serving the population.
    • Acknowledged the "chicken and egg" situation for new organizations needing initial support.
  • Councilor Breadon (Final Points):
    • Private/Philanthropic Dollars: Noted the $500,000+ from Let's Play Boston grants and $1 million+ from Swim Safe Boston.
    • World Cup 2026: Emphasized prioritizing Boston kids for related opportunities.
• Councilor Benjamin Weber (Follow-up):
  • Clarified his high school indoor triple jump record.
  • Summer Leagues:
    • Question: Are there summer leagues for kids, especially for the 7th-8th grade barrier, given the difficulty of finding volleyball opportunities?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Departments offer many development opportunities during summer.
    • Focus on "joy and fun" to counter early competitiveness.
    • Camps offer multi-sport options.
  • Maso Response:
    • Parks Department offers sports centers at six locations for ages 6-13, focusing on cultivating love of sport.
    • Noted the drop-off in participation around middle school due to over-structured, competitive sports and injuries.
    • BPS and BCYF also offer weekend sports.
  • Coaches:
    • Question: What is being done to help leagues find qualified coaches, especially given the presence of college athletes in the area?
  • Wilson Response:
    • Discussions with Connecticut Sun and Celtics on creating a pipeline for youth development/coaches.
    • Exploring a "junior coaches program" for youth.
    • Focus on increasing girls' coaches.
    • Coaches Coffee Hours: Networking events for coaches, with the next one on Friday.
  • Maso Response:
    • Training opportunities for coaches in partnership with Positive Coaches Alliance and Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport.
  • Councilor Weber (Comments):
    • Track Coaches: Noted a need for better training for track coaches.
    • College Partnerships: Suggested leveraging college partnerships (e.g., Northeastern's women's basketball team) as part of PILOT agreements for community benefits.
    • Hennigan Pool: Advocated for prioritizing the reopening of Hennigan Pool as a community resource.
• Councilor Erin Murphy (Chair - Follow-up):
  • Bathrooms:
    • Reiterated the issue of custodians needing to be paid to open school buildings for bathroom access.
    • Question: How are purchased/rented porta-potties and storage units on city property managed?
    • Question: How are issues like water being turned off in winter or barrels being removed managed, and how can the city provide clear, consistent information to organizations?
  • Maso Response:
    • Lacked specific details on porta-potty management but acknowledged the complexity.
    • Agreed that coordination with city-owned buildings (BPS, BCYF) for janitorial access could solve bathroom issues and avoid separate porta-potty costs.
    • Acknowledged the potential for unwieldy situations with multiple private storage units/porta-potties.
    • Committed to working on a holistic view with the Parks Department.
  • Non-Traditional Sports:
    • Question: What falls under the initiative's purview beyond "big sports" (e.g., floor hockey, fencing, wrestling, dance)?
  • Maso Response:
    • "Everything."
    • Goal is to introduce a multitude of sports to young people to build well-rounded adults.
    • Acknowledged the pressure on parents to invest in sports for college scholarships, which is a "gamble."
    • Amplifying non-traditional sports (Dragon Boat Racing, rowing, MMA, fencing, circus programs).
  • Wilson Response:
    • Tasked with finding all programs; still ongoing.
    • Connects non-traditional sports programs with BCYF or BPS centers looking for programming.
    • Helps with exposure and partnerships.

• Panelists Introduced:
  • Reggie Carter (The Hoop Collaborative Youth Development Program): Based in Boston and Brockton, serves ages 4 through college. Partners with Match Charter School for Saturday School (girls' basketball skills/drills), fall pre-season league (6 varsity girls' teams). Also runs "Ladies Night" in Brockton.
  • Brad Mahoney (Jamaica Plain Regan Youth League, Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer): JP resident, involved with Regan Youth League, JP Youth Soccer, and co-founded a travel baseball team (counter to AAU) seven years ago. Runs futsal teams.
