March Break 2004

Ten Days of March Break

Mar. 12/04 through Mar. 21/04

The most successful

March Break Basketball (by far) ever.

Erin Hoops March Break 2004 a Huge Community Success

If you build it…they will come.

Above line is a quote from the movie Field of Dreams.

In Erin Village this was true at the Erin Hoops Community Centre in the Old Erin Public School on Main St.   The people flooded in.

The flood has been like a gigantic ice jam in a river finally breaking open and the pent up river water racing out.  Like the water through the break in the ice jam, the people poured in through the doors to share in the fun of basketball, ping pong, a black board, Frisbee tossing, and all.  The Hacky Sac, (I hope that is spelt right), was ignored.

Erin Hoops in opening the old school as a Community Drop In Centre seem to have hit a pent up need. Parent after parent entering said, “This has been needed for the youth for years.”, or “This will give the youth something to do.”

Kids with little previous interest in basketball shot a few hoops, liked it, shot a few more.  Hugged their parents.  Played ping pong.  Chased each other around the rooms.  Threw a Frisbee or two.  Watched others having fun and joined in with childish joy.

The place was busy, busy, busy throughout the whole of March Break.  The youth of the Village/Town had found a place to be.  Erin now has a place that WILL take the kids off the street.

What follows are a few incident stories each with much more being said than just the words.

Story: Erin Hoops Community Centre gym conversation at about 8 pm.  Gym Supervisor, “What’re you doing back here?” (Teen had left earlier at about 6 pm having already played for five hours.)  Teen’s answer, “There wasn’t anything to do at home.”

Story: Erin Hoops was thanked continually, both verbally, but more importantly, by action.  Kids went home after their first visit “bugging” parents to bring them back again.  The return visits of people totally new to Erin Hoops was awesome.

Story: Youth looking at the black board.  “You got any chalk I can use.”  Gym Supervisor sadly, “Here’s a bit.  I did not think to bring chalk.  I am sorry this is all we’ve got.”  Half an hour later, a parent hands the gym supervisor a plastic bag.  Inside are two boxes of chalk and a brush.

Story: Big teens used the small balls on the low baskets.  Small tots used the big balls on the high basket.  You figure it.  The Gym Supervisor still working on this one.

Story: Some of the youth in this Town are “nuts”.  Of the 70 hours the Erin Hoops Community Centre was open, they were in the gym over 55 hours.  Their ability to toss a ball in the basket went way up.

Story:  A game of 50, involving three point shooting, caught on and was played by younger players than had ever played it before.  In some instances it was played over and over for hours on end.

Story: The gym supervisor was brought supper on a number of occasions totally out of the blue.  What thanks and what considerate thought.

Story: One kid came today and tomorrow the same kid came back with two friends.  This happened day after day.

Story:  Elections Canada dropped by.  They asked the same questions many Town’s people asked, “Can we rent this?”  Short answer, “Yes.”

Biggest Story:  Parents played with kids and had fun too.

The “new” gym’s motto is truly, if you build it they will come.  Erin Hoops Community Centre has become Erin’s Field of Dreams.

In closing a special thanks has to go out to the citizens of Erin for a radio, board games, volleyball/badminton standards, fridge, ping pong tables, suppers, photos, hugs, smiles, good will and community spirit.

Much more is needed but as we build it…more will come.

Data from the Ten Days of March Break (2004)

Dates Open              # of Players        Times Open     $ Donated at door
                                  And others                                                

Friday Mar. 12/04              23                Noon to 9 pm         $105.00

Saturday Mar. 13               24                Noon to 6 pm               1.57

Sunday Mar. 14                 18                   2 to 4 pm                 18.00

Monday, Mar. 15               47                Noon to 9 pm             38.75

Tuesday, Mar. 16               56                Noon to 9 pm             48.85  

Wednesday, Mar. 17          36                Noon to 9 pm             13.57

Thursday, Mar. 18              53               Noon to 9 pm             29.66  

Friday, Mar. 19                  72                Noon to 9 pm             41.39  

Saturday, Mar. 20              21                Noon to 6 pm             25.00  

Sunday, Mar. 21                13                   2 to 4 pm                   7.25  

       TOTALS                   363                  70 hours             $329.04  

Number of different players –         207

(Many Players came more than once.

Five played as many as 55 hours.)

Number of Hours of open gym – 70 hours