Thinking Oakland Baseball 2

Baseball as a youth sport is on the decline nationally. Little League which accounts for about two thirds of the recreational programs went from 2.5 million in 1996 to 2 million in 2010.

The National Sporting Goods Association put the total number at 3.4 million youth players in 2010, and  there has been no decline in the number of high school baseball programs which is good indicator on the real staying power of baseball.

Locally, the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Patch reported on the drop in numbers for baseball and softball that has led to shared services and potentially a single league for those towns…But the same article quotes Recreation Commissioner Mike Guadagnino as saying the same is not true in Oakland where the numbers are holding steady.

Many attribute baseballs falling numbers to competition from other sports like soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse which offer a faster paced playing environment. The constant play appeals to children, and parents see added health benefits in the children running around for a couple of hours a week.

On the other hand, some parents encourage their children to participate in baseball because it offers a different benefit from the faster sports, more of a “thinking man’s game” that requires patience, advanced skills and thought.

The Journal decided to do some thinking on Oakland baseball and reached out to Oakland Baseball Commissioner Marty O’Brien to get a better picture of why the thinking man’s game continues to thrive in Oakland.

Thinking Oakland Baseball with Marty O’Brien

What’s the best part about being involved with Oakland baseball/softball?
It’s rewarding to know that I’m playing a part in affording Oakland kids the same opportunity I had as a kid to be safe and have fun playing baseball with friends.  But the absolute best part is when I see the roller-coaster of emotions by the kids during the games.  Little do they know now, but as I realized myself, they’re actually learning about themselves and each other by what they experience in Oakland baseball; and maturing with every game and practice they participate.  So, I’m proud of being responsible for a program that indirectly makes a positive life impact on many kids.

What kind of special events are planned for the baseball/softball season?

Opening Ceremonies

Every year, baseball & softball always host a wonderful Opening Day parade with each team showing off their hand-made banners; and mini-carnival with food, drink & rides.

This year, it’s on Saturday May 4th from 9am to 11:30am.  Of course, each division from K-8 plays games (from mid-April through early June).  The Minors & Majors division holds an All-Star Game with a live rendition of our National Anthem and a play-by-play announcer.

Also, every year Oakland Travel Baseball’s 12U Gold Team participates in a week long tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park near the Baseball Hall of Fame.  For casual and rabid fans alike, there is no better baseball experience than to attend and enjoy this event.

I encourage all Oakland Baseball fans to drive the 3 hours and stay a night or two to not just watch baseball games, but to experience why baseball is weaved into the fabric of America.

Baseball games end with a ‘winner’ and a ‘loser.’ How do you help kids deal with losing a game?
As the Commissioner, I personally have only an indirect impact over how kids cope with wins or losses. The ultimate responsibility falls on the kids’ parents.  The Manager/Coach can only attempt to introduce and reinforce a “win with humility – lose with dignity” philosophy.

The administration of the Oakland baseball/softball program must be very time-consuming, can you give us an idea of how many players and coaches are involved?
Oakland Baseball consists of 29 Recreation Teams from Grades K-8 (about 350 kids and 100 coaches) and 11 Travel Teams (about 130 kids and 35 coaches).  Yes, it’s very time-consuming running Oakland Baseball.  But it’s very rewarding knowing that I’m contributing to the youth of Oakland.

How can team sports help prepare kids for life outside of sports?
Team sports offers kids an outlet outside of school and their homes to enhance their ability to share responsibility towards achieving a common goal.  When a child participates on a team, they feel accountable to do their part towards winning a game or helping the team improve their standing.

Team sports also creates the opportunity for kids to develop empathy so they begin to help and encourage struggling teammates.  Youth team sports is in my opinion a training ground to develop a well-rounded person who can arguably manage “life” better than those who do not participate in team sports.

Oakland Baseball

What makes you want to be involved in Oakland Rec, specifically baseball/softball?
I had a wonderful youth sports experience in my hometown of Bergenfield.  I was blessed to have had great volunteer coaches – most of whom had no kids of their own on my teams – who selflessly donated their time and energy to foster a safe, fun and enriching environment.

I look back on my youth sports experience as one of a few key foundations in my life.  So my motivation to be involved in Oakland Baseball is to do my part for the program to make a similar impact on the kids who participate.