  • Allison Saucier (Boston Scores): Director of Community Programs. Serves BPS after-school soccer and enrichment, high school program (Ethan Goldman) with post-secondary readiness. Community programs in East Boston (Vacation and East Boston FC recreational youth soccer). Serves ~1,200 students yearly.
  • Alf Grakem (Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer): Board member for 11+ years, also coached in Regan League Baseball. JPU Soccer serves over 600 kids per season in fall and spring.
  • Charlie Menakis (Dorchester Little League): Involved for 32 years, co-president for 8 years. Runs Merge League, year-round clinics. Serves ~500 kids, including a challenger program.
• Charlie Menakis (Dorchester Little League - Early Departure):
  • Praised the hearing and Mayor's initiatives.
  • Shout-out to Boston Parks and Rec: Excellent relationship with permitting and maintenance teams.
  • Public-Private Partnership: Highlighted Dorchester Little League's successful partnership with the city for McConnell Park field (built 5 years ago, well-maintained).
  • Advocacy Point: Advocated for increased funding for maintenance and operation in the Parks Department, arguing against underfunding operations after capital improvements.
  • DCF Families: Suggested a pilot program with the Chief and City Council to reserve spots in leagues for DCF children.
  • Porta-Potties: Dorchester Little League provides unlocked porta-potties at McConnell Park for 8 months, cleaned weekly, with few issues. Provided additional porta-potties for Mayor's Cup.
• Reggie Carter (The Hoop Collaborative):
  • Works with city, state, DCF, Parks and Rec.
  • Porta-Potties: Confirmed providing unlocked, cleaned porta-potties for events (e.g., Heat Wave Tournament) for community access, but this requires funding.
  • Location: Programs often in Hyde Park, Mattapan, Ronan Park, where accessibility is an issue.
  • Funding: Crucial for year-round programming, coaches, equipment, and basic amenities like restrooms.
• Brad Mahoney (Jamaica Plain Regan Youth League):
  • Acknowledged the value of "Let's Play Boston" and the hearing.
  • Increased Funding for Parks and Rec: Vital.
  • Murphy Playground: Was offline, forcing Pony Division (ages 13-16) to play at Jefferson Playground.
  • Grant Funding: The $5,000 grant doesn't go as far as it used to; needs to be increased, especially with rising scholarship requests.
  • Coordination of Field Renovations: Lack of coordination (e.g., Murphy and Billingsfield offline simultaneously) creates logjams.
  • Indoor Space: Permitting through BPS (school dude system) is challenging and costly (e.g., $515 invoice for Curley gym use when janitor is already present).
  • Age 14-15+: Difficulty finding space for this age group.
  • Emphasized the physical, social, and emotional benefits of sports, especially for girls (e.g., daughter's indoor track).
  • Cited a diverse summer travel team (ages 14-18) as an example of positive social connection.
• Allison Saucier (Boston Scores):
  • Serves both in-school and neighborhood youth soccer.
  • Free Programming: Allows access for under-resourced families.
  • BPS Changes: Need to better align with BPS changes (7th/8th graders moving to high schools) to avoid losing middle school girls from sports.
  • Permitting Transparency: Advocated for more transparency in the permitting department to allow organizations to coordinate field use and avoid cancellations.
  • East Boston FC: Launched in East Boston, immediately served 270 kids, showing a programming gap.
  • Sustainability: Need to make such programs sustainable and expand to other neighborhoods.
  • Coordination with Other Leagues: East Boston FC coordinates with East Boston Little League (e.g., aligning schedules for 8 AM soccer and subsequent Little League games) to ease parent burden.
  • Mayor's Cup: Great opportunity for kids and for collaboration between neighborhood leagues. Suggested a more formalized approach to bring league heads together.
  • Cost Reduction: Support systems that reduce program delivery costs (e.g., Boston Soccer League grant covering registration fees).
  • Field Quality: Muddy fields are discouraging; need for better mowing and reseeding.
• Alf Grakem (Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer):
  • Agreed with the Mayor's initiative's diagnosis of low participation and gaps.
  • Facilities and Physical Infrastructure: Called them "social infrastructure."
