Community Sports Score Big Among Youth

Photo by David Arilotta Photography

Community Sports Score Big Among Youth

by Colleen Onuffer

For many adults, favorite childhood memories include lacing up cleats, putting on a jersey and being part of a community sports team. Our area is home to multiple organizations that give kids the opportunities to learn a sport, make friends and create their own memories.

“I think that as a parent, you remember the memories you made on the field and you want that for your kids too,” said Rick Vitaro, who has been involved with Chili Youth Baseball for two years and currently serves as the organization’s president.

Vitaro continued, “Kids have so many different options these days. Not only with all of the technology available, but there’s so many more sports offered in the summer – plus travel sports have blown up where those commitments are sometimes all year around. Before all of this, baseball was what kids did during the summer.”

Chili Youth Baseball has been around since 1954 and has 225 players registered across 17 teams and five divisions this season. With Churchville, Gates and Wheatland all tied to Chili, players from all surrounding towns are welcome to join the league.

Another popular community organization is Chili Soccer Association, one of the oldest and largest soccer clubs in New York.

“For over 50 years, Chili Soccer Association has had the sole purpose to get area children to play and enjoy the game of soccer,” said Victoria Sloan, Director of Public Relations for the organization. Sloan has been involved with Chili Soccer since her son, a legacy player, started in the Tykes program at five years old. For the past five years, she’s been on the board. “Chili Soccer paved the way for many of our local clubs to become part of such a great soccer community.”

Its history dates back to 1968 when Ed Merante started the first boys’ soccer program in the USA with four teams of seven-yearolds. Today, Chili Soccer has several different programs for all ages and skill levels, with roughly 1,000 participants each year.

With the pandemic pausing sports seasons over the past couple of years, some organizations strive to regain players.

“Prior to the pandemic, we were growing consistently because of the coaching and youth development that was being offered,” explained Michael Georgetti, President of Gates Chili Little League. “Now we are almost into a reset mode trying to regain popularity.”

This year, the organization had six teams with 70 youth players.

“Now that we are starting basically from scratch again, we are trying to make sure that we are delivering a program that is teaching the basics to the game of baseball and giving all the kids a fun and exciting season.”

Beyond skills of the game, these organizations instill deeper life lessons.

“With the game of baseball, there is always something new to learn as well as teaching kids how to fail and still be successful,” said Georgetti. “It’s also a way for parents to give the kids a structured program to keep them involved in positive programming.”

Vitaro said, “I think there are a lot of life lessons for kids to learn by playing sports in general. Things like listening to your coach, learning new skills, working as a team, working hard to get better,

Photo by David Arilotta Photography learning sportsmanship, and encouraging your teammates. All those things are great to teach kids even as a four-year-old.”

From local sponsors to participation in events, community is a key part to these organization.

“I think Chili Baseball can help bring the community together in a lot of ways,” said Vitaro. “Our hope is that it helps build roots here. If you grow up in a great community where you are able to participate in these leagues and activities, build great memories and see the community thriving, then you are more likely to want to stay.”

This year Chili Youth Baseball organized an Opening Day event to kick off their season, introducing each team, throwing a ceremonious first season pitch, and providing food and activities for kids. Beyond that, the organization has participated in community events organized by the town – such as the Christmas tree lighting, community Halloween event and walking in the Chil-E Fest parade. The organization has plans in the coming years to be able to give back more to the community, including raising money to help improve the fields they have been fortunate enough to use over the years.

Chili Soccer Association also tries to stay involved with the community. Each year they host three tournaments, including the Pink the Field Tournament which is a fundraiser that earns money for Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. They also work “with Town of Chili each year to organize a Give Back Day where players and coaches work to help maintain and beautify Davis and Union Station parks, which are our home field spaces,” said Sloan.

Especially now, people enjoy being part of something bigger. The love for these sports is felt both on and off the field.

“This organization means a lot to me. I love the rich history, combined with the promising future,” said Sloan. “Seeing new kids come in each year and grow and progress as they go along, while developing lifelong skills and friendships is what it’s really all about.”

Georgetti, who played in Gates Chili Little League himself as a kid, echoes that sentiment. “To me, the organization is a great gift to give youth and coaches an opportunity to bond and grow to love a great sport,” he said.

“What’s great about baseball is that the game hasn’t changed,” said Vitaro. “It brings people together to play and have fun and I think that as long as it’s around, parents and kids will always want to play.”