Viva! Las Vegas!
The SFPAL Seahawks Cheer and Dance Team placed FOURTH at theJAMZ Youth Competition recently held in Las Vegas. We’re proud of our Team and their coaches. We’d like to congratulate the girls, their coach, Teanna Tillery, as well as their SFPD mentor, Lt. Milanda Moore on a job well done! GO ‘HAWKS!!!
SFPAL Holiday Dinner, 2014
Officer Edie Lewis addresses the group.
The San Francisco Police Activities League Annual Holiday Dinner was recently held at The Academy. Special thanks to Officer Edie Lewis for putting the event together. The food was great and the company even greater!!!
SFPAL Junior Giant Wins $5,000 Scholarship
We’re proud to celebrate the success of our own SFPAL baseball Junior Giant Conall Pederson and congratulate his coach Lt. Mike Stasko (retired). Conall is one of ten Junior Giant scholars selected this year to receive a $5,000 scholarship upon successful completion of high school and acceptance to college or a training program. He is only the second kid in San Francisco history to be awarded the prestigious Giants Community Fund “Harmon and Sue Burns Scholarship.” The award was presented at the Giants Game against the Philadelphia Phillies (we won, too!) on August 16 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Conall is a student at Saint Philip the Apostle Grammar School in San Francisco’s Noe Valley. Lt. Stasko is the Athletic Director there. They’re both very special to SFPAL.
Conall Pederson Wins a $5,000 Scholarship
About Conall Pederson
Conall first met Lt. Stasko when he transferred into Saint Philip the Apostle Grammar School for his 5th grade year.
Lt. Stasko describes Conall as someone who grew over time and displayed exemplary character: determined, enthusiastic, trustworthy, out going, confidant to others, leader, team player, organized, and compassionate to others.
Conall’s enthusiasm and heart made him stand out. He eagerly joined new sports, attending every practice and participating in every game. His full of encouragement, is a mentor to younger players, and engages with students in all grades.
You can see why he was selected for this honor!
Lt. Mike Stasko (retired)
About Lt. Mike Stasko
As a child, Lt. Stasko (who was born, raised and still resides in San Francisco) played SFPAL baseball and basketball. As a teen, he served as an SFPAL Law Enforcement Cadet and still volunteers his time as an instructor in the program.
Youth sports are very important to Lt. Stasko: he began coaching basketball, track and SFPAL football while still in high school. In college, he coached basketball at Orinda’s Sleepy Hollow and refereed SF CYO basketball. He has also coached baseball and served as a scuba diving instructor. He began coaching baseball and basketball at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in 1998, and became the parish Athletic Director in 2000, overseeing basketball, baseball, soccer, track, cross country and T-ball.
With all that experience, it’s not surprising that Lt. Stasko serves on the SFPAL Board because he loves to teach and coach kids.
About the Scholarship
Celebrating its 13th year, the Giants Community Fund’s scholarship program emphasizes the importance of self-esteem, teamwork and leadership, and a commitment to academics and community service through assisting students to achieve goals of higher education and community involvement. The goal is to provide students with the incentive and motivation to reach their full potential.
In 2009, the Junior Giants Scholars program was renamed the Harmon and Sue Burns Scholarship Fund in honor of the late Giants owners Harmon and Sue Burns. Both Harmon and Sue were generous supporters of the Giants Community Fund. The Fund is thankful to The Burns Family Foundation and Franklin Templeton Investments for underwriting the scholarship program in honor of Harmon and Sue.
Soccer Parents: Nominate the Coach of the Year
We are now accepting Nominations for the Soccer Coach of the Year!
The award is for our District of the California Youth Soccer Association. The winner for our District will be considered for the award for the entire state of California!
If you wish to nominate someone for this award, Coach of the Year Form. Print it and submit the completed form to the SFPAL Office with all supporting documents and letters of recommendation.
