OKC PAL Youth League – Hoops! Week 2

Feb 7, 2016

Although it’s only the second week of our new basketball league, our teams are already in mid-season form! So many of our students have never played basketball, yet their improvement is what had the crowd buzzing during Saturday’s games. The teams are gaining a better understanding of the rules of the game, offensive and defensive strategies and overall court awareness. Most importantly, they are having fun, competing and building character along the way.

As we saw during our flag football and volleyball season, as much as our coaches are interested in the athletic competition, they are most interested in their players’ attitudes and behavior—both on the court and in the classroom. Several coaches gave us valuable updates about their players and how they are doing in school. Parents have also acknowledged how the basketball league has impacted their children’s habits at home. One coach shared that the parents are happy to see their children practicing basketball at home instead of playing video games.

Our coaching staff continues to grow as well. We recently added an assistant coach who is a student at a nearby university. This college student heard about our league through a local church that has provided coaches for one of our teams. One of our other coaches invited her friend to join her on the sidelines last Saturday. Her friend had such a good time, she has already committed to come back next week and coach again!

We want to offer a special thanks to the Chavez girls’ team. They played a double header on short notice at our Webster league.

Game, Set, Impact: A Q&A With Our New Development Director, Emmy Hufnagel

Emmy Hufnagel is an avid tennis player, former triathlete, and the newest addition to the Fields & Futures team. As our Development Director, Emmy brings a wealth of experience in youth sports advocacy and nonprofit leadership. Having seen firsthand the impact of sports on young lives, Emmy is dedicated to helping us take the next big step—from building fields to filling them with kids.

Meet Cody Laurendi, Fields & Futures’ New Director of Soccer

Cody Laurendi is a former OKC Energy FC goalkeeper and the newest member of the Fields & Futures team. As Director of Soccer & Youth Sports Advocate, Cody has shifted his focus from playing the game to growing it. With his passion for the game and vision for increasing youth participation in Oklahoma City, Cody is a key player in helping us keep our goal of creating more opportunities on and off the pitch.

What Drives Capitol Hill and U.S. Grant Football?

U.S. Grant and Capitol Hill may be rivals, but their football programs have more in common than their annual "Southside Bedlam" rivalry game. From 2014-2020, the OSSAA allowed both programs to play as independents so they could create their own schedules and rebuild their programs. Now playing in Class 6A, neither team has found success in district play, but they also know the scoreboard isn't the only standard of success.

Fields & Futures