Philadelphia Adult League Softball
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| Formation | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Key people | Kelly O'Connor and Steve O'Connor - Directors and Co-founders [1] |
| Website | phillypals |
Philadelphia Adult League Softball (PALS) is a recreational slow-pitch softball league in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PALS offers mixed-gender evening leagues in the Mill Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia.[2] Since its founding in 2012, the league has focused on inclusivity[3] as well as competition and community engagement.[4]
History
[edit]Founding
[edit]
The league was formed in 2012 by Kelly and Steve O'Connor.[5] Originally consisting of eight teams on Tuesday nights, PALS has had leagues on three nights and one day since 2021.[6] Each league is composed of two seasons per year: one starting in April and the other in July.[7]
Rules
[edit]As a mixed-gender league, PALS requires men players to use wooden bats and allows women and non-binary people to use metal and composite bats approved by the Amateur Softball Association.[8]
Philanthropy
[edit]Programming
[edit]Through their support of local non-profits,[9] PALS gives back to the West Philadelphia community through league-sponsored events and fundraisers. In 2023, the non-profit arm of the league, Change Up Sports, was formed and accepted as a 501(c)(3).
In 2024, PALS participated in "Pride in the Park" an LGBTQ+ centered field day in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park.[10]
On top of running a number of community-based clinics and coaches trainings in Philadelphia, PALS and Change Up Sports raise money for volunteer trips to Belize and Sierra Leone.[11]
Belize
[edit]Since 2019, PALS and Change Up Sports have partnered with Pitch in for Baseball and Softball to provide softball equipment to the Belize City Softball Association."[12] In 2019, these organizations and 19 volunteers/players from the softball league traveled to Belize to run clinics and donate equipment eventually distributed to Belize City schools."[13] That year, "over 1,200 pounds of equipment was distributed to eight low-income primary schools in Belize City to either start or restart their softball programs."[14]
In 2021, the program brought "$20,000 worth of baseball and softball gear to six organizations in Belize City through the Community Clubs Equipment Grant Programme."[15] That August, the organizations ran three days worth of softball clinics providing school bags and supplies with the help of community organizers.[16]
Sierra Leone
[edit]After an initial planning trip in November 2021, members of the PALS league and associated partners traveled to Freetown, Sierra Leone in the summer of 2022 for five-day softball and baseball clinic, connecting with local sports club Vintage Academy.[17][18] Altogether, a group of 18 people traveled from the United States of America and Bolivia to Freetown to join the Sierra Leone Cricket Association to visit various communities and teach softball (as well as baseball and cricket) to children and adults.[19] Besides sharing the sport of softball with the Freetown community, the project was able to raise over $29,000 in sports equipment and veterinary supplies for the people of Sierra Leone.[20]
Building on the connections made from the first trip, and after the formation of Change Up Sports, another group of PALS volunteers were able to go to Sierra Leone in 2024 and continue the "Softball for Success" program Kelly and Steve O'Connor had begun with the first trip. Softball for success provides sport opportunities for young girls in Sierra Leone–around 40 girls participate in the program where twice a week in "a total of ten positive and inclusive softball learning sessions" the girls learn "all aspects of the game with an emphasis on fun, friendship, confidence-building, and good sportsmanship."[21] The program culminates "with a championship game and a closing banquet, including trophies for all participants."[22] In addition to softball, the program provides money for school fees, school supplies, as well as "resuable menstrual products, athletic clothing including sports bras and underwear, cleats, and a 110 pound bag of rice for their families."[23] The 2024 summer volunteer trip was able to raise over $40,000 with support from PALS players, their families, and the Philadelphia community.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "Philadelphia Adult League Softball - Our Team". Archived from the original on 2024-10-26. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ Blackmore, Lindsey. "8 sunday softball leagues in philadelphia". every sport for everyone. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Savage, Henry (December 30, 2022). "How to play a new sport this year". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Philadelphia Adult League Softball". Virtual Visitor. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Clifton. "Phillies postseason magic creates surge in interest for youth and adult amateur leagues". WHYY. BillyPenn. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Thompson, Nigel (May 19, 2024). "An adult softball league in West Philly is traveling to Sierra Leone this summer to share the sport and much more". KYW Newsradio. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Savage 2022
- ^ Blackmore
- ^ Zantingh, Taylor. "batter up!: all about intramural softball in philadelphia". every sport for everyone. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Pride in the Park: Philly LGBTQ+ Field Day". myphillypark.org. Fairmount Park COnservancy. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Change Up Sports". Guide Star. Candid. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Sports Create Opportunities, Change Communities for the Better in Belize". Pitch in for Softball and Baseball (PIFSB). June 23, 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Pitch in for Softball and Baseball 2020
- ^ Pitch in for Softball and Baseball 2020
- ^ Morales Iglesias, Rubén (August 11, 2021). "Philadelphia Adult League Softball donates baseball, softball equipment to Belize City community sports clubs". Breaking Belize News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Morales Iglesias 2021
- ^ "PALS Wraps Up Baseball and Softball, Clinic". Awoko Publications. July 1, 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Change Up Sports - How We Started". Change Up Sports. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ PALS Wraps Up Baseball and Softball Clinic 2022
- ^ Wills, Janelle. "Teaching Softball and Saving Animals in Sierra Leone". No. Spring 2023. Wilson College - Wilson Mag. Living Philanthropy. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Change Up Sports - Sierra Leone". Change Up Sports. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ Change Up Sports - Sierra Leone
- ^ Change Up Sports - Sierra Leone
- ^ "Support Softball for Success Summer Camp + Our Volunteer Service Trip in Sierra Leone!". GiveButter. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.