SFPAL, 350 Amber Dr, San Francisco, CA 94131
Take Back The Game May 3 & 4
Over ten years ago, the coaches of San Francisco Youth Soccer (where we got this idea and most of the content for this blog post) voted to have silence on one Saturday per season. They inspired “Take Back the Game” weekend for SFPAL and we’ve been doing it for three years now!
Why Have “Take Back The Game” Weekend?
The coaches recognized that most parents just cheer for the kids and the kids love that cheering. However, the coaches felt that the loss of the cheering as an experiment was worth it to meet the following objectives:
- To emphasize that the game is about having fun and letting children play;
- To support coaches who want to give their players a chance to play totally on their own, but are unwilling to do it when the coach standing next to them is providing constant direction;
- To help the few parents and coaches who feel that they must provide constant direction to the players understand that the kids can play very well on their own with limited instruction.
Many have asked why SFPAL and SF Youth Soccer imposes “Take Back The Game” silence on everyone – why doesn’t the league just deal with the coaches and parents who are the problem?
- Since SF Youth Soccer started silent Saturdays in 2001, the vast majority of feedback has been positive, so we have decided to practice it on one weekend per season. We’ve heard great things at SFPAL, too!
- Many coaches are very uncomfortable talking directly to parents about not yelling instruction to kids.
- We do not have the resources to have staff at every game: each weekend, we conduct hundreds games involving thousands of kids, volunteers, and their families at over a dozen locations.
Let us know what you think of this weekend! We’re eager for your comments and suggestions.
—–Rules For “Take Back The Game” Weekend—–
For spectators:
You are free to chat on the sideline, but tmay not make any comments on the game or direct any comments to players on the field. You may only cheer by clapping.
For coaches:
U12 and Above: You may not provide any direction to players who are on the field. The only thing you may yell out is “Substitution” at the time when it is permitted (your own throw in or either team’s goal kick). At this time you may also direct a player to change position. You may speak quietly to any players who are on the bench.
U10 and U11: You may not provide any direction to players who are on the field. The special rules on substitutions are still applicable. During a substitution, you may also direct a player to change position. You may speak quietly to any players who are on the bench.
U9 and Below: You may provide direction to players only in the case of clear and major errors. An example is a defensive player who has forgotten and moved up to play offense – comment would be “Tommy – remember you are a defender.” Another example would be left vs. right wings. For a player with the ball, direction should be limited to telling the player that they are heading toward the wrong goal. The special rules on substitutions are still applicable. During substitutions you may also direct a player to change position. You may speak quietly to any players who are on the bench.
For players:
This will be a much quieter game! Please speak to your team when you are on the field. Your coach may ask you to have an offensive and defensive player on the field that is coordinating efforts on the field. Players on the field are free to support each other and provide direction to each other. Players on the bench may cheer freely but may not provide instruction to those on the field.
Special for referees:
If spectators and coaches are not following the rules, the referees are to stop the game at the next whistle and speak to the coaches and have them speak to the spectators.
Have fun out there!
That Winless Wondrous Season
What I remember most about that first SFPAL football team was that we had so much fun never winning a game.
Not even one. We were a perfect 0-8 for 1959.
1959 Football Team
But we had the greatest home field in the league — situated in the middle of San Francisco Bay on enchanted Treasure Island. We also had the use of the Naval Base’s spacious swimming pool to sooth our wounds after each loss — which was no mean consideration for a kid from the City, which lacked public pools at the time. And we had an endless reservoir of great volunteer coaches, all of them from the San Francisco Police Department.
Why even a U.S. Congressman turned out for our games. He was the brother of our head coach, a huge teddy bear of a guy named Dan Shelley. A police inspector, as I recall.
Come to think of it, we even had song girls, a spirited group led by the head coach’s daughter, Bonnie. No matter what the score — and it was often exceptionally lopsided — they cheered us on as though their tonsils and enthusiasm could turn the tide for us just this once.
As with any initial endeavor, the beginnings of SFPAL football were rocky.
I remember reading about the tryouts for that first SFPAL team in a small squib on the San Francisco Chronicle sports page and wondering how I’d fare if I pursued the invitation. Pretty well as it turned out; that first day, we didn’t have enough players.
