Nat Bailey Stadium, home of the Vancouver Canadians, is opening its doors to 300 boys and girls this summer. Playing under the banner of the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation League (VCBFL) players aged six to 10 will receive free equipment, meals and transportation in order to learn a sport they might otherwise not be able to connect with.
The VCBFL was founded last summer by the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of South Coast B.C. The league is designed for families who cannot afford to put their children through organized sports. Each of the 300 players are given a glove, batting helmet and ball bag, hot dogs at the stadium after the game, and transportation to and from Nat Bailey if necessary.
The program lasts for seven weeks, from July 9 to Labour Day, and includes six games for each of the 13 teams. The schedule was selected because it coincides with both summer vacation and a rash of away games for the Vancouver Canadians, which leaves Nat Bailey Stadium empty for more than half of the seven weeks.
These are kids who wouldnt otherwise get a chance to play organized baseball, VCBF chairman Jake Kerr said. A lot of them dont even understand that there are three bases when they first show up. We want them to learn how to play baseball and team sports and build confidence. Its something nice for them to do in the summer and an opportunity to do something they normally wouldnt get a chance to do.
Coaching roles are filled completely by volunteers, who include people connected to the Vancouver Canadians, employees of equipment suppliers and fans. Kerr also referred to the volunteers as mentors, and said that the league aims to teach players sportsmanship and the kind of life values you hope kids would pick up.
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