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These kids are really good sports

Adopting a growing program for Christian athletes, First Baptist of Crystal River will first offer basketball, cheerleading and flag football.

By GAIL HOLLENBECK
Published January 27, 2007

CRYSTAL RIVER - It's sports with a purpose, and it's catching on fast.

In 2002, youth minister Keith Helsel conceived the idea for a sports program that would reach out to kids in his church's High Springs neighborhood. Now 20 other Florida churches of different denominations have adopted the Pray Then Play Sports program, and churches as far away as Canada are asking for information.

First Baptist of Crystal River is the first church to implement the program here. Chuck Cooley will facilitate the program.

"We want to connect with kids and their families and show them that we're cool people at the church and that we have a place their kids can come and not feel threatened and have a good time," Cooley said.

The High Springs church has a variety of sports leagues for kids of all ages, but the church here will start small.

"We're offering basketball and cheerleading for kids ages 5 to 14 to begin with," Cooley said. "We're going to offer a flag football league later in the spring and we're thinking about T-ball. We'll be expanding the ages."

The games will be played from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays in the Crystal River Middle School gymnasium beginning Feb. 16 and ending April 6.

The sports are co-ed. The six-week league will cost $35 for basketball and $45 for cheerleading. Scholarships are available to those in need.

"We can accept an unlimited number of kids," Cooley said. "So far we have about 40 basketball players and 15 or so cheerleaders. Registration is open until Feb. 1, but we're going to make it happen anyway if they want to come in after the season starts."

Cooley said it is a sports program for the whole family.

"The parents can come and referee. There are all kinds of things they can do as far as helping out with registration, or they can just come and help with the practices. So it's an opportunity for the whole family to spend time together."

Church members will coach, but parents who want to help are welcome.

The program has a Christian emphasis.

"I think so many of our football and basketball players in the professional ranks are not good role models," Cooley said. "A lot of them show bad behavior and do not show good citizenship. I believe that in everything we do, we need to honor Christ. It's great when you see teams like the Colts and coaches that do honor God and can do it the right way and succeed."

Pray Then Play Sports encourages good behavior by both players and parents. Prayer plays an important role in the program.

"The only difference you might see compared to a recreation league is that we will pray before each game," Cooley said. "We're not praying to win. We'll be praying for safety, that kids learn the game and good sportsmanship, learn how to fellowship with one another and not fight and be good citizens."

Cooley said local recreational leagues have been a problem for church attendance.

"Wednesday nights kids are out playing soccer or basketball rather than in church. So we just felt like we ought to get right in there and win our children back and have a league that's good quality that teaches the same things as the recreational leagues but keeps our kids close to home."

The church leagues won't practice or play games on Wednesdays and Sundays.

"We're hoping to make connections with the parents and children and let them know that church people are not there just to take away all their fun, but we're there to get right in there with them and encourage them and help them become good sportsmen and help them learn some skills."

Fast Facts:

A step further

To register your child for basketball or cheerleading at First Baptist of Crystal River visit www.firstbaptistcr.org or pick up a form at 700 Citrus Ave. For information on how to start Pray Then Play Sports at your church, visit www.praythenplay.com or call (386) 454-1505.

[Last modified January 26, 2007, 20:56:50]