South Delta Minor Fastpitch values "giving back" to the community, and towards that goal, has incorporated a mentoring program with its players.
It is a peer type system , similar to the buddy system in elementary schools. The aim is to develop leadership skills, as well as increase the self confidence and character of both the mentors, as well as their up-andcoming softball stars.
The program was initiated through Ladner Fastpitch a couple of years ago, and immediately grew this season as a merger between Ladner and Tsawassen formed South Delta Minor Fastpitch (SDMF). It continues to develop and now includes a favorable response with heavy involvement throughout Delta's rep programs with the Delta Heat, South Delta Invaders and South Delta Lightning all playing important roles in expanding the program.
Mentors can have involvement in lots of different areas.
Included are Mite age Player Development Clinics, held each Saturday at South Delta secondary school in Tsawwassen. This winter saw 20 different young ladies come out and teach the newest players in the sport, how to get off to a flying start.
The Learn To Play program , taught during class time for kids in Kindergarten to Grade 2 at most nearby elementary schools, would not have been possible without SDMF mentors. Senior coaches oversaw the 45 minute introduction to softball session, but the gym class itself was completely taught by young girls involved playing the sport locally.
Fully included in this are the the local athletes from Delta Special Olympics (DSO) . During the ball season, each Friday evening at Hawthorne Park, young female fastpitch players take time out from their busy softball schedules to participate , either individually or as part of their own teams and assist the DSO athletes in improving their softball skills.
The character and self confidence of everyone involved continues to develop each time out. Spearheaded by a remarkable collection of young ladies from the local softball community that just want to "give something back" to a sport that has given them so much.
