Sport in Society Celebrates Friendship at Double Dutch Tournament
(2-3-10) Boston, Mass. – In the spirit of Martin Luther King and his fight for human rights and equality for all people, youth from every corner of Massachusetts gathered on MLK weekend to celebrate the right of access to sports and physical activity.
On Saturday morning more than 80 youth arrived in Grove Hall Community Center in Dorchester to learn, share, and practice the highly accessible sport of Double Dutch at the MLK Friendship Tournament. There were flips, splits, and incredible athleticism between the ropes – not to mention the coordination, motivation, and leadership demonstrated by rope turners who set the pace and ensure appropriate rope conditions for their teammates to complete successful routines.
Sponsored by the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation and Sport in Society, coordinator Judy Lockhart called the inaugural MLK weekend event “a great success.” Volunteers new to Double Dutch were impressed by the day as well.
“I learned how much skill, communication and teamwork it takes to do Double Dutch, and was inspired by the participant's resilience and determination,” said Sport in Society intern, Julia Di Bonaventura. “I really enjoyed watching each team celebrate their successes and I was struck by the energy shown by each team, regardless of their skill level. It was clear to me everyone was there to have fun and improve their Double Dutch performances, and I loved being a part of it!”
Fitz Urban Youth Sports, in collaboration with the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation, oversees the statewide coordination of the Double Dutch League of Massachusetts.
It facilitates the grassroots organizational outreach for the league, provides information and resources to coaches and teams, acts as a liaison for demonstrations, oversees coaching clinics, and hosts the annual tournaments.