1959 Football Program
I immediately set out on a personal recruiting spree. Two of the players I enlisted right away were Pat Kearns, my friend from the Avenues who would later quarterback the Sacred Heart varsity, and Johnny Brandt, a kid I played freelance football with in Golden Gate Park who would go on to become one of the most respected police officers in the SFPD.
Bringing John aboard proved exceptionally rewarding for me because as we walked home from the next practice he found a $20 bill. What a teammate: he spent the whole $20 on the two of us that very afternoon. I remember ingesting a heart attack’s worth of junk food, renting a motor boat on Stowe Lake, and playing lots and lots of pinball machines. And we were only through the first $10.
We also picked up other players along the way. Our friend Terry Collins, who later served the City in the SFPD for almost three decades, joined the team. He reported that he had already tried out for one of the elite teams in the Pop Warner League — The Les Vogel Powergliders — and after a quick assessment of his skills, was summarily advised by their coach that he would be a better fit for our club. Welcome aboard. Lou Giraudo, the now bakery king of the City who has done so much good in civic and community matters, was recruited by his neighbor in the Richmond District, Mike Hanlon.
Enter the season, and despite our mounting record of ineptitude, I don’t recall any recriminations or bad blood on the team. What I do remember are little vignettes — maybe some apocryphal — like arriving on the verge of game time after Coach Shelley had picked up a few players who lacked rides, and hitting the siren on his police car on the Bay Bridge so we would make it in time for kickoff.
It was also the most racially diverse team I had yet played on, drawing players from the Avenues, the Fillmore, and what was then described as “the Mission” – basically the rest of San Francisco in those days of less heady real estate prices and proliferation of neighbor hamlets.
The season marched on.
Every week was greeted as another chance for redemption. The missed blocks and whiffed tackles of the previous Sunday were quickly forgotten as anticipation mounted for our first win. I credit the coaches for maintaining team morale at a high level because we were all very competitive kids, and it could have easily gone the other way.
As I said there were lots of coaches: Jack Farnham, Jim Bishop, Gus Morales, Gus Bruneman, and Dan O’Connell are a few of the names I recall. And I hope to Knute Rockne I got them all right because they were very generous with their time and talent.
I also remember how devoted Dan Shelley was to his guys. So much so that when the season ended and Dan found out that the vaunted Powergliders were going to host a powerful team from Hawaii in a non-league game, he offered several of our players to them. He was turned down. Make that 0-9, but thanks, Dan.
1959 Football Reunion
Fast forward a few years and many of the players on that first SFPAL team went on to football success. My friend Pat tells me that our teammate Chris Ransom was just voted into the Hall of Fame at Sacred Heart High School and I know that Pat himself played on two championship teams at City College of San Francisco.
But I still recall that first winless wondrous season of SFPAL football team very fondly.
And every so often when I’m driving across the Bay Bridge, I pull off and visit the Bay Area’s most beautiful home field.
I’m guessing that some of the other guys do, too.
John Keane, #32 on SFPAL Football Team of 1959
By John Keane, #32 SFPAL Football 1959
Captain David Lazar Asks You To Donate
Captain David Lazar
Thirty years ago, David Lazar was a San Francisco teen who joined the SFPAL Law Enforcement Cadet program. Today, Captain Lazar is the commanding officer of the SFPD Police Academy, guiding the direction and training for the San Francisco Police Department of the next thirty years.
David Lazar credits the San Francisco Police Activities League for giving him direction, changing his life and pointing him towards a rewarding career.
“I was an only child – a San Francisco latchkey kid –with a single working mom. As a young boy, I played PAL baseball and later joined the SFPAL Law Enforcement Cadets in high school – a decision that changed everything for me. Through SFPAL Cadets I gained new skills and was exposed to opportunities and experiences that I otherwise would not have had if not for SFPAL.”
Help us change the lives of today’s San Francisco youth. Donate to SFPAL now.