  • Availability and Quality:
    • Availability: Permits are scarce. JPU Soccer pays thousands for lights at fields. Indoor court time is expensive. Permitting process is opaque and pits programs against each other (e.g., Pop Warner taking JPU Soccer's permitted field).
    • Quality: Fields are built but not maintained, leading to deterioration. Cited Pagel Field and Murphy Field renovations as examples of community-driven improvements.
  • Data: The current mapping only shows location/type; needs more data on hours of availability, usage, and need.
  • Strategy: City needs a real strategy for athletic fields that assesses demand, identifies gaps, and stops treating youth programs as competitors. Requires capital investment and ongoing maintenance.
  • Under-resourced: Believes the Youth Sports Initiative and Parks and Rec are under-resourced and understaffed.
  • Volunteer Recruitment: Difficult; suggested city help connect young adults as volunteer coaches.
  • "Playground Model": Agreed with the idea of allowing kids to explore sports on their own, rather than overly structured programs.

• Councilor Liz Breadon:
  • Acknowledged Parks Department vacancies and staffing issues.
  • Question to Mr. Carter (Basketball): What are the issues you face (indoor/outdoor space, maxing out space)?
  • Carter Response:
    • Headaches/Challenges:
      • Space: Lost access to Match Charter School gym for middle school league due to high school season, scrambling for space for 150 kids.
      • Financing: Need for stipends for volunteers/referees (e.g., $50/week for gas).
      • Transportation: Safety concerns for kids traveling after dark; need for transportation support.
    • Little Rim Program: Collaboration of four organizations (Beantown Slam, Herc 42 Skills and Drills, The Hoop Collaborative, ADSL, Hill Boston) for ages 4-7 and 9-14 (co-ed skills/drills/scrimmages).
    • Personal Experience: Grew up playing BPS, Cushing Academy, Merrimack College (basketball scholarship). Emphasized safe spaces (Boys and Girls Club, Lee School).
    • Ronan Park: Grass growing on courts due to underutilization; had to make calls for maintenance. Offered to build maintenance costs into proposals if city lacks staff.
    • Lights: Some outdoor courts lack lights; requires portable generators.
  • Grakem Response (Facilities):
    • Hours of Availability: Turf fields provide more hours of access (after rain, during rain).
    • Data Sophistication: City needs more sophisticated data on field availability and usage to better allocate resources.
    • Volunteer Recruitment: A real strain; suggested city help connect young adults as coaches/volunteers.
    • "Junior Referee Program": JPU Soccer has a program for kids to ref in-house before state accreditation, developing skills.
• Councilor John Fitzgerald:
  • Thanked Mr. Carter for Ronan Park maintenance.
  • Shared personal anecdote about playing in Regan League and catching for Manny Del Carmen.
  • Question: What other gaps are organizations filling that the city could help with?
  • Mahoney Response:
    • Creative Solutions: Suggested college sponsoring renovation of a ball field (NCAA standards) for community benefit.
    • Turf Fields: Need to understand the city's stance on organic fill turf fields and explore options.
  • Saucier Response:
    • High School Referees: Engages high schoolers as paid referees for school games.
    • Referee Training: Lack of local referee training; suggested city cover costs ($125-$150) or host trainings.
    • SuccessLink: Explore using SuccessLink to pay high schoolers as referees or assistant coaches for neighborhood programs.
• Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata:
  • Funding Needs:
    • Question: What is the cost of running programs to understand how much more funding the city should award?
  • Carter Response (The Hoop Collaborative):
    • Tournament (weekend): ~$10,000.
    • Empower Her Basketball League (6 high school girls' teams, 8-9 weeks): ~$15,000 (gym, refs, table, jerseys, trophies, water, DJ, play-by-play).
    • Saturday School (girls ages 6-19): ~$20,000.
    • Funding needed for equipment, space, food, shirts, and staff stipends (high school/college kids, coaches).
  • Mahoney Response (Regan League):
    • 500 participants, under $100 per registrant (mid-March to mid-June).
