When Halo Sports inherited the former Myrtle Grove Optimist baseball program in 2013, officials wanted to make sure the youth organization developed into a league that fit under the sports ministry’s umbrella that serves 2,600 kids through a variety of sports in Wilmington.
Last spring was the first full baseball season and league officials identified changes they felt would enhance the program, as well as for it to function under the Halo model, which is geared toward giving kids a positive experience to grow as a player and person, while having some fun.
“The Halo model is to encourage our kids through youth sports,” said Donnie King, lead pastor of Halo Sports since 2009. “Specifically, coaches come and build their team, develop relationships with their kids, and the reason we do that is it gives them a chance build long-lasting relationships with their players and teammates.
“We’ve had kids together since they were five years old that are now 12 year olds, who have grown together like a family. It’s a great mix and really sets a great nucleus for a good overall experience.”
With registration for spring ball underway, plans are to change the draft system in which kids are selected to teams so that coaches and players will be able to build their own teams, similar to what they do in the Halo Sports basketball league.
“We want to provide the opportunity for friends and coaches to stay together as they progress through the program,” King said. “They will be able to bring a team of eight players and we will leave four to five spots on each team for ‘at-large players,’ which should help with parity across the board.
“We have learned that when our players and parents are building friendships and are given that opportunity to carry those relationships forward, then the experience is positive no matter the wins and losses. The coaches are able to build on the foundations they developed the season before, in character development as well as specific sport fundamentals.”
King said the league will evaluate each team after practice begins and set up the schedule according to level of competition.
Halo Sports will also modify the machine-pitch division for 7 and 8 year olds to allow kids to be introduced to pitching. The pitchers will be able to throw three pitches to each batter before the machine takes over.
One other variation is the modification to tee-ball. Halo officials plan to build eight-person teams and fence off the outfield to allow all the players to play in the infield. They believe this will allow the kids to learn to play their position rather than “picking daises in the outfield,” according to King.
For more information on Halo Sports, visit www.halosports.org.