Cadets, Executive Director Lorraine Woodruff-Long, and Captain Lazar
The SFPAL Law Enforcement Cadet program offers students age 14 – 20 the opportunity to experience life as a police officer, through community service, leadership, rigorous physical training and year-round internships at stations across the City. Our programs also offer SFPD officers the chance to volunteer with youth and become part of our diverse community.
As Captain Lazar reflects:
“I learned what it means to be of service to my community and to be of service to others. As a SFPAL Cadet, I completed over 1000 hours of community service. Most importantly, being a part of this SFPAL program provided me with adult role models and pointed me to a career in law enforcement.”
Captain Lazar Speaking to Cadet Candidates
Captain Lazar now gives his volunteer time and leadership to growing and expanding the Cadet program for todays’ youth by serving on the SFPAL Board of Directors:
Captain Lazar and His Daughter
“Serving on the SFPAL Board and being a PAL donor is meaningful to me — it is my opportunity to give back to a program that made such a difference in my life. I’ve come full circle as a PAL kid – from being a participant 30 years ago, to serving in the SFPD and am now part of a team preparing our city’s newest police recruits for the 30 years to come.”
Thanks to the dedication of over 800 volunteer coaches and mentors, SFPAL offers soccer, conditioning, basketball, Seahawks football, Junior Giants baseball, cheer/dance and judo programs to 4,000 kids across San Francisco every year in addition to the Cadet program.
SFPAL never turns anyone away for inability to pay—thanks to donors like you.
We provide safe and healthy activities and leadership opportunities for San Francisco youth – but we couldn’t do it without your support. That’s why I’m asking you to make a donation TODAY to help us keep kids engaged through playing, learning and having fun after school, on the weekends, and during the summer break.
Captain Lazar shaking hands with parents interested in the SFPAL Cadet Program
- $100 allows us to outfit a new Cadet for the Summer Academy.
- $250 helps us suit up a football player.
- $500 helps us train a team of new volunteer mentors.
SFPAL has been serving San Francisco’s kids and supporting sports programs, youth development and public service since 1959. Your help sustains our programs and helps us reach more deserving kids – kids from every school, every neighborhood and every block.
Please take a moment today to give – you can charge your credit card, send a check or call 415-401-4667.
Many thanks from Captain David Lazar — and the kids of San Francisco Police Activities League.
Sincerely,
Lorraine Woodruff-Long
Executive Director
P.S. We may call to thank you — but SFPAL never makes phone calls to solicit donations and we never share our mailing list with others.
Soccer Forfeits Done the Right Way
We know that forfeiting a game is disappointing for everyone, which makes it even more important that we do it right. We have to keep SFPAL games safe for the kids. Make sure you know the rules and respect the call of the referee.
Here are a few reminders:
- Coach Passes: No PAL-stickered CYSA coaching pass? It’s an automatic forfeit. If there isn’t a CYSA coach for that team, the team does not play; no exceptions.
- Player Passes: Missing a CYSA pass for a player? That player does not play. If a coach forgets all their passes, it’s an automatic forfeit.
- Minimum Team Players: U8-U11 = 5 players, U12-U14 = 7 players. Teams cannot combine or have someone “guest play” for the game, even if they have a CYSA pass from another team. The referee can delay the game up to 10 minutes while they wait for players to arrive, but you can’t change these rules.
- No Friendly Games: Once the referee calls the game forfeit, they must walk off the field. They cannot officiate a friendly game.
Why? We must protect the kids. For insurance and liability reasons we only can play official games with the kids on the right teams, with the right coaches, and everyone has to have their passes.
Have questions? Let us know! We want soccer to be a fun, rewarding, and safe experience for everyone involved.
Golf Tournament Thursday, May 8
Only 10 tickets left!
Don’t miss this chance to see all your favorite people in golf outfits at the 2014 SFPAL Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco! You’ll have so much fun with your friends and be out supporting a great cause: San Francisco’s kids.
Tickets are on sale now! Buy them here.
Full Details: Learn more on our Golf Page.