    • $5,000 grant is insufficient; needs closer to $10,000 for scholarships alone.
    • Operates on a break-even basis.
    • Summer travel team: $1,000 registration fee, but kids pay what they can; actual cost is $250 per player.
  • Saucier Response (Boston Scores):
    • MISA (Mass Youth Soccer Association) Fees: $22 per volunteer, $11 per player (non-profit rate) for administrative fees.
    • Scholarships: Provided 32 scholarships this season; goal is to increase.
    • Boston Soccer League (BSL) Fees: $500-$775 per team per season (fall and spring); currently covered by a grant, but this is a significant cost.
    • Fundraising at grassroots level for neighborhood sports.
  • Grakem Response (JPU Soccer):
    • 600 kids per season, $120,000 annual budget.
    • MISA and BAYS fees include insurance and regulatory infrastructure.
  • CPR/Stop the Bleed Training:
    • Question: Does the city provide this training for free?
  • Carter Response:
    • Depends; staff often already trained.
    • Tries to send volunteers to city-offered trainings (Boys & Girls Clubs, community centers) when available to avoid program costs.
  • Grakem Response:
    • Safe Sport training and concussion awareness are part of Mass Youth Soccer's coach credentialing process.

• John Hanna (Parkway Youth Soccer):
  • Board member for 25 years.
  • 100% volunteer organization, serves over 1,400 children (house league and travel).
  • Utilizes Millennium Park; emphasized the need for maintenance to preserve capital investments.
  • Provides all goals, hardware, equipment.
  • Coaches are volunteers.
  • Thanked the city for the grant money and the council for the meeting.
  • Invited councilors to attend board meetings and spend a full day at the fields to understand operations.
• Collega (BPS Parent):
  • Parent of five BPS students; son at Tech Boston (junior), plays varsity soccer since freshman year.
  • Son played at Parkway, Boston Scores, Hammer Club, now 2nd division IFA.
  • Highlighted issues with BPS sports: missed games due to late/absent buses.
  • Tech Boston track team lacks facilities, runs in stairs/neighborhood.
  • White Stadium: Advocated for saving $30 million by not having a pro soccer team at White Stadium, redirecting funds to BPS facilities and sports.
  • Suggested old West Roxbury High School site for women's soccer team (ample parking, off Route 1).
  • College Scholarships: Emphasized that Boston school kids are often overlooked for college scholarships.
  • Andrew Angus: Highlighted Andrew Angus (Head of Johnson Community Center, Mission Hill), a former college/pro soccer player, who is trying to get Boston kids recognized by college and pro coaches. Requested support for him.
  • Martial Arts: As an RN and violence prevention nurse, advocated for martial arts in BPS schools for physical and mental development and peacemaking.

• Councilor Benjamin Weber:
  • Thanked the Chair, co-sponsors, and panelists.
  • Reiterated that supporting youth sports programs run by Boston residents is a key way to improve the city for kids.
  • Committed to applying this message to his work, especially in the next budget cycle.
• Councilor John Fitzgerald:
  • Shared nostalgic memories of playing youth sports in Dorchester (Parkway, Regan League, Perkins School, Ronan Park).
  • Committed to continued advocacy on the Council for funding.
  • Emphasized the "triple A bond rating" for individuals: academics, athletics, and arts, as crucial for well-rounded youth.
  • Thanked all for their time and dedication.
• Councilor Erin Murphy (Chair):
  • Thanked all for their presence and insights.
  • Shared personal experience as a woman who grew up with limited sports opportunities, now seeing her daughter coach.
  • Stressed the importance of investing in youth sports, especially during budget season.
  • Cited low BPS per-pupil spending on sports ($76-$96) compared to state average (double) and other towns (up to $800).
  • Praised peer coaching programs (e.g., Dorchester baseball) and the potential to leverage high school volunteer hours.
  • Emphasized the need to support existing organizations and ensure effective spending to avoid issues like turning kids away or canceling games due to poor maintenance.
  • Committed to continued collaboration.

The hearing on Docket #1852 was adjourned.