Are there any coaches today who used to play in Oakland Rec when they were kids?
We have a few coaches who not only grew up & played Oakland Rec, but now raise a family here.  But we do have one assistant coach on a travel team (currently completing his certification) who is finishing college and had played baseball for IHHS.

I just introduced a “Coaches Apprentice” program that I hope will become successful.  It’s designed to connect young people with a more seasoned manager/mentor so they can hone their skills and eventually earn a managerial position and retain it based on their love of coaching, not because their tenure coincides with their kids’.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in kids’ sports?
Those special moments when the “underdog” kid or team does something spectacular and EVERYONE (even the opposing team & parents) stands up & cheers.

Sometimes there are distractions caused by ‘sideline parents.’ How do you handle a parent who might be disrupting the game or putting too much pressure on the kids?
Oakland Recreation (not just baseball) has an established Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policies which govern behavior.   When registering their children, each parent checks a box which states they read & agree to comply. So if a violation occurs and is either witnessed by an official or is made known in writing to an official, it will be dealt with according to Oakland Recreation Bylaws.

Baseball & Softball Parade

Can you share with us the work that goes into running Oakland’s baseball/softball program?
Do you have enough space?  I’m not alone in my efforts.  So I want to thank especially Mike Guadagnino (Rec Chairman), Lori Dent (Rec Secretary) and Jeff Cohn (Travel Director).  Jim Fuhrman has had no kids in the program for 3 years now, but every year agrees to coach when needed and run the Umpire program.  My Division Coordinators are Lou Renshaw (T-Ball), Rick McNamee (Farm), Julio Morales (Minors), Mike Sears (Majors) & Pete Mazzilli (AAA); and Jill Hickey for being chair of the baseball/softball parade.

I thank them and all the volunteer Managers and Assistant Coaches committed to delivering a positive experience for our kids.  Dan Logatto from Softball is a valued partner of the baseball program, as is Oakland DPW, IHHS Coach George Hill and Ultimate Sports America.

We work on baseball “stuff” 9 of the 12 months of the year.  We “detox” from August through October and then begin planning for the next season in November.  The only exception will be this September which is when we’ll hold Travel Baseball Tryouts.

Once Rec registrations begin in January, the roller coaster attaches to the chain & begins its ascent.  Once we get a handle on numbers, the roller coaster is released from the chains. We feverishly begin writing PO’s for supplies and uniforms from the FLOW Bid Sheet – managing under budget and ensuring shipments are on time & correct.  We unbox, store, and then distribute (to the field or equipment bags) as well as keep the storage closet as neat as possible.  We throw a TON of boxes in the recycling dumpster!

We recruit and appoint coordinators who help operate Rec divisions (Manager/Coach selection, driving certification, holding drafts, messaging parents, collecting fees & then depositing with the Borough, organizing picture day, distributing uniforms, coordinating & scheduling practices & games that don’t overlap, coordinating umpires, ordering & distributing trophies, etc.).

The Travel Director (Jeff Cohn) & I register teams in leagues and tournaments.  We handle the travel umpire funding cycle between the Borough, Sports Association and the Umpires; and its requisite paper trail.  The master calendar, lighting schedule and content on baseball website is updated regularly and maintained.  We decide if it’s too cold, wet or dark to play.

A ton of e-mail and phone calls are handled – from general questions to serious stuff.  Sometimes unfortunately we have to handle on-field disputes & diffuse situations.  We send out online, anonymous surveys and then consider the results in an effort to improve the program.  Volunteers & I groom fields on the weekends and some weekdays (especially if their wet).  We coordinate maintenance requirements & field improvement requests with DPW.  We organize clinics for coaches & work closely with Ultimate Sports on programs for our kids.  We schedule fields for outside renters that generate revenue for Oakland Rec’s Trust Fund.  I also participate in monthly Oakland Recreation Commission meetings.

Best of all, I have the honor to be a 1st year assistant coach on the 10U Oakland Braves Travel Team – a great group of boys I’m beginning to know.  They bring me back to my youth baseball experience and fuel my motivation to continue to make this time & effort investment to operate Oakland’s Baseball Program.