Information about Summer Sports at Trinity Lime Rock

WHEN:  Young people from Trinity and from the larger community "do sports" usually starting in June, and continuing through July and August, meeting every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.  We hold our last session of the year on the Sunday preceding Labor Day Weekend.  In 2009 our first session will be July 5 and our final session will be held August 23. 

WHERE:  Trinity Episcopal Church in the Lime Rock neighborhood of Lakeville, Litchfield County, CT.  We meet in Reid Field (located off Dugway Road, behind the church).  

WHO:  Young people ages 4 to18.  You're invited whether you have any affiliation with Trinity or not.  Our Lime Rock neighbors are particularly welcome.  So are interested young people from the surrounding area.  Don't live here?  Just here for the summer -- or even the weekend?  YOU are welcome too!    The level of your athletic skills is NOT important.  No matter whether you're a beginner or already an elite player, we are glad to have you with us. 

While this program started out back in 2005 under the auspices of our Sunday School, now our orientation is providing a worthwhile activity for the young people of the community, regardless of religion or church membership.  (We always have more than one additional adult volunteer -- and usually several -- in attendance during each session for safety reasons).

WHAT WE DO:  We do sports.  In past years we did soccer, because the kids were interested mainly in soccer.  However, as kids grow up and new kids come along, interests change as well.  At Trinity, soccer seems to be of limited interest anymore, but T-ball is of great interest to the younger kids, while volleyball is where the older kids seem to be thinking.  Fortunately, we're small enough to be flexible on this. 

The actual activities any particular session depends on the mix of ages and skill levels of those who attend.  Older and more experienced participants also have plenty of opportunity to help younger ones develop skills.   When it rains we move into the parish library and, as a concession to our days involved with soccer, we'll watch soccer skills DVDs and videos. 

This program is participant-driven, so the interests and capabilities of all of our participants help us continue to shape it. 

Geoff Brown administrates the program.

Here are photos of some of our coaches of past seasons

Coach Richard Kirby

Coach Troy Ramcharran

Coaches Patrick and Jane Cooke

Organizer Geoff Brown

More to come!

WHAT TO BRING:  Athletic shoes -- they're pretty important since we play on a field.  Ordinary sneakers are fine. 

Sunscreen and insect repellent are an excellent idea, too.  

We always provide plenty of cold drinking water during our time in Trinity Field, but if you wish you can bring your own water bottle.  There are always treats during the parish coffee hour after Summer Sports is over for the day.

COST:  There is absolutely no charge for this program. We do take a completely voluntary offering after sports are finished on Sunday mornings for those going inside for Communion. 

Read more about Summer Sports 2009 at Trinity.

Call Geoff Brown at (860)824-0640 or e-mail him at soccer@trinitylimerock.org if have any questions.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Question:  Why does Trinity Lime Rock do this?

Answer: 

1.  We think that kids need some summer sports activity in our area.

2.  Trinity's got a beautiful, well drained 8+ acre field for a back yard.

3.  We like to welcome kids who are just here for the summer as well as kids from the area who don't attend Trinity, and this is a great way to do it.

4.  We know that sports participation is important.  As the New York Times recently reported, girls who play interscholastic sports are 41% more likely to graduate from college than their peers who do not -- and skills do count!

5.  Athletic activity for kids, sadly being eliminated or curtailed in the schools, is an effective antidote to the national epidemic of childhood obesity.

6.  Coach Kirby was recently quoted in the Hotchkiss Magazine:  "I have a basic philosophy of developing the whole person -- mental, physical, and spiritual."  That pretty much says it all, doesn't it? 

QUESTION:  How can you possibly do sports?  You don't have an elaborate gymnasium, or a stadium, or any of the other accoutrements.

ANSWER:  We've found that most of this stuff isn't really needed to just have fun with sports -- and to build skills as well.   Remember that many more World Cup soccer players have started out without all the accoutrements than have started out fully equipped with all the bells and whistles.   (We do NOT envision organized Trinity Sports Teams in the future, by the way -- we know that the kids who come to us have their own Town, Club, School or other teams in our area or back home, and it's our desire to support those teams, not to compete with them.)

QUESTION:  But it's so hot in the summer!

ANSWER:  Yes, it can get pretty hot out there.  We do take precautions regarding the heat, including lots of water always available right at the edge of the field and compulsory water breaks -- and we keep a close eye on the kids as well.

