August 30, 2000
TEAM spells sports success
Traverse City Elementary Athletic Members run five sports programs for TC school systems
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
How do you spell fun in Traverse City?
T-E-A-M.
For thousands of elementary school students in the Grand Traverse region, TEAM stands for fun, excitement and a chance to play sports in a learning, non-competitive environment.
TEAM, short for Traverse City Elementary Athletic Members, is a group of parent-volunteers that runs five sports programs for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students at the 23 public and private area elementary schools. Sports offered include boys and girls basketball, co-ed volleyball, cross-country and track and field, with an all-city meet for each event to end the season.
Formed in 1993, the organization had nearly 2,500 kids in their programs last year, including 800 students participating in the all-city track meet in the spring. For the parents who volunteer as coaches and administrators throughout the school year, it is a labor of love that keeps many coming back year after year.
"I have three boys in the program who play basketball, volleyball and track," said Deanna Prokes, the TEAM representative at Cherry Knoll Elementary school and parent volunteer for three years. "They would be lost without this program; they wouldn't have an opportunity to play basketball in this town at their ages unless I paid big money for private lessons."
For just a $15 fee per sport per year to cover equipment and referee costs, a child can play on a team. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford that fee and jerseys are supplied with funds from each school's parent association.
And once signed up he or she will play, not warm the bench, as the theme of TEAM is equal playing time for all.
The founding parents decided from the outset that the program would teach the fundamental skills of a sport and give each child enough playing time to master them. Learning, not winning, is the overriding goal, a window of learning for the kids before they reach the more competitive playing levels in junior high.
"I coach basketball and what I stress to the kids is equal playing time," said Steve Robinson, a TEAM volunteer coach and school representative for four years who also is the organization's treasurer.
"I had kids on my team last year who had been together for three years and we could probably have won the city championship. But the kids took a vote when the season began and decided they wanted everyone to have equal playing time even though it cost them some games."
The TEAM program sprang up when funding was slashed for elementary school sports seven years ago, following a failed millage for the Traverse Area Public Schools. A small group of parents petitioned the school board to take over some elementary sports programs, using school facilities.
The program created is independent of the public schools, administered by the parents, who recruit and train coaches, schedule meets and coordinate all-city events. Now with a budget of $48,000 and a paid coordinator, the organization is here to stay, keeping kids playing throughout the Grand Traverse region.
"I think sports are very much an important part of kids' lives," said Kevin Chouinard, who has coached four children through various TEAM sports. "My kids today are still involved in cross country and track, my daughter is on the cross country in high school."
"Sports keeps kids on the right track, keeps them active and out of trouble."