Recreation and Youth Development

Recreation Recognizing the value that organized recreation offers inner city youth, The North Ward Center offers a year round program that provides nearly 3,000 children hands on athletic development, teamwork skills and sportsmanship. The Center's Recreation and Youth Development Program is the largest private program of its kind in New Jersey.

Structured around the principles of learning the basic skills of the game of basketball, baseball and softball, boys and girls acquire leadership skills, understand the value of cooperating with their peers and coaches and practice healthy lifestyle habits through the physical component of the Recreation and Youth Development Program.

    PEE WEE BASKETBALL
    This league prepares players between the ages of 5 and 8 with the basic principals of the game. Drills are used to help with passing, shooting, dribbling techniques. Six minute running time quarters are played.

    BIDDY BASKETBALL
    Players between the ages of 8 and 10 are offered the same foundation as the Pee Wee program. Still focused on presenting instructional values, athletes play more structured games.

    SMALL FRY BASKETBALL
    The North Ward Center sponsors a Small Fry affiliated program where local and community based teams participate city-wide. All participants in the league must be 12 years of age or younger by September 1st, and must measure less than five feet one inch tall before the season starts. If the player meets all the requirements, he/she is eligible to play. At the end of the season an All-Star Team is selected to compete in the State and the International Small Fry Tournament.

NORTH WARD CENTER LITTLE LEAGUE
Annually an average of 30 teams filled with anticipated boys and girls from the age of 5 to 16, round the bases at Branch Brook Parks Middle Division Complex.

    T-Ball
    Boys and Girls 6-7 years of age will spend their time practicing and playing T-Ball games. This is a non-competitive T-Ball environment that meets Saturday mornings for approximately 90 minutes at branch brook middle complex (Cerone Field/ Grecco Field). The session is spent practicing ball-playing skills and playing a T-Ball game with the children batting off the Tee. Participants receive tee shirt, pants, hat and trophy. A Tee-Ball glove is needed. Each T-Ball team has a manager and parents are encouraged to stay and help with the practice and game session.

    Pre Minor League
    Boys and Girls in Second Grade split their time practicing and playing ball. This is a non-competitive baseball environment that meets Saturday mornings for 75 minutes at an elementary school diamond. The first half of the session is spent practicing ball-playing skills and the second half is spent playing a baseball game with the children batting and coaches pitching. Participants receive tee shirt, hat and trophy. A baseball glove is needed. Each Rookie League team has a manager and parents are encouraged to stay and help with the practice and game session.

    Minor League Softball
    Girls ages 9 -12 receive an introduction, through both practices and games, to the basics and fundamentals of softball. We will organize a competitive league with standings and playoffs. We will play regular softball with kids pitching. Each participant will receive a hat, shirt, shorts, socks and trophies. A baseball glove is needed.

    Minor League Baseball
    Boys and Girls age 9-10 play games or practice, approximately thirty times during the season. All games are played at the Branch Brook Middle Complex Fields. This is a competitive league where standings are kept and playoffs are played. This is regular baseball with kids pitching and umpires calling the game. Games and practices are held Tuesdays and Thursday. Participants receive a shirt, pants, socks and a hat. All players will receive trophies. A baseball glove is needed.

    Major League Baseball
    Boys and Girls ages 11 -12 play games or practice approximately thirty times in the season. All games are played at Branch Brook Middle Complex Field. This is a competitive league where standings are kept and there are playoffs. The top four teams compete in a World Series championship and the balance of the teams compete in a round robin tournament. This is regular baseball with kids pitching and umpires calling the game. Games and practices are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Participants receive a shirt, pants, socks, and a hat. All players will receive trophies. A baseball glove is needed.

    RBI BASEBALL (This program is available on a try out basis Ð limited openings)
    RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities. The age groups are as follows: the Junior Level is for players ages 13-15 and the Senior Level is for players ages 16-18. Both the Senior and Junior Division teams represent Newark, NJ at the Northeast Regional Tournament. If they qualify, the team will attend the World Series.

    Senior League Softball
    Girls in the 13 -16 will play competitive softball. All games are played in the Ironbound Sunday through Saturday. The participants will continue to receive instruction and teaching through practices and games. Each participant will receive a hat, shirt, shorts and socks

Sports Exchange and Cultural Enrichment

For more than 25 years, the Center established a real partnership with Puerto Rico through the Little League Sport Exchange Program. Members of the sports exchange team are selected from throughout the city of Newark, so that each ward Little League has a representative. In addition to having athletic ability, players must exhibit good sportsmanship qualities, have a good academic standing and exhibit strong leadership skills.

While visiting Puerto Rico, players have an opportunity to compete in the game of baseball, but, more importantly are exposed to a different cultural experience. Visits to historical sites, interaction with family members from the host team, and the sportsmanship developed on international fields offers each player priceless memories. For some of our children, the cultural exchange program provides their first trip abroad, while for others of Puerto Rican descent the trip takes them to the Island for the first time. The exchange program runs annually.

For Information Please Call 973-481-0415

Copyright ©2007 North Ward Center, Inc.