QUESTION:  What do you do when it rains?

ANSWER:  We've got a great new addition to our church facility that lets us take the kids inside and show soccer DVDs and discuss and demonstrate them.  Also, the field is extremely well drained, so field condition is never a factor.

QUESTION:  You say that your sports program seems to be getting better and better. What do you mean by that?

ANSWER:  Well, we had a great run with soccer.  Four years of soccer fun, lots of kids, plenty of coaches who were happy to let the kids learn by doing.  However, when it because evident that the kids interests were changing toward other sports, we are flexible enough to follow their interests.

QUESTION:  Will you ever do soccer again?

ANSWER:  If the kids want it, we will. 

QUESTION:  Our family is of a different religious tradition from yours, but this Summer Sports thing sounds like a good idea to us.  Can you tell us more about the religious aspect? 

ANSWER:  We're always happy to welcome young people who don't usually attend Trinity.  During 2007 and 2008 we welcomed young people from Roman Catholic, Jewish, Congregational, and Baptist traditions, and several from no religious tradition -- as well as Episcopalians.  We're definitely sensitive to the beliefs of others, and we take real pains to be inclusive.  While we invite anyone who wishes to come into church for Holy Communion when soccer ends for the day, we don't push it or make a big thing about who comes in and who goes home at that point.

QUESTION:  Okay, this sounds great!  Where can I fill out a registration form, and how much do I write the check for?

ANSWER:  We're a little unusual in this respect.  First of all, there's no check to write.  The program is free.  (Actually, we do take a collection for those who choose to go inside for Communion at the end of Sunday morning sports, but it's completely optional. 

to go to the page where you will find information about Summer Sports 2009.

QUESTION:  We are an Episcopalian family, and we  would like our child to receive the Eucharist on Sundays.  Is there anything that can be done?

ANSWER:  Yes, and we make it easy!  After about an hour and fifteen minutes of sports we stop for the day.  Those who wish to may go inside and join the Holy Eucharist already in progress.  Those who do not either wait for the parish coffee hour to begin or go home at that point.  For those who do elect to come inside for Holy Communion, there is never any obligation or pressure to receive the Sacrament, by the way.  Communion is available for any baptized person, but the Priest is glad to offer a blessing for anybody who doesn't want to receive Communion. Furthermore, there's absolutely no stigma attached if a young person (or adult) chooses simply to stand aside or remain in their seat when Communion is offered.  Alternatively, if parents choose, they may elect to pick their child up at 11:15 AM, when the rest of us move inside.

QUESTION:  This summer sports program sounds like a pretty radical thing for a church to be doing.  What does your clergy have to say about it?

ANSWER:  Our parish clergy enthusiastically support our summer sports program.  They recognize that our kids like it, and that it's our duty to serve the community, and this is one way that Trinity uniquely does just that.

QUESTION:  Okay, you have sports for kids at Trinity during the summer.  But, what do the kids do at Trinity for the rest of the year?  Do you have Sunday School classes?

ANSWER:  We're happy to say that we offer a full year of activity, learning, and fun for young people.  Sunday School at Trinity picks up early in September and runs for the entire school year.  The first week in December we start preparations for our famous Christmas Pageant (2008 was be our 66th consecutive year of Christmas Pageants), and our acolyte program functions during the months that Sunday School is in session, depending on the interest level in the kids.  Early teens may be interested in Confirmation, and we schedule confirmation classes when we have a few kids who are interested.  The kids also really enjoy some of our Parish-side activities, like our Blessing of the Animals, which is held in early October each year, and seeing the fire trucks and ambulances that visit us for Emergency Services Sunday. 

Because we're a family-oriented parish, we're also very happy to welcome young people to worship with us.  We're delighted when they serve as acolytes, when they sing, and when they assist with ushering responsibilities -- something the current crop of kids seems to be very interested in. We have weekly bulletins for young people to use during the service if their attention begins to wander -- the youth bulletins have a variety of activities based on the Bible readings assigned for that Sunday.  And yes, we even understand when they wiggle -- we remember when WE were that age and wanted to wiggle too!

At Trinity Lime Rock, we understand the needs of young people, and we are thankful that we have them with us. 

In short, for young people who want to be involved, we offer a full year of activities for young people at Trinity.  Summer Sports are only a small part of it.

MORE QUESTIONS? 

Contact Geoff Brown at 860-824-0640 or via e-mail: soccer@trinitylimerock.org