Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Sign-up Fees Due Now!


Those who owe money for your sign-up fees need to get the remaining balance paid. The city officials have been nice to work with us on this due to the tough times many of us are experiencing.

However, it is now the end of the fiscal year for my athletics budget and all of the money MUST be paid.

Please help me to get this resolved now.


Stump

Rossville approved by GRPA


The Georgia Recreation and Park Association notified Rossville on Tuesday that the city was approved as a member. One reason Rossville petitioned the GRPA is its athletic department shares the same mission. The GRPA “promotes healthy life styles through the utilization of park facilities and recreation services for the well being of each citizen individually and the community as a whole. It also insures that park and recreation services are available, and providing organized, supervised activity as a means of prevention for a number of circumstances (disease, stress, etc.) including the prevention of juvenile delinquency.”


The GRPA and Rossville also believe that the delivery of recreation and park services in the state has tremendous impact economically, environmentally and socially. The GRPA was born in 1945 as a private, non-profit Institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia. It’s the only state organization that serves as an advocate for quality recreation and park areas, facilities, programs and services at the local level.


The GRPA provides state competition in youth basketball, track-and-field, baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, swimming, diving, tennis, golf, volleyball, and soccer.



A story worth telling ... again


The Rossville Athletics phone rang late Saturday night and Hixson Director Alan Bailey was on the other end of the cell. Bailey said he wanted to talk to me about my 6-year-old team. I paused and thought, “Oh no, what have we done?” Bailey said your team beat us 26-6, but that’s not what I called about.

Again, I paused and thought, “Oh what have we done?”

The veteran recreation volunteer said our 6-under Dogs had played the final game of the night at Hixson and he had asked them to help clean up on the visiting side. Bailey went on to explain that the parents/fans and players had cleaned up the whole hillside and under the bleachers and didn’t leave a piece of trash anywhere. Winning the game was great because that was the first win for the little 6-under guys. Nevertheless, winning with the class to clean up after the game is all about pride. Thanks to Isaac Patrick, Jonathan Couch, Calvin Ogle and the whole Bulldogs family that displayed a saying that we all learned a long time ago in this town, “Be Rossville.” That deed my friends is what “Being Rossville” is all about.

SCOREBOARD


6s Rossville Bulldogs 26, Hixson Tigers 6


7s Soddy-Daisy 34, Rossville 16

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

D1 Joins Rossville Athletics Scholarship Team

While Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are preparing for the 2009 season opener the elite NFL quarterback's company, D1, is joining with Elite Athletic Events for a Middle/High school baseball and softball combine at D1 Chattanooga on Sat., Oct. 3. Local athletes will participate in demonstrations, testing and competition at the D1 facility off of Gunbarrel Road in Chattanooga.

During the event, athletes will perform a variety of skills and agility drills including pro-Agility, 3-Corner Drill, 30-yard dash, Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump. In conjunction with the D1 Sports Foundation, $10 from every event registration will be donated to the Rossville Athletics Scholarship Fund. The donation will be allocated to scholarship underprivileged athletes who cannot afford league registration fees.

No Child Left Out!

After more than eight years, the City of Rossville restored its city-run athletic department in January.

It is an honor to be the athletic director of a city with such a storied past in athletics and recreation. Rossville is my hometown and I’m proud to say that.

Working together, Rossville athletics can return to the glory and pride it once gave to the area. Many of us would not be successful today had it not been for the direction that Walt Lauter and his athletics department offered.

However, to return the program to the level to provide the services needed by the youth in our area we need your help.

Many of the families who want their children to participate in sports in our area cannot afford the fees.

In fact, I know there are children in our area who want to play football or be a cheerleader that can’t because the parents don’t have the funds to pay $65 to play, plus the cost of a helmet, shoulder pads and shoes that are not provided.

During the baseball/softball season, more than 50 parents/guardians of children could not afford to pay the fees.

This is sad but true.

I do not want any child left out. In more than 35 years coaching youth sports, I have never had to tell a child they cannot play.

I know what a difference sports can make in the life of a child.

Rossville Athletics is creating a scholarship plan for those who need it. Any business, church, civic organization, or individual may become a part of this scholarship team.

Let me know how you would like to help.

Please make your donations to the Rossville Recreation Department and it will go directly/and only to the scholarship fund.Thanks

Stump Martin
Athletic Director
423-